The X-T3 | X-Trans IV | 4K60 & 4:2:2 10-bit
I don’t think I will ever get rid of this camera. For stills, its my favorite go to camera of any of the ones I have ever owned.
To me, the X-T3 was the perfect stills camera from Fujifilm. It was a weather sealed body, with a beautiful sensor and processor. A 26MP BSI X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor which at the time of its release (2018) was new. It shoots 10-bit 4:2:2 4K60 and has a lower base ISO of 160 than the previous generation body. Still no IBIS but I also own an X-T4 which does do IBIS.
As far as form factor, it really hasn’t changed from the X-T2/1. Same battery…about 300 shots per…and controls are the same. Stock grip is a little small for me, I have the little extended grip on it buttttt I do love the battery grip on it when I use it. There did I confuse you? Did I say grip enough? Stock < extended < battery grip. How’s that? Does that make sense?
Images. Where do I begin. They are amazing. They are clean. They are beautiful. I can trust the SOOC (straight out of camera) jpg for my own socials or sometimes even to deliver to a client. Being able to narrow in the grain, the contrast, the colors in camera is great!
I do pair mine with a 50mm-140mm F2.8 or the 23mm F2. On occasion I do pair it with various Canon/Nikon/M42 glass. I think the Nikon 50mm F1.8 is probably the most used non-native glass. I just find it so pretty. For my weddings and longer days I usually pair the X-T3 with the Fuji Battery Grip. Two batteries plus the one in the body and I can achieve shooting all day with no issues. I don’t think its died on me ever when I have the grip on. Shooting 1000+ photos in a full day wedding or event.
I shot everything with this prior to buying the X-T4. For a minute I was shooting all my stills on this X-T3 and filming all my videos with the Sony A7Sii. Then I decided “Fuck it”, I want to just be on one system and I went all into Fuji. A decent trade out of my Sony gear for the X-T4 body and the 10mm-24mm F4 back in 2021? That became my dedicated filming set up especially now that I finally bought a SmallRig Full cage. I thought I could get by with a half cage but I kept having to put a different arm on to get the mic and the monitor and then it just became messy…but that is another story.
With the introduction of the “XApp” from Fujifilm, it really made the X-T3 better. I mean it made all things Fujifilm better. I really love the remote function with it. The live view shooting has controls you can actually use and control the exposure for.
Second, the timeline if enabled helps remind you of locations you shot and what lenses you used etc. Pretty helpful if you aren’t writing things down in a notebook or notes app.
The app supports everything from the X100V, X-E4, and X-S10 all the way to their GFX line! Sorry if you are pre X-T3, you have to use the old app and well….I don’t want to talk about that app. But I’ll just say, I’m glad I have the XApp because its WAY better. You don’t understand haha.
I really love that within the app you can update firmware. It tells you, you can say yes or no, and bam. It’s done. Makes it super simple now to update firmware. Works for lenses as well so all in all very convenient.
Should you buy one. It being the end of 2023 soon and with the options like the X-T4/5? Yes. Yes, I would recommend this to someone. At the end of the day, you should focus on glass. Camera body if its made within the last 5 years? 8 years? I would say are plenty adequate. I mean quiet honestly, anything from the last 10 years-15 years is still great. Maybe 15 years is pushing it? I know pro’s still shooting on D750’s, 5Dmiii’s. Its all going to come down to you and how you utilize what you have. Know how to edit, know the limitations of your gear. I think that’s something people failed to realize me being one of them before. But that is a video to come in 2024. Till then, see you soon.