I have to say at the very beginning, I really like Fujifilm, and have their beautiful X-T20 model. Since they started design with dials (exposure dial, exposure compensation dial, ISO dial) and lenses with f-stop rings, all the other camera makers have become a distant memory for me. But that does not mean Fujifilm is immune to terrible mistakes…

In the live event on September 20th, called X Summit SHIBUYA 2019 in Tokyo, Japan, Fujifilm lifted a veil off their next products: New 50mm f1.0 lens which will replace earlier announced development of a 33mm f1.0 lens, and long awaited X-Pro3 camera, replacement for the ageing X-Pro2 model from 2016.

X-Pro3-front view.jpg

The Good…

Judging by the first overview, there are many enhancements. For the start, we can presume X-Pro3 will share new sensor and processor with a T-line sibling X-T3. In accordance to its ‘Pro’ designation, new model will have titanium chassis, which is very good news. Then we have welcome improvement in software. We have new film simulation called “Classic Negative”, and two extremely useful in-camera editing functions: Tone Curves and Clarity Adjustments. It will also have more improvements on the best part of its design — that absolutely marvelous hybrid viewfinder (OVF&EVF), which was always big selling point for both, X-Pro and X100 lines…

X-Pro3-Optical View Finder.jpg

And there’s the rub…

The Bad… (“Pure Photography” argument)

As Fujifilm Manager Toshihisa Iida explained, exactly that beautiful viewfinder was a reason for the design team to do their worst mistake on X-series so far — a tragic decision to implement a “hidden LCD” which you are forced to pull down to see. If it is not clear enough how does it look like, here’s the pic:

X-Pro3-Hidden LCD.gif

This design is, supposedly, done to force people to look through that beautiful viewfinder. Which, supposedly, should appeal to those “photography purists” who do not want to ‘chimp’ during shooting. False argument. With a fully articulated screen, you can also turn it around and hide for “pure fotographing” without sacrificing any functionality. And you can shoot from any angle. And you can save some more energy for some more shots. And you can use it for vlogging. And you can have a touch-choice of AF point while you are looking through the viewfinder. And you can brag that you finally have a perfect camera…

But it remains a dream only. You have what you have. As a “bonus”, you have small OLED screen on the back of LCD with a completely unnecessary “basic info”, which are already visible thanks to that fantastic dial-and-rings design. And you have a ‘reminder’ of the film that is not there! Congratulations, Fujifilm designers! You have just destroy functionality for a gimmick!

OK, so the LCD screen flips only 180 degrees down. For the most of the time you will have it hidden, because you can’t wish to have that ugly protrusion down, except for an occasional waist-level shot. Overhead shots? They were easier with a fixed screen. That means, yes, they have forced you to look only through the viewfinder. That is, if you are ready to cash out at least $1500 for this “brilliant” idea (price is still not known during the work on this text, but it is reasonable to expect $1500-$1800 for the titanium body).

Mr. Iida said that decision was made “arguing over many drinks”… well said. Only one drink too much was certainly not enough for such a decision — there must have been many drinks too much! A sober person would give a choice to the user to use the LCD as he wish — with the fully articulated screen, not forcing anybody to change a photographing style. Now market will teach Fujifilm about the number of “photographic purists” who will be thrilled by this idea. In the meantime, we can ask the Fujifans from the Fujirumors.com — Do you like it?

^{Source: Fujirumors.com}

But it will protrude!

A desperate defenders of this atrocious design decision has another ace in their sleeve: “Fully articulating screen has the disadvantage of sticking out of the camera!”, they are crying. Really? Let me explain it comparing two smallest cameras from the X-series: X-A5 with 3″ tilting screen, and the newest X-A7 with 3.5″ fully articulated screen:

X-A5 (3″ tilting screen) dimensions: 117 x 68 x 40 mm (4.61 x 2.68 x 1.57″)
X-A7 (fully articulated screen) dims: 119 x 38 x 41 mm (4.69 x 1.5 x 1.61″)
^{Source: dPreview.com}

This 38 mm (1.5″) height of X-A7 is an obvious oversight at the dPreview.com, but look at the rest of the dimensions — 2 mm wider and 1 mm thicker! Only one millimeter on the smallest camera. That would be literally invisible on the X-Pro3, since it is much less than thumb grip is protruding on the back! So, the story about the “construction obstacle” is a pure… excuse my language… hogwash. It could be done — as it is routinely done by Panasonic, Canon, Olympus… and with X-A7 Fujifilm proven they could do it as well.

And here we have few more reactions from the “purists”:

In a desperate attempt to justify the disaster, Ken Wheeler shows “some hard core photographer’s X100T” with a blocked screen. Well, fully articulated screen would allow to that photographer to keep it closed forever without pasting the black plastic over the screen.

[4:30] This camera does not wish to break its magnesium chassis and have as an issue a point of entry for humidity, for bad weather…
— Ken Wheeler

Really? Olympus probably never heard his expert observation, since they did it with OM-D E-M1 and OM-D E-M1X. Just watch the review between 9:45-10:18…

I have learned that we should try to “suspend our judgment“. So, I try not to judge and to remain skeptical. Only after I was able to try, feel, shoot and experience the Fujifilm X-Pro3 by myself, I will judge it! Because I actually never used it… did you?
— Patrick (FujiRumors admin)

No, but we used articulated screens. And we know how much better they are from this monstrosity.

technology will never satisfy everyone. there is no solution that makes everybody happy
— Gajan Balan

The point is that fully articulated screen could satisfy photography purist AND everyone else. Does Fuji want some profit? Well, now they will see where is the profit…

And no, we didn’t forget the Ugly…

True, that LCD was not the worst mistake ever, since Leica had TWO even worse mistakes — with their M10-D (no LCD at all at a higher price!) and M10-P ASC 100 Edition bodies — but Leica make them at their “exclusive” models while still retaining that classic design (fixed but decent LCD) M10 model in production. You don’t have an X-Pro3 model with fully articulating screen so that you can choose between reasonabe and atrocious design, like with Leica. But then, one design mistake feed the others — there’s no D-pad any more. You can almost hear a voice from the crowd: “They remove D-pad so they could increase screen size!” Right. Make a big screen and then hide it. Then remove D-pad and force people to open screen and dive into menus to find some option. There goes your idea of “Pure Photography”. Ingenious…

Instead of conclusion

There are times in life when you have to learn on mistakes. It would be better to learn on someone else’s mistakes, but if you made a big one, then have a courage to admit it and correct it in the next iteration. Soon, we’ll probably have a big discounts with X-Pro3, like we have it now with X-H1. Luckily, excellent previous models will help Fujifilm users to overcome the GAS crisis while waiting for the X-Pro4… hopefully with the full articulation.