Fujifilm’s X-T30 II is considered one of my favourite cameras, because it affords most of the capabilities of the higher-end fashions for lots much less cash. So I used to be significantly excited when the corporate launched the X-T50, which is sort of a miniature model of the $1,700 X-T5.
It shares many options, together with a 40.2-megapixel sensor, 6K 30P video help and, in a primary for the collection, in-body stabilization. On the identical time, it retains the small measurement and retro-cute styling of previous fashions.
At $1,400 it’s not practically as reasonably priced because the $900 X-T30, although. To seek out out if it’s value an additional half grand, I examined the X-T50 out in London with some skilled photographer pals.
Physique and dealing with
The X-T50 is all about portability and magnificence, so it’s good and lightweight at 438 grams (0.96 kilos), simply 50 grams greater than the earlier mannequin. When you’re touring with a compact lens, it may simply be slipped right into a bag.
On the identical time, the grip has been enlarged sufficient to make the digital camera simpler to hold on to. Operation is basically unchanged, with two management dials, a shutter velocity dial and an publicity compensation dial, together with a joystick and eight buttons. Nonetheless, Fujifilm did introduce one new trick: a movie simulation dial rather than the earlier drive mode — extra on that shortly.
All of that makes it practically as straightforward to regulate as a lot bigger cameras. The devoted shutter dial is an uncommon function nowadays, so it does take some getting used to. The benefit is which you can see that setting simply by trying down on the digital camera, a should for discreet avenue or journey capturing.
Like previous fashions on this collection, the X-T50 has a tilt-only show that doesn’t flip out, which is probably going a bummer for the vloggers it’s tantalizing with its video capabilities. And rival fashions just like the Sony A6700 and Canon R7 do have flip-out shows. The two.36-million-dot digital viewfinder isn’t tremendous sharp, however is par for the course on this value vary.
With a smallish battery just like the one on the X100 VI, the X-T50 can handle simply 305 photographs on a cost or 390 in financial system mode. That’s close to the underside in its class. By comparability, Canon’s like-priced R7 can take as much as 660 pictures earlier than the battery dies.
The X-T50 has a good array of ports, together with microHDMI, USB-C and a mic jack. As earlier than, there’s no headphone enter, however you should utilize the USB-C slot with a 3.5mm adapter to observe audio. It comes with a single, however quick UHS-II card slot.
Efficiency
If it’s pure efficiency you’re after, the X-T50 most likely isn’t for you. Burst speeds are respectable at as much as 13 fps in digital shutter mode or 8 fps with the mechanical shutter — removed from the 30 fps of the Canon R7 in digital mode. Additionally, the digital shutter is simply good in case your topic doesn’t transfer too shortly, as rolling shutter distortion may be very noticeable on this mannequin.
Autofocus nonetheless isn’t a Fujifilm sturdy level, both. After I was capturing quick-moving topics, it was a bit hit and miss in steady mode, significantly after they have been near the digital camera. Nonetheless, efficiency relies upon drastically on the lens getting used.
On high of face and eye detection, Fujifilm has added subject-tracking autofocus modes for animals, birds, automobiles, bikes, airplanes and trains. This function is totally separate from the common eye and face detection modes, so it’s a must to dive into the menus to modify between them, or program two separate buttons.
For the opposite kinds of pictures it is designed for, the X-T50’s autofocus works nicely, although it isn’t fairly as much as Sony, Canon and even Nikon’s requirements.
A key new function is in-body stabilization. With as much as seven stops of shake discount, you will get sharp pictures all the way down to a couple of quarter second. That’s the identical because the 557-gram X-T5, which is kind of an accomplishment given the scale distinction. It makes the X-T50 much more versatile, letting you blur movement to create fascinating photographs or shoot in darkish environments.
Picture high quality
With the identical 40MP sensor because the X-H2 and X-T5, the X-T50 affords a significant increase in decision over the 26MP X-30 II. On high of boosting sharpness, the additional pixels make it potential to crop in, one thing that’s helpful for journey pictures, wildlife capturing or anything the place you won’t be capable of get near the topic.
In-camera therapy of JPEG information is dealt with nicely, with nice, correct colours and simply the correct amount of sharpening and noise discount. You possibly can usually share pictures straight out of the digital camera, without having for any post-processing — a bonus for avenue and different photographers who don’t prefer to fiddle in publish.
The 14-bit RAW pictures supply loads of room for fine-tuning, as they keep excessive quantities of element in highlights and shadows. As such, I noticed low ranges of banding, noise and different artifacts at low ISOs in all picture areas.
The upper decision doesn’t damage picture high quality a lot in low gentle, both. Noise is managed nicely as much as ISO 6,400, and you’ll go as much as ISO 12,800 in a pinch. Contemplating that the X-T50 is an APS-C and never a full-frame digital camera, I used to be impressed with the dearth of noise when capturing in bars and different dim environments.
And naturally, the X100 VI affords Fujifilm’s full array of movie simulation modes, they usually’re simply accessible on the brand new dial. You possibly can experiment with standard seems to be like Velvia, Eterna, Acros black and white and others. It additionally comes with Fujifilm’s new Reala Ace, based mostly on one of many firm’s outdated detrimental movies. On the identical time, you get a RAW backup in full coloration, so that you’re not locked into a selected look.
Video
With glorious video specs, the X-T50 is a strong hybrid digital camera, so long as you have in mind some caveats — significantly round cropping and sharpness.
Very similar to the X-T5, you’ll be able to shoot 6.2K at 30 fps with a 1.23x crop, or 4K at as much as 60 fps with line-skipping and a 1.14x crop. The cropping happens as a result of 6K video solely requires 24 megapixels, and the sensor/processor mixture isn’t as much as the job of supersampling all the sensor width.
The digital camera additionally affords sub-sampled 4K at as much as 30p utilizing the total sensor width, or high-quality 4K 30p with a 1.23x crop. For tremendous slow-motion, Fujifilm additionally launched 10-bit and F-Log2 settings for further dynamic vary.
At 6.2K and 4K HQ, rolling shutter skewing is pronounced so that you’ll need to keep away from extreme or sharp digital camera actions. Sub-sampled 4K is best in that space, however video is noticeably much less sharp.
Video autofocus matches what I noticed with pictures, which means it was respectable however not very best for transferring topics. The AI-powered AF did lock onto topics, however once more, couldn’t all the time sustain with birds, animals or automobiles.
Handheld video is now a sensible choice with in-body stabilization. It really works nicely if you happen to don’t make abrupt actions, and the “increase” mode affords close to tripod-like smoothness. Digital stabilization can also be obtainable, however isn’t supported with the 6K or HQ modes, and doesn’t cut back jolts when strolling.
Video high quality is strong for such a small digital camera, providing the identical correct colours I noticed in photograph modes. Capturing in 10-bit F-Log made it potential to regulate footage significantly in publish or get artistic. You can too shoot video utilizing the movie simulation modes if you would like a selected look straight out of the digital camera.
Wrap-up
All informed, the X-T50 is an superior improve to the X-T30 II, with enhancements in practically each space — significantly decision, stabilization and video. The movie simulation button is a bit gimmicky, however it ought to attraction to followers of the model, significantly those that love the X100 VI.
The issue I’ve with this digital camera is the value. The $900 X-T30 II was straightforward to suggest to patrons on a mid-level price range. Nonetheless, at $1,400, the X-T50 is simply $300 lower than the superior X-T5, and at that value it has plenty of stiff competitors from the likes of the Canon R7 and Sony A6700, together with full-frame fashions just like the Canon R8, Nikon Z6 II/Z5/Zfc and Panasonic S9.
Fujifilm seemingly figured that the X-T50 was practically as succesful because the X-T5 and that the 40-megapixel decision beats out rivals — however it has priced numerous potential patrons out of the market. When you’re in search of one thing that prices across the identical because the X-T30 II, Nikon’s $1,100 Zfc is simply as fairly and rather a lot cheaper.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilm-x-t50-review-a-big-improvement-for-a-lot-more-money-180046809.html?src=rss
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