Hands-on with new Fujifilm X-T200
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Pitched to us by Fujifilm representatives as ‘an X-A7 with an EVF’ (hey, we’ll take it), the X-T200 is arguably the company’s most compelling entry-level option yet. Offering updates across the board, the X-T200 appears to improve on an already well-featured camera – especially when it comes to autofocus and video.
Click through for a closer look at the new Fujifilm X-T200.
Body and Design
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While the X-T200 looks a lot like its predecessor, it’s actually slightly lighter than the X-T100, by 80g (about three ounces). And there are some key differences, ergonomically. For starters, the X-T200 gains a front control dial (around the shutter button), and as you can see in this image, a deep, sculpted grip.
New top-plate controls
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From the top, the new control layout is more obvious. The X-T200 inherits the same rather awkward ‘Fn dial’ as its predecessor on the far left (which can be customized to switch between various functions, including film simulation modes and – by default – shutter speed in movie mode), but the X-T100’s small, thin rear control dial has been deleted.
The X-T100’s ‘big top dial and skinny rear dial’ interface has been replaced by a more conventional twin top-dial arrangement in the X-T200, which on balance we prefer.
New sensor
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Although it offers the same 24MP resolution as its predecessor, the X-T200 almost certainly borrows its APS-C format sensor from the X-T2, meaning that it offers a more advanced copper-wiring design, capable of up to 3.5X faster data transmission and (Fujifilm claims) greatly reduced rolling-shutter.
Bayer-pattern sensor design
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Unlike the X-T2 however, the X-T200 uses a conventional Bayer-pattern design, rather than Fujifilm’s unique ‘X-Trans’ technology, which the company reserves for higher-end cameras. This may result in slightly less detailed JPEGs at standard settings, but has the benefit of making Raw files more manageable across a wide range of Raw processing software.
Continuous shooting
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This extra speed pays off in faster continuous shooting. The X-T200 is capable of capturing photos at up to 8 fps with autofocus, which makes it pretty competitive in its class, and compares well even against some more expensive cameras.
This shot shows the X-T200’s fairly pared-down rear control layout, which includes a small but usable joystick for AF positioning, and a fairly substantial rear thumb rest to the upper right of the articulating LCD, where the X-T100’s rear control dial used to live. The two unlabeled buttons to the right of the EVF can be customized.
Updated autofocus
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Another consequence of using a new sensor and processor is a major bump in the autofocus capabilities of the X-T200 compared to its predecessor. We weren’t particularly impressed by the performance of the X-T100’s AF system, but the X-T200 looks much more promising, with 425 on-sensor phase-detection AF points (compared to 91 in the X-T100) and updated face and eye-detection.
Viewfinder and LCD
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The DSLR-style X-T200 offers a high-quality electronic viewfinder, with 2.36 million dots, and 100% frame coverage. The rear LCD is very large for a camera in this class, measuring 3.5 inches, in a 16:9 aspect ratio, and its 2.76 million-dot resolution is impressive for a camera in this class. As we’d expect, the screen is touch-sensitive, and as you can see it’s also fully articulating.
The rear panel is also brighter than most, hitting a peak of around 1000 nits, with a ‘bright’ mode for use in bright light.
Proper 4K video
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A major deficiency of the X-T100 was its video mode, infamous for topping out at an (impressive) 4K resolution but at a (less impressive) frame rate of 15 fps. We’re pleased to see that this has been fixed in the X-T200, which now offers a genuinely convincing-looking video feature set, including un-cropped UHD 4K at 30p and HD capture at up to 120p.
Electronic image stabilization is included for video capture and is available in 4K mode, with just a slight crop. If you plan to move as you shoot, or you’re shooting from an unsteady position, there’s a Digital Gimbal mode in 1080, though this imposes a very heavy crop.
Battery and UHS-I SD card slot
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The X-T200 has a single card slot, which supports the UHS-I standard. Under the same door in the base of the camera you’ll also find a NP-W126S battery, with a (CIPA) rated capacity of 270 frames, but up to 450 frames in ‘Economy’ mode.
We’re pleased to see a USB Type-C socket in the X-T200, which supports in-camera charging and data transfer up to USB 3.1 speeds. Videophiles will be very pleased to see that the X-T200 includes a 3.5mm headphone socket (via an included adapter) in addition to an input for an external mic.
What do you make of the new X-T200? Let us know in the comments.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)