Fujifilm X-T4 Full Review

Following the X-Summit pre-announcement, the X-T4 has now been officially announced. The new camera features in-body image stabilisation or IBIS, with a sensor that moves to compensate for camera movement, with up to 6.5 stops of compensation. The camera also features a vari-angle touch-screen, a new shutter unit with 15fps continuous shooting using the mechanical shutter, and there is a new, larger battery for extended battery life.

The X-T4 is now available with a price of £1549 body only inc VAT, or £1899 with the 18-55mm lens, or £1949 with the 16-80mm lens. The Fujifilm X-T3 is currently on promotion (£1199 body only) and will remain on the market.

Fujifilm X-T4 Features

The Fujifilm X-T4 uses the same 26mp X-Trans BSI CMOS sensor as the Fujifilm X-T3, as well as the same image processor. The electronic viewfinder is the same, with 3.69million dots, and 0.75x magnification, however, there's a new eye-cup surround, and there are additional boost options to give quicker refresh rates.

The X-T4 is designed for stills and video photography, with updates that benefit both. There's a weather-sealed camera body, and a new photo/video switch can be found on top of the camera. You'll also find that high-speed video recording has been updated, with the camera able to record FullHD video at 240fps.

3 new components -

• IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilisation) sensor-shift image stabilisation unit, 20% lighter and 30% smaller than the X-H1 unit, 5-axis, 6.5stops (depending on the lens used). Down to 1sec handheld shots.
• New shutter unit – 15fps continuous mechanical shutter – (quickest of any APS-C mirrorless), rated for 300K actuations, improved durability (up from 150K), 30% quieter
• New battery – NP-W235 – 2200mAh capacity – 500 shots, 600 shots economy mode (current X-T3 battery is rated at 1260mAh), and you can get up to 1450 frames with the optional battery grip (using 3 batteries), or 1700 frames with economy mode. You can switch between normal, boost and economy shooting modes (with/without the battery grip). USB charging will charge all 3 batteries if you’re using the battery grip.

There’s a new vertical battery grip accessory – BG-XT4 – which houses two batteries, giving a total of 3 batteries. There's a new USB-C dual battery charger accessory, the BC-W235 available, that has a USB connection on it. When used with 30W+ chargers it gives the quickest charging time. Without the optional USB charger, batteries are charged in-camera, with the provided USB wall charger. Charging takes 3 hours charging via the wall charger, whilst charging is much slower using a computer as the power source.

3 main improvements -

• Film simulation – Eterna “bleach bypass” recreates the old film processing process (from film days), and is designed to give a cinematic look, with harder tonality, and less colour saturation.
• New AF algorithms with focus speeds as fast as 0.02s. Additional improvements to face and eye detection have been made over the current firmware on the X-T3. Plus improved subject tracking on subjects moving across the frame.
• Improved MOVIE functionality – FullHD video can be recorded at 240fps. There is a Digital IS mode, IS boost mode, plus still / movie menus are independent, with a separate Q menu for movie. An MP4 option is added, plus backup recording (4K to both memory cards). F-log view assist grades similar to BT.709, mic jack setting (mic or line level), plus silent control for movie (touch-screen operation). Using the Digital IS means there's a 1.1x crop when recording 4K 30p, or 1.29x crop when recording 4K 60fps. 4K 60p has a 1.18x crop over 30p. The camera records CINE4K, at 60p, as 4:2:0 10bit internal (4:2:2 external). There's a 29 minute limit for video recording.

Fujifilm X-T3 (left) Vs X-T4 (right)

The Fujifilm X-T3 and X-T4 share the same 26mp sensor, which is an X-Trans sensor, as well as a BSI CMOS sensor, and in the X-T3 this gives excellent colour and noise performance.

Some of the other improvements compared to the X-T3

• 1.62m dot vari-angle touch-screen
• Lockable eye-cup / new eye-cup
• Bigger AF on button
• Detachable SD card slot cover (for use in cage etc)
• Dimensions:134.6mm x 92.8mm x 63.8mm
• Weight 607g with the battery & memory card (X-T3 – 539g)

Find our more differences, in our comparison of the Fujifilm X-T3 Vs X-T4.

Fujifilm X-T4 Key Features

• 26mp X-Trans APS-C BSI CMOS sensor
• 3.69m dot electronic viewfinder (EVF), 0.75x magnification
• 3inch vari-angle touch-screen, 1.62m dots
• In-Body Image Stabilisation – up to 6.5stops
• 15fps continuous shooting (mech shutter)
• ISO80 to ISO51200 (extended)
• C4K / Cine4K, 4K UHD video recording
• Dual movie recording, record footage to both SD cards at the same time
• FullHD at up to 240fps for 10x slow-motion
• 500 shot battery life
• Dual UHS-II SD card slots
• Available in all-black or silver/black

Fujifilm X-T4 Handling

The Fujifilm X-T4 is only slightly larger than the X-T3, but you can tell when you have the camera in your hand, and the camera can now accommodate a larger battery. We’re a fan of anything that extends the battery life of a camera, and the X-T4 can shoot 500 shots on normal performance mode, or 600 shots with economy mode switched on. If you need extended battery life, you can add 2 additional batteries with the optional battery grip, giving up to 1450 shots (more using economy mode).

The camera feels very well built, thanks to a solid magnesium alloy construction and ample weather-sealing. Dials are reassuringly solid and feel good to use. The locking dials can be simply unlocked by pressing the button in the middle of the dial, so that it pops up, and to lock the dial again, just push in the button.

The X-T4 gives direct access to the ISO and shutter speeds, and with an XF lens, you can also adjust the aperture using the aperture ring on the lens. If you want to set these to Auto, then you can simply put them on the A setting on the dials. Although care needs to be taken to double-check these settings when you've just started using the camera, as it's easy to leave the camera on the wrong setting (due to user error).

To switch between stills photography and video, there is a switch under the shutter speed dial, and this also switches over the menus, which are specific for each mode. The Q (Quick) menus have also been updated, so that there are specific Q menus for both stills and video photography. With the new menus, the camera makes it easier to find specific settings, and you don’t have to scroll to the bottom of the drive mode or turn the drive mode dial to the video position to get to the video mode. There's also the usual "MyMenu" section where you can add your favourite settings for quicker access.

The optional battery grip features a headphone socket built-in and is also weather-sealed. Connections on the side of the camera include a 3.5mm microphone socket, remote release (2.5mm), HDMI (micro), USB type C and a headphone adapter is included in the box. The optional battery grip includes a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The electronic viewfinder (EVF) has the same resolution, at 3.69million dots, and magnification (0.75x) as the X-T3, however, the eye-cup has been updated and can be locked into place. The view through the viewfinder is excellent, with plenty of detail, and excellent colour reproduction. There is dioptre correction, useful for glasses wearers or those with less than perfect eye-sight.

The screen has been updated, and is now a vari-angle touch-screen, with 1.62m dots. The screen gives a clear, detailed view of the scene, with excellent colour reproduction. The screen works well outdoors even in bright weather. The vari-angle screen will be particularly useful for those that want to “vlog” or arrange the screen into a different angle. Fans of the tilting screen can look at the X-T3, which will remain on the market.

Thanks to the new NP-W235 battery, and a 2200mAh capacity the camera offers 500 shots on normal mode, or 600 shots using the economy mode. This is an improvement over the current X-T3 battery, which is rated at 1260mAh, and gives 390 shots (on normal settings). The tripod socket is a good distance away from the battery compartment, which means you should be able to open the battery compartment even when the camera is mounted on a tripod (depending on your tripod head).

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