Fujifilm X-T3 First Impressions

 

Fujifilm X-T3, Sigma CONTEMPORARY 30mm f1.4 DC DN

Sigma really needs to shorten their lens names ;-) The name is longer than the lens, which is rather compact for an f1.4 lens even in APS-C. 

Yes, it's a little ironic that in acquiring a Fuji system to get access to a much broader selection of APS-C lenses than Z mount offers, I start with a lens that is available in Z mount, the 30mm f1.4 is one of 4 Sigma lenses available in Z mount (the 16/1.4, 56/1.4 and the new 16-300 are the other ones), but there's an additional 6 such lenses from Sigma in their Fuji lineup, including the 100-400 Contemporary that I had in Sony mount last year and liked aside from the apparently Sony-specific OIS issues. 

Likewise, Tamron just announced a new 16-50/2.8 in all 4 modern APS-C mounts, but their 11-18/2.8 that I am far more interested in is not offered in Z mount, in fact it's the sole lens on Tamron's Fuji lineup that isn't offered in Z mount (Tamron offers a total of 14 lenses for Z mount, including 3 APS-C lenses, and 5 in Fuji mount, but the fifth Fuji offering is the 150-500 which is a full frame lens also available in Z mount). Tamron does not offer a particularly broad set of APS-C lenses in general.

I've had the X-T3 now for a day, and had it out for one short outing and it's already shot 65% as many frames as the Z7 did this year. That's more a showing of just how little the Z7 has been used since I got the Z5ii, and it didn't really pick up at all when I got the Zfc or replaced the Z5ii with the D7500. 

Now as to the X-T3 itself, it's pretty much exactly what I expected, an improved X-T2. AF is definitely better than the X-T2, I was expecting it to be slightly worse than the EXPEED6 bodies, but I'd rate it as a bit better, but a little finicky. Mostly that's just that it's different and I need to get used to how to control it, just like some of the other UI differences between the two bodies. 

Ergonomics are generally better than the Zfc, notably the little thumbrest on the X-T3 that the Zfc lacks, but also the grip extension on the front, I had to get a 3rd party grip for that on the Nikon and it's good but not great. That grip addition actually makes the Zfc and X-T3 just about the same size and weight, which doesn't hold up well. The X-T3 also gives me better port covers, a much better EVF, proper sealing and more robust build, and the threaded cable release/soft release that the Zfc inexplicably lacks. Both suffer from Chiclet buttons, but the X-T3 has a joystick for AF points which is a win. The X-T3 also has more controls available to customize. Finally, the X-T3 offers both a wired remote port and a headphone port to the mic, USB-C and Micro HDMI ports on both bodies. The flip-twist screen on the Zfc is better for my video setup, but inferior for still use where I continue to prefer the dual-tilt setup on the X-T3. The X-T3 was instantly comfortable in my hands, much like the D7500, and that is a good place to start. The only real annoyance is that Nikon's Delete/Play buttons on the EXPEED6 and older bodies are the same spot as on the Fuji X-T bodies, but in reverse order. I have to check regularly that I'm hitting the right ones. Expeed7 moves the play button to the other button cluster so it's not the same disruption. But my Z7, Zfc and D7500 all have this issue compared to the X-T3, same as my D750 had with the X-T2 when I had that pairing. Neither is right, but it's way to easy to hit delete by mistake when swapping between Fuji and all but the newest Nikons. 

Frankly, I would have bought an X-T3 in preference to the Zfc back in April if one had been available, and now I have done so and unsurprisingly I prefer it overall. 

In hindsight, I wish I'd waited for an X-T3 to show up rather than jumping on the Zfc, although I have enjoyed the Zfc experience, it's a lot better than its reputation, but the DX lens gripes are very real. Unless the specific set of DX +FX lenses work for you, look elsewhere than Nikon for an APS-C system. The real question I think is do I trade the Zfc for a b-cam in Fuji mount or for glass.