Fuji Let's start talking about the X-Pro 3

Nice review. It makes clear that this is a fully capable modern camera but also aimed at those who prefer a certain style of photography. I always use cars as the best example of my belief that cameras are more than just a tool for many people. The feel and aesthetics matter and there is nothing wrong with that. Practically, Fuji came up with an interesting solution to my one problem with the XPro and XE series, i.e., I like to do waist level shooting in some cases and need a tilt screen to do this. Otherwise, it tucks away. It gives me a camera that I can look forward to buying used sometime in the future. :whistle:
 
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I'm not sure, it's something my wife likes to say when I see something and go "Ooohh, shiny!".
Even worse, it's that dull titanium "shiny". Instead of silver paint on your silver body you can have actual metal. If you appreciate metal bodies this could be hard to resist, especially since you don't pay a weight penalty relative to the earlier bodies.
 
Update: nevermind. I see now the silver is not bare metal, but instead is a clear finish (duratect) that is applied for protection.

Maybe someone can help me understand. The silver version is $200.00 US more than the black version. My understanding is the black version is just the bare metal (silver version) painted black. What might I be missing?
 
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I don't have a definitive answer. But maybe they have done some research and found that fans of the silver look are willing to pay a premium.

It certainly seems weird that they would apply a coat or two of paint and charge $200 LESS if it really is the same.

Maybe that clear finish is some exotic, expensive product (or application process) compared to black paint.
 
Update: nevermind. I see now the silver is not bare metal, but instead is a clear finish (duratect) that is applied for protection.

Maybe someone can help me understand. The silver version is $200.00 US more than the black version. My understanding is the black version is just the bare metal (silver version) painted black. What might I be missing?

As I understand it, there are three finishes. Standard black, Duratect black, Duratect silver. $200US more for the Duratect finishes.
 
I don't have a definitive answer. But maybe they have done some research and found that fans of the silver look are willing to pay a premium.

It certainly seems weird that they would apply a coat or two of paint and charge $200 LESS if it really is the same.

Maybe that clear finish is some exotic, expensive product (or application process) compared to black paint.
As I understand it, there are three finishes. Standard black, Duratect black, Duratect silver. $200US more for the Duratect finishes.
I had to do a search as I wasn't familiar with "Duratect". In short, the basic black body is just paint while the $200 extra Duratect finishes are scratch resistant and were licensed from Citizens.

I wonder if any of the review sites spend the cash to try & kill the units for durability testing? 🤔

From Imaging Resource:
While the standard, "classic black" version of the X-Pro3 bears paint atop these metal panels, prospective buyers are faced with a rather unusual add-on option which promises a more scratchproof finish. (Fans of patina on their well-loved cameras need not apply.) For the titanium panels alone, Fuji has licensed a cold-plasma surface-hardening technology from Japanese watch-maker Citizen, known as "Duratect".

This finish is applied only to the DR Silver and DR Black body colors, and comes at a premium of US$200 over pricing for the base model. In its own products, Citizen brands this finish as "Super Titanium", and claims it to be "five times harder than stainless steel" in terms of scratch-resistance, suggesting it should be significantly more long-lasting than a paint-based finish.
 
I just have to say, with everything I have read about this new iteration of the XPro - if I was starting from scratch and didn't already have 2 or 3 cameras which I seriously love, I would consider plunking down whatever cash I had (or even didn't have) to buy one. It sounds like a remarkable camera for those (and yes there are a lot of us) who are semi addicted (or think we are) to old-school photography.

But I've been spoiled by my Pentax KP (this coming from someone who was also spoiled by generations of analog Pentaxes, among my favorite cameras ever), as well as my diminutive and semi-pocketable Canon G1x Mk3 (which every time I use it surprises and pretty much delights me), not to mention my GX-8, one of the better handling and shooting cameras I've ever used. I like them all too much (especially the Pentax glass and some of the Leica-branded-Panasonic-made lenses) to give them up.

But, yeah, if I was starting from scratch....the X-Pro3 would be a no-brainer :)
 
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I had the X-Pro1 and now have the X-Pro2. I realize the autofocus, video ability and EVF resolution are improved with the X-Pro3. But I just don't think I'm feeling it. The fact that I also have the X-T3, X-E3 and X-H1 kind of makes this new camera unnecessary for me. And given that my discretionary income is headed downward, I would probably have to trade two cameras as well as spend extra cash to swing the X-Pro3. I think I'll just see how this model works out for others over the long haul.
 
I had little desire for this camera but from Kevin Mullins' review it appears to be that the screen tilts 180 degrees. Now that the poor man's shift is back on the table, it's a body that definitely is usable for all things that I do.

The X-Pro3 is definitely the Fuji for the likes of me. I don't particularly enjoy the Fujinon lenses* after getting the Leica bullet but if that time comes, I'd probably trade my XT3 for a silver XPro3.

Fuji does wisely, knowing that most people will prefer the XT3 anyway being the cheaper and more practical body so they're free to experiment with the XPro3.


*) After seeing any Kevin Mullins pics I'm painfully reminded that it's the shooter and not the lens that makes a compelling image. Still...
 
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Let's fantasize a little. From the little that I used X100T's optical viewfinder I just couldn't trust it to focus correctly. The focus rectangle is too big, there's usually many things inside it for the camera to focus on.

What if Fuji could show a matrix of phase-detected points in focus? It wouldn't have to be super accurate; the principle is that the photographer can rely on the camera to throw the focus around the focal plane desired.

This could be just and just doable on the OVF. (I should have built this demo image on a deep-DOF image of course, silly me.)

fuji-xpro-ideal.jpg
Join to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
 
I’ve never had an issue with the Pro2 focusing incorrectly using the optical viewfinder.
Fair enough. It was a common enough occurence with X-Trans II era bodies that the camera really seemed to have a preference to the background, if there was something contrasty inside the focus rectangle.

I have read that X-Trans III improved greatly on this particular aspect, and started to prefer things closer to the photog. I haven't shot an X100F or XPro2 so I don't know.

But imagine if you had this feature and could suddenly start to focus manually using the OVF. It wouldn't be very accurate, but it would be a real alternative to rangefinder focusing.

Currently you can only enable the focus distance meter (AFAIK it can be enabled in OVF mode as well?) and judge from there if the camera decided to focus too far.
 
I have access to a 100f to try for comparison. But it may be a few days before I can get to it. I’ll have a 23mm f2 today. So when I do test them side by side, it will be as even as possible.


From the stuff I’ve read. Fuji has greatly improved everything from the OVF to the AF in the Pro3.
 
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