Fujifilm X-T3: cutting-edge camera for enthusiasts

If you want better photos than the ones you get on your smartphone, consider Fujifilm’s X-T3, says Matthew Partridge.

936_MW_P42_Camera_01

If you want better photos than the ones you get on your smartphone, consider Fujifilm's X-T3.

As the cameras on smartphones get ever-more impressive, many people believe that dedicated cameras may end up going the way of CD players and iPods. But phone cameras still suffer from mediocre image quality, poor performance when light is low, slow focus and fixed focal lengths (which means that if you want to zoom in, you have to accept a reduced image quality). So there is a place in the market for stylish, feature-packed cameras that deliver incredible image quality. Fujifilm's X-T3, released towards the end of last year, is a good example.

936_MW_P42_Camera_02

More importantly, the quality of both the still images and videois excellent, even in low light.I have used it to take photos of an afternoon in Greenwich Park and a writers' group in a dimly-lit pub, and it focused fast and accurately, producing photos that were both clear and sharp. Similarly, a recording of a one-man show shot from the back of a pub theatre in Islington produced some outstanding footage. Mirrorless cameras have a reputation for having a limited battery life, but it is possible to get more than 1,200 individual shots on a single charge. The X-T3 also has a huge range of features, such as simulation modes, which allow you to replicate the look of film. You can tweak everything from the colour to the amount of noise reduction that the camera will apply.

Subscribe to MoneyWeek

Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE

Get 6 issues free
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/mw70aro6gl1676370748.jpg

Sign up to Money Morning

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter

Sign up

Dedicated photographers and enthusiasts who want to treat themselves to the cutting edge in photography won't regret spending the extra cash on this excellent camera. A budget version, the X-T30, is released next month.

Body:£1,349With 18-55mm F2.8-4 lens:£1,699

Dr Matthew Partridge

Matthew graduated from the University of Durham in 2004; he then gained an MSc, followed by a PhD at the London School of Economics.

He has previously written for a wide range of publications, including the Guardian and the Economist, and also helped to run a newsletter on terrorism. He has spent time at Lehman Brothers, Citigroup and the consultancy Lombard Street Research.

Matthew is the author of Superinvestors: Lessons from the greatest investors in history, published by Harriman House, which has been translated into several languages. His second book, Investing Explained: The Accessible Guide to Building an Investment Portfolio, is published by Kogan Page.

As senior writer, he writes the shares and politics & economics pages, as well as weekly Blowing It and Great Frauds in History columns He also writes a fortnightly reviews page and trading tips, as well as regular cover stories and multi-page investment focus features.

Follow Matthew on Twitter: @DrMatthewPartri