Fujifilm X-T20

Fuji X-T20: full review

In digital photography, like in many other fields, some good quality cameras are forgotten for various reasons. Conversely, some other models – and Fuji X-T20 is one of them – have become actual cults that have defined entire generations of cameras. In these cases, quality always makes the difference, together with price and innovation in a precise period of time.

Launched in spring 2017, Fuji X-T20 immediately became a reference mirrorless. And it still is a very respected model, thanks to its remarkable technical features. But let’s start, as always, from its look.

Fuji X-T20: ergonomics and design of the camera body

Weight and size: 383 grams, 118x83x41 mm. Maths is never wrong and it says a lot about the portability of Fuji X-T20, extremely handy and light. The design is really well-finished, like it or not, it has a vintage appeal that makes it a beautiful objects.

When you hold it, Fuji X-T20 gives you the pleasant feeling of a solid structure, thanks to the body camera made of magnesium alloy. Of course, those who are used to reflex might complain about the “toy effect” derived from the small size of the camera. But on the structure there’s nothing to say: Fuji X-T20 is definitely no “toy”. 

Frontally, it looks like a small rétro masterpiece, with the grey/silver mix of Autofocus selection, the AF led and the control ring.

On the top, besides its unimaginable thinness, Fuji X-T20 has, from the left to the right: the drive ring with flash switch, the mount for external flash, the control ring for shutter and exposure, the FN button.

The back of Fuji X-T20 is more spartan. Besides the most common buttons, there’s the big electronic viewfinder and the wide touch-screen display, well-built and readable also in bright light.

From an ergonomic point of view, if you’re new to Fuji mirrorless, you won’t be at ease at first: there is no direct control of ISO nor of aperture. That said, the rings provide direct controls and many customizations, almost professional. And they’re well-functioning and easily reachable rings. I cannot say the same thing of the buttons, small and sometimes hard to reach. Then there’s the grip: it is very small, like a compact camera. Would an additional grip do the job? Maybe, especially if you’ll use this Fuji X-T20 for long workflow.

Fuji X-T20: technical features

As we said before, Fuji X-T20 has been a best seller that still has quite a sales success. And the main reasons for such exploit are its technical feature. Let’s see them together.

The sensor, first element of every technical analysis: Fujifilm X-T20 has a 24MP APS-C, X-Trans CMOS III sensor, the same of X-T2, which is a much more expensive camera. The color filter of X-Trans is very different from the other ones, thanks to a different color that - according to the manufacturer - keeps the moiré flaw (visual distortion coming from the overlap of two textures) away. 

What’s certain is that the quality of the pictures taken with Fuji X-T20 is remarkable, even if in RAW format there are some issues of incompatibility of the X-trans with some digital editors. However, this is a completely surmountable problem if you find tutorials on the topic.

Also the processor, X-Processor Pro, has improved compared to X-T10, with an increased burst mode speed and quadrupled processing speed.

The autofocus of Fuji X-T20 has 325 points and covers 50% of the image horizontally and 75% vertically. It is a hybrid phase-contrast device. 40% of the central area has phase detection AF points. Obviously, it can be used in simple and continuous mode. 

Burst mode of Fuji X-T20 is more than decent: 8 frames per second, 5 in liveview. Buffering supports 20 RAW files. Not a “sport” camera, but more than respectable in terms of moving images. Also connectivity is good: USB, HDMI, WiFi, plug for the microphone.

Taking pictures (and video) with Fuji X-T20

Light, portable. Taking pictures with Fuji X-T20 is a pleasure. The tilt display helps a lot, as well as direct drives. Ok, the grip is missing… but with a prosthetic grip you can solve the problem, if you need to take intensive shootings. The quality of Jpeg and RAW is very high.

It is not a sport camera but it isn’t static either. The autofocus is precise and versatile. And aesthetically it is quite remarkable: it will be the most important skill if you decide to sell it.

Moving to video, in 4k the maximum shooting time is ten minutes, fifteen in 2K. At 720p it is a little less than half an hour. Quality is not to be questioned, when we talk about Fuji. For the audio, there’s a plug for external microphone, but it lacks an output for earphones. The only negative note is that settings are locked during the recording. Modes are many and very interesting, they’re 15! I’ll cite only the Velvia mode, a Fuji filter that gives very smooth images.

My opinion on Fuji X-T20

Talking about mirrorless without comparing them with reflex, in the same segment, is absolutely impossible. Aesthetically it wins over rivals as Nikon D5600 and Canon 800D. But since it’s not a beauty contest, Fuji still misses something to reach the level of some reflex cameras.

It has some penalizing elements like the (missing) grip, a little capacious battery and not exciting buttons. These are the reasons why a mirrorless is usually just a back-up camera for the professional photographer.

Things are different for the amateur, who has to make a choice. Surely, Fuji X-T20 puts a strain on the high-end reflex colleagues…