Fujifilm Creates Mirrorless with 4th Generation X-Trans Sensor

2018.09.06

Fujifilm just took the wraps of their latest co-flagship mirrorless digital camera. The new X-T3 introduces the 4th generation of unique Fujifilm X-Trans sensors. This X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI sensor augments slightly resolution to 26 MP while providing much faster readout which are prominently used in the X-T3.

The Fujifilm X-T3 takes on a nearly identical body to its already 2-year-old predecessor and replaces its imaging pipeline with a X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI sensor paired with an also new X-Processor 4. This gives this mirrorless 26 MP and a wider ISO 160-12800 standard sensitivity range which expands to ISO 80-51200. This new X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor is the first APS-C sensor to capture Cinema 4K at 60 FPS, which it can record at 10-bit (4:2:2) and Hybrid Log Gamma (HLG) using a H.264 or H.265 codec, still within a Quicktime envelope.

Combined together, the X-Trans CMOS 4 and X-Processor 4 allows the X-T3 to continuously capture full-resolution images at 11 FPS using the mechanical-shutter and without the need of an extra battery, as does the X-T2. There is also now a 1.25X crop Electronic-Shutter mode which captures 16 MP images at 30 FPS with good buffer-depth. This high-speed mode can also be used with Pre-and-Post shot capture bursts, recording 20 frames before and after the shutter is fully-pressed.

To take advantage of these new high-speed drive modes, Fujifilm made the EVF black-out-free, even when capturing at 30 FPS. There is also now a Sport Finder mode that shows the whole sensor area with a frame around the 1.25X crop used to capture when shooting at 30 or 20 FPS. This is realized using a completely different 0.5" EVF unit which sports an ultra-high 3.7 megapixels of resolution, 100 FPS refresh-rate, 100% coverage and a rather large 0.75X magnification. There is still an essential Eye-Start Sensor nearby to switch automatically between the EVF and the 3" Touchscreen 1 megapixel LCD on the back. That display is mounted on a 3-way tilting hinge to deliver framing flexibility while remaining relatively sturdy.

Autofocus has been dramatically improved thanks to the new sensor which sports an incredible 2.1 million Phase-Detection pixels! This is represented as a 425-Point AF system with 91 resizeable areas. The new high-speed read-out allows this system to perform Phase-Detection calculation at incredible speeds and mange to continuous do Eye-Tracking.

Amazingly for an upgraded model these days, the Fujifilm X-T3 comes with a lower price-tag than its predecessor! This new professional mirrorless digital camera is schedule for availability two weeks from today, so on September 20, 2018. It will retail for $1500 USD or $1900 CAD. Both Adorama and B&H Photo are already accepting pre-orders. Follow these links to pre-order yours today.

• Digital Camera