Fujifilm X-Pro3 Review

December 17, 2019 | Mark Goldstein | Rating star Rating star Rating star Rating star

Introduction

Three years after the well-received X-Pro2 comes the release of the brand new Fujifilm X-Pro3 APS-C sensor mirrorless camera.

Aimed at street, reportage and wedding photographers who prefer a rangefinder format, the X-Pro3 uses exactly the same 26.1 megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4 image processor as the more DSLR-like X-T3 and X-T30 cameras.

At the heart of the X Pro 3 is the Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, which boasts a number of improvements over the previous version, and a tilting LCD touchscreen that is actually closed against the body during shooting to promote greater use of the viewfinder.

There's also an innovative new sub-LCD monitor embedded within the back of the LCD screen which lets you see certain key settings, including the currently selected Film Simulation mode.

The XPro3's camera body incorporates titanium top and bottom plates for greater durability, and Fujifilm are also offering the new camera in a special Duratec finish that is even more durable and scratch resistant than the standard painted black version.

The X Pro3 can now focus all the way down to -6EV in low-light, twice as good as the X-Pro2's -3EV rating, and there's a brand new Classic Color Neg film simulation and a 'Color Chrome FX Blue' option.

On the video side, the Fuji X-Pro3 now offers DCI 4K 30p/25p/24p recording and a range of 1080p modes.

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is priced at £1699 in the UK and $1799 in the US, body-only, for the standard Black version. The Dura Black and Dura Silver versions are priced at £1879 / $1999. There are no kit lens options available at launch.

Ease of Use

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Front of the Fujifilm X-Pro3

At first glance, the new X-Pro3 looks very similar to both the three-year-old X-Pro2 and the original, 6-year-old X-Pro1, proving that Fujifilm got a lot of things right way back in 2012.

Peer a little more closely, though, and you'll see that there have been some subtle and not so subtle tweaks to the exterior of the new camera, most notably to the radical new rear LCD screen.

It's also all change internally, with the X-Pro3 adopting Fujifilm's latest 26.1 megapixel sensor, X Processor 4 image processing engine and auto-focus system.

As you'd expect, the Fujifilm X Pro 3 once again retains the same classically styled design that recalls film rangefinders from the past, with the viewfinder positioned on the far left, rather than in the centre as on the X-T3, and a flat, hump-less design on top.

Viewfinder

The Fuji X-Pro3 continues to use the same hybrid optical viewfinder / electronic viewfinder as its predecessor, with a few important differences.

As a reminder, the XPro3 has an electronic viewfinder and an optical viewfinder. At the flick of the Viewfinder switch on the front of the camera, you can easily switch from the OVF to the EVF and back again.

Fujifilm have also cleverly implemented an integrated prism for the electronic viewfinder onto the optical viewfinder, with the latter able to show the shooting frame and a variety of shooting data.

So you get a large, bright optical viewfinder which shows a bigger area than what the camera actually captures when you take a photo, useful for seeing when moving subjects are about to enter the frame, overlaid with useful information including exposure compensation, shutter speed, aperture, focusing distance scale, an electronic level and histogram (there are 14 options in total) - even the focusing point is highlighted!

Canon PowerShot A2100 IS
Rear of the Fujifilm X-Pro3

Additionally, it also now features the same Electronic Rangefinder (ERF) mode from the X100 series, where a small electronic viewfinder is overlaid on top of the optical viewfinder, which can be used to check focus, the angle-of-view, exposure and white balance in real-time.

In terms of changes to the X Pro 3, the EVF now employs an OLED display panel with an improved resolution of 3.69million dots, higher magnification of 0.66x, much higher contrast ratio of 1:5000 (up from 1:300), a wider color space (sRGB 97%), greater brightness and a higher frame rate (100fps).

It still provides the exact same 100% coverage as the rear LCD screen, plus a parallax corrected view, accurate preview of exposure and depth of field, and the ability to see all of the information that you can view on the rear LCD.

It also offers a similar Graphic User Interface to the X-Pro2. The default Full mode does what its name suggests and displays an uninterrupted view of the scene with all the settings information displayed outside the frame so that you can really concentrate on your subject.

Normal provides an optimum view, including the shooting settings. Finally, the displayed settings in the Full and Normal modes automatically rotate when the camera is held in a portrait orientation.

In the Boost mode, the new Smoothness Priority option inserts a black frame between each of the regular frames at 100fps, giving an equivalent refresh rate of approx. 200fps. This option is recommended when capturing fast moving, erratic subjects.

The X-Pro 3 has a built-in eye-sensor so that you only have to hold the camera up to eye-level to switch between the rear LCD screen and the hybrid optical viewfinder / electronic viewfinder.

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a new, clearer optical viewfinder with less distortion than the one on the X-Pro2. It also features a higher eyepoint of 17mm and a larger angle of view of 27 degrees that should please glasses wearers.

Canon PowerShot A2100 IS
Front of the Fujifilm X-Pro3

The OVF now has a fixed 0.52x magnification, instead of the 0.36x and 0.60x magnification modes offered by the X-Pro2 and its slot-in magnifier.

In practice, this makes it harder to use a wide-angle lens on the new X Pro 3 than on the X-Pro2 when using the optical viewfinder, especially when focusing at infinity, whilst longer focal lengths result in tiny framing lines that are too small to use reliably.

A parallax corrected framing rectangle shows roughly what the picture will include (about 95%), with the framing lines and focus point moving when the shutter button is half-pressed to show the correct framing for the current focusing distance.

The Bright Frame Simulation function allows you to simulate the angle of view of each focal length without having to replace the lens, so you can change lenses more accurately.

Hidden LCD Screen

Perhaps the defining feature of the X-Pro3 is its LCD screen, not a sentence that we've ever felt compelled to write before in over 15 years of reviewing cameras.

That's because Fujifilm have consciously made it more difficult to use, rather than easier, in a concerted bid to make you use the viewfinder more, and the LCD screen less, promoting the X-Pro3's appeal as a rangefinder camera for traditionalists.

The LCD screen is essentially hidden, as it's actually folded closed against the back of the camera for the majority of the time that you're using it - you can't actually rotate it to face outwards.

Instead, you have to flip it down via the hinges at the bottom, where the screen then sits below the bottom of the camera.

Canon PowerShot A2100 IS
The Fujifilm X-Pro3 In-hand

In practice, this makes the X-Pro3's screen only really suitable for waist-level shooting or when holding the camera at arms length above your head.

The design actively discourages you from chimping images, as you constantly have to flip the screen down to view them, then back up to carry on shooting.

It also doesn't rotate forwards, so definitely no selfies!

More seriously, using the X-Pro3 on a tripod is also something of a compromise, as the screen can only be flipped down by about 90 degrees before it hits the top of the tripod head.

The X-Pro3 now has a touchscreen LCD, something not offered by the X-Pro2, which is ironic given the lengths that Fujifilm have gone to to make the LCD screen less usable!

And despite the camera's improved viewfinder, being effectively forced to playback your images and change the camera's menu settings using the EVF rather than the much larger LCD screen feels like a design choice gone too far.

Sub-LCD Monitor

There is also a low-resolution sub-LCD monitor embedded within the back of the LCD screen, which acts as a rear status panel.

By default it shows a pictorial representation of the current film simulation mode in another nod to the traditional approach that Fujifilm have taken with the X-Pro3.

More practically it can also be configured to show the camera's current settings for stills and video. Rather unintuitively, you can't interact with it in the same way as you would with the Quick Menu to change those settings.

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The Fujifilm X-Pro3's Sub-LCD Monitor

The 3-inch 1.62M-dot LCD screen on the X-Pro3 is touch-sensitive, which means you can use it to set the AF point or even fire the shutter release if you want when shooting stills or pull focus when recording video, although doing so is more difficult than on the X-Pro2 thanks to the new hidden design.

On the right-hand side of the screen you’ll see a small icon, which if you press it allows you to choose between using the screen to choose the AF area, autofocus, or to have it both autofocus and then take the picture. If you prefer, you can choose to turn off this functionality altogether.

Furthermore, you can actually change the focus point whilst holding the camera up to your eye by dragging across the touchscreen with your right thumb, with the option to use the whole screen or one of six different areas.

Build Quality

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is an even better built camera than its predecessors thanks to the incorporation of titanium top and bottom plates, which is 50% stronger than alloy and much more scratch resistant, resulting in zero flex or movement in the chassis.

At the same time, it's actually much lighter than a first glance might suggest, weighing in at 497g body only with the battery and memory card fitted, which is a mere 2g heavier than the X-Pro2.

Measuring 140.5mm (W) x 82.8mm (H) x 45.9mm (D), it's also virtually identical in size to the X-Pro2, making it taller, wider and deeper than most other current mirrorless cameras.

The X-Pro3 is a weather-proof camera, with an increased 70 points of weather sealing applied to the camera's magnesium alloy internal body offering dust-resistance, water-resistance and freeze-resistance down to -10°C, and it offers an impressive shutter durability of 150,000 shots.

Duratec Finish

For the first time, Fujifilm are also offering one of their cameras in a special Duratec finish. Duratec is a cold plasma technology that involves passing an electric current through hydrogen and carbon gases to diffuse an amorphous carbon coating onto the surface of the titanium.

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All Three Colours of the Fujifilm X-Pro3

They claim that this is more durable and scratch resistant than the standard painted black version, albeit incurring a substantial price premium.

In comparison to its predecessor, the X-Pro3 has a slightly smaller hand-grip at the front and a smaller space at the rear for your thumb, with a very similar textured faux-leather surface that runs around the full width of the camera to aid grip.

Two small metal eyelets on either side of the body are used for connecting the supplied shoulder strap.

On the bottom, a metal tripod mount is positioned in-line with the centre of the lens next to the battery compartment, so you can change the battery without having to remove the camera when it's mounted on a tripod.

Dual memory card slots are located on the right-hand flank of the camera when viewed from the rear. The Fujifilm X-Pro3 now supports SD UHS-II memory cards on both slots, rather than only on slot 1 like the X-Pro2, and just like on the more recent X-T3 and X-H1 cameras.

APS-C Sensor

At the heart of the X-Pro3 is the latest 26.1 megapixel APS-C sized “X-Trans 4” CMOS sensor with no optical low-pass filter , which is exactly the same as the one used in the X-T3 and X-H1.

This is the World’s first BSI APS-C sensor with copper wiring and promises to deliver better image quality in low light / long exposures than the X-Pro2 could achieve.

It has allowed Fujifilm to implement a new base ISO speed of 160 on the X-Pro3, with the ISO range being extendable down to ISO 80 and up to 51200.

Canon PowerShot A2100 IS
Dual Memory Card Slots

The extended ISO range makes the X-Pro3 well suited to low-light shooting, allowing you to hand-hold the camera in places where you'd usually be reaching for a tripod (if allowed) or other support.

Especially as it's now capable of auto-focusing down to an amazing -6EV in low-light, twice as good as the previous X-Pro2 which could only focus down to -3EV.

The clever ISO Auto Control setting allows you to set a default sensitivity, a maximum sensitivity (up to 12800) and a minimum shutter speed, with the camera over-riding your ISO choice if it thinks you're being too ambitious whilst maintaining a shutter speed that won't introduce camera shake.

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 doesn't have an in-body stabilisation system, just like every other X-series camera, with the exception of the X-H1 model. It instead relies on the attached lens to provide stabilisation, if the lens offers it.

Shutter

With its mechanical focal-plane shutter, the X-Pro3 offers a very adaptable top shutter-speed limit of 1/8000th second in all shooting modes.

This allows you to select a faster aperture even in bright conditions or when shooting with flash during the day, although as there's no built-in ND filter, if you want to use, for example, the 35mm lens at F/1.4 in very bright sunlight, then you'll need to fit an ND filter on front of the lens.

Alternatively you can switch to using the X-Pro3's electronic shutter, which provides a much faster top shutter speed of 1/32,000th second and allows you to continue shooting wide-open with fast aperture lenses in the brightest of conditions without having to resort to fitting a glass ND filter or using an external flash and lights.

There are some important caveats with the electronic shutter, though. The ISO range is restricted to 200-12800, you can't use a flashgun, and the slowest shutter speed is only 1 second.

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The Dura Black Fujifilm X-Pro3

Auto-focusing

The X-Pro3 can auto-focus in as little as 0.06 seconds and it's one of the few cameras on the market to offer 100% coverage of the phase detection AF area, allowing you literally focus anywhere that you want, with 425 AF points in total and 2.16M PDAF pixels.

The X-Pro3 also offers accurate and fast Eye Detect AF, which is available in the AF-C as well as AF-S focusing mode. Although it's not quite as tenacious as the system used in the latest Sony Alpha cameras, it did increase our hit rate with faster-moving or more erratic subjects.

There's also a new innovative software-based AF Range Limiter with various settings which lets you set the closest and farthest distances for the AF system to operate within, thereby speeding up the auto-focusing.

This works for any lens that you attach to the camera, rather than having to be built into the lens itself.

Burst Shooting

To help you with capturing the precise moment, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a clever Pre-shot burst shooting mode, a feature inherited from the X-T3.

Essentially the camera constantly fills the buffer while your half-press the shutter button, and then keeps the most recent ones taken 0.5-1 seconds before a full press of the shutter button, thereby eliminating any camera and human-added delay. Note that this feature only works with the electronic shutter.

The X-Pro3's burst shooting capabilities also help considerably - how does 30fps sound to you?! Even better, that headline-grabbing rate is with full AF/AE metering and is completely black-out free between frames, achieved by using the electronic shutter and maintaining the live view at 60fps, making it surprisingly well-suited to action photography.

The main caveat of the 30fps mode is that the camera automatically enters the Sports Viewfinder Mode and applies a 1.25x crop factor, dropping the resolution from 26 down to 16.6 megapixels, although there's also a benefit in that you can still see outside the cropped area, allowing you to predict where the subject is moving into the frame.

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The Dura Silver Fujifilm X-Pro3

If you do want the full 26 megapixel resolution, the X-Pro3 can shoot at a slower 20fps without any cropping using the electronic shutter or 11fps using its mechanical shutter, both again with full AF/AE metering.

Manual Focusing

Manual focusing is activated by setting the focusing switch on the front of the camera to Manual and using the ring that encircles the lens to focus.

In terms of focusing aids, the Standard option offers a distance scale along the bottom of the viewfinder (both the OVF and EVF) and on the LCD screen if you're using that for composition, with a white bar indicating the the focusing distance and a blue bar showing the depth of field, which actually changes in line with the current aperture - very handy.

The X-Pro3 has another trick up its manual focusing sleeve in the shape of the rear command control (the dial which sits under your right thumb). You can press this in to magnify the view in the electronic viewfinder or LCD screen.

Furthermore, if you hold down the rear command control dial, the manual focusing aid then switches to Digital Split Image, and then to Focus Peaking - a very neat way to quickly change between the three modes.

The second manual focusing method is the Digital Split Image feature. Harking back to film cameras of the past, this displays dual images on the left and right which then need to be lined up together for accurate manual focusing, enabling accurate focusing especially when shooting wide-open or for macro shooting. It's much easier to understand in practice than written down.

The third and final method is the Focus Peak Highlight function, which displays a white line (the colour and strength are customisable) around the subject when it's in focus.

Image Processor

Powering all of these new features is the latest quad core X-Processor 4 image processor, which also enables things like 14-bit RAW files, the colour chrome effect, and slightly longer battery life, now up to an official CIPA rating of 370 shots per charge (versus 350 on the X-Pro2) via the same NP-W126S Li-ion battery.

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The Fujifilm X-Pro3's Battery Compartment

In addition to the standard battery charger that's supplied in the box, you can also charge the camera on the go via the new USB 3.1 port.

Bluetooth and Wi-fi

The X-Pro3 is the latest X-series camera to benefit from the welcome addition of Bluetooth LE connectivity.

This allows you to transfer images from the camera to a smartphone, even when the X-Pro3 is turned off, allowing for much more convenient transfer and sharing of your images.

Note that you must install the free "FUJIFILM Camera Remote" app on your smart device to use this function.

The X-Pro3 also features built-in wi-fi connectivity, although there's no dedicated button to access it (you have to configure one of the Fn buttons or access it via the menu system).

Install the Fujifilm Camera Remote app and you can transfer your pictures immediately to a smartphone or tablet PC and then edit and share them as you wish, transfer stills and video onto the camera, and embed GPS information in your shots from your smartphone.

You can also control the camera remotely, with the list of available functions including Touch AF, shutter release for stills and movies, shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity, Film Simulation modes, White Balance, macro, timer and flash.

The built-in wi-fi also provides a simple means to backup your photos to your home PC.

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The Fujifilm X-Pro3 in Portrait Mode

Video

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 can record DCI 4K movies movies at 30p / 25p / 24p for up to 15 minutes with stereo sound. There's also 1080p high-speed recording available up to 60fps (59 mins) or 120fps (6 mins), as well as more regular 1080p modes.

It doesn't offer the 400Mbps capture rate or 10-bit recording capability offered by the X-T3, though, despite sharing the same sensor and processor.

You can set the aperture and shutter speed before recording begins, but not during, and you can also set the Film Simulation mode, so black and white footage is possible.

Continuous auto-focusing is possible, although it tends to hunt around a lot before locking onto the subject, and manual focusing is also available.

There is a HDMI port for connecting the X-Pro3 to a high-definition TV, although as usual there's no cable supplied in the box, and you can adjust the level of the internal microphone and attach an external mic for better sound quality via the combined Mic/Remote port.

Handling

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has numerous external controls that make changing the key exposure settings a breeze, especially when holding the camera at eye-level.

Most of the Fujinon XF lenses have a circular aperture ring, with 7 or 8 markings from the maximum to minimum aperture and an Auto setting in case you want the camera to take control.

The X-Pro3 also has front and rear command dials, so if you don't want to use the aperture ring on the lens, or if the attached lens doesn't have an aperture ring, simply set it to A and use the front command dial instead to change the aperture.

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The Fujifilm X-Pro3 With the XF 23mm F2 Lens

On top of the X-Pro3 is a large, tactile and lockable control dial for setting the shutter speed, with settings ranging from 1 second to 1/8000th second, an Auto option, a T setting for longer exposures (2 to 30 seconds, set via the circular command wheel) and a Bulb mode for exposures up to a whopping 60 minutes in length.

Fujifilm have cleverly set the ISO control dial into the shutter speed dial, with the former accessed by lifting the shutter speed ring up and then turning it to change the ISO. The only drawback is that this is the only way to set the ISO speed - you can't do it via the Quick menu or Main menu, which may irk some users - and also the ISO dial isn't illuminated and therefore is difficult to use in the dark (exacerbated by the lack of menu access).

Alongside the shutter speed dial is another dial for changing the exposure compensation, running to +-3EV with a Custom mode which switches the exposure compensation operation to the front command dial and expands the range to ±5EV.

Together these three controls make it extremely easy to set the exposure, although it's a little too easy for the exposure compensation dial to be changed whilst storing the camera in a bag or hanging off a strap.

Three other controls complete the X-Pro3's top-plate. The small but responsive shutter release button is encircled by the On/Off switch, which in turn has a thread for a very traditional mechanical cable release - there's no need to buy an expensive dedicated accessory for this camera.

Alongside this is the now unmarked Fn button, which can be customised to suit your own needs by choosing from 59 different settings.

Further personal customisation is available via the 7 Custom Menu options, which let you create, save and recall up to 7 sets of user-defined settings.

Finally there's an external flash hotshoe for suitable dedicated external units - note that the X-Pro3 has no built-in flash.

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The Fujifilm X-Pro3 In the Field

The X-Pro3 has a more simplified, pared-back rear control layout than its predecessor, with fewer external controls.

There's the same vertical row of three buttons to the right of the LCD screen, with the Focus Lever joystick above them, the rear control dial above that, and a Function button and the Quick Menu button set into the rear thumb-grip, but the 4-way controller found on the X-Pro2 has completely disappeared, as have the dedicated View Mode and Photometry buttons.

Instead, there's a new Drive/Delete button positioned to the right of the viewfinder, with the AE-L/AF-L button to the right of that. Now there's no manual way of switching between the LCD screen and the OVF/EVF, and you have to use the Quick Menu to access the Multi, Centre Weighted, Spot and Average metering options.

The Focus Lever joystick has been retained, which is used mainly for setting the AF point. This is a real boon to anyone who changes the AF point a lot, making it simple to change even when holding the camera at eye-level.

The Quick menu button provides quick access to 16 frequently used shooting settings including the ISO speed, White Balance, File Size and File Quality. and you can customise which settings are included and the order in which they appear.

A maximum of 16 frequently used items can also be registered to the My Menu option in the main menu.

The Menu/OK button, which accesses the fairly logical menu system, is now directly underneath the Focus Lever joystick, with the Play button underneath that. The Disp/Back button is still in the same place as it was on the X-Pro2.

That concludes our detailed look at the Fujifilm X-Pro3's features and handling. Now let's turn to its image quality...

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 26 megapixel Fine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 10Mb.

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 produced images of outstanding quality. It records noise-free JPEG images from ISO 80 all the way up to 6400, with a little noise at ISO 12800 and more visible noise and slight colour desaturation at the faster settings of ISO 25600 and 51200.

This an amazing performance for a camera with an APS-C sensor.

The RAW files were also excellent, exhibiting more noise at each ISO setting but still producing very usable images from ISO 80-12800.

The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds being long enough for most after-dark shots, and the Bulb mode allowing much longer exposures if required.

The Dynamic Range settings subtly improve detail in the shadows and highlights, while the new HDR mode takes things one step further.

The Film Simulation modes hark back to a bygone era, and the Advanced Filters allow you to have a little fun with your images.

Noise

There are 11 ISO settings available on the Fujifilm X-Pro3 for JPEGs and RAW files. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting.

JPEG RAW

ISO 80 (100% Crop)

ISO 80 (100% Crop)
iso80.jpg iso80raw.jpg

ISO 160 (100% Crop)

ISO 160 (100% Crop)
iso160.jpg iso160raw.jpg

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

iso200.jpg iso200raw.jpg

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

iso400.jpg iso400raw.jpg

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

iso800.jpg iso800raw.jpg

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

iso1600.jpg iso1600raw.jpg

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

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ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

iso6400.jpg iso6400raw.jpg

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

iso12800.jpg iso12800raw.jpg

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

iso25600.jpg iso25600raw.jpg

ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

ISO 51200 (100% Crop)

iso51200.jpg iso51200raw.jpg

File Quality

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has 2 different image quality settings available, with Fine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

Fine (13Mb) (100% Crop) Normal (7.63Mb) (100% Crop)
quality_fine.jpg quality_normal.jpg
RAW (55.2Mb) (100% Crop)
quality_raw.jpg

Night

The Fujifilm X-Pro3's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds in the Time shutter speed mode, and there's a Bulb mode which allows exposures up to 60 minutes long, which is excellent news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 160.

night.jpg

Dynamic Range

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has three dynamic range settings - 100% (on by default), 200%, and 400% - and an Auto setting if you want to let the camera take control. These settings gradually increase the amount of detail visible in the shadow and highlight areas, with the side-effect of more noise appearing in the image. Note that you can't actually turn this feature off. All three settings are available from ISO 640 upwards.

100%

200%

dynamic_range1.jpg dynamic_range2.jpg

400%

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High Dynamic Range

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 features a new HDR shooting function which combines multiple continuously shot images of different exposure levels to expand the dynamic range.

Auto

200%

hdr_01.JPG hdr_02.JPG

400%

800%

hdr_03.JPG hdr_04.JPG

Plus

hdr_05.JPG

Film Simulations

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 offers 10 different film simulation modes to help replicate the look of your favourite film stock from the past.

Provia / Standard

Velvia / Vivid

film_simulation_01.jpg film_simulation_02.jpg

Astia / Soft

Classic Chrome

film_simulation_03.jpg film_simulation_04.jpg

Pro Neg. Hi

Pro Neg. Standard

film_simulation_05.jpg film_simulation_06.jpg

Classic Neg

Eterna

film_simulation_11.jpg film_simulation_07.jpg

Acros

Monochrome

film_simulation_08.jpg film_simulation_09.jpg

Sepia

film_simulation_10.jpg

Advanced Filter

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 offers 13 different filter effects which can be previewed on the LCD screen before you take the shot.

Toy Camera

Miniature

advanced_filter_01.jpg advanced_filter_02.jpg

Pop Color

High-Key

advanced_filter_03.jpg advanced_filter_04.jpg

Low-Key

Dynamic Tone

advanced_filter_05.jpg advanced_filter_06.jpg

Soft Focus

Partial Color (Red)

advanced_filter_07.jpg advanced_filter_08.jpg

Partial Color (Orange)

Partial Color (Yellow)

advanced_filter_09.jpg advanced_filter_10.jpg

Partial Color (Green)

Partial Color (Blue)

advanced_filter_11.jpg advanced_filter_12.jpg

Partial Color (Purple)

advanced_filter_13.jpg

Multiple Exposure

In the Multiple Exposure mode the cameras takes up to 9 frames in the Additive, Average, Comparative Bright or Comparative Dark mode and combines them into a single image.

multiple_exposure.jpg

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Fujifilm X-Pro3 camera, which were all taken using the 26 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Fujifilm Finepix X-Pro3 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Fujifilm RAW (RAF) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 26 second movie is 324Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 25 second movie is 318Mb in size.

Product Images

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Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Conclusion

On the surface the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera seems like a rather modest refresh of the three-year-old X-Pro2, inheriting the core specs of the more DSLR-like X-T3 and presenting them within the traditional rangefinder design of the X-Pro series.

But delve deeper and look closer, and you'll find that Fujifilm have made a concerted effort to make the X-Pro3 even more traditional and even more niche than its predecessor, thanks to a single feature that rarely attracts that much attention - the LCD screen.

Instead of promoting its use by improving the spec (which they did anyway) or making it twist in multiple directions, Fujifilm have actually made it harder to use in a bid to further promote the back-to-basics, film-camera-feel that the X-Pro series has always majored in.

Whether or not the hidden LCD screen will appeal to you or not is a very personal decision, but it's clearly the feature that largely defines what the new X-Pro3 is, and who it will appeal to.

If you much prefer composing with an eye-level viewfinder and hate chimping your images in-camera, you'll probably love the X-Pro3.

If you prefer the added versatility offered by a more conventional LCD screen and like to check your photos out in the field, this really isn't the camera for you.

Having said that, while the new Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder is improved in a lot of ways compared to the one on the X-Pro2, the loss of the slide-in 0.36x and 0.60x dual magnification modes is a real shame.

Instead replaced by a fixed 0.52x magnification, this design change makes it harder to use longer lenses on the new X-Pro3 than on the X-Pro2, despite an increase in the size of the OVF.

If you mainly shoot with one of the 23mm lenses, though, you'll be hard-pressed to notice the difference - it's only when using 35mm and longer lenses with the OVF that you can really tell the difference.

The key aim of Fujifilm's X-Pro series has always been to deliver a more traditional, film-based way of taking photos, and in most ways the new X-Pro3 delivers on that promise, whilst incorporating a lot of the modern key features from the X-T3.

The X-Pro3 is certainly a niche camera, even more so than the previous two generations, but in a world where specs are king, Fujifilm are hoping a more personal approach will actually drive sales, rather than decrease them. Only time will tell if this makes commercial sense, but the X-Pro3 is definitely worth trying-out in person if you value a more traditional, considered approach to taking photos.

4 stars

Ratings (out of 5)
Design 4
Features 4.5
Ease-of-use 4
Image quality 5
Value for money 3.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Fujifilm X-Pro3.

Canon EOS R

The EOS R is Canon's first ever full-frame mirrorless camera, joining the likes of Sony, Nikon and Panasonic. Can it beat its main rivals, and is it a real alternative to a more traditional DSLR? Find out now by reading our in-depth Canon EOS R review, complete with full-size sample images, videos and more...

Canon EOS RP

The Canon EOS RP camera follows hot on the heels of last year's EOS R model, offering full-frame mirrorless tech and 4K video recording at an even more affordable price-point than before. Find out just what the cheapest full-frame mirrorless camera on the market is capable of by reading our in-depth Canon EOS RP review, complete with full-size sample JPEG and RAW images, videos and more...

Fujifilm X-H1

The Fujifilm X-H1 is the newest flagship camera on the block, topping the mirrorless X-series range with built-in optical image stabilisation and the most advanced video capabilities of any Fujifilm camera to date. Check our our in-depth Fujifilm XH1 review, complete with full-size sample images, movies and more...

Fujifilm X-T3

The Fujifilm X-T3 is the successor to our Compact System Camera of the Year 2016 award winner, the popular X-T2. Can this new model really improve on what was already an outstanding camera? Find out now by diving into our in-depth Fujifilm X-T3 review...

Fujifilm X-T30

Dubbed the Little Giant by Fujifilm, the new X-T30 mirrorless camera takes most of the things that we loved about the flagship X-T3 and packages them into a smaller, lighter body. It even has a few tricks up its sleeve that the X-T3 doesn't currently offer, most notably a more advanced auto-focusing system. Read our Fujifilm X-T30 review to find out how it compares to the X-T3 and the previous X-T20, and why you should definitely consider buying this new mid-range mirrorless camera...

Nikon Z50

Nikon have introduced their first APS-C, cropped-sensor mirrorless camera with the launch of the Z50, accompanied by two kit zoom lenses. Can the Z50 take on the likes of the well established Sony A6000-series and Canon EOS-M range, not to mention Fujifilm with its line-up of excellent APS-C bodies and lenses? Find out now by reading our in-depth Nikon Z50 review.

Nikon Z6

The Nikon Z6 mirrorless camera is the sensible little brother of the flagship Z7 model, offering less megapixels, fewer AF points and faster continuous shooting at a much lower price point. Is this the best balanced mirrorless camera on the market? Find out now by reading our in-depth Nikon Z6 review, complete with full size JPEGs, Raw files and movies...

Panasonic S1

The Panasonic S1 is the more sensibly specced and sensibly priced sibling of the flagship S1R full-frame mirrorless camera. It lowers the number of megapixels whilst upping the video capabilities, promising a more well-rounded camera at a more affordable price-point. Does the new Lumix S1 have what it takes to compete with the likes of the Sony A7 III, Nikon Z6 and Canon EOS R? Read our detailed Panasonic S1 review to find out...

Pentax K-1 Mark II

The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a modest upgrade of the 18-month-old K-1 35mm full-frame DSLR camera, principally adding just three new features. Are they enough to warrant upgrading and do they keep the Mark II competitive? Find out by reading our Pentax K-1 Mark II review...

Sigma fp

The Sigma fp is a brand new full-frame mirrorless camera that's been designed to appeal to both film-makers and stills photographers. Can this tiny camera really satisfy the specific needs of both types of user? Find out out now by reading our in-depth Sigma fp review, complete with full-size sample JPEG and Raw images and videos.

Sony A6400

The Sony A6400 is a new mirrorless camera with an APS-C size sensor and a cutting-edge auto-focusing system. With 24.2 megapixels, 4K movie recording, a touchscreen 180-degree LCD touchscreen, 11fps burst shooting, electronic viewfinder, built-in flash, and Wi-fi / Bluetooth / NFC connectivity, is this the best APS-C camera on the market? Read our Sony Alpha A6400 review to find out...

Sony A7 III

The new A7 III is the most affordable Sony full-frame camera in the Alpha range, but as our in-depth review reveals, it's far from being the most basic. Find out why we think this is the best camera of 2018 (so far at least) by reading our in-depth Sony A7 III review...

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Fujifilm X-Pro3 from around the web.

digitalcameraworld.com »

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 set out with a mission: to keep photographers shooting, rather than chimping (checking your photos as you shoot them). The camera's "hidden LCD" achieves this aim, forcing you to reconsider how you approach your shots, and captures the purity and joy of taking photographs. However, by challenging you to shoot in a traditional way, at times it impedes your ability to shoot in a modern one.
Read the full review »

dpreview.com »

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is a 26 megapixel mirrorless interchangeable lens camera built around a clever optical / electronic viewfinder and designed to look like a classic rangefinder.
Read the full review »

cameralabs.com »

Fujifilm’s X-Pro3 upgrades its much-loved rangefinder series with the expected sensor and processor from the X-T3 and X-T30, improves the build quality with titanium top and bottom panels, offers an optional coating for greater scratch resistance, enhances the cunning hybrid viewfinder in both its optical and electronic modes, adds a raft of processing additions including broader monochrome adjustments and a lovely new Classic Negative Simulation, and throws in neat focus bracketing and limiter options.
Read the full review »

Specifications

Model name FUJIFILM X-Pro3
Number of effective pixels 26.1 millions pixels
Image sensor 23.5mm×15.6mm (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS 4 with primary color filter.
Sensor Cleaning system Ultra Sonic Vibration
Storage media SD memory card (~2GB) / SDHC memory card (~32GB) / SDXC memory card (~512GB)
UHS-I / UHS-II / Video Speed Class V30 *1
File format of still image JPEG: Exif Ver.2.3*2, RAW: 14bit RAW (RAF original format) / RAW+JPEG
Number of recorded pixels [L]<3:2> 6240 × 4160 <16:9> 6240 × 3512 <1:1> 4160 × 4160
[M]<3:2> 4416 × 2944 <16:9> 4416 × 2488 <1:1> 2944 × 2944
[S]<3:2> 3120 × 2080 <16:9> 3120 × 1760 <1:1> 2080 × 2080
Lens mount FUJIFILM X mount
Sensitivity Standard output AUTO1 / AUTO2 / AUTO3 / ISO160~12800 (1/3 step)
Extended output ISO80 / 100 / 125 / 25600 / 51200
Exposure control TTL 256-zone metering, Multi / Spot / Average / Center Weighted
Exposure mode P (Program AE) / A (Aperture Priority AE) / S (Shutter Speed Priority AE) / M (Manual Exposure)
Exposure compensation -5.0EV~+5.0EV 1/3EV step (Movie: -2.0EV~+2.0EV)
Shutter type Focal Plane Shutter
Shutter speed Mechanical Shutter P mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.
Electronic Shutter*3 P mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: 1sec. Fixed
Electronic front curtain shutter P mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.
Mechanical +
Electronic shutter
P mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.
E-front + Mechanical shutter P mode: 4sec. to 1/8000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/8000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/8000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.
*Electronic front curtain shutter works until 1/2000sec.
E-front + Mechanical +
Electronic shutter
P mode: 4sec. to 1/32000sec. A mode: 30sec. to 1/32000sec. S/M mode: 15min. to 1/32000sec. Bulb mode: up to 60min.
*Electronic front curtain shutter works until 1/2000sec, Mechanical shutter works until 1/8000sec.
Synchronized shutter speed for flash 1/250sec. or slower
Continuous shooting Approx. 11fps (JPEG: 145 frames Lossless compression RAW: 42 frames Uncompressed RAW: 36 frames)
Approx. 8.0fps (JPEG: 200 frames Lossless compression RAW: 46 frames Uncompressed RAW: 39 frames)
Approx. 5.7fps (JPEG: endless Lossless Compression RAW: 62 frames Uncompressed RAW: 43 frames)
Approx. 5.0fps (JPEG: endless Lossless compression RAW: 79 frames Uncompressed RAW: 46 frames)
Approx. 4.0fps (JPEG: endless Lossless compression RAW: 134 frames Uncompressed RAW: 53 frames)
Approx. 3.0fps (JPEG: endless Lossless Compression RAW: endless Uncompressed RAW: 71 frames)
Approx. 30fps [Only electronic shutter, 1.25 x Crop ] (JPEG: 60 frames Lossless compression RAW: 35 frames Uncompressed RAW: 33 frames)
Approx. 20fps [Only electronic shutter, 1.25 x Crop ] (JPEG: 114 frames Lossless compression RAW: 37 frames Uncompressed RAW: 34 frames)
Approx. 20fps [Only electronic shutter ] (JPEG: 79 frames Lossless compression RAW: 36 frames Uncompressed RAW: 34 frames)
Approx. 10fps [Only electronic shutter, 1.25 x Crop ] (JPEG: 500 frames Lossless compression RAW: 48 frames Uncompressed RAW: 39 frames)
Approx. 10fps [Only electronic shutter ] (JPEG: 164 frames Lossless compression RAW: 44 frames Uncompressed RAW: 37 frames)
*Recordable frames depends on recording media
*Speed of continuous shooting depends on shooting environment and shooting frames
Auto bracketing AE Bracketing (Frames: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 Step: by 1/3EV step, up to ±3EV steps)
Filmsimulation bracketing (Any 3 types of film simulation selectable)
Dynamic Range Bracketing (100%, 200%, 400%)
ISO sensitivity Bracketing (±1/3EV, ±2/3EV, ±1EV)
White Balance Bracketing (±1, ±2, ±3)
Focus Bracketing (AUTO, MANUAL)
Focus Mode Single AF / Continuous AF / MF
Type Intelligent Hybrid AF
(TTL contrast AF / TTL phase detection AF)
Low-light Performance Contrast: -3.0EV Phase Detection: -6.0EV (XF35mmF1.4 attached)
AF frame
selection
Single point AF: EVF / LCD: 13×9 / 25×17 (Changeable size of AF frame)
Zone AF: 3×3 / 5×5 / 7×7 from 91 areas on 13×9 grid
Wide/Tracking AF: (up to 18 area)
*AF-S: Wide / AF-C: Tracking
All
White balance Automatic Scene recognition / Custom1~3 / Color temperature selection (2500K~10000K) / Preset: Fine,
Shade, Fluorescent light (Daylight), Fluorescent light (Warm White), Fluorescent light (Cool White),
Incandescent light, Underwater
Self-timer 10sec. / 2sec.
Interval timer shooting Yes (Setting: Interval, Number of shots, Starting time)
Flash modes MODE: TTL MODE (Flash Auto, Standard, Slow Sync.), Manual, Multi, OFF
SYNC. MODE: 1st Curtain, 2nd Curtain, AUTO FP (high-speed sync)
RED EYE REMOVAL: FLASH + REMOVAL, FLASH, REMOVAL, OFF
Hot shoe Yes (Dedicated TTL Flash compatible)
Viewfinder OVF Reverse Galilean viewfinder with electronic bright frame display
Coverage of frame area v.s. capturing area: approx. 95%
Magnifications approx x0.52
EVF 0.5 inch approx. 3.69 millions dots OLED Color Viewfinder (4:3)
Coverage of viewing area vs. capturing area: approx. 100%
Eyepoint: approx. 16.8mm (from the eyepiece lens) Diopter adjustment: -4~+2m-1
Magnification: 0.66× with 50mm lens (35mm equivalent) at infinity and diopter set to -1m-1
Diagonal angle of view: approx. 32° (Horizontal angle of view: approx. 27° ) Built-in eye sensor
LCD monitor 3.0 inch, aspect ratio 3:2, approx. 180 degree tilting 1.62 millions dots touch screen color LCD monitor(approx. 100% coverage)
Sub monitor 1.28 inch, aspect ration 1:1, Color Memory LCD
Movie recording File format Format: MOV, Compression: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Audio: Linear PCM / Stereo sound 2ch / 24bit / 48KHz sampling)
File size [DCI 4K(4096×2160)] 29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 200Mbps/100Mbps up to approx. 15min
Frame rate [4K(3840×2160)] 29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 200Mbps/100Mbps up to approx. 15min
Recording time [Full HD(2048 ×1080)] 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps up to approx. 59min.
[Full HD(1920×1080)] 59.94p/50p/29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 200Mbps/100Mbps/50Mbps up to approx. 59min.
[Full HD(1920×1080) High speed rec.] 120p / 100p 200Mbps(recording) up to approx. 6min.
*For recording movies, use a SD memory card with UHS Speed Class 3 or higher.
*Although movie recording will continue without interruption when the file size reaches 4GB, subsequent
footage will be recorded to a separate file which must be viewed separately.
Film simulation mode 17 modes (PROVIA/Standard, Velvia/Vivid, ASTIA/Soft, Classic Chrome, PRO Neg.Hi, PRO Neg.Std,
Black & White, Black & White+Ye Filter, Black & White+R Filter, Black & White+G Filter, Sepia, ACROS,
ACROS+Ye Filter, ACROS+R Filter, ACROS+G Filter, ETERNA/Cinema, Classic Neg)
Monochromatic Color
Clarity setting ±5 steps
HDR mode AUTO, 200%, 400%, 800%, PLUS
Grain effect Roughness: STRONG, WEAK, OFF Size: LARGE, SMALL
Color chrome effect STRONG, WEAK, OFF
Color chrome Blue STRONG, WEAK, OFF
Dynamic range setting Still AUTO, 100%, 200%, 400%
ISO restriction (DR100%: No limit, DR200%: ISO320 or more, DR400%: ISO640 or more)
Movie 100%, 200%, 400%
ISO restriction (DR100%: No limit, DR200%: ISO320 or more, DR400%: ISO640 or more)
Advanced filter Toy camera, Miniature, Pop color, High-key, Low-key, Dynamic tone, Soft focus,
Partial color (Red / Orange / Yellow / Green / Blue / Purple)
Wireless
transmitter
Standard IEEE802.11b/g/n (standard wireless protocol)
Encryption WEP / WPA / WPA2 mixed mode
Access mode Infrastructure
Bluetooth Standard Bluetooth Ver 4.2 (Bluetooth low energy)
Operating frequency (Center frequency) 2402 - 2480MHz
Terminal Digital interface USB Type-C (USB3.1 Gen1)
HDMI output -
Other Microphone / shutter release input: ø2.5mm, Hot shoe
Power supply NP-W126S Li-ion battery (included)
Battery life for still images*4 Approx. 370 / 440 frames (EVF / OVF Normal Mode) When XF35mmF1.4 R is set.
Actual battery life of
movie capture*4
*Face detection is set to OFF
[4K] approx. 45min. (29.97p)
[Full HD] approx. 45min. (59.94p)
Continuance battery life of
movie capture*4
*Face detection is set to OFF
[4K] approx. 60min. (29.97p)
[Full HD] approx. 75min. (59.94p)
Dimensions (W) 140.5mm × (H) 82.8mm × (D) 46.1mm / (W) 5.5in × (H) 3.3in × (D) 1.8in (minimum depth 34.8mm/1.4in)
Weight Approx. 497g / 17.5oz (including battery and SD memory card)
Approx. 447g / 15.8oz (excluding battery and SD memory card)
Operation
Environment
Operating Temperature '-10°C~+40°C / 32°F~104°F
Operating Humidity 10%~80% (no condensation)
Starting up period Approx. 0.4sec.
Accessories included Li-ion battery NP-W126S, Shoulder strap, Body cap, Strap clip, Protective cover, Clip attaching tool, Hot shoe cover, Wiping cloth, USB cable (type A to C)

*1 Please see the https://fujifilm-x.com/en-gb/products/cameras/X-Pro3/specifications/ to check SD memory card compatibility.

*2 Exif 2.3 is a digital camera file format that contains a variety of shooting information for optimal printing.

*3 The Electronic Shutter may not be suitable for fast-moving objects. Flash cannot be used.

*4 Approximate number of frames or movie recording time that can be taken with a fully-charged based on CIPA Standard.

News

After an early peak at the recent Fuji X-summit event in Japan and the usual avalanche of rumors in the last few days before launch, the Fujifilm X-Pro3 APS-C sensor mirrorless camera has now been officially announced.

This is the new flagship model in the X Series range of mirrorless digital cameras, sitting above the popular X-T3 and the not so popular X-H1 models.

The X-Pro3 has the much-publicized tilting LCD screen which is actually closed against the body in normal use, in a concerted bid to promote greater employment of the electronic viewfinder, a feature that is already dividing online opinion.

Other key features include titanium top and bottom plates, 26.1 megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, the X-Processor 4 image processing engine, an Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, and a new Classic Neg film simulation.

The X-Pro3 will be available from December body only in three colours - Black, Dura Black and Dura Silver - priced at £1699 for Black and £1879 for the two Dura colours.

Fujifilm UK Press Release

Minimal distractions, just photography: Fujifilm release X-Pro3, the latest mirrorless digital camera to join the X Series line-up.  

Featuring a durable yet elegant DuratectTM*1 coating and titanium exterior, advanced hybrid viewfinder with enhanced resolution to enhance the joy of viewfinder shooting, and a beautiful new ‘CLASSIC Neg’ Film Simulation, the FUJIFILM X-Pro3 celebrates the essence of pure photography.

FUJIFILM Corporation (President: Kenji Sukeno) is pleased to announce the launch of the FUJIFILM X-Pro3 (hereinafter “X-Pro3”) in late November, 2019, as the latest flagship model for the X Series range of mirrorless digital cameras.

The X Series’ first interchangeable lens camera, “FUJIFILM X-Pro1,” was released in February 2012 and its successor, “FUJIFILM X-Pro2,” in March 2016 with vastly improved image quality and performance. The X-Pro Series has been embraced by many professional and enthusiast photographers, working in the fields of documentary and reportage photography because of the classic rangefinder style, portability and dials that enable intuitive operation.

The X-Pro3 now has one of the most durable camera bodies thanks to the use of titanium for the exterior sections, which has outstanding strength to weight ratio.

Two colour variations will be available with additional DuratectTM surface-hardening technology for extra toughness and a premium finish.

The X-Pro3 uses the back illuminated 26.1MP “X-TransTM*2 CMOS 4” sensor and the “X-Processor 4” image processing engine, first seen in the FUJIFILM X-T3 and then the FUJIFILM X-T30, to ensure the right level of performance and image quality for a flagship model are met.

Using this combination and new firmware, the phase-detection AF now works down to a luminance of -6EV, which is close to pitch darkness.

The new “Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder,” uses a high resolution 3.69-million-dot organic EL panel, and has a high luminance and advanced colour reproduction to assist photographers and improve the viewfinder experience. 

Also new is “CLASSIC Neg” Film Simulation, which simulates colour negative film that was normally used for everyday snapshots.

*1 Duratect is a trademark or registered trademark of Citizen Watch Co., Ltd.

*2 X-TransTM is a trademark or registered trademark of FUJIFILM Corporation.

Main Product Features

Advanced durability 

The exterior of the camera body is made of titanium, which gives the camera additional strength and corrosion resistance. The “Black” version combines titanium with premium quality coating giving it a sleek, elegant appearance. Also available are the “DR Black” and “DR Silver” versions, which have the surface hardening technology called DuratectTM applied to achieve a Vickers hardness rating up to 1500Hv to protect the camera from scratches while accentuating the look with a unique texture.

 The internal framework of the camera body is made from magnesium alloy. Weather sealing has been applied at 70 points to give the camera advanced dust and moisture resistance. The camera is also capable of operating in temperatures as low as -10℃, allowing users to be on location and not having to worry about the weather. 

Enhanced “Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder,” 

Users can switch between the optical viewfinder (OVF), which provides a constant view of your subject without any time lag, and the electronic viewfinder (EVF), which allows you to check exposure while you shoot.

The EVF uses a 3.69-million-dot organic EL panel with advanced display performance. The organic EL panel boasts a high contrast ratio of over 1:5000 and the maximum luminance of 1500cd/m2 to display the finest details even in shadows and highlights. It also covers 97% of the sRGB colour space, giving more accurate color reproduction.

EVF display options in the “Boost” performance mode now includes “Smoothness priority” where a black frame is inserted between each of the frames at approx. 100fps to provide a smoother appearance with a minimal sense of residual images, giving an equivalent refresh rate of approx. 200fps. This option is recommended when you are taking pictures of fast moving subjects and need to track the erratic motion.

The camera also features the “Electronic Range Finder” function, in which a small EVF window is displayed within the OVF to help checking electronic settings. The EVF window displays live view, enlargement of an AF point and pictures taken, improving the usefulness of the OVF.

Maximum performance from fourth generation sensor and processor 

The X-Pro3 uses an improved algorithm to enable autofocus at the minimum luminance of -6EV, which is near pitch-darkness.

The camera features a new HDR shooting function, which combines multiple continuously shot images of different exposure levels to expand the dynamic range. The tool, designed to recreate the vast dynamic range of light conditions that exist in nature, produces natural tones without causing exaggerated amplification of colour tones.

The X-Pro3 for the first time has an AF range limiter function, which has been available only on a limited number of lenses until now. You can select from two preset values or use the focus ring to specify any focus range. This gives the focus preset function available to all XF lenses.

The camera handles multiple exposures of up to 9 frames in the Additive, Average, Comparative Bright or Comparative Dark mode to combine images taken from multiple viewpoints or at different times into a single image. You can apply different Film Simulation modes to each of the frames to create a multi-layered collage.

Image quality produced from the understanding of colour gained over 85 years in the industry

“CLASSIC Neg” mode has been added to the Film Simulation function, which simulates colour negative film traditionally chosen for everyday snapshots. The colours, precisely controlled for each level of brightness, create a rich chromatic contrast to add extra definition to the image.

The Black & White adjustment function, originally introduced to the FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJIFILM X-T30 to apply warm and cool tones to monochrome images, has been updated as the “Monochromatic Colour” function. The X-Pro3 now allows you to choose the key colour from a matrix of Warm / Cool tones and Magenta / Green hues, incorporating the rich gradation into your images to create photographs with a personal twist.

“Clarity setting” has been included as an image quality parameter to complement the existing Highlight Tone, Shadow Tone and Sharpness. Texture and outlines of subject can be accentuated or softened while retaining gradation of colours to control the overall look of a picture.

The Grain Effect function, which simulates the photographic film, has been evolved so that you can adjust “strength” and “size” to attain a more precise control over graininess, instead of having just two options of “strong” and “weak” graininess in previous models.

Reproducing gradation is notoriously difficult for a subject with highly saturated colours. The “Colour Chrome” effect, which reproduces deeper colours and greater tonal definition in such subjects, is now complemented with the “Colour Chrome Blue” effect, applying extra depth and natural vividness to the blue tones in a picture.

Superb handling in the pursuit of pure photography

The 1.62-million-dot high-resolution tilting LCD touchscreen display, can flip approx. 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot from the hip, at ground level or with the camera above your head. The screen offers a wide angle of view and delivers high contrast yet natural colour reproduction to provide a clear and high quality view.

The rear 1.28-inch colour Memory LCD, protected with toughened glass, displays shooting settings regardless if the camera is turned on or not. The screen can be set in the “Classic” mode which displays Film Simulation, white balance and other image settings reminiscent of film cameras, or in the “Standard” mode for displays shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, the number of remaining frames and other shooting settings in plain numbers and icons. 

The “Highlight Tone” and “Shadow Tone” options, have been integrated into the “Tonal Curve” setting so that you can intuitively adjust settings while checking the tonal curve.

Compatibility with 3rd party software has been improved so they can now read ratings given to pictures using the “Rating” function.

The X-Pro3 has a USB Type-C port (USB3.1 Gen1), to charge the camera’s battery and transfer data.

The functionality of the “Q” quick menu has been improved. You can now choose the number of icons to be displayed in the menu from 16, 12, 8 or 4. “Transparent” has been added as a new background option, allowing you to change the settings but ensuring you won’t miss a photo opportunity.

Optional accessories

“BLC-XPRO3” leather case (for the X-Pro3)

This genuine leather case elegantly shows off the X-Pro3's classic design while protecting the camera body. The battery can be replaced while the case is attached to the camera. 

The case comes with a cloth to wrap the entire camera body when storing it in a bag.

“MHG-XPRO3” hand grip (for the X-Pro3)

This hand grip improves the handling of the camera, especially when using a heavier, large aperture lens. You can replace the battery or SD card without needing to remove the grip.

Pricing and availability

The X-Pro3 will be available as body only and priced as follows:

  • Black - £1699 – available from 28th November
  • Dura Black - £1879 – available from mid December
  • Dura Silver - £1879 – available from mid December

https://fujifilm-x.com/x-pro3

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

First Impressions

Photography Blog attended the UK launch of the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera at The Shard in central London, UK.

Find out what we thought of Fujifilm's brand new APS-C sensor camera by reading our detailed first impressions...

Pricing

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 will go on sale from December 2019 priced at £1699 for the black version and £1879 for the Dura Black and Dura Silver versions, body only. There are no kit options at launch.

Target Audience

Fujifilm X-Pro3

The X-Pro3 is aimed squarely at street, reportage and wedding photographers who like the rangefinder mirrorless style that the X-Pro series embodies.

Fujifilm are placing more of an emphasis than ever before on using the hybrid eye-level viewfinder, as we'll discuss in further detail below.

Size and Weight

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Weighing just 447g and measuring (W) 140.5mm × (H) 82.8mm × (D) 46.1mm, the new X-Pro3 is exactly the same size and weight as the previous X-Pro2 model, and is similarly weather-sealed.

Construction

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has top and bottom plates that are made of titanium, which is 50% later than alloy and much more scratch resistant. The rest of the exterior is made of the more typical magnesium alloy.

For the first time, Fujifilm are also offering a camera in a special Duratec finish that is even more durable and scratch resistant than the standard painted black, albeit carrying a price premium over the standard version.

Duratec is a cold plasma technology that involves passing an electric current through hydrogen and carbon gases to diffuse an amorphous carbon coating onto the surface of the titanium. As a result it’s extremely hard smooth and scratch-resistant.

They showed us a video of a factory worker repeatedly attempting to scratch the Duratec coated X-Pro3 with a very sharp craft knife, with no visible effects.

In our time with a silver Duratec sample camera, though, we did find that it seemed a lot more prone to displaying fingerprints than the standard black version.

LCD Screen

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Never before has an LCD screen on a camera caused quite so much controversy, even before said camera has even been launched.

The X-Pro3 has what can only be described as a hidden LCD screen, which is folded closed against the back of the camera for the majority of the time.

It's hinged at the bottom to allow it to be tilted down and outwards, then allowing you to view and interact with the newly upgraded touchscreen interface, which is quite an ironic upgrade given that the screen is hidden away on purpose for most of the time.

Fujifilm say that they've designed the X-Pro3's screen in this way to encourage you to use the viewfinder as much as possible and spend less time chimping your images or, even worse, holding the camera at arm's length whilst shooting.

In practice, while this is certainly true - you do undoubtedly use the hybrid viewfinder a lot more than you might otherwise - it's not necessarily the time-saver or concentration-developer that Fujifilm were aiming for.

Being effectively forced to playback your images and change the camera's menu settings through the viewfinder seems like a retrograde step back to the distant days when LCD screens were tiny.

Despite the X-Pro offering an even better viewfinder experience than the X-Pro2, it's simply not up to handling the tasks that are more commonly accomplished via the rear LCD screen.

The alternative method of constantly pulling down the LCD screen soon proved equally tiresome, though, so you're effectively trapped between squinting through the viewfinder or tilting the LCD screen down yet again whenever you want to playback an image or change a menu setting.

There is a sub-LCD monitor embedded within the back of the LCD screen, so that you can view certain key settings, including a pictorial representation of the current Film Simulation mode.

This can be customised to show different sets of information, but rather unintuitively, you can't interact with it in the same way as you would with the Quick Menu to change those settings.

All in all, the hidden LCD screen really is going to be a Marmite feature, something that Fujifilm representatives admitted as much at the UK launch. 

It's probably safe to say that never before in the history of digital cameras has a rear LCD screen been such a make or break feature, but it really could be for the X-Pro3.

Hybrid Viewfinder

Fujifilm X-Pro3

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a clearer optical viewfinder with less distortion than the one on the X-Pro2.

There's also a higher eyepoint of 17mm and a larger angle of view of 27 degrees that should please glasses wearers.

The electronic element of the unique hybrid viewfinder has an improved resolution of 3.69m. dots, higher contrast of 1:5000, a wider color space (sRGB 97%), greater brightness and a higher frame rate (100fps).

In the Boost mode, the new Smoothness Priority option inserts a black frame between each of the regular frames at 100fps, giving an equivalent refresh rate of approx. 200fps. This option is recommended when capturing fast moving, erratic subjects.

Overall, the various improvements made to the new hybrid viewfinder collectively represent quite a big step forwards from the previous model.

Sensor

Fujifilm X-Pro3

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 uses exactly the same sensor and processor as the X-T3 and X-T30 cameras. Consequently the still image quality should be be very similar, if not nigh on identical, to those other Fujifilm cameras.

Video Recording

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is a fairly capable video camera, offering DCI 4K 30p/25p/24p recording for clips up to 15 minutes in length. Still photographs are really where the heart of the X-Pro3 lies, though.

Stabilisation

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 doesn't have an in-body stabilisation system, just like every other X-series camera, with the exception of the rather unpopular X-H1. It instead relies on the attached lens to provide stabilisation, if that lens offers it.

Auto-focusing

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 can now focus all the way down to -6 EV, which is virtual darkness to the human eye. It's twice as good as the X-Pro's -3EV rating.

There's also a new innovative Software AF Range Limiter with various settings, which because it's software based works for any lens that you attach to the camera.

Battery

Fujifilm X-Pro3

Battery life is acceptable, rather than outstanding, on the Fujifilm X-Pro3. It's officially rated at 370 still images or 60mins of video recording, via the same NP-W126S Li-ion battery used in the X-Pro2.

You can also charge the camera on the go via the USB 3.1 port, though, which is a great new feature that's appearing in most recently announced cameras.

Memory Cards

Fujifilm X-Pro3

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a dual-slot SD UHS-II memory card slot, just like the X-T3 and X-H1 cameras, which are housed in a dedicated compartment on the side of the camera.

Weather Proofing

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is fully weatherproof thanks to the same dust-, splash- and freeze-proof sealing at 70 different points found on its predecessor.

Image Quality

Fujifilm X-Pro3

We've already been out and about with the X-Pro3 - so you can see an extensive gallery of Fujifilm X-Pro3 sample images and videos here.

Early Verdict

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 seems like rather a modest upgrade of the previous X-Pro2 model if you just look at the list of changes and improvements to the spec sheet, but in practice it's a potentially much more divisive camera thanks to that hidden LCD screen.

Perhaps never before in recent camera history has one seemingly innocuous feature caused so much controversy, and the X-Pro3 hasn't even gone on sale yet!

It remains to be seen if the hidden LCD screen concept will make or break the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 in terms of its appeal and ultimately its sales, but it's fair to say that this is definitely a camera that you should try out in person before buying...

Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera.

A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images and videos taken with the brand new Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera. The X-Pro3 is the new flagship model in Fujifilm's range of APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, sitting above the X-T3 and the X-H1.

A gallery of sample JPEG and Raw images and videos taken with a pre-production version of the Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera.

Fujifilm X-Pro3 Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Fujifilm RAW (RAF) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 26 second movie is 324Mb in size.

This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 3840x2160 at 30 frames per second. Please note that this 25 second movie is 318Mb in size.

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