Comparing the Fujifilm X-T4 / X-T3 / X-T1

Written By Daniel Corry

My comparison and thoughts on three of my favorite Fujifilm cameras: the Fujifilm X-T4, X-T3, and X-T1

Written: March 31st, 2025

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X-T4

  • Build

    • Just as sturdy as Xt3

    • More sturdy than X-T5

    • Feels like a brick with no flex

  • Body

    • Bigger grip helps with the extra weight and larger lenses. 

      • Can adjust settings with thumb better now because fingers and palm can grip the body better. 

    • Slightly heavier than X-T3

    • Flip Screen

      • More angles available

        • Demonstrate holds

        • Also able to move camera freely while holding screen steady

      • EVF/LCD functionality

      • Protection

    • Side port doors worse than X-T3

    • ISO dial really like the placement of C/Auto/manual(160)

      • Makes switching between different iso settings very easy. Especially with IBIS I want to adjust the lowest ISO settings quickly. (Back dial set to adjust ISO when in C)

      • Shutter speed on auto ISO should be able to adjust based on focal length and variable like +/- 3 stops. 

    • Movie/Photo mode

      • Haven’t missed the metering dial yet. 

      • Have a kid so this can come in handy to quickly capture moments

      • Want to do more video content so this is helpful. 

    • Wish it had the locking shutter speed wheel at A like X-T1 or just deeper indent at A. 

    • Wish Exp Comp would also have deeper indent at 0

    • Was OK with locking ISO on X-T1

    • USB-C in body charging was game changer 

  • Features

    • New Classic Neg

    • Able to save custom white balances for each custom film sim

      • Also able to fine tune white balance based on white and each parameter makes it way more exploitable with settings. 

    • Custom settings only affect image quality/characteristics. Later cameras allowed for more parameters (not what I want). I want the camera to always behave the same but to get different looks. 

      • If I had PASM camera the. I would want to other customization parameters. Makes sense on XH and XS cameras. But for X-T and X-Pro I prefer how the X-T4 and older cameras behave. 

      • I think the X-Pro3 and X-T4 were pinnacle of custom settings. 

    • Stabilization

      • See below

    • Slightly better LCD

    • EVF has various settings optimizing for movement, low light, detail

    • Larger battery

    • Custom Function Buttons

      • I set Q button to be in same place as X-T3 for redundancy

    • Save manual lens names and use focal length to adjust IBIS quickly. Love that it shows in Exif data now

  • Stabilization

    • IBIS is fantastic for non-stabilized lenses. Amazing for primes. 

      • Love low iso capability. Hardly have to move off iso 160. Go to iso 80 when low contrast scene. 

    • OIS in lenses

      • Great stabilization on xf55-200. Not great when sync is on. They work against each other. 1/2-1/8 no prob on X-T3. 1/15-1/30 on X-T4

      • Prefer to use X-T3 for stabilized lenses. (Need to test 10-24mm)

      • Wish IBIS and OIS could be decoupled. Not as good as sync on Panasonic/Olympus

    • Shutter speed on auto ISO should be able to adjust based on focal length and variable like +/- 3 stops. 

    • ISO performance is same as X-T3

    • Shutter sound

      • Much quicker and quieter than X-T3. Feels soft like there’s no shake. 

      • Continuous shooting in CL or CH is much better on XT4. 10-15 fps mechanical sounds so cool. 

    • Drive mode dial no longer has multi-exposure. Wish it did but assigned it to My Menu instead

  • Autofocus

    • Mostly the same

    • Experiencing shift in focus when locked in continuous and manual mode. (test if other lenses do it vs just XF 56 first gen)

  • Battery

    • Whole weekend light use no extra battery no charge. Always have usbc if needed. 

X-T3

  • Build

    • Great build. 

    • Feels smaller in the hand than X-T4 and bigger than X-T1

    • X-T1 rubber feels more premium and plush but strips off after a few years. X-T3 is still perfect on both my copies

    • One of my metering dials malfunctions a bit (wants to only be in full scene) 

    • Wish it had the locking shutter speed wheel at A like X-T1 or just deeper indent at A. 

    • Wish Exp Comp would also have deeper indent at 0

  • Body

    • Button layout is almost perfect

    • Prefer ISO dial layout on X-T4

    • Was OK with locking ISO on X-T1

    • USB-C in body charging was game changer 

  • Features

    • OIS in lenses is great. No fighting with sync IBIS. Prefer to use X-T3 for stabilized lenses. (Need to test 10-24mm)

    • Higher resolution EVF but don’t get the shimmer effect that help manual focusing on X-T1. 

    • 3 way tilt is awesome vs 2-way tilt on X-T1. Still prefer X-T4 now even for photos. 

    • Acros is beautiful (higher noise/grain built in, which I wish could be toned down vs Mono)

    • Shutter sound

      • Much quicker and nicer than X-T1. 

      • Continuous shooting in CL or CH is much better on XT3 and even better on X-T4

  • Autofocus

    • Much better than X-T1 in continuous 

X-T1

  • Build

    • EVF is lower resolution but actually kind of shimmers like focus peaking when focusing manually. Super easy  to manually focus on X-T1 because of this. 

  • Body

    • Smallest body. Really like it for small manual lenses (just miss the stabilization of the X-T4)

    • Love the rubber texture until it peels

    • Door always warps

    • Had screws come out of tripod mount in base

    • Don’t miss the C setting on exposure comp. 

    • Like the locking ISO dial. Reminds me of film cameras. Not hard to push the button 

  • Features

    • Continuous autofocus is slow

    • Tracking (does it even have it? If so I never used it because poor performance) 

    • Wish it had USB-C

    • Shutter sound

      • Kinda slow and lethargic no matter shutter speed. 

  • Resolution 

    • Even though it’s 16 vs 26mp I don’t see much difference in cropping ability. Not a huge decision factor for the camera vs X-T3

Daniel Corry