Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Review

Patrick August 12, 2020

Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Review:

The Fuji X-T series of cameras have enjoyed great success because let’s face it, they’re decent cameras no matter which model you have. Whether you’re shooting with the first generation X-T1 or a newer model like the X-T3, you have a camera that offers you great versatility, portability, power, and excellent image quality. With all that said, there is always room for improvement, which is why we now have the new X-T4. How much has the X-T4 been improved though, and is it worth it to you? Let’s take a closer look.

Admin Note: I was testing the X-T4 when NYC just got out of lockdown from the Covid-19 pandemic, so I was still limiting myself to certain locations to shoot, and how long I would go out shooting. There are less pics (and variety) than what I would normally post for a review before the pandemic. Still, there are plenty of pics that will show what this camera can do.

Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Build Quality:

So, let’s start off with build quality. The new Fuji X-T4 may look like its predecessor, the X-T3 but on closer inspection, there are some subtle differences. For instance, it is a bit larger in general but this is not a bad thing. I still own my X-T3, and I can tell you that ergonomically, the X-T4 feels a lot better in my hands. It also feels more robust. For instance, the SD card slot area is designed better, and offers better access to the cards (there are two card slots). At 526 g, it’s also a bit heavier than the X-T3 but truthfully, I welcome the slight increase in weight. It makes the camera feel a bit better to me, and it also helps with stabilizing it. Lastly, you can get the X-T4 in either black or silver.

↑ The Fujifilm X-T4 with the XF 35mm f1.4 R lens attached.

↑ The Fuji X-T4 has two memory card slots.

Of course, you don’t need to worry as much about stabilization with the new X-T4 given that now, it has IBIS. In fact, this was one of the features that many felt was missing from the X-T3. The five-axis In-Body Image Stabilization provides up to 6.5 stops of stabilization. The image stabilization drops down to 5 stops with only one lens in the Fuji catalogue so far, and that’s the XF 80mmF2.8 R LM OIS WR Macro. In comparison, this is a definite improvement over the X-H1, which provides up to 5.5 stops of stabilization.

Looking around the camera, you’ll find all the manual controls that have made Fujifilm cameras famous and arguably unique in their perspective classes. Like the X-T3, the X-T4’s top plate incorporates a bunch of dials, and controls for functions like shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation (the exposure compensation dial also has a C position, so you can expand the setting up to +/- 5 EV range).

↑ Top plate of the X-T4.

These controls are great, and in my opinion, really help the Fuji X-T4 distinguish itself from its competitors. First off, all these controls can be adjusted while the camera is off. Second, having controls like these that can be directly manipulated with your fingertips makes things straightforward and fast to operate. It’s easier for a photographer, especially someone who may be a newbie to better understand the relationships between say shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (most of the Fuji lenses also have aperture rings). Lastly, it just makes the camera more fun to operate because at least for me, I feel more involved in the photographic process as opposed to just adjusting things in a menu system for instance. Yes, these are old school controls that you might find on film cameras from the past but in my opinion, these types of controls are the best, and therefore, still very relevant for today.

Furthermore, the Fuji X-T4 has a fully articulating LCD display now, which makes this camera not only great for stills photographers but also for vloggers. The LCD display quality is excellent; it has 1.62 million pixels and it’s a touch display. Images look sharp with excellent contrast and color. It’s worth noting that if you wanted to, you can fold away the screen, so it becomes completely hidden. In my opinion, this is the screen that should’ve been on the X-Pro3.

↑ The new vari-angle LCD display.

↑ If you want, you can also hide the LCD display.

The electronic viewfinder is equally as good as the LCD display. The Fuji X-T4 comes with a 3.69m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder, which is pretty much the norm now for high end APS-C mirrorless cameras now. Looking through the EVF is a joy given that it has a 0.75x magnification. It’s clear, and sharp. Color and contrast in it are excellent. You are able to push the refresh rate up to 100 fps to reduce lag but I didn’t feel it was even necessary. Quite frankly, with an EVF like this, lag time is a thing of the past.

Let’s take a look at the new shutter, which by the way, has been noticeably improved over the one in the X-T3. The first thing I noticed was how quiet and delicate the shutter operates. In fact, it is suppose to be 30% quieter according to Fujifilm. Furthermore, the durability of the X-T4’s mechanical shutter has been significantly improved. The X-T4’s is now rated for 300,000 actuations, which means it’s twice as durable as its predecessor. Furthermore, you can achieve up to 15fps while also keeping the shutter release time lag to just 0.035 seconds. With the electronic shutter, the X-T4 can achieve up to 30fps in 1.25x crop mode black out free.

These are all great features but what is my favorite in the Fuji X-T4 is the larger battery. I’ve been wanting Fujifilm to put a larger battery in their cameras for a long time now, and they finally have with the X-T4. The high capacity battery is called NP-W235, and it can last for 500 shots per charge in Normal Mode or 600 frames per charge in Economy Mode. If you have the VG-XT4 Vertical Battery Grip, which can hold two additional batteries, you can get up to 1700 shots per charge.

↑ The older battery from cameras like the X-T3 vs. the newer battery of the X-T4.

In actual use, the battery life feels significantly improved when compared to the X-T3’s. With my X-T3, I definitely carry at least one spare battery wherever I go. When I get home, I always make sure I charge the batteries before my next day of shooting. However, with the X-T4’s, I charge the battery once, and often times, it’ll last for two days worth of street shooting for me. I feel the specs that Fujifilm has given us for the battery might even be a bit underrated in actual use. I am so glad Fuji went with a larger battery for this camera.

For those who do more than still photography, the Fuji X-T4 offers an array of video capabilities. For instance, you can record professional-quality 4K/60P 10-bit video at 4:2:0 color internally, and 4:2:2 through the built-in HDMI port. When doing so internally at 200Mbps, the X-T4 also supports H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, and H.265/HEVC to achieve a higher rate of compression. For versatility, you can also choose MP4 in addition to the standard MOV video file format.

Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Autofocus:

As for the autofocus, this area is a major strength for the Fuji X-T4. The camera uses a hybrid autofocus system that combines 425 phase-detection points with a contrast-detection system for fast and accurate performance. As of February 2020, A new AF algorithm in the X-T4 enables focusing speeds of 0.02 seconds, which is the fastest AF among APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras. The AF can produce sharp photos right down to -6EV, so you shouldn’t have any issues with low-light performance either.

In practice, the autofocus performance is superb. With so many cameras always constantly coming out these days, having say a camera with the fastest autofocus doesn’t usually last that long ;). However, even if it gets trumped by whatever next, the X-T4’s performance would still be up there with the best. The autofocus system locks on tenaciously to your subject, not only quickly but with such accuracy as well. It’s also worth noting that the AF is so good that I don’t even feel that much of a difference when I am shooting in dimly lit areas. Tracking is excellent as well. I tested this camera with older lenses, and even one of the newer ones, which was the XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR Lens: the autofocus is just about perfect. Even older lenses like the XF 35mm f1.4 and the XF 56mm f1.2 APD feel faster.

Furthermore, the Face and Eye Detection AF is spectacular. I do mostly street fashion and boudoir for my own work, and the Face and Eye Detection AF is just so good. It’s fast, reliable, and accurate. There’s no drama whatsoever.

Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Image Quality:

In terms of image quality, the Fuji X-T4 uses the same 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, and X Processor 4 image processor as the X-T3. So image quality is pretty much the same. Overall, the X-T4 produces stellar images, and it is up there with the best in its class. The sensor is back-illuminated for improved light receiving performance, and thanks to the lack of a low-pass filter, images produced have plenty of detail in them, especially with those great X Series lenses.

↑ This was also taken with the XF 35mm at f1.4. 200 ISO was used.

↑ This was taken with the XF 18-55mm with 160 ISO at f8.

↑ This was also taken with the XF 18-55mm with 320 ISO at f8.

Other features include great dynamic range. One of the first characteristics that I noticed was how well the X-T4 RAW files hold up after editing, especially ones that have more contrast. More detail is retained in the shadows, while highlights can be easier to recover. Contrast and color rendering are especially good as well, and to me, better than what I see from any previous X Series camera without this sensor.

↑ This was taken in the morning with the XF 18-55mm. The settings were 160 ISO at f5.6. The X-T4 had no problems tracking the runner.

↑ This is a wide open shot taken with the XF 18-55mm with 160 ISO.

↑ This was taken with the XF 35mm f1.4 R lens at f1.4 and 160 ISO

As for high ISO capabilities, you should have no issue using the Fuji X-T4 throughout most of its ISO range. At 1600 ISO there is some noise creeping in but nothing that’s out of the ordinary. At 3200 ISO, you’ll notice more noise but detail is still very high. Color rendering is still great in my opinion. 6400 ISO is where you’ll see more noise but I’ve used this setting often, and achieved great results.