With 4 cameras and 4 lenses released in 2019, Fujifilm has a little bit slowed down, if we compare it to the Fujifilm year 2018 (7 new cameras and 6 lenses) and to the Fuji year 2017 (4 cameras and 8 lenses).
In my opinion, the Fujifilm GFX100 pushed the boundaries in its class (MF) much more than the Sony A7rIV did in its class (FF), and therefore the Fujifilm GFX100 deserves to be called camera of the year.
Notice how that they mostly focus on shooting experience, rather than pixel peeping. And honestly that’s kind of refreshing, as we usually are bombarded with charts, crops and comparisons when a new camera comes out.
Seen from this perspective, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 already achieved what it’s ment for: focus on feel and experience, rather than technical specs.
In case of Gordon (Cameralabs), he says the hidden screen helped him to review images and access menus way less than he normally does. He says:
Previously I always preferred the X-T series over the X-Pro series. But with the X-Pro3 I was surprised just how refreshing and enjoyable I found the experience, how little I worried about settings or features and how much I’d like to shoot with it again.
The Features
With that said, of course the reviewers also go over the new features of this camera.
For example, Gordon from Cameralabs shows samples of the new HDR plus mode, a feature that Gordon says “makes a really good job”. Press the shutter once, and the camera takes three images and combines them into one HDR image (see images below). It works used handheld.
Oh… and Gordon LOVES the new Classic Negative film simulation.
Now let’s cross fingers that all the X-Pro3 firmware goodness on the X-T3, X-T30 and GFX100.
As you know, the optical viewfinder on the “old” X-Pro2 had a build-in 0.36x and 0.60x magnification modes. So, when you use let’s say a 35mm lens, in order for your frame not be too small in the viewfinder, you could switch to the 0.60x magnification.
This is no longer possible with X-Pro3, as it has a fixed OVF magnification of 0.52x.
However, Gordon says that the overall much bigger optical viewfinder on the X-Pro3 helps to compensate for the lack of 0.60x magnification.
For your convenience, down below I have extracted and overlayed both viewfinder frames at 23 and 35 so you get a clear idea how big the difference really is.
With all that said, check out the Fujifilm X-Pro3 review roundup below.
Fujifilm China has apparently given a warm welcome to the 100 megapixel Xiaomi CC9 Pro (or Xiaomi Mi Note 10), which features a 108 megapixel camera.
[google translated] 100 million pixels: Welcome new members!
And in the comments Fujifilm China say:
Encourage Xiaomi’s innovation for mobile phones
The image shared at the official Fujifilm China weibo page, shows a little box inside the massive Fujifilm GFX100 sensor, which has the size of the Xiaomi Mi Note 10 sensor.
Now why should Fujifilm do this? Here a few options:
sympathy: they simply welcome another 100 megapixel camera
mockery: they make fun out of of the small sensor (that would be such a bad taste)
conspiracy: they hint to some secret future Fujifilm development
proudly: Fujifilm co-develops the sensor inside the Xiamo Mi Note 10
randomly: that little box and the whole post of Fujifilm mean nothing
I think we can agree that there is nothing more fun than a conspiracy theory, so I will focus on that one :).
Believe me, there isn’t a day, that I am not tempted to get it. But for me, making this step, would mean go all in with the GFX system (and leaving the X system), and given the great results I get with my X gear, I am not yet ready for such a big jump (and investment).