I don’t think I’ve been this excited for a camera since the day I got my hands on my Fujifilm X100S. For the longest time, I was eyeing its interchangeable lens brother, the X-T10, but now I think I’ve found the camera I truly want.
It’s Fujifilm’s brand new X-T20 and it looks amazing. TL;DR? It’s probably going to make a lot of X-T2 users feel a tad annoyed.
So what’s new? Well, the X-T20 gets Fujifilm’s brand new 24.3-megapixel X-Trans CMOS III sensor and Fujifilm’s new X-Processor Pro — the same kind of sensor and image processor as the far more expensive X-T2.
Besides that, it’s also got a new 3″ 1.04M dot tilting TFT LCD that’s now touch-sensitive. This screen’s similar to that on Fujifilm’s X70 camera that lets you set focus points, set focus points and initiate focus, or set focus points, initiate focus points and fire the shutter. You can also move the focus point around during video recording which is great.
Speaking of video recording, the new X-T20 can shoot 4K footage and output that video to an external monitor via an HDMI port. You’ll also be able to input audio from an external mic, but since the X-T20 doesn’t have a battery grip like the X-T2, you won’t be able to monitor that audio via headphones.
The hardware elements on the X-T20 also gets an update. Although it still doesn’t have an ISO dial like the X-T2, the X-T20 now has a dedicated video mode (so you can frame your shot before recording) and a new exposure compensation dial C to extend it to +/-5EV. It’s also got a lever to engage full-auto. Since it has a dedicated video mode, the record button on the X-T10 has now become a programmable Fn button on the X-T20.
Fujifilm’s new X-T20 also comes with an improved autofocus system courtesy of the X-T2. This new one has 325 selectable AF points (up from the X-T10’s 49) and a sophisticated new AF-C fine-tuning system which lets you pick from a bunch of different preset modes.
Just like how the X-T10 was a “lite” version of the X-T1, the X-T20 is also a “lite” version of the X-T2. As a result, the X-T2’s EVF is still better, the X-T20’s screen only tilts up and down, and the X-T20 loses weather sealing.
But that means the X-T20 is also significantly cheaper. Fujifilm sells it in three bundles: Body only for USD899 (around RM4,000), Body + XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS for USD999 (around RM4,444) and Body + XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 OIS for USD1,199 (around RM5,340).
All in all, the X-T20 looks like an incredible buy as it comes with most of the X-T2’s features but at a significantly lower price point. Sure, I’m a little bummed about the lack of an audio jack for audio monitoring, but that’s a minor annoyance in what looks like an otherwise perfect camera. It’s very nearly everything I’ve hoped for and more.
Unfortunately, I don’t know when this will arrive in Malaysia (though I’ve reached out to Fujifilm’s reps and are awaiting their response) but I know I’m saving every sen I can to pick this puppy up when it eventually does launch locally.
If you’ve been eyeing the fixed-lens X100 series cameras instead, Fujifilm’s also launched their brand new X100F that keeps all the stuff I love about the X100 line and adds a brand new sensor and some other awesome goodies. For more info, check out our sister site TheSkop.com.
