I’ve recently come back to London from a short trip to Japan.

As with recent trips to Japan, I find myself at Fuji Square in Tokyo. Here I was able to try out the new X-Pro 3 for myself.

So let me talk about the elephant in the room, the rare LCD screen, or there lack of. The camera doe have a LCD screen, but it’s hidden. Instead we are given a sub LCD monitor that can display information, similarly to the GFX 50s. Alternatively, you can display the ‘film simulation’, which is nod to classic film cameras.

Do I like it?

Well I think it looks gorgeous, and I don’t hate it. The X-Pro line as always been a niche camera, trying to bridge the gap between an analogue range finder finder and a Lecia. Does it bother me the screen is hidden, not really… I always shoot from my eye, I never compose a shot vida the LCD screen. I often review images on the optical viewfinder. I can understand peoples frustration about it, but I do understand where Fujifilm are going with this concept.

The idea is to just shoot and not keep reviewing constantly. It’s about enjoying the essence of taking photographs, which I personally love.

I have come from shooting film, so get the nod toward the cardboard edge you’d place in the back of your body. I really like this idea, it’s really cute. People would say it’s a gimmick, but I think it’s a nice aesthetic to the camera, giving it a touch of colour and character.

I played with this camera twice, in Fuji Sq and Yodabashi Camera. In Yodabashi I Went a bit more to town on it, shooting 11FPS from the waist viewfinder. I was pretty blown away by this. I don’t shoot from the hip, but the idea of being able to flip down the screen and shoot from the hip at up to 11 FPS is something that could is really amazing.

Fujifilm have really split the fan base on this one, a much loved series of camera has seen a lot of hate on this latest release. I must say that people just need to get their hands on it, a lot of reviews say that, and it’s true. I wasn’t completely sold by the idea at first, and even my initial thoughts of flipping the screen down wasn’t that great. But once i played with the camera a bit I started to like the idea of not being able to see the images.

The feedback on this new system Is strange, everyone seems to love film, Fujifilm give you a more analogue way of shooting, and people lose their heads over it.

Pros

4k Video 200MB [it’s just nice to have sometimes, waiting on the new GFX to offer this]
Bigger EVF
New Film Simulation is gorgeous, mimics their Superia FIlm
Cute little back LCD
Titatnium finish for [around] £200 more
11FPS
USB C charging
2 card slots
focus limiting, very cool feature.

Cons

ISO dial, yes it’s like an analogue camera, but I and other hate it, so cumbersome. You can assign a button to change the button.
Same old Fuji battery, would be nice to see a larger battery in the near future.
Removal of D pad. I’m happy to use the joystick to navigate, but you lose 4 custom function buttons.
Some will not like the tilty screen, even I find it cumbersome at times.
Titanium Finish can get really grubby.

Everything aside, I think the XPro series is one of the nicest designed camera out there. I’ve longed for one [Pro 1/2] since there release, but for some reason never committed to buying one. Though now I’m fully Fuji, both X series and GFX, I think it’s time to finally commit to buying this camera.