Is FUJIFILM X-T3 Worth It In 2024? Review

So you’re thinking about buying an X-T3? Well in this article, I’m going to go over what it’s like to use this camera for three plus years now and is FUJIFILM X-T3 worth it in 2023.

I bought my X-T3 in 2019, shortly after its release date. However, my first experience with the camera was less than ideal. After taking it out of the box, inserting my memory card, and snapping a few photos on a walk, the camera’s user interface froze. I was disappointed, to say the least.

Despite this initial setback, I decided to give the X-T3 another chance. After returning the faulty camera and receiving a replacement, I was finally able to test out its capabilities. And let me tell you, the results were impressive.

You may have come across some negative reviews regarding the camera’s initial release. I can personally attest to this, as my first impressions with the X-T3 were less than positive. However, I do believe that my experience may have been due to the fact that I received one of the earliest releases of the camera.

Table of Contents

Is FUJIFILM X-T3 Worth It In 2023?

Design of Fujifilm X-T3

In my experience, the general ergonomics and usability of this camera are top-notch.

One of the standout features of the X-T3 is its lightweight design, which makes it easy to carry around on long shoots or trips. Additionally, the dials on the top of the camera are conveniently placed, making it simple to adjust settings on the fly.

As a photographer, customization is key when it comes to choosing a camera that fits your individual shooting style. With the Fujifilm X-T3, I have found that the menus and button layout allow for a high degree of personalization.

While the camera does have a lot of buttons, many of them have double functions that can be customized to fit your specific needs. The menus themselves are also highly customizable, allowing you to adjust settings and preferences to your personal taste.

In my experience, the X-T3’s general ergonomics are spot-on. The customizable menus and button layout make it easy to use and adjust to your liking.

If you’re a street photographer or just someone who likes to have their camera at the ready, you know that comfort and accessibility are key. That’s why I love carrying my Fujifilm X-T3 in my hand with a wrist strap.

In my experience, the camera is lightweight and comfortable to hold, making it a great option for all-day shooting. Plus, having it at the ready means I never miss a shot.

For those with larger hands, you may want to consider the battery grip, which can provide extra space to hold onto the camera. But for me, the standard setup works perfectly.

Battery Life Of Fujifilm X-T3

While the Fujifilm X-T3 has many great features, battery life is unfortunately not one of them. In my experience, the battery life on this camera is one of the worst I have ever encountered.

To get through a day of shooting, I find myself constantly juggling my two batteries through a charger, which can be quite inconvenient when out and about. This is especially challenging when shooting street photography, where you need to be ready to capture the moment at any time.

In the summer months, the batteries last only about one to two hours, which is not ideal for long shoots or extended travel.

I’ve tried everything to minimize battery usage, from turning down the brightness of the LED screens to turning off shot previews, but to no avail.

I don’t want to have to carry around four, five, or six batteries, nor do I want to have to spend a lot of money on them. At around $50 per battery, the cost can really add up and increase the overall expense of purchasing this camera.

To make matters worse, living in a country with cold winters makes battery life even more challenging. When shooting in the snow or other cold weather conditions, the battery life is chopped from one to two hours down to just 30 minutes to an hour. This is far from ideal for anyone who wants to shoot for extended periods of time.

Weather sealing of Fujifilm X-T3

As for the camera’s weather resistance, the Fujifilm X-T3 is a remarkable device that can endure different weather conditions. Despite having taken it out in some harsh weather, including non-weather sealed lenses, I wouldn’t advise doing so to avoid ruining expensive lenses.

Nevertheless, I have tested this camera in some extreme weather conditions several times, and it’s still functioning correctly. I’m entirely satisfied with the weather sealing on this camera, and I have no negative remarks to make about it. While there are some areas that could be taped up if you want to soak the camera, the overall weather sealing is reliable.

In conclusion, the Fujifilm X-T3 is a trustworthy camera that can withstand even the toughest weather conditions, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys outdoor photography.

RAW and JPEGs of Fujifilm X-T3

When it comes to the files, I personally only work with raw, so I cannot comment on JPEG. However, when I first got my hands on this camera, there were some significant issues that many photographers were unhappy about.

Thankfully, Fujifilm has released firmware updates, and applications like Lightroom and Capture One have also made some fixes, which have resolved most of the issues.

I must say, though, that I still detect some luma noise when I zoom in on the images, which could be a result of pixel peeping. This might not be noticeable if you’re looking at a small image on social media, but if you’re a professional or a semi-professional, you might notice it, especially if you have worked with other cameras before.

Lenses

When it comes to lenses for Fujifilm’s X series cameras, there seems to be a good range available and more to come in the future. Personally, I own two of these lenses, the 35mm f2 and the 18-55mm f2.8-4, both of which I really like.

One thing to note is that these lenses don’t have mechanical coupling, meaning there are no stopping points when focusing from left to right.

Instead, they keep turning, but there is a digital meter in the viewfinder or on the back screen that shows the focus distance. For those who have experience with film lenses, you can use the markers on the lens to zone focus.

One small detail that I found missing on all the lenses I’ve used is the aperture marking, which would be a handy addition.

Viewfinder of Fujifilm X-T3

Let’s talk about the electronic viewfinder (EVF) on the X-T3. While I do appreciate having the histogram displayed on it, I must admit that I’m not a huge fan of the EVF overall. There are a few reasons for this, one of which ties back to the camera’s battery life.

The LED screen inside the EVF can be a major drain on the battery, and with already limited battery life, this can be a real issue for extended shoots.

I appreciate that the Fujifilm X-T3 offers many options on how the back screen and viewfinder operate.

You can choose between back screen only, viewfinder only, a combination of both, or even use a sensor in the viewfinder to automatically turn it on and off as you bring it up to your eye. This level of customization allows you to shoot in a way that feels comfortable and intuitive to you.

I do find that the viewfinder drains battery life quite significantly. Additionally, when shooting in cold weather, the viewfinder can be slow to load and there is a lag of about half a second to a second, which could cause you to miss your moment in street or sports photography.

Moreover, snow can also get packed into the viewfinder and trigger the LED screen. On the bright side, there are film simulations available within the camera, and they can be previewed in the viewfinder, allowing you to see what the final image will look like before you shoot.

One of the features that I really enjoy about my Fujifilm X-T3 camera is the ability to switch to black and white mode. Shooting in black and white and editing in black and white is something that I often do, and being able to use the viewfinder to preview what the final image will look like in black and white is a nice touch.

Another advantage of the electronic viewfinder is the exposure assistance that it provides. This feature can be especially helpful in low-light situations when it’s challenging to see the details of the scene.

Conclusion

So, now the real question, is FUJIFILM X-T3 worth it in 2023?

If you’re looking for an upgrade from an older camera or another brand and the Fujifilm X-T3 fits your budget, I think it’s a pretty solid choice for an amateur to semi-pro photographers. It’s a versatile camera that performs well for both photos and videos, although I do have some criticisms.

However, if you’re a professional with a larger budget, and perhaps in need of a full-frame camera, then the X-T3 may not be the right fit for you. Nonetheless, it can make for a great backup camera for professionals. For instance, wedding photographers can benefit from having an X-T3 as a safety camera in case of technical difficulties with their primary camera.

Overall, I hope this honest review of my experience with the Fujifilm X-T3 has been helpful for you in deciding whether or not to purchase this camera.