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Fujifilm X-Pro3 Camera Review

Tested using Methodology v0.12
Reviewed Apr 26, 2021 at 11:49 am
Latest change: Retest Sep 05, 2023 at 03:22 pm
Fujifilm X-Pro3 Picture
7.9
Travel Photography
8.1
Landscape Photography
7.4
Sport & Wildlife Photography
6.7
Vlogging
8.1
Studio Video
5.8
Action Video

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is an interchangeable-lens mirrorless rangefinder-style camera with a unique hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder. This retro-inspired APS-C model has a reverse flip-out screen that encourages using this hybrid viewfinder in photography but can make it a bit unwieldy to shoot video. Still, it offers impressive image quality and records sharp, clear footage in 4k and FHD. It's also decently portable and amazingly well-built. However, depending on your choice of camera settings and usage patterns, its battery life is only adequate.

Our Verdict

7.9 Travel Photography

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is very good for travel photography. It offers impressive image quality, with a fairly wide dynamic range and good noise handling capability, even at higher ISO levels. Its wide shutter speed range is also well-suited to capturing everything from long-exposure shots to stills of fast-moving subjects. Its autofocus system is also impressively quick and accurate when it comes to tracking moving subjects. If you're looking to give your photos a distinctive flair, the camera has a couple of film-inspired visual effects that you can apply. That said, depending on your settings and usage patterns, its battery life is a little on the short side. It can also sometimes be a little heavy to carry around handheld for long periods, though its metal construction looks and feels premium.

Pros
  • Impressive image quality.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Great autofocus performance in photography.
Cons
  • Battery life can be somewhat short.
8.1 Landscape Photography

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is great for landscape photography. It offers a reasonably wide dynamic range, and images are quite low in noise, even at higher ISO levels, which is good if you plan on shooting in darker environments. The FUJINON XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R OIS lens also has a fairly wide maximum aperture, allowing for a clear separation between subject and background. Its magnesium and titanium body feels amazingly well-built and is rated as weather-sealed. Its reverse flip-out screen is sharp, clear, and bright enough to see under direct sunlight, but its unusual, slightly cumbersome design encourages you to use the hybrid viewfinder to compose your shots unless you're planning on shooting below waist level.

Pros
  • Impressive image quality.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • Battery life can be somewhat short.
7.4 Sport & Wildlife Photography

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is good for sports and wildlife photography. Its maximum continuous shooting speed is reasonably quick, though it takes some time to clear its buffer, so it's best to keep continuous bursts fairly short. Image quality is great overall, with impressive noise handling capability at higher ISO levels and a fairly high dynamic range. Its exceptionally fast maximum shutter speed when using its electronic shutter and responsive autofocus system should also let you capture clear stills of fast-moving subjects.

Pros
  • Impressive image quality.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Great autofocus performance in photography.
Cons
  • Battery life can be somewhat short.
  • Long buffer clearing time.
6.7 Vlogging

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is okay for vlogging, though it isn't designed for this use. Its reverse flip-out screen can't be seen when the camera is pointed at you, and the camera can feel a little heavy if you're using it handheld for long periods. While it lacks in-body stabilization, the optical stabilization feature in its FUJINON XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R OIS lens helps it do a great job of smoothing out camera shake in 4k and FHD recording. It offers impressive video quality in either resolution too. Its autofocus system also does a superb job of continuously maintaining focus on subjects' faces.

Pros
  • Exceptional autofocus performance in video.
  • Impressive video stabilization performance.
Cons
  • Reverse flip-out screen can be clunky to use for video.
  • Battery life can be somewhat short.
8.1 Studio Video

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 delivers impressive overall performance for studio video. It's capable of recording at up to 30 fps in 4k or native 60 fps in FHD without a crop. Video quality is impressively sharp and detailed in either resolution, though there's noticeable visual noise in darker environments. Its F-log shooting mode yields a wider dynamic range in recording and allows for in-depth color grading while editing. Unfortunately, its reverse flip-out screen can't fully deploy when the camera is mounted on a tripod. While you can attach an auxiliary mic and plug in a pair of headphones via the use of a separate analog to USB-C adapter, it doesn't have an HDMI port to let you use an external recorder.

Pros
  • Exceptional autofocus performance in video.
  • Great video quality in FHD and 4k.
  • Easy-to-use menu system.
Cons
  • Reverse flip-out screen can be clunky to use for video.
  • No HDMI output.
5.8 Action Video

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 isn't designed for action video. It isn't meant to be attached to a chest or helmet rig, though it's fairly compact and feels amazingly sturdy. It's rated as being weather-sealed. While it lacks in-body stabilization, it does a great job of smoothing out camera shake, too, in no small part due to the optical stabilization feature of its FUJINON XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R OIS lens. Unfortunately, it's incapable of recording at more than 30 fps in 4k, so you can't record smooth action video or generate high-quality slow-motion footage in this resolution, though it does have a slow-motion mode in FHD that records 1080p at 120 fps.

Pros
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Impressive video stabilization performance.
Cons
  • Limited frame rate selection in 4k.
  • Battery life can be somewhat short.
  • 7.9 Travel Photography
  • 8.1 Landscape Photography
  • 7.4 Sport & Wildlife Photography
  • 6.7 Vlogging
  • 8.1 Studio Video
  • 5.8 Action Video
  1. Updated Sep 05, 2023: We re-processed the 'Photo RAW Dynamic Range' test scene photo using Lightroom rather than RawTherapee and re-uploaded it to the review for consistency with our current methodology.
  2. Updated Aug 14, 2023: We've updated the sensor type to 'BSI CMOS' to reflect the sensor's back-illuminated design. We previously only noted that it was a 'CMOS' sensor.
  3. Updated Jun 06, 2023: We've updated the 'App Name' in the 'Menu System' section of the review to reflect this camera's compatibility with Fujifilm's new XApp.
  4. Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.
  5. Updated Mar 21, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.11.
  6. Updated Sep 16, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.10.
  7. Updated Aug 04, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.9.
  8. Updated Jun 07, 2022: Updated review to show 'Yes' for 120 fps in 'FHD Video Frame Rate' since this camera has a high-speed recording mode that can capture 1080p footage at 120 fps with slow-motion playback.
  9. Updated Apr 25, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
  10. Updated May 25, 2021: Updated low-light sample videos in the 'FHD Video Quality' and '4k Video Quality' sections.
  11. Updated Apr 26, 2021: Review published.
  12. Updated Apr 23, 2021: Early access published.
  13. Updated Mar 31, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  14. Updated Mar 30, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  15. Updated Mar 26, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
  16. Updated Mar 20, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Fujifilm X-Pro3 is available in three different color variants: 'Black', 'Dura Black', and 'Dura Silver', with the latter two variants having a special coating on the titanium top cover and bottom plate that's advertised as being scratch-resistant. We tested the 'Dura Black' variant, and you can see its label here. We tested it in conjunction with the FUJINON XF 18-55mm F2.8-4 R OIS lens, though other X-mount lenses can be used. We also expect the other color variants to offer similar overall performance when used with the same lens.

If you come across another variant of this camera, let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
7.5
Design
Portability
Height
3.3" (8.4 cm)
Width
5.9" (14.9 cm)
Depth
1.8" (4.6 cm)
Volume
35.1 in³ (576.0 cm³)
Weight
1.11 lbs (0.50 kg)
8.5
Design
Build Quality

  • Has a magnesium frame with a top cover and base plate made of corrosion-resistant titanium
  • 'Dura Black' and 'Dura Silver' color variants have a coating that's advertised as being scratch-resistant, though we don't test for this
  • Wheels, buttons, and thumb stick operate tightly and precisely
  • Input and output compartment is covered by a locking hinged flap with a weather-sealing gasket, though we don't test for this

Design
Body
Body Type
SLR-Style
Water Resistance
Weather-Sealed
Mirrorless
Yes
Rugged
No
Hot Shoe
Yes
Customizable Button
Yes
Command Dial
4
Tripod Mount
Yes
Lens Mount
X Mount
Built-In Flash
No
Fastest Shutter Speed
1/8,000 s
Design
In The Box

  • Fujifilm X-Pro3 mirrorless camera body
  • 1x NP-W126S battery
  • Sensor cover
  • Shoulder strap
  • Shoulder strap connections
  • Microfiber cloth
  • USB-A to USB-C cable
  • User manual

7.0
Design
Ergonomics & Comfort
Hand Grip: Small Hand
Yes
Hand Grip: Medium Hand
Yes
Hand Grip: Large Hand
Yes
Hand Grip: Extra-Large Hand
Yes

  • Grip is a little small for users with very large hands but provides a secure hold thanks to its very well-textured surface
  • Reverse flip-out screen design encourages the use of the viewfinder to frame your shots
  • Plenty of room between lens and grip, so your fingers shouldn't feel pinched
  • Pulling up the shutter speed wheel reveals the ISO adjustment dial, which can take some time to get used to
  • Still easy to make exposure adjustments with your eye pressed against the viewfinder or when shooting below waist level with the screen
  • Back dial is easy to use, though the camera also has a thumb stick to navigate the menu or swap between focus points
  • AF drive button can be hard to reach for users with small hands

Design
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Type
Electronic and Optical
Advertised Coverage
100%
Advertised Resolution
3.69 million dots
Advertised Magnification
0.66

Note: The results shown are for the viewfinder when used in EVF mode. You can press the toggle switch at the front of the camera that switches it to an optical rangefinder. It has an advertised magnification of roughly 0.52x and features frame overlays for a couple of different focal lengths, giving you a rough estimate of your photo composition.

6.5
Design
Screen
Screen Articulation Type
Reverse Tilting
Screen Max Brightness
985 cd/m²
Advertised Resolution
1.62 million dots
Size
3.0" (7.5 cm)
Touchscreen
Limited

Note: The results shown above are for the reverse flip-out screen. The camera also has a color memory LCD sub-monitor screen on the rear of the reverse-mounted display that can show various camera settings. In 'Classic' mode, it shows the current film simulation effect, remaining battery life, and camera ISO. Using it in 'Standard' mode allows you to customize what information is shown, including exposure parameters like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.

8.0
Design
Menu System
Guide Mode
No
App Name
Fujifilm XApp

  • Interface is very easy to navigate with physical controls
  • Navigation can sometimes feel a little clunky since you need to go through several sub-menus to reach the settings you want
  • Menu features some visual aids to help you understand a few of the functions
  • Doesn't have a guide mode to help novice users understand some brand-specific terminology

not tested
Design
Built-In Lens
Maximum Aperture
No built-in lens
Max Aperture (Full-Frame Equivalent)
N/A
Minimum Focal Length
N/A
Maximum Focal Length
N/A
Max Focal Length (Full-Frame Equivalent)
N/A
Optical Image Stabilization
No
Luminance
N/A
Light Falloff
N/A
Design
Sensor
Sensor Type
BSI CMOS
Advertised Effective Pixels
26.1 MP
Sensor Size
APS-C
Processor
X-Processor 4
Extended ISO Minimum
80
Native ISO Minimum (Base ISO)
160
Native ISO Maximum
12,800
Tested Firmware
1.31
6.6
Design
Battery
Battery Type
Fujifilm NP-W126S
USB Charging
Yes
Use When Charging
Yes
Advertised Battery Life In Photo
370 photos
Tested Battery Life In Video
60 min
Photo General
6.6
Photo General
Photo Shooting Speed
Low Speed Continuous
3 fps
High Speed Continuous
10 fps
Silent Shooting Continuous
11 fps
Raw Buffer Size
38 Photos
JPEG Buffer Size
10,000 Photos
Buffer Empty Time
20 s
3.9
Photo General
Photo AF-C Tracking
Autofocus Tracking Shots
Perfect Focus Hit Rate
28%
Usable Focus Hit Rate
38%
9.5
Photo General
Photo AF-C Center Point
Autofocus Center Point Shots
Perfect Focus Hit Rate
94%
Usable Focus Hit Rate
99%
8.8
Photo General
Photo Image Stabilization
Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved
1/6 s
In-Body Image Stabilization
No
Photo Image Quality
7.7
Photo Image Quality
Photo RAW Dynamic Range
Dynamic Range At Base ISO
9.9 f-stops
Dynamic Range At 1/500s Exposure Time
8.4 f-stops
Dynamic Range At 1/2000s Exposure Time
7.1 f-stops
Dynamic Range At 1/4000s Exposure Time
6.5 f-stops
8.1
Photo Image Quality
Photo RAW Sharpness
Vertical Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
1,841 LW/PH
Horizontal Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
1,861 LW/PH
8.0
Photo Image Quality
Photo RAW Noise
SNR 18% At 1/8 Exposure Time (125 ms)
34.2dB
SNR 18% At 1/125 Exposure Time (8 ms)
25.6 dB
SNR 18% At 1/1000 Exposure Time (1 ms)
N/A
SNR 18% At 1/4000 Exposure Time (0.25 ms)
N/A
Pictures Sample Gallery
Pictures Sample Gallery
The Skate Park Picture
JPEG Skate Park Picture Download
RAW Skate Park Picture Download
Pictures Sample Gallery
The Polish Church Picture
JPEG Polish Church Picture Download
RAW Polish Church Picture Download
Pictures Sample Gallery
The Studio Picture
JPEG Studio Picture Download
RAW Studio Picture Download
Pictures Sample Gallery
The Stairway Picture
JPEG Stairway Picture Download
RAW Stairway Picture Download
Video General
Video General
Video Features
Full HD Video
Yes
4k Video
Yes
6k Video
No
Clean HDMI Output
No HDMI
Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI
No HDMI
Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI
N/A
Log Picture Profile
Yes
Recording Light
Yes
Video General
Audio
Audio Test Sample
Audio Recording
Stereo
Microphone Level Display
Yes
Video General
Video File Format And Compression
MP4 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
No
MP4 H.265 / HEVC
No
MOV H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
Yes
MOV H.265 / HEVC
No
AVCHD H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
No
All-I Compression
No
4k Video
8.5
4k Video
4k Video Frame Rate
240 fps In 4k
No
120 fps In 4k
No
60 fps In 4k
No
30 fps In 4k
Yes
24 fps In 4k
Yes
4k Crop At Max Available fps
1 x
7.4
4k Video
4k Video Internal Recording
Bitrate Maximum In 4k
210 Mbps
Bitrate Minimum In 4k
100 Mbps
Chroma Sampling In 4k
4:2:0
Bit Depth In 4k
8 Bit
Record Time Limit In 4k
15 min
Overheat Recording Interruptions in 4k
0
9.3
4k Video
4k Video Autofocus Performance
Object Tracking In 4k
9.3
Face Tracking In 4k
9.0
Face Detection In 4k
Yes
Eye Detection In 4k
Yes
8.3
4k Video
4k Video Quality
Low Light Capability In 4k
7.5
Test Scene Extract In 4k
9.0
6.1
4k Video
4k Video Rolling Shutter Effect
4k Rolling Shutter
6.3°
Full HD Video
9.2
Full HD Video
FHD Video Frame Rate
240 fps In FHD
No
120 fps In FHD
Yes, with a Crop
60 fps In FHD
Yes
30 fps In FHD
Yes
24 fps In FHD
Yes
FHD Crop At Max Available fps
1.25 x
7.9
Full HD Video
FHD Video Internal Recording
Bitrate Maximum In FHD
200 Mbps
Bitrate Minimum In FHD
50 Mbps
Chroma Sampling In FHD
4:2:0
Bit Depth In FHD
8 Bit
Record Time Limit in FHD
30 min
9.2
Full HD Video
FHD Video Autofocus Performance
Object Tracking In FHD
9.3
Face Tracking In FHD
8.9
Face Detection In FHD
Yes
Eye Detection In FHD
Yes
7.3
Full HD Video
FHD Video Quality
Low Light Capability In FHD
6.5
Test Scene Extract In FHD
8.0
7.0
Full HD Video
FHD Video Rolling Shutter Effect
FHD Rolling Shutter
4.0°
Storage And Connectivity
Storage And Connectivity
Storage
Card 1 Slot
SD Card UHS-II
Card 2 Slot
SD Card UHS-I
7.5
Storage And Connectivity
Inputs / Outputs
USB
USB-C
HDMI
No
Headphones
Yes
Microphone
Stereo
Wi-Fi
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes