Fujifilm has done a very nice utility update on the new Fujifilm X-T4, pretty much giving the community everything they’ve asked for. Not just that, they’ve given vloggers everything they could want as well (except a headphone jack).
Really this is now the first affordable camera with IBIS and a flippy screen that shoots 10-bit 4k (only 4:2:0 internally) with phase detection autofocus without any crippled features. It took until now for a camera company to make the camera literally everyone has been asking for, and it’s exciting. This is pretty much the perfect camera, kind of.
Here is a comparison showing the key differences between the two cameras.
Fujifilm X-T3 – Adorama / BHphoto
Fujifilm X-T4 – Adorama / BHphoto
Fujifilm XT3 vs XT4
There are a few key differences. Screen improved in resolution, IBIS was added, mechanical fps speed increased, we get a bigger battery and so far they’ve updated the fps of 1080p to 240. The X-T4 also has Classic Neg and Bleach Bypass film simulators.
| Features | XT3 | XT4 |
| Sensor | 26.1MP BSI CMOS 4 Sensor | 26.1MP BSI CMOS 4 Sensor |
| Processor | X-Processor 4 with Quad CPU | X-Processor 4 with Quad CPU |
| Continuous Burst | 11fps Mechanical 30fps Electric crop | 15fps Mechanical 30fps |
| Card Slots | 2 UHS-II | 2 UHS-II |
| Battery | 1260 mAh | 2350 mAh |
| IBIS | No | Yes |
| Screen | 3-way Tilt 3″ Tilt 1,040,000 Dot | Articulating 3″ 1.62 m-dots |
| EVF | 0.5″ 3,690,000 Dot | 0.5″ 3,690,000 Dot |
| Simulators | All up to Eterna | Bleach Bypass + Classic Neg |
| 4k | up to 60fps | up to 60fps |
| 1080p | up to 120fps | up to 240fps |
| bitrate | up to 400Mbps | up to 400Mbps |
| H.265 10-bit | yes | yes |
| Phase Detect | 2.16m-Point PDAF | 2.16m-Point PDAF |
On the body, Fujifilm has moved some buttons around. They’ve also removed the photometry dial and replaced it with a movie / still switch.
They’ve taken a page from Canon and now have the menus separated based on what mode you are in. When you’ve switched to Video mode, you get all the video focused menus, when you’re in Still mode, you get all the stills focused menus. I think. I don’t have the camera but this is what looked like what going on with DPreviews overview. If this is accurate, this is cool. I love that the Canons do this, it really helps keep things clean and organized.
My Thoughts And Opinions On The Fujifilm X-T4
Obviously the camera looks incredible. It’s kind of the perfect camera, however, I don’t feel like it’s necessary and upgrade to the X-T3 now that the X-T3 has come down in price, rather it’s sitting in a different class. When it comes to image quality or even video quality not much has changed. Fujifilm has just added a few new tools to increase the functionality of the camera. Do you need those tools? I like them, but I don’t need them right now.
Last year I purchased the Z6 to use as my do-it-all camera. It was, and still is the best camera for that. And for Fujifilm to pull me away from that system as a do-it-all system, I feel like I need better fast lenses and better lenses designed for video. Right now those Z lenses are significantly better than the f1.4 Fujinon and at a similar price (when on sale) when it comes to utility, and the Z6 is going for $1,800 right now and often goes on sale for $1,700. Same price as the X-T4 at launch. Granted, the Z system is bigger and heavier, which is why I still love and use my Fujifilm system half the time. I would love to use my Fujifilm for absolutely everything, but they’re just not there yet. They have a lot of work to do with their lenses.
I would also love to use Fujifilm JPGs for everything, but there is just too much artifacting. I wish they switched to HEIC.
Regarding the flippy screen. The flippy screens are nice for one thing and one thing only, filming yourself while walking with the camera mounted to a stick. My EOS R and X-T100 have flippy screens and honestly, I don’t love them. To use them in street photography to get lower angles or to hold the camera at the stomach level, you have to fold out this giant wing and it really degrades the “fun” of shooting for me. Those flippy screens are nice for some things, but for general photography, they can get annoying. The Fujifilm X-T3 still uses my favorite style of screen.
I think it was a mistake for Fujifilm to put a flippy screen in the X-T4, they should have reserved that for the more video-centric X-H2. I really like the X-T3 screen. It gives the best shooting experience and the X-T4 flippy screen turns me off a little.
For general monitoring and filming myself, I actually have been using my EOS R because of the flippy screen, but I will be buying an Atomos Ninja V this year for monitoring in my studio on any camera I have, plus it will then give me 10-bit 4:2:2 color sampling which is much easier to work with.
But man, the X-T4 is a nice looking camera. I wish this is what they came out with when the X-T3 originally came out. They would have really given the A7III a run for its money, now I feel like they are a little late.
I thought they did a couple of cool things like improving the shutter, making it near-silent, and they are using a magnetic style IBIS system, which I believe was a system similar to what I saw in some Canon patents awhile back.
The X-T4 might be the last camera you need for a long time unless you’re looking for even more advanced video features and monitoring tools. I’m sure Fujifilm is saving that for the X-H2, and at this point, that’s the camera I’m waiting for. Almost certainly the X-H2 will need 6k or even 8k which means somewhere in the 32MP range sensor size, if they go with 8K UHD, which is technically only about 7.6k. I will wait to see what happens with the X-H2 since I still own an X-T3. By then, if the X-H2 doesn’t have everything I love, or if it’s too big, then I bet the X-T4 will have some nice sales.
Other Articles
I’m starting to build my guides for the X-T4. I’ll be testing memory cards in the X-T4 like I’ve done with the X-T3, but until then here is a useful guide for finding memory cards for the X-T4. This hopefully will save you some money.
Best Memory Cards Fujifilm X-T4
Must-Have Accessories Fujifilm X-T4
The best part about the X-T4, is how cheap the X-T3 is now. 🙂
Here are all the coolest accessories for the X-T3, I’ll start getting a gear list ready for the X-T4. I’m in America right now so I can actually rent the camera for less than a quarter the cost. By the way, if you want to make a ton of money, start a camera rental business in Japan. 🙂 The current rental stores there have absolutely insane prices.
Fujifilm X-T3 Accessories & Gear
I just recently updated the memory card speed tests in the X-T3. So use that list to see memory card speeds when shopping for cards for the X-T4.
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12 comments
Agreed about the screen: give me my X-T3 tilting screen any time, no flippy for me!
Yep. And I’ve used the flippy screens a lot. It’s cool for some things but now I watch videos of everyone using the X-T4 and the camera looks very awkward to use for handheld photography. I hope it doesn’t become a new trend.
The almost perfect Aps-C camera.
I’m not enjoyed to take some photos with flippy screen.
Fujifilm x-t4 Vs Nikon z6: tough choice for me.
How the JPEG of Nikon ? Nice or inferior than Fujifilm
I personally like the look of Fujifilm more than Nikon so the JPG on Fujifilm are really nice. Problem with Fujifilm JPGs are the artifacts. It tends to eat little fine details like little hairs. I think it’s an X-Trans thing and I don’t notice that as much on Nikon. That’s the big thing that still keeps me using JPG all the time with Fujifilm. But, something I forgot to mention, is now Fujifilm is doing a lossy compression with the X-T4. Kind of like that Canon CRAW. So you get those really small RAW files which is pretty awesome for general day to day stuff. You just need some Capture One or Lightroom to add back the color profiles. Fujifilm has so many more tools and controls in-camera for working with the look of JPG though. It’s a vastly superior system at controlling JPG.
you are absolutely right, but it seems the ACROS film sim can keep fine details in the JPEGs
Across seems to do a few things unique and different. Works with noise a little differently too.
The X-T4 still has the exposure compensation dial. Did you mean the metering dial?
Yes thanks. Fujifilm calls it Photometry. It’s a good move, I’m happy about that update.
I have a X-T2 and thought about rather updating to the X-T4 or a Nikon Z6 or… get a X-T3 cheap and hope some of the new features find their way via firmware update into it. I´m excited about the upcoming Viltrox F1.4 lenses
Those Viltrox lenses look cool. I think their release date got pushed back though.
thx for sharing your opinion. Do you think the XT4 can be interesting for stills , when shooting -models mainly, including dancers and at times landscapes – compared with a xt30 and a tripod ? thx
For landscapes, there is probably little advantage to the T4 over the T30. For dancers, you can do some really cool stuff with long shutters with that IBIS. I love shooting action stuff on slower shutters, but IBIS really helps eliminate camera micro shake.