Fujifilm X - A7 Review
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| Fujifilm X - A7 Review |
OUR VERDICT
The X-A7 has some pretty impressive specs for an entry-level camera, and has the performance to match, with a significant improvement to the camera’s autofocus performance over its predecessor. Image quality is exceptional and 4K video capabilities have also been upgraded, making this compact, lightweight snapper an ideal traveling companion.
Key features
- New 24.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- 3.5-inch vari-angle touchscreen
- 4K/30p video
From the front, the X-A7 looks identical to its predecessor, using the same X-mount on which you can attach either the bundled Fujinon XC 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS PZ kit lens (that same one that came with the X-A5) or use any of the better X-mount optics. Fujifilm didn’t send us the kit lens to test the new camera, so we used the XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4, which seems to have been a far better option than the bundled glass. Our colleagues over at Digital Camera World were able to test the full kit and found the CX lens to be disappointing.
It’s the back of the camera, though, that will provide smartphone photographers a sense of comfort when they transition over. The rear display is now a 3.5-inch touchscreen with a 2,760k-dot resolution that’s fully articulating. It’s also wider with an aspect ratio of 16:9, meaning you get a bigger and sharper view of the world when compared to the X-A5’s 3-inch display that had a resolution of just 1,040K dots and an aspect ratio of 3:2.
However, it’s the brand-new sensor under the hood of the X-A7 that makes the new camera worth the upgrade. It might share the same 24.5MP pixel count from earlier but the new Bayer-filter sensor, Fujifilm promises, has copper wiring that significantly reduces noise levels and offers faster readouts too.
The sensor also has way more phase-detection autofocus pixels than before, giving users a very respectable 117 selectable AF points to choose from (compared to the 91 AF points on the X-A5), with an extended ISO range of 100-51000, both of which are excellent for an entry-level camera. Weirdly, though, the sensor defaults to a 16:9 aspect ratio, perhaps to match the rear display and emphasize the camera’s video capabilities, but the usual 3:2, 1:1 and 4:3 aspects are also available.
Turning to the video: 4K recording is, of course, the norm now, but thankfully it’s available at 30fps on the X-A7, as opposed to the rather disappointing 15fps on the X-A5. A microphone socket is available but, like the X-A5, it’s the non-standard 2.5mm type that will require an adaptor, but thankfully it ships with one.
All the usual creative modes from the X-A5 have made their way to the successor model, along with the addition of a new Bright Mode (to capture HDR images with a single shot) found within the Advanced Scene Recognition Auto function and a Light Trails option available in the Scene Position mode.
To make quick work of transferring files to a handheld device so images can be uploaded to social media, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are on board, with the latter now updated to the 4.2 standards. If a wireless transfer isn’t your thing, there’s now a USB-C port that also doubles as the charging port for the camera. While that’s good news, battery life has taken a hit.
The X-A7 has a CIPA rating of just 270 shots compared to the 450 for the X-A5. However, there is an ‘economy’ option available under Power Management > Performance within the camera setup option in the menu system ( spanner icon) which can push the battery life to 440 shots. However, other than a very marginal reduction in screen brightness, we weren’t able to discern exactly what another functionality is disabled to increase battery life.
Build and handling
Despite the addition of a larger rear LCD, the X-A7 is about 40g lighter than its predecessor. It’s a compact system, even with the 18-55mm lens that we used during our testing. And, in addition to the articulating screen, it makes for a great selfie camera that can accompany you on your travels.
However, the camera isn’t very comfortable to hold over long durations. The grip isn’t deep at all, while the thumb rest on the back is too small and snug against the larger screen. Not only will you need to contend with thumbprints on the top right corner of the screen, but you’ll also get smudges on the display from the heel of your palm when gripping the camera between shots. There’s a rather stylish brown leather strap that ships with the camera and we highly recommend you use it.
The large screen has also meant that the control button setup on the X-A7 is different as compared to the earlier model. Instead of the nine on the X-A5, there are now only four, with the bin and playback on the top of the screen, and the menu and exit buttons on the bottom right corner.
The thoughtful addition of the joystick makes it easy to not only find the focus point you want but also helps in navigating through the menu system. That said, the location of the joystick is awkward – out of the reach of the thumb – making it particularly difficult to shoot single-handed.
Physical niggles aside, the X-A7’s menu has been given a user-friendly refresh. A new Smart Menu feature has been added to help users unfamiliar with camera settings to find their way around, like changing aperture and exposure or choosing one of the several Film Simulation modes on board. However, something as basic as the ISO setting is a little difficult to reach, with this particular option hidden within the Q (or ‘quick’) menu that you will find only when you tap on the left arrow shown on-screen.
What the Smart Menu does well, though, offers a preview of the various Film Simulation modes, where a slider shows the before and after effects of each. There’s even a depth controller on the Smart Menu that allows you to blur the background of an image when framing if you don’t know what kind of aperture works best. While the concept is brilliant, the results won’t be very good when using kit lenses as they have limited aperture ranges. For some truly excellent depth of field effects, it’s best to use a prime lens.
If you’re not happy with the touch controls, the X-A7 allows you to easily bypass that with the two control dials on the top shoulder. The dial around the shutter button can be used to change the shutter speed, while the aperture can be controlled by the rightmost dial. Both of them are easy to operate, being perfectly situated within reach of the forefinger and thumb, respectively.
Like the X-A5, there’s no viewfinder here either, which may not appeal to more serious photographers, but this camera isn’t meant for them unless they’re after a backup which they can carry around without adding too much weight to their existing kit. The pop-up flash makes its comeback, which can be opened up using a small button on the left side of the camera.
However, the camera isn’t very comfortable to hold over long durations. The grip isn’t deep at all, while the thumb rest on the back is too small and snug against the larger screen. Not only will you need to contend with thumbprints on the top right corner of the screen, but you’ll also get smudges on the display from the heel of your palm when gripping the camera between shots. There’s a rather stylish brown leather strap that ships with the camera and we highly recommend you use it.
The large screen has also meant that the control button setup on the X-A7 is different as compared to the earlier model. Instead of the nine on the X-A5, there are now only four, with the bin and playback on the top of the screen, and the menu and exit buttons on the bottom right corner.
The thoughtful addition of the joystick makes it easy to not only find the focus point you want but also helps in navigating through the menu system. That said, the location of the joystick is awkward – out of the reach of the thumb – making it particularly difficult to shoot single-handed.
Physical niggles aside, the X-A7’s menu has been given a user-friendly refresh. A new Smart Menu feature has been added to help users unfamiliar with camera settings to find their way around, like changing aperture and exposure or choosing one of the several Film Simulation modes on board. However, something as basic as the ISO setting is a little difficult to reach, with this particular option hidden within the Q (or ‘quick’) menu that you will find only when you tap on the left arrow shown on-screen.
What the Smart Menu does well, though, offers a preview of the various Film Simulation modes, where a slider shows the before and after effects of each. There’s even a depth controller on the Smart Menu that allows you to blur the background of an image when framing if you don’t know what kind of aperture works best. While the concept is brilliant, the results won’t be very good when using kit lenses as they have limited aperture ranges. For some truly excellent depth of field effects, it’s best to use a prime lens.
If you’re not happy with the touch controls, the X-A7 allows you to easily bypass that with the two control dials on the top shoulder. The dial around the shutter button can be used to change the shutter speed, while the aperture can be controlled by the rightmost dial. Both of them are easy to operate, being perfectly situated within reach of the forefinger and thumb, respectively.
Like the X-A5, there’s no viewfinder here either, which may not appeal to more serious photographers, but this camera isn’t meant for them unless they’re after a backup which they can carry around without adding too much weight to their existing kit. The pop-up flash makes its comeback, which can be opened up using a small button on the left side of the camera.
Performance
- Hybrid phase- and contrast-detection AF system
- Impressive eye-tracking
We may not be too impressed by the physical handling of the camera, but the X-A7 performs beautifully. Where the X-A5’s AF system wasn’t anything to write home about, the X-A7 benefits from the new hybrid phase- and contrast-detection system that offers 117 selectable points.
Straight out of the box, face- and eye-detect AF is practically perfect. As one of our colleagues walked past us, the camera promptly picked up his face and stayed locked on while he moved. The moment he turned towards the camera, eye detection clicked in – it impressively shifted from left to right as our colleague moved his head while chatting to others, staying focused on the eye closest to the camera.
Admittedly it’s not the fastest AF system we’ve tested, but it’s very impressive for an entry-level model. We should also point out that we didn’t test AF speed and accuracy with the kit lens that the camera is bundled with – AF speed also depends on the focusing ability of the lens used as well.
Touch-to-focus is also available and works quite well, although we found the AF to be intelligent enough to pick up whatever target we were aiming for.
Color reproduction while using the ‘standard’ mode is spectacular, and the dynamic range is excellent too. However, we found that the camera prefers to deepen darker tones. For example, while shooting a light-colored object on a dark background, we needed to lighten some of the shadow areas to reveal a little more detail. That said, the contrast on images like that (eg: the magnolia and its dark leaves in the image above) is excellent and the effect can be rather pleasing.
That said, you can always choose a different simulation model to suit your vision of the scene you’re shooting and use the slider on the Smart Menu to decide whether you like it or not before you hit the shutter button.
The X-A7 has a 256-zone built-in metering system which is impressive as well, perfectly exposing subjects in different lighting conditions without compromising on details in areas of brightness and shadow.
Image quality
- Crisp, sharp images
- Superb color reproduction
- Impressive noise performance
We feel like we’re about to repeat ourselves here but like the X-A5, the new model excels when it comes to image quality, even without an X-Trans sensor. Images are sharp and crisp, with beautiful colors. If you aren’t too familiar with the technical aspects of shooting, the camera’s Program (P) option does an excellent job of choosing the right settings for pretty much any scenario.
There’s no doubt that Fujifilm’s Film Simulation modes are great and they still don’t disappoint. We’d have preferred a tad more contrast in the monochrome options but that’s easily achieved during post-processing.
Noise levels are well controlled as well, with hints of grain at ISO 800 and ISO 1600, although they’re only noticeable on a large screen, like a 15-inch laptop for example. For anyone shooting to post to social media won’t need to worry about that as the noise won’t be visible at all. At ISO higher than 3200, though, noise does begin to show up more prominently.
The 16:9 screen is great for videos but filming in that aspect ratio means you’re sacrificing pixels. That said, the quality is very impressive, with 4K available to shoot at 30fps. Full HD 1080p movies can be recorded at 60fps but only for a top of 30 minutes. Keep in mind, though, there’s no in-built image stabilization. You’ll need to rely on the stabilization technology in the lens you are using. That said, face and eye AF work well for video just as well as it does for stills, making this an excellent option for vloggers, particularly now that it has the articulating screen.
Verdict
Everything about the X-A7 has been designed with the smartphone user in mind – from the large rear LCD screen and a relatively user-friendly menu interface. And with top-notch image quality that even the experts will be pleased with, it’s an excellent little snapper. Autofocus performance is impressive for both stills and video, which even some enthusiast-level cameras have trouble with. Even the lack of a viewfinder didn’t both us.
Our only complaints are about the camera’s ergonomics – there’s barely a grip to speak of and the joystick isn’t within easy reach of the thumb. You’ll have to support the weight of the camera by holding the lens every time you need to reach for the joystick. The 16:9 display also takes some getting used to. Choose another aspect ratio and you’re going to be losing real estate on either side of the screen.
The physical complaints aside, it’s very easy for us to recommend this camera, particularly since you can grab a kit for a rather reasonable price of $699 / £699 / AU$999. There are cheaper options on the market, but we’re yet to come across one that matches the autofocus performance, ease of use and the image quality of the X-A7.
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