FUJIFILM South Africa is pleased to announce the launch of the FUJIFILM X-Pro3, arriving in late November 2019, as the latest flagship model for the renowned X Series range of mirrorless digital cameras.

The X Series’ first interchangeable lens camera, the X-Pro1, was released in February 2012 and its successor, the X-Pro2, arrived in March 2016 with vastly improved image quality and performance. Coveted in the fields of documentary and reportage photography because of the classic rangefinder style, portability and dials that enable intuitive operation, the X-Pro series has a strong retro element to it.

Strong Specs, Hard Body

The new X-Pro3 does not shy away from its heritage and has one of the most durable camera bodies thanks to the use of titanium for the exterior sections. Apart from the regular Black body, improved DR Black and DR Silver versions will also be available. These have the surface hardening technology Duratect^TM applied to achieve a Vickers hardness rating up to 1500Hv to protect the camera from scratches while accentuating the look with a unique texture.

To ensure that the right level of performance and image quality for a flagship model is met, the X-Pro3 uses the back illuminated 26.1MP X-Trans^TM*2 CMOS 4 sensor and the X-Processor 4 image processing engine, first seen in the FUJIFILM X-T3 and then the FUJIFILM X-T30. Using this combination and new firmware, the phase-detection auto-focus (AF) now works down to a luminance of -6EV, which is close to pitch darkness.

Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, Memory LCD offer unique experience

The X-Pro series is known for the Advanced Hybrid Viewfinder, the only viewfinder which allows users to switch between the optical viewfinder (OVF), providing a constant view of your subject without any time lag, and the electronic viewfinder (EVF), which lets one check exposure while shooting. The EVF uses a high resolution 3.69-million-dot organic EL panel, and has a high luminance and advanced colour reproduction. The camera also features the Electronic Range Finder function, in which a small EVF window is displayed within the OVF to help check electronic settings. The EVF window displays live view, enlargement of an AF point and pictures taken, which helps improve the usefulness of the OVF.

The X-Pro3 further includes a 1.62-million-dot high-resolution tilting LCD touchscreen display, which can flip approx. 180 degrees, allowing you to shoot from the hip, at ground level or with the camera above your head.

On the back of the panel is a unique feature - a 1.28-inch colour Memory LCD, protected with toughened glass, which displays shooting settings regardless if the camera is turned on or not. The screen can be set in the Classic mode which displays the current Film Simulation, white balance and other image settings reminiscent of film cameras, or in the Standard mode for displays shutter speed, ISO sensitivity, the number of remaining frames and other shooting settings in plain numbers and icons.

Features Film Photographers will enjoy

On the X-Pro3 users will find all the Film Simulation options that FUJIFILM has managed to incorporate due to their understanding of colour gained over 85 years in the industry. New to this is CLASSIC Neg Film Simulation, which simulates colour negative film that was normally used for everyday snapshots. The colours are precisely controlled for each level of brightness, to create a rich chromatic contrast to add extra definition to the image.

The Grain Effect function, which simulates grain achieved with film, has been improved so that users can adjust strength and size to attain a more precise control over graininess, instead of having just two options of graininess in previous models.

Price and Availability

Set to entice digital photographers who have a strong connection to the days of film photography, the FUJIFILM X-Pro3 will be available in South Africa at the end of November 2019. It comes with a recommended retail price of approximately R24 000 for the body only.