Dylan Goldby compared the performance of three “older” Fujinon lenses on the Fujifilm X-T3 and Fujifilm X-T2.
XF 35mmF1.4 (min 3:18 on X-T3 and min 4:44 on X-T2): Used on the X-T2, it takes more time to lock focus and hunts more. On the X-T3 it is definitely faster and no hunting.
XF 23mmF1.4 (min 5:25): This lens seems to benefit the most from the new X-T3
XF 56mmF1.2 (min 6:33): X-T3 locks on things more confidently, the X-T2 tends to hunt around and miss
Tracking (min 10:25): X-T3 is a big upgrade. Much more keepers
Face/Eye detection (min 12:59): works very well. Only thing when the person moves out of the frame, then gets into the frame again from a different distance, then it needs more time to find the face again.
TOTAL: X-T2 89% hit rate Vs. Nikon D500 84% hit rate
CONCLUSION: In terms of accuracy only, the X-T2 is one of the best sports cameras ever tested.
BUFFER:
D500 = 200 RAW’s at 10fps Vs. X-T2 = 27 RAW’s at 11 fps (but tested with UHS-I card, and not the faster UHS-II cards)
D500 = 202 JPEG’s’s at 10fps Vs. X-T2 = 121 RAW’s at 11 fps (but tested with UHS-I card, and not the faster UHS-II cards)
WINNER: X-T2 is lighter and slightly more accurate AF, but the Nikon D500 is the winner, because of the incredible buffer, the ergonomics and the edge to edge cross type focussing squares.
LIVE TRACKING – VIDEO
Nikon D500 has a touch screen. The X-T2 has eye detection, but in video it does not really work, and in stills just half the time (this calls for a Kaizen update, Fuji ;) ).
Much smoother continuous focussing during video for the X-T2
WINNER: Fujfilm X-T2
LOW LIGHT FOCUSSING
Average score for Nikon D500 = 49 seconds / Fujiflm X-T2 = 36 seconds (measured at 2 targets, one at 6.0EV and one at -2.0EV, focussing back and forth 30 times)
WINNER: For low light focussing without AF assist lamp, the winner is the Fujfilm X-T2
ISO TEST
WINNER: X-T2 images are consistently sharper across the entire ISO range.
VIDEO FEATURES
Less crop for the X-T2 in 4K
better clarity and sharpness on X-T2
better low light performance on X-T2
Rolling Shutter: very impressive performance for the X-T2
PORTRAITS – COLORS (Note: the Fuji slightly underexposes, so the exposure was adjusted to give closer comparison)
Take pencil and paper! The reviewer will show you 13 images and you can pick up the one you prefer.
I did the test and noted everything on a word document, and it turns out that in 70% of the cases I prefered the colors & look of the Fujiflm X-T2. But wasn’t Nikon supposed to be better for portraits? ;) I guess it all comes down to personal preferences, or I’m simply used to the amazing X-Trans look. All I can tell you is that I genuinely made the test, and these are my honest results. Let me know your results in the comments.
Anyway, I think also the tester prefered the X-T2, since at the end of the video he says: “if you prefered the X-T2 in the portrait test, this might be due to the X-Trans sensor”.
WINNER (in my case): Fujiflm X-T2
ULTIMATE CONCLUSION
X-Trans: more film like look. Delivers different and special images! But the RAW conversion results depend on the RAW processor you use.
Sharpness: if you are sharpness freak, get the X-T2
If you haven’t tried the Fuji X-T2, I would strongly recommend it. I think Sony is going to have its hands full competing with Fuji!
The reviewer says that, if he only could pick up one, he would take…. the Fujifilm X-T2 :)
The Fujifilm GFX facebook group is very active, and those interested to know about it, make well to follow it. You’ll find the GFX tidbits there faster then I can share them here on FujiRumors.
Some of the group seem to have also access to the interesting backstage, where a selected group of people can actually hold working protoypes. One of them is Max Angeloni (riflessifotografici), and he shared on the group this video. His comment
“So … the Fujifilm GFX is still under development. So even the specifications have not all been revealed. Official data can be read on the brochure. For the rest we have to wait a bit ‘ . Surely already now it appears going in the right way regarding operating speed“
I’ve uploaded the video on my youtube channel, in order to make it visible to everybody, also those, who don’t have facebook and do not want to join the group. But the original content can be found here.
Maybe the Fujifilm X-T2 Autofocus is really blazing fast!
But let’s go step by step:
Do you know Nathan Wright (ohm-image.net)… yep, the one, who wrote the Novoflex Review series for Fujirumors. Well, if you followed him in the comments here on FujiRumors in the past, then you will know he had no fear to criticize Fujifilm, also very hard, whenever he thought that Fuji deserves it.
Well, Nathan had the chance to put his hands on a production X-T2, and here is what he just shared on Twitter:
If even Nathan says it, a photographer, who was never scared in the past to criticize Fujifilm under several aspects, then I start to believe that all this is not just a hype!
And that’s not all.
FXF member HendrikOsula tested both, the Fujifilm X-T2 and X-Pro2, at the Summer Biathlon World Championships 2016. And he says here that the “X-T2 is kicking X-Pro2s butt […] I completely missed only few shots out of hundreds!” For his full report (and images) click here. NOTE: don’t forget the X-Pro2 will get the new algorithm in October, too.
Moreover, the very popular French site lesnumeriques (translation) says that the AF of the X-T2 is “formidable” and “it is also excellent in low light“. Overall they consider the X-T2 a “rival for the most impressive DSLRs!”
We just heard it form TheCameraStoreTV here: the Fujifilm X-T2 is, along with the Sony A6300, the only mirrorless camera that can compete with DSLRs (that’s their opinion). And in some cases it also tracks better than the Sony A6300.
So what happened to Fujifilm? Where does this AF-speed boost come? Is AF-tracking now really more accurate and C-AF faster? And especially… will the X-Pro2 ever catch up to the level of the X-T2 via Firmware Update?
There is quite a bit of confusion regarding this, just read the comments to this facebook post on FR, so high time to say a few things:
Customizable AF-tracking: everyone out there, who’s going to test the X-T2 AF-tracking, should study and get familiar with the new customizable AF-tracking options. As demonstrated in the TCSTV Video, they really seems to work great. It’s a huge bonus of this camera compared to its direct competitor, the Sony A6300… and also compared to the X-Pro2. And the X-Pro2?: Will the X-Pro2 get these new AF-C Custom Settings functions? The Answer is: NO. Fuji said it clearly. The X-Pro2 Firmware 2.00 Update in October 2016 will implement the new AF-algorithm, but not the custom settings functions.
The Magic Algorithm: The first reviews seem to indicate, that the X-T2 focusses faster than the X-Pro2. Is it really like this? Actually not. The fastest AF is still 0.06 sec. So what… just a Placebo? Not really. The algorithm has been improved, so that the X-T2 now uses phase detection 2/3 of the time, whereas phase detecion usually works only 1/3 of the time on the X-Pro2. More at fujifilm-x. And the X-Pro2?: The improved algorithm is the main course of the meal in the upcoming Fujifilm X-Pro2 2.00 Firmware Update (scheduled for October 2016). So yes… your X-Pro2 will get the new algorithm. Official announcement at fujifilm
The Vertical Booster Grip – shorter Blackout & 11fps: the performance of the X-T2 is split between camera and grip. To take the most out of the camera, use the X-T2 with the grip attached. The booster grip reduces the EVF blackout time and allows you to shoot at 11fps. And the X-Pro2?: No Booster Grip for the X-Pro2 :( . Of course you can use the OVF (no blackout time at all), but OVF might not be your preferred choice in case you use longer zoom lenses.
So, if you plan to buy an X-camera and shoot also a lot of sports, then consider the 3 points mentioned above. The overall AF-experience will be better with the X-T2, because of the added AF-tracking features, the shorter blackout time and, in case you need it, you can shoot at 11fps.
However, if you don’t shoot much sports and you are mostly a single AF-shooter, then you will get the same improved AutoFocus algorithm of the X-T2 also on the X-Pro2 with the Firmware 2.00 Update in October. This means, the X-Pro2 will use phase detection more often.
