Fujifilm was on a roll this year releasing a slew of gear including two very popular mirrorless cameras: the Fujifilm X-H1 and Fujifilm X-T3. Released a mere 7 months apart, these two cameras have amateurs and professionals alike wondering which is better suited for their needs.
Key Specs
Fujifilm X-T3
One of Fujifilm’s most popular cameras to date has been the X-T2, so it’s no surprise that many loyalists to the X-T line were awaiting the third generation. The Fujifilm X-T3 is the newest Fuji camera to date, using a brand new sensor and processor. As a result, it has quite a few advantages over all other Fujifilm cameras, including boosted battery life. It continues to enhance photography features with its larger sensor resolution (8% more pixels), 100 more focus points, faster continuous shooting (6 fps faster), and the inclusion of a flash sync port. Fujifilm also added a slew of video features such as 4K60p, higher bit rate (400mbps), and a headphone port. All in all, the X-T3 is made to entice today’s hybrid photo and video shooters.
- Announced: September 2018
- Fujifilm X-Mount
- Comes in black or silver
- 26MP – APS-C BSI-CMOS Sensor
- No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
- ISO 160 – 12800
- 3.2 Tilting Screen
- 3690k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 20.0 fps continuous shooting
- 4096 x 2160 video resolution
- Built-in Wireless
- 539g. 133 x 93 x 59 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
Fujifilm X-H1
Brand new to the Fujifilm X-Series lineup is the X-H1. It is the first X-Series camera to have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which is essential for shooting more stable handheld video and lowlight photos. This is the main advantage that the X-H1 has over the X-T3.
- Announced in February 2018
- Fujifilm X-Mount
- 24MP – APS-C CMOS Sensor
- No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
- ISO 200 – 12800
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3 Tilting Screen
- 3690k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 14.0 fps continuous shooting
- 4096 x 2160 video resolution
- Built-in Wireless
- 673g. 140 x 97 x 86 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
3 reasons to pick the X-H1 over the X-T3
1. Built-In Image Stabilization (IBIS)
As mentioned above, the X-H1 is the only Fujifilm camera to offer in-body stabilization. This means that even your lenses without Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) will be stabilized by the camera. With that said, if you use an OIS lens on the X-T3, you can still get a degree of stabilization even without IBIS.
2. Top LCD
The X-H1 physically resembles DSLRs in several ways, namely via its top LCD. This can be helpful for viewing and changing settings in the dark, and also for seeing your battery levels without turning the camera on.
3. Larger overall footprint.
Overall, the X-H1 is physically larger than the X-T3 and is closer in looks to the Fujifilm GFX camera line. The X-H1 is about 134 grams heavier and has a noticeably larger right-hand grip. While many people purchase mirrorless cameras with the idea of having a smaller, more compact camera, you may prefer the X-H1’s larger size if you have big hands or tend to use Fujifilm’s large red badge lenses.
4 reasons to pick the X-T3 over the X-H1
1. Enhanced Autofocus
Fujifilm made significant autofocus improvements to the X-T3, now offering 425 hybrid autofocus points. That’s 100 more autofocus points than both the X-T2 and the X-H1. Additionally, both face and eye detect have been enhanced and they are much more responsive and accurate on the X-T3 than on previous Fujifilm cameras. I will say, however, that Sony still leads the pack in terms of face and eye detect in particular.
2. Faster continuous shooting
The X-T3 also ups the ante in continuous shooting. Now able to shoot 11 frames-per-second (fps) with the mechanical shutter, 20 fps with the electronic shutter, and 30 fps in 1.25x crop mode with the electronic shutter. In comparison, the X-H1 also shoots 11 fps mechanical, but only 14 fps with electronic. If frames per second and continuous shooting are of importance to you, the X-T3 is your best bet.
3. Higher quality video settings
Despite the X-H1 being intended as Fujifilm’s video-oriented mirrorless camera, the X-T3 doesn’t skimp on video features. In fact, the X-T3 outperforms the X-H1 when it comes to bitrate (400mbps vs 200mbps), and its ability to shoot at 4K60p (compared to the X-H1’s 4K30p). Also, the X-T3 has a headphone jack to monitor audio–this is a feature you can only get on the X-H1 if you use the accompanying battery grip.
4. Lower price point
In addition to a new processor and sensor, the Fujifilm X-T3 also boasts a lower price point of $1499 versus $1899 for the camera body only. That’s a $400 difference that could be put towards a new lens or camera accessory.
Common ground – X-H1 and X-T3
Both the Fujifilm X-H1 and X-T3 have many features to make them viable competitors in today’s hot mirrorless camera market. Here’s what they have in common:
- Wireless and Bluetooth connection
- Smartphone camera control via an app
- Articulating rear touchscreen LCD screens (but no selfie flip out screen)
- Timelapse recording
- 2 SD card slots
- Ability to shoot in RAW and JPG (for stills) and f-log (for video)
- Fujifilm’s famous film simulations, including the newest Eterna
- Firmware updates that are actually helpful — Fujifilm is known for listening to its customer base and releasing significant firmware updates for cameras and lenses.
In Conclusion
As a newer camera with more photography and video features AND a lower price point, the Fujifilm X-T3 will probably be the camera of choice for most people. Even Fujifilm seems to have realized this as the X-H1 has dropped in price to be very competitive with the X-T3. However, if you’re a serious videographer who isn’t in a hurry to get a new camera, it is probably worth waiting to see what Fujifilm does with the next generation of the X-H1: the X-H2. Although nothing official about the X-H2 has been announced yet, Fujifilm is famous for taking customer feedback seriously and many Fuji enthusiasts believe the X-H2 will be the ultimate video camera. We’ll wait and see!
Video with sample images and footage
Most comparisons were done in video form, so please check out the video below to see X-H1 and X-T3 sample video and photos.
