Judging by the number of selfie sticks, selfie drones, and the countless narcissistic images we see on Instagram, it's safe to say the selfie phenomenon isn't going away any time soon. Once again trying to tap into this market, Fujifilm has announced the X-A3, its latest "selfie-optimized" mirrorless camera which has been designed to appeal to a younger generation of photographers.
As the name suggests, the X-A3 is a follow-up to the X-A2 and is again being marketed at selfie fans. As such, it packs even more features for these users, including a new grip which is said to be better for holding the camera at an arms length, along with the ability to trigger the shutter when you smile or when pals push their faces together.
However, it's worth noting that the X-mount camera looks to be a good all-round entry-level shooter, even if you're not an avid selfie fan. Inside theres' a 24.2-megapixel APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) CMOS sensor paired with an EXR Processor II image processor. While not the same sort of X-Trans sensor seen in the X-Pro2 and X-T2, it should still deliver high quality images and Fujifilm says it excels in naturally reproducing skin tones, textures and colors.
The camera boasts an ISO range of 200 to 6,400 (with an extended sensitivity up to ISO 25,600) and continuous shooting at speeds of up to 6 fps (frames per second). The contrast-based autofocus system uses 49 focus areas in Single Point mode, and 77 focus areas in Zone and Wide/Tracking modes. On the video front, resolution unfortunately doesn't make it to 4K, and instead maxes out at a more modest Full HD 1080p at 60/50 fps.
Now, back to those selfie features. While the 116.9 x 66.9 x 40.4 mm (4.6 x 2.6 x 1.6 in) and 339 g (12 oz) camera is going to feel big to those used to shooting images of themselves with a smartphone, Fujifilm has made a number of design decisions to help smooth that transition.
A re-modeled grip is said to be the result of testing with hundreds of "young" photographers, and makes holding the camera easier whether shooting in a traditional position, or with an arm stretched outwards for a self-portrait.
The retro-styled camera also has a 180 degree tilting 3-inch touchscreen with 1,040k dots, to make composing a selfie easier and more accurate. When the screen is flipped up, it automatically activates an Eye Detection AF mode, meaning you're not going to end up with a sharp background while your face is blurry.
Users can then opt to trigger the camera by pressing the conveniently located vertical command dial, or using various self timer functions. These now offer the ability to trigger the camera when you smile, or when pals push their faces together. A Portrait Enhancer mode can then be used via the touchscreen to help ensure you look your best by enhancing skin tones.
The X-A3 features built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and is compatible with the Fujifilm Camera Remote app for iOS and Android for remote shooting an transferring images or video, handy if you can't wait to share your selfies. The Fujifilm X-A3 will come in silver, pink or brown when it is available in October. It's bundled with a XC 16-50 mm F3.5-F5.6 OIS II kit lens and will be priced at US$600.
You can check out a promo video for the Fujifilm X-A3 below.
Product page: Fujifilm X-A3