Left if Classic Negative, right is Classic Chrome. Same settings applied just different LCC profile.
I like both looks, but the CN gives more of blue flatter/matte image, you can see the shadows have ben pulled slightly in the shadows.
EVF/OVF
I’m going to mostly talk about the OVF, personally I use this function on the X100T about 5% [or less of the time], maybe very low light with flash, just for fun, that’s it. It’s lovely to look through and is a very cool bit of technology, especially with the lay over of information [like an old rangefinder].
But for me it’s just not very practical for my shooting style, I’m very particular with how accurate things are in frame. I had a lot of issues with my Mamiya 7, especially with portraits. I could never shoot a portrait that I thought was well composed, due to the rangefinder aspect of the camera. The same applies for the OVF on all Fujifilm cameras.
It’s been well documented that the design of the EVF/OVF is one of the more expensive aspect of the camera. Camera markets are falling and cameras are becoming a tough sell to the average consumer. Granted the already niche XPro lines has become even more niche with the implementation of this hidden screen, so you’d think any means of cutting costs would make sense. Part of me feels they should bin off this whole interchangeable EVF/OVF, go down the more XE3/GFXR route, this will bring down costs too.
This camera is fundamentally for the streets, 24-35mm is where this body will thrive, especially when using the OVF. There are plenty of videos featuring reviewers using much longer focal lengths and then slagging it off. I get their concern, but the whole idea behind this camera is not for shooting 70-200mm lenses, especially with the OVF.
If you do wish to shoot longer focal lengths, EVF is the way forward [full stop].
XPro 3 vs Leica M10D
The XPro line as always been compared to Leica. If you can’t afford a Lecia, by a Fujifilm XPRO/X100.
In 2018 Leica released a 24MP Full Frame Rangefinder camera with no EVF or a screen, I don’t remember users going as mental as they are over the XPro 3… Oh, did I mention it’s £6000…
That’s all I’m going to say on that.
Analogue Photography?
As I said in my first hands on with this camera last year,
…everyone seems to love film, Fujifilm give you a more analogue way of shooting, and people lose their heads over it.
I stand by this comment. Film has had a resurgence in recent years, and even with its ever increasing price, people still seem to shoot it.
That feeling of taking shots and not ‘chimping’, going home and loading into Capture One, seeing what you got. I did this a lot when shooting football [Granted I shot that on the XT3, but that method of shooting applies directly to the XPro3] , it’s so fast paced I have to rely on my judgement, and when I did import the images, that feeling of analogue nostalgia kicked it.
And that feeling of accomplishment and joy of imagery is a feeling that’s very enjoyable, ok that sounds odd, it’s hard to word, but those who have shot film will understand this.
Video
This isn’t a video camera, this isn’t a VLog camera for Youtube, so things like a HDMI port has been removed, as is the headphone jack, but a USB C adapter can be used.
Saying that I like the quality of the video out of this camera, it’s gorgeous. The XT-3 is still a better camera for video, but I’d never shoot paid video work on the XPro-3, no one would, it’s just not functional. If I wanted to capture a bit of quick video, this camera would be more than capable, so it’s a nice feature to have, in what is a camera focused on stills.
