NEW: FujiFilm X-T4 — Closest to perfection!

As it was announced on the Fujifilm X100v presentation, February 26th was a birthday for a new king of the X-line: X-T4!



Let’s not beat around the bush: The new APS-C king is here!


x-t4-200226_02_01.jpg
Source: fujifilm.com

And no, this is not an exaggeration – this camera is closest to perfection of any other camera in this moment, and of any other format in the digital era. Mere 18 months after a very successful model X-T3 (which stays in production), Fujifilm brings a number of eagerly waited improvements and pack everything in almost identical body of its predecessor. From the outside, the greatest difference is – a beautiful fully articulated LCD screen! Finally!


X-T4-48_cr.jpg
Source: fujifilm.com

X-T4-42_cr.jpgSource: fujifilm.com


X-T4-21.jpeg
Source: fujifilm.com

You really can’t appreciate enough this design of LCD screen until your knees start betraying you. Thank you, Fujifilm, hope to see it on all your future models!

Second spectacular improvement would be in-body image stabilization (IBIS) which Fuji now implemented with magnets instead of springs, making it smaller and more effective. Not as effective as a fantastic Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III, but so close that you can cancel that Olympus order 😉.

Precisely because of IBIS rumors, there were speculations about possible merging of the X-T and X-H lines into one, but fortunately it will not happen. On this model, Fujifilm has retained that beautiful all-dial controls together with a d-pad in the back, while X-H2 (which will probably come sometime in 2021) will have top LCD screen and bigger body better equipped for video.


X-T4-20_cr.jpg
Source: fujifilm.com

On that note, that would be a probable reason why Fujifilm took a standard ø3.5 mm headphone jack off the body (it was on X-T3) and put it on the vertical battery grip. You still can use headphones on the body through the dongle adapter for USB Type-C port (included). It’s almost a polite way of Fujifilm to tell you: “If you want to shoot predominantly video, wait for the X-H2.”

The next big change is a new battery. So far, we had NP-W126S/NP-W126 Li-Ion battery, which didn’t have a lot of capacity, but it was single form, so you could use it in every Fuji X camera — until X-T4. Now we have a new standard: NP-W235 has a capacity enough for a 500 shots in normal mode or 600 in economy mode. It’s a decent number. Albeit, don’t expect this battery in future smaller models (X-T40 or X-E4 for example) simply because it is bigger. And you have to buy separately a dual battery charger BC-W235, which is not included.


bc-w235_main_03_cr.jpg
fujifilm-x.com

Now, FujiFilm says AF is dramatically improved. First loose testing of preproduction models says it is still not on the level of Sony 6XXX series, but it is so good that you do not need to feel envy towards the ‘Sony Boys’. Tracking is clearly much better, and we are going to wait a bit for the thorough Face/Eye Detection test.

Shutter mechanism is completely reworked, and now we have much quieter mechanical shutter declared at 300,000 actuations, and capable of shooting 15fps with full AF and AE! World’s first! (eat your heart, Nikon D500 😉).

Let’s see a quick comparison table:

FujifilmX-T4X-T3X-H1
Sensor26Mpix, (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI26Mpix, (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI24Mpix,
(APS-C) X-Trans CMOS 3
ISO160-12,800
(H51,200)
160-12,800
(H51,200)
200-12,800
(H51,200)
ProcessorX Processor 4X Processor 4X Processor Pro
IBISYesNoYes
IS stops5-6.5*Lens dependant5-5.5
Digital ISYesNoNo
AF System425
(AF-S & AF-C)
425
(AF-S & AF-C)
325 AF-S,
91 AF-C
AFPDFull sensorFull sensorCentral part of sensor
Face/Eye DetectionYes, improvedYesYes, first gen.
AFPD sensit.-6.0 EV-3.0 EV-1.0 EV
Cont. shooting15 fps with AF11 fps8 fps
Pre-ShootYes, half-pressYes, half-pressNo
ClarityYes ±5 stepsYesNo
Video4K@60, 20 min.
4K@30, 30 min.
240fps @1080p
(3 min.)
120fps @1080p
(6 min.)

4K@60, 20 min.
4K@30, 30 min.
N/A

120fps @1080p, full sensor readout (6 min.)
4K@60, 20 min.
4K@30, 30 min.
N/A

120fps @1080p, line skipping

LCDFully articulated3-way tilt3-way tilt
Dual SDSDHC
SDXC
SDHC
SDXC
SDHC
SDXC
Shutter life300,000150,000N/A
Battery
(Li-ion)
NP-W235NP-W126SNP-W126S
Battery life500390310
Body price**$1,699$1,499$1,899

*Synching IS with 18 (out of 29 XF/XC) Fujifilm lenses ensures 6.5 stops of stabilization.
**At the launch date

And just to let you know this is not only my opinion. All the people who got preproduction samples to test, are impressed. Here is an example:

X-T4 – Fujifilm's BEST X Series Camera yet! (Duration: 8:15)

And you can see a Fujifilm’s sample gallery here…

So, why is it not perfect yet?

So much nice words, but… what kept this camera from perfect? Where are those slight faults? Well, mainly in the back. Let’s first compare X-T4 (left) with X-T3 (right):

dpreview.com

If you try to spot five differences, the first one could be a missing metering mode beneath the exposure dial. Instead of it, we now have a simple still • movie selector. Good choice. Quick turn from one to the other mode is by far more used than change of a metering mode. Aside of that, you can always assign metering mode to one of at least six function buttons if you need it. And one more good feature: Now stills and video has their own separate Q-menus, so you will not have to change all over again when you go from one mode to the other. Kudos to Fujifilm!

Yes, but that is not the explanation why is it not perfect yet. Here we come to the case. Aside from the metering mode and still • movie selector, we also note some reshuffle of the buttons that naturally falls under the right thumb. And AF-ON (former AF-L) button is on the right place. With the other three is a struggle. For some reason, Fujifilm is positioning their joystick lower than it would be desired. Here is my suggestion:


X-T4-5_cr-corr.jpg

Joystick should be moved to the current AEL button position, AEL should be in the current position of Q-button, and Q-button should be moved under the joystick – where it usually is on majority of other cameras. Those are their logical positions, anything else is a mistake.

You also have another dissenting view from a vlogger’s perspective, which may help you get complete picture of this camera:

Fuji XT4 Review: Truth About the Not Quite Perfect Camera (Duration: 22:02)

Yes, we are that close to a perfect camera today…

And, of course, one 3.5 mm headphone jack away from perfect…
And one functional smartphone app for the remote control of the camera

Top X-H line is still designated as a ‘flagship’ model. But until it arrives next year, there is no better choice…

BTW, do we have anything on X-Pro4, X-T40 or X-E4 with fully articulated LCD screen?

Stay tuned!

* * *

Related posts:

NEW: Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III — Repackaging for Travel?

Fujifilm X100v — A Beauty Enhanced

Fujifilm X-T200 — The Shape of Things to Come

Lens test: Portrait Face-off — Nikkor vs. Canon

Lens test: 35mm Oldies — Nikkor vs. Zeiss

Nikon Z50

Fujifilm X-Pro3 — A Major Design Flop!

Yongnuo YN450 Android Mirrorless Camera… With SIM!

ZEISS ZX1 — Android Full Frame!

The Last of the Mohicans — FujiFilm FinePix XP140

Canon EOS RP — Released!

Leica M10-P ASC 100 Edition

Canon EOS RP

Full Frame Fuji? Don’t Count it Out!

Canon Speedlite 470EX-AI flash

Leica D-Lux 7

Insta360 ONE X — Ultimate Selfie Camera?

Leica Q-P — P for Perverseverance?

Pinhole Photographing — Like a Boss!

Another Blast From the Past — Escura Instant 60s

PHOTO&VIDEO REVOLUTION: New Sensor Technology!

Leica-M10-D — Digital Body. Analogue Soul. Terrible Design

Nano — Offspring of Tiny

Fujifilm X-T3 — Making it Right

Canon EOS R — R For Ridiculous?

Crazy Lens — Laowa 24mm f14 Macro Probe

Water Drop Lens & Camera!

Canon EOS M6



img

e-vizitka - 2017-10-28_131026-mala.jpg


Instant Access to Steemit


Universal Basic Income


Google detox starts here!

PocketNet


Check out ABRA and easily invest in 28 cryptocurrencies or BIT10, an index of the top cryptos. Use this link to sign up and get $25 in free bitcoin after your first Bank/Amex deposit, or 1.5% cash back when you exchange cryptos

: 1GZQG69sEKiMXKgGw9TcGcUCBoC4sC1ZYp

H2
H3
H4
3 columns
2 columns
1 column
4 Comments
Ecency