When Fujifilm first introduced the X-Pro3, they pissed a lot of people off.

But it’s for those very reasons, that I became interested in the camera in the first place.

So although it’s a few years old, I decided to put the money down and finally got my hands on it.

Today we’re going to get into why this camera is so interesting and if it’s matched expectations upon first impressions.

What Caught My Eye

So why did I buy this camera in the first place?

I have the x100v, I have the x-T4.

I technically don’t “need” the x-pro3.

The design change that caught my eye is the xpro3’s screen (or lack of therefore).

In the X-Pro3, Fujifilm removed the screen from the outer panel and left it on only the inner panel.

Now there’s a smaller mini screen on the back that displays your settings and film simulations but doesn’t display what you’re shooting.

Meaning you’d only have a screen if shot from the waist or pulled all the way out - which can make for some awkward off center shooting.

The X-Pro3 is a niche camera.

It’s meant to incentivize and emphasize the viewfinder experience, shooting from the waist, or taking photos without looking at the screen in the first place.

And this physical limiter forces you to shoot in a different way and think about photography differently.

Many would argue you can always turn the back screen of your cameras off but it’s really not the same.

In my experience when I’ve tried to do this, I still find myself looking at the screen expecting to see something.

So why did Fujifilm do this?

This was a something I’m sure they knew would cause controversy, especially coming after the X-Pro2 which is a great camera in it’s own right.

But they chose to believe in their vision and do it anyways which is rare for a camera company to do.

I feel like a lot of other brands try to cater too hard to their consumer base by giving them what they want instead of experimenting and trying to innovate in their designs.

And then they’ll remove some key feature that they knew you wanted so they can make you buy the next upcoming camera.

I guess what I’m saying is that the philosophy of the X-Pro3 is what caught my eye the most.

Of course, with the X-T4 I can do basically all the same things.

But The X-T4 doesn’t really inspire me - it’s my workhorse camera.

Now for the average photographer, little things like this might not matter much.

But being that I spend the majority of my days taking photos, editing photos, creating prints and books - the nuances make a world of difference.

So that’s why I bought it.

I wouldn’t say I’m a big spender for many things but I think if its something you use everyday like a laptop, phone, camera, or bed, it’s worth investing in.

No, this is not justification for you to run your credit line.

Did it Meet Expectations?

So, after first touch, did it meet expectations?

These are the actual thoughts I had the moment this camera came in:

I wrote them down so I wouldn’t forget and we’ll see if they change later.

“Upon first touch, the X-Pro3 is extremely well built, great to hold, nice to look at.

It gives me a familiar experience and isn’t too far off from the X-Pro1.

I do notice however, the grips are slightly different and nicer on the X-Pro3.

I love the screen: its nice that it holds out at 90 degrees for proper waist level shooting.

It also fully drops down so you can shoot “normally” although slightly off place.

I think the hinge is really cool and it looks flush/clean with the body when not in use.

In terms of body size, the frame of the body is actually not too far off from the x-T4, but doesn’t feel as heavy probably because of the battery.

I love the staining of the dura silver, it leaves a fingerprint brush type look when you touch it.

The back screen is awesome - its fun, stays on, and doesn’t consume much battery.

I also threw on a little screen protector so it doesn’t scratch up.

It also shares the same ss/iso dial as the x100v which is something I love.

It doesn’t prop up on its own however, making it a little harder to use but not a big deal.”

So as you can tell, the X-Pro3 is a camera I found myself discovering little things to be excited about as I held it for the first time.

And of course, when it came in I couldn’t wait to use it.

So lets move on to my first use experience.

First Use Experience

I think I got lucky with this one, because the first day I took the X-Pro3 out was a great one.

The clouds were amazing, there were tons of people out, and the colors were awesome.

Now I’ve been working on this photo-zine for a while now, and I’ve been trying to figure out different themes and color schemes to build a cohesive narrative around.

And it was this day out with the X-Pro3 that gave me a lot of direction.

From this day, I got a set of images that made sense together and felt relevant enough thematically to be used in the zine.

So what I’m doing now is instead of simply lumping up a collection of images together and making an art book, I’m instead structuring the book with chapters that have more cohesion and images that relate to one another.

Here are some shots of that day with the X-Pro3 and the 18-55:

Now, as I was shooting with the camera, I did find myself getting confused with the screen, but I think that just requires some getting used to.

It still takes a second to remember that there is no screen and I have to either look in the viewfinder or pull it down.

The good thing however is that shooting from the waist is super easy.

Pulling down the X-Pro3’s screen is one motion as opposed to many other hinges which are two.

So it is slightly easier to shoot from the waist than other cameras.

Vertical shooting however, is still a bit awkward.

Overall, there’s something about this camera’s design that makes it really fun and intuitive to use.

So far, I’m having a lot of fun with it.

I will have to update you guys in the future however, as I use and learn more about this camera.

So stay tuned for the full review and thanks for reading.