Fujifilm digital cameras have been a favorite of many working professionals for many years, since the 1980s in fact. Currently, there are several Fujifilm medium format and APS-C cameras that are top-of-the-line pro-level imaging powerhouses.
Fujifilm has also continued to improve their camera’s digital capabilities, a comparison of two of their fine cameras, the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 bears this out. Both are amazing cameras. Between the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3, which one would you choose as better for either photography or videography?
Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Reviews
Fujifilm X-Pro 2
We’ve already done in-depth reviews of both cameras. Read them here:
Fujifilm X-Pro 2 Review and Fujifilm X-Pro 3 Review
This will be more of a camera to camera comparison for deciding which one is right for you. Both of these cameras are interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras with a decidedly retro feel and thoroughly modern digital capabilities. The Fujifilm X-Pro 2 was released in 2016 and might be found as new while the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 was released in 2019 and is still in current production.
Either one can be found as a used camera, such as we find on MPB.com which offers a warranty on used cameras and lenses and is one of the best online stores for buying or selling high-quality excellent condition used photography gear.
FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Specs
Fujifilm X-Pro 3
Our first point of comparison will be FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 specs and features. These X-Pro cameras use the same Fujifilm X Mount lenses as the Fujifilm X-T, X-S, X-A, and X-E line of cameras.
X-Pro 3, the newer camera, has an APS-C format 26mp digital sensor, the same one as in the Fujifilm X-T3 camera, a hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder, 425 focus points, and can record in 4K video.
The older of the two cameras, X-Pro 2, has a 24mp APS-C sensor, similar to the X-T2, has a hybrid optical and electronic viewfinder, 273 focus points, and records video in 1080p at multiple frame rates.
Right away, we notice one very large difference in the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro features, the video capabilities. There are some other differences, such as the rear viewscreen, but video is the one that will probably make the decision for you.
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FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Body & Design
Fujifilm X-Pro 2
Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 design differences are minor, but with a few significant results to the handling. Almost identical at first glance, the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 body changes are the rear viewscreen, which is fixed on the X-Pro 2 and folding down on the X-Pro 3, viewfinder changes, and some dials and buttons slightly varied.
FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Build & Handling
Fujifilm X-Pro 3
As for the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 build, both are superior cameras, very well built, rugged, and with all the main controls falling readily to hand.
Controls are pretty intuitive to operate for anyone familiar with advanced photography, especially users of film cameras and rangefinder cameras. More about that can be found in the individual reviews for these cameras.
One huge variance involves the rear viewscreen. The viewscreen on the X-Pro 2 is fixed, while the X-Pro 3 viewsreen is normally hidden when closed and only folds down. That makes it easy to use the X-Pro 3 without our eye at the EVF, useful for when the camera is mounted in a camera cage for video productions.
One other change which would affect some shooters more than others is that the X-Pro 2 hybrid eye-level viewfinder is more adjustable than the X-Pro 3. The extra capability of the X-Pro 2 eye-level viewfinder really comes in handy when using wide angle lenses.
FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Video Performance
Fujifilm X-Pro 2
Here is the one huge thing that will really decide for many photographers which of these two fine cameras to favor, the FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 video performance. To be perfectly frank, if you want to shoot high-quality video, the X-Pro 3 has much better video specs.
The Fujifilm X-Pro 2 video is decent, but there is no 4K recording capability. Its highest mode is 1080p/60 which isn’t bad for the casual videographer, but 4K vs 1080p is like 14-bit RAW vs medium quality JPEG files.
4K recording with F-Log 8 bit and special film profiles makes the Fujifilm X-Pro 3 much more attractive to anyone serious about video. It also lets you assign one SD card to video and the other to still images, simplifying your uploading workflow.
FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3: Which is Best for Photography? Videography?
Fujifilm X-Pro 3
This is the really interesting question, Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3: Which is best for photography? Videography? Both of these retro styled, hybrid viewfinder/EVF, rangefinder feel cameras are superbly optimized for quick and silent still photography. Both have video capabilities, but only the X-Pro 3 has 4K recording.
If one was thinking only of still photography, the X-Pro 2 might be a better decision, since there’s only about 2mp difference in sensor resolution compared to the X-Pro 3 and the extra adjustments on the hybrid eye-level viewfinder is nice to have for wide angle lenses and some of Fujifilm’s large fast primes.
For still photographers who want their video resolution to be on the same super high-quality level as their still images can be, the X-Pro 3 will be a better choice. The viewscreen flooding out also makes it a good choice since it will allow you to so easily view it when mounted in a camera cage or on a video tripod.
FujiFilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 Price
Fujifilm X-Pro 2
You're much more likely to find the X-Pro 2 as a used camera than in any store’s new stick, since the camera is out of production, while the X-Pro 3 can still be purchased new, though there are lots of good examples of used X-Pro 3 cameras on the market at stores like MPB.com.
Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 price concerns will favor the older camera, many of which can be found in excellent and like-new condition. As an example, the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 can be found in excellent condition for $1059.00. A used Fujifilm X-Pro 3 in similar excellent condition runs $1619.00 with a like-new camera commanding a little more, $1699.00.
Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 - Which One?
Fujifilm X-Pro 3
The choice of Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3 basically boils down to how important video is to you. If it’s very important, the X-Pro 3 is the obvious choice with its 4K recording capability.
For shooting stills primarily and some dabbling in video, the viewfinder of the X-Pro 2 is a little bit more capable for certain styles of shooting. With the money you save on the body of the Fujifilm X-Pro 2 vs X-Pro 3, pick up one of the excellent X Mount fast prime lenses, which you can also find discounted as used gear on MPB.com.