One Thing Fujifilm Did Not Totally Fix On The X-T3

Full image as seen in the EVF. Long dimension was exactly 200mm as explained below.

After taking delivery of my X-T3, completely reading the user's manual, then taking it out a few times for testing, I wrote this blog post about my initial thoughts.  However, I inadvertently published some erroneous information, something that was pointed out to me by reader Sergio.  After a quick informal test to confirm Sergio's correction, I updated that blog post with the correct information but I wanted to ensure that all my readers who may be interested in the X-T3 didn't miss the correction.  What I missed was the correct amount magnification we see when previewing RAW image files on the LCD of the X-T3.  

Here has been my problem.  In my other Fujifilm cameras, when previewing a RAW image on the LCD, the magnification is low.  Certainly not enough to check critical focus.  The magnification is less than 50%.  To overcome that, one has to set the camera to shoot RAW + FINE JPEG in order to see a 100% preview (JPEG file).  To me, seeing a 100% preview for critical focus check is imperative.  Fujifilm did not and still does not embed a large JPEG into the RAW image as do every other manufacturer whose cameras I've owned.  

To get around this, since I don't want to import JPEGS along with my RAW files into Lightroom, I set memory card 1 for RAW and memory card 2 for JPEG.  The problem with that is that method doesn't give me an immediate backup of the RAW files on card 2.  If I set my camera to record the RAW + JPEG files on both cards, well, a lot of memory was unnecessarily used.  This is just one of those quirks that we Fujifilm users have to live with, I guess.  

I thought this was corrected with the X-T3, but it has not been fully corrected.  When I initially made some test files on my new X-T3 and previewed them on the LCD, in my haste I mistakenly thought they were shown at 100%.  It turns out not quite.

After receiving the comment from Sergio, I created some additional files by photographing a print I had on hand (with a ruler for scale included) to be able to see exactly the magnification and determined that, indeed, Sergio was correct and I was wrong.  Thank you Sergio.

Here is what I did to determine magnification:

I grabbed one of my old 7" x 10" (178mm  x 254mm) prints.  My intention was to photograph the print with a ruler overlaid so I could measure exact magnification.  I felt photographing a print would give a more meaningful example than just photographing a ruler by itself.  It gives the viewer some meaningful reference points.  I could then preview the image on the LCD and see exactly how much of the ruler was visible.  That would allow me to calculate magnification.  I then set up my copy stand and successively mounted each camera on it, ensuring the camera was parallel to the copy stand's base.  I taped the ruler, marked in millimeters, to the top of the print and made exposures with both cameras so the entire frame (in the EVF) was showing exactly 200mm of the ruler.  Exposures were made in RAW only and RAW + JPEG.  

I then previewed each test image file on the camera's LCD then, by pressing the rear command dial, the preview was magnified to its maximum.  I noted how many millimeters of the ruler was visible on the LCD.  Then I imported the images into Lightroom and used the ruler markings on the edge of the images (not visible in the cropped images below) to crop them exactly to the dimensions that showed on each camera's LCD.

Here are the exact measurements I found:

Target Image Length    200mm

X-T2 RAW Image Magnification showed 80mm or 40% of the entire image
X-T2 JPEG Image Magnification showed 25.5mm or 12.75% of the entire image

X-T3 RAW image magnification showed 34.5mm or 17.25% of the entire image
X-T3 JPEG image magnification showed   24.5mm or 12.25% of the entire image

(The lower the percentage, the higher the magnification)

What you see when you fully magnify your RAW image on your LCD with the X-T2.  80mm of full image is shown.

What you see when you fully magnify your RAW image on your LCD with the X-T3. 34.5mm of full image is shown.

What you see when you fully magnify a JPEG image on your LCD with both the X-T2 and X-T3.  About 25mm.

It turns out that Fujifilm did not give us the full 100% RAW magnification, but it is pretty close.  I suspect the slightly larger magnification of the X-T3's JPEG image is due to the sensor having 2mp more resolution.
I think I can live with previewing images and checking critical focus looking at only 17.25 % of my images instead of a full 12.25%.  I wish it were 100% but Fujifilm likes to make incremental improvements!  I guess I'm just happy its better than it was.

If you are confused by anything I've done or have questions, please leave a comment.
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Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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