The Fujifilm X-A7 offers a range of quality improvements over its predecessor : New 24-megapixel APS-C (6000 × 4000) sensor, eight and a half times the number of phase detection AF points, support for 4K video recording at 30 fps (X-A5 only allowed 4K video recording at 15 fps ) and much more. Let's see what impression the novelty will make in practice.
The main features
The Fujifilm X series of cameras, which first appeared in 2011, is developing very actively and has already taken its strong niche in the market. There are cameras here and devices designed for . The XA line can be called the “youngest”, focused on use by beginners who actively use automatic mode in the process of shooting. True to its retro design, Fujifilm has at the same time tried to maximize the development of the "artificial intelligence" of the device and reflect the current trends in performance and control.
Unlike the older models, whose distinguishing feature is the use of proprietary X-Trans CMOS system matrices, which provide increased detail and prevent the appearance of moiré despite the fact that they lack a low-pass filter, representatives of the younger line consistently receive sensors with a classic ("Bayer") pixel arrangement. The Fujifilm X-A7 has a sensor of the same format (APS-C) and resolution (24 MP) as the X-A5, but its structure has been updated: the manufacturer claims that the new copper wiring provides a very high signal transfer rate from the matrix to processor (also updated). Also, as we noted above, she received eight and a half times more phase detection sensors - now their number reaches 425. Accordingly, both accuracy and autofocus speed should be significantly improved. We can immediately add that the X-A7 has a function for tracking not only the face, but also the eyes.
Burst speed remains the same, and it is low - 6 frames per second. But a good breakthrough has been made in video shooting: Fujifilm X-A7 can record video in 4K resolution at up to 30 frames per second and supports recording at 60 frames per second in Full HD and HD (720p) resolutions.
The camera is capable of continuously recording up to 15 minutes of 4K video and up to 30 minutes of Full HD and HD video. It is also the first X-series camera to feature a "Countdown" mode in which users can specify the duration of the video to be captured: there are 15, 30 and 60 second cutoff options.
Of the most striking visual innovations, it is necessary to note the new 3,5-inch LCD screen, which has been given a leading role in controlling the camera.
Other innovations include improved automatic scene recognition; it uses, among other things, the HDR mode - a huge rarity for Fujifilm cameras, which usually defiantly ignore exposure gluing. It is also worth noting the presence of wireless connections Wi-Fi 802.11b / g / n and Bluetooth 4.2
The camera came to my test with three lenses: a complete FUJINON LENS XC15-45mmF3.5-5.6 OIS PZ, a FUJINON XF50mmF2 R WR fix and a FUJINON XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 OIS II telephoto lens.
| Fujifilm X-A7 | |||||
| Image sensor | 23,6×15,6mm (APS-C) CMOS | 23,6×15,6mm (APS-C) X-Trans CMOS IV | 22,3×14,9mm (APS-C) CMOS | 23,5×15,6mm (APS-C), Exmor CMOS | 17,3×13mm (Micro 4/3) Live MOS |
| Effective sensor resolution | 24 megapixels | 26,1 megapixels | 24,2 megapixels | 24,2 MP | 20,3 MP |
| Built-in Image Stabilizer | No | No | No | No | In-camera, 5-axis |
| Bayonet mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Canon EF-M | Sony e-mount | Micro 4 / 3 |
| Photo format | JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF 2.0), RAW | JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF 2.0), RAW | JPEG (EXIF 2.30), RAW 14bit | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.31), RAW 14bit | JPEG (DCF Ver. 2.0, Exif Ver. 2.31), RAW |
| Video Format | MPEG 4 | MPEG 4 | MPEG 4 | XAVC S, AVCHD, MP4 | AVCHD,MP4 |
| Frame size | Up to 6000×4000 | Up to 6240×4160 | Up to 6000×4000 | Up to 6000×4000 | Up to 5184×3888 |
| Video resolution | Up to 3840×2160, 30p | Up to 4096×2160, 30p | Up to 3840×2160, 25p | Up to 3840×2160, 30p | Up to 3840×2160, 30p |
| Sensitivity | ISO 200-12800, expandable to ISO 100-51200 | ISO 200-12800, expandable to ISO 80-51200 | ISO 100-25600, expandable to ISO 51200 | ISO 200-12800, expandable to ISO 80-51200 | ISO 200-25600, expandable to ISO 100 |
| Shutter | Mechanical shutter: 1/4000-30s; electronic shutter: 1/32000-30s; long (Bulb); silent mode |
Mechanical shutter: 1/4000-30s; electronic shutter: 1/32000-30s; long (Bulb); silent mode |
Mechanical shutter: 1/4000-30s; long (Bulb) |
1/4000—30 s; silent mode | Mechanical shutter: 1/4000-60s; electronic shutter: 1/16000-1s; long (Bulb); silent mode |
| Burst Speed | Up to 6 frames per second | Up to 8 fps, up to 20 fps with electronic shutter; with an additional crop of 1,25x - up to 30 frames per second | Up to 10 fps with single focus, up to 7,4 fps with focus tracking | Up to 11 frames per second | Up to 9 frames per second; in 4K photo mode up to 30 fps with electronic shutter |
| Auto focus | Hybrid (contrast + phase), 425 dots | Hybrid (contrast + phase), 425 dots | Hybrid, Dual Pixel CMOS, 143 dots | Hybrid (contrast + phase), 425 dots | Contrast, 49 dots |
| Metering, modes of operation | TTL metering at 256 points: multi-point, center-weighted, average-weighted, spot | TTL metering at 256 points: multi-point, center-weighted, average-weighted, spot | 384-zone TTL metering, evaluative/partial/center-weighted/spot | 1200-zone evaluative: multi-segment, center-weighted, spot, spot standard/large area, screen average, brightest area | 1728-spot TTL metering, multi-spot/center-weighted/spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 EV in 1/3-stop increments | ±5 EV in 1/3-stop increments | ±5 EV in 1/3-stop increments | ±5 EV (in 1/3-stop or 1/2-stop increments) | ±5 EV in 1/3-stop increments |
| Built-in flash | Built-in guide number 4 (ISO 100) | Built-in guide number 7 (ISO 200) | Yes, guide number is approximately 5 | Built-in, 1/160 sec timing, guide number 6 (ISO 100) | Built-in, guide number 9 (ISO 200), guide number 6,4 (ISO 100) |
| Self-timer | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with | 2 / 10 with |
| Memory card | One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I) | One SD/SDHC/SDXC slot (UHS-I) | One SD / SDHC / SDXC slot (UHS-I) | One Memory Stick PRO Duo/Memory Stick PRO-HG Duo slot; SD/SDHC/SDXC to UHS-I | One SD / SDHC / SDXC slot (UHS-II) |
| Display | 3,5", 2k dots, oblique | 3", 1k dots, oblique | LCD, 3-inch, 1k dots, touch, swivel | LCD, 3-inch, resolution 921k dots, touch, tilting | LCD, 3-inch, 1k dots, touch, tilting |
| Viewfinder | No | Electronic (OLED, 2,36M dots) | Electronic (OLED, 2,36M dots) | Electronic (OLED, 2,36M dots) | Electronic (OLED, 2,36M dots) |
| Interfaces | miniHDMI, USB 2.0 (Type-C), 2,5 mm for external microphone | HDMI, USB 3.1 (Type-C), 2,5mm for external microphone/remote control | miсroUSB, miniHDMI, external microphone | microUSB, microDMI, 3,5 mm microphone jack | microHDMI, USB Type-C, 3,5 mm microphone, 3,5 mm headphone |
| Wireless modules | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | WiFi, NFC, Bluetooth | WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC | WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC |
| Food | Li-ion battery NP-W126S 8,7 Wh (1200 mAh, 7,2 V) | Li-ion battery NP-W126S 8,7 Wh (1200 mAh, 7,2 V) | Lithium-ion battery LP-E12, 6,3 Wh (875 mAh, 7,2 V) | Li-ion battery NP-FW50, 7,3 Wh (1020 mAh, 7,2 V) | Li-ion battery DMW-BLC12 (1200 mAh, 7,2 V) |
| Dimensions | 119 × 38 × 41 mm | 118,4 × 82,8 × 46,8 mm | 116,3 × 88,1 × 58,7 mm | 120 × 67 × 60 mm | 130 × 94 × 77 mm |
| Weight | 320 grams (incl. battery and memory card) | 383 grams (incl. battery and memory card) | 387-390 grams (including battery and memory card), depending on the color variation | 403 grams (incl. battery and memory card) | 536 grams (incl. battery and memory card) |
| Actual price | , | , | ; |
Design and ergonomics
Fujifilm has traditionally stood out for the design of its cameras. Retro style is the company's trademark, and in amateur models it is implemented to no lesser extent than in the flagship ones, and even to a greater extent. Model X-A7 is available in four colors: traditional silver and black and silver, as well as "camel" (beige) and mint green. I must admit that the last two color schemes fascinated me right off the bat, and such a variety does not seem overkill to me at all, because people who are passionate about photography are creative people, visuals, and they often do not care at all how their camera looks. But, alas, the mint green X-A7 is not officially sold in Russia and will not be sold.
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"Solid" black devices are rather fed up, and the ability to carry your camera as a stylish accessory is very pleasant. The Fujinon XC 15-45mm F3,5-5,6 OIS PZ Whale Lens is a lightweight, small, silver color that complements the X-A7 visually. The weight of the camera with a lens and battery is 455 grams (without a lens - 320 grams), dimensions - 119 × 38 × 41 mm. The camera fits easily into a small bag. The body of the camera is made of plastic coated with metal - alas, we have to doubt the durability of the body, it does not look very reliable. Most of the case has an anti-slip coating. There is a protrusion for gripping the right hand - quite small, but greatly facilitating interaction with the camera. There is also a thumb pad in the back.
In terms of control, a move has been made towards reducing the company's traditional analog organs for cameras and more active use of the touch screen. At first it was unusual: the navigation logic itself is different from what I'm used to both on Fujifilm cameras and on cameras from other brands. In simple terms - "too few buttons." But after a few days you get used to the controls and understand that it is quite convenient: progress does not stand still, after all, everyone has long been accustomed to touch controls when working with a smartphone. Those for whom the X-A7 will be the first camera will most likely master the controls very quickly, and the owners of older models will have to “hang out” for the first time until it is deposited in their heads that the quick menu button, for example, is not on the body, but on the screen.
Let's take a closer look at how the ergonomics of the FujifilmX-A7 are organized. On the left edge there is a flash button and a microphone input (2,5 mm) under a rubberized cover.
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On the right edge there are connectors for charging the camera, connecting to a computer and transmitting a video signal of USB Type-C (USB 2.0) and miniHDMI standards.
On the front is a Fujifilm X Mount, a lens release button, and an autofocus assist lamp.
Below we see a tripod socket and, close to it, a combined compartment for the battery and memory card. The camera supports SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I Speed Limit) cards. When using a tripod pad, the compartment is blocked, which, of course, is not very convenient in a situation where you need to replace a memory card or battery, for example, during studio work - but this is a tolerable price for the compactness of the camera.
On top are a built-in flash, a hot shoe, a shooting mode selector, a shutter button combined with a settings dial, a camera on / off button, a second settings dial with a programmable button on top (by default it is responsible for video recording).
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The most significant changes compared to the previous model occurred on the rear panel. Most of the space was "cleared" for the display, placing two buttons on top - a button for selecting the drive mode / bracketing / deleting pictures and a button for playing pictures. On the right are the navigation joystick, the menu button and the button for changing the modes of displaying information on the display.
All controls are rather tiny, but it did not seem to me that this creates significant inconvenience during operation. Is that the on-off button, located between the two wheels, seems unnecessarily small and hard to reach for men with large fingers or girls with long nails. But in any case, you can get used to it.
Display
Let's take a closer look at the camera screen. It has a diagonal of 3,5 inches and high resolution (2,76 million pixels). Of course, there is a touch cover - both interface navigation and focusing or shooting with the touch of a finger are available. The X-A7 is the first model in the X Series to feature a vari-angle LCD display. When not in use, the display can be kept closed to protect its surface from damage during transit. To shoot from non-standard positions - for example, from a low point - the screen can be rotated horizontally; 180-degree rotation is also available, which is especially useful for self-portraits/vlogs. The screen moves very smoothly, the design gives the impression of being reliable. An important nuance is the aspect ratio of the screen - 16:9, while the standard aspect ratio of the photograph is 3:2 or 4:3. Thus, the manufacturer decided to take a step towards the lovers of making videos. However, I did not feel any discomfort when taking a photo on such an “elongated” screen - the dark space at the edges of the frame does not bother me in any way, the exposure compensation scale is displayed on the left by default, which is very convenient.
The camera does not have a viewfinder, and therefore the quality of the image on the screen is especially important. He showed himself well even when shooting in bright sunlight - the picture is clear, bright, contrasting.
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Interface
One of the “chips” of the camera is the “smart” menu. The main principle is to visually demonstrate to the user all the changes being made. For example, changing from one filter to another, we see a screen split in half, on the left side of which the effect of the current filter is shown, and on the right - the selected one. By moving the slider by touching the screen, it is convenient to compare the image. This is a really new and interesting technique that we have not seen from other manufacturers.
The main menu is called by the corresponding button on the rear panel of the case. It is organized vertically and contains six main sections, each with one or two pages of settings. The settings for each option open in a drop-down box on the same screen. The menu is completely Russified, you can navigate through it both with the help of analog controls and in a touch way. For me, the first option was a little more convenient, since the inscriptions are still not very large, and you can miss (at the same time, my hands are not that big; for male photographers, this will be even more relevant). In general, the menu structure looks quite logical, I think that it will not work to get confused.
Of course, the camera also has a quick menu, which contains all the basic settings for the most convenient access. It is called up on the touch screen and contains sixteen items organized in a table. The user can specify which settings will make up the quick menu (to do this, in the last section of the main menu, select the “button settings” item).
Source: 3dnews.ru