Fujifilm X-T20 Review

Tweet Share

Camera Reviews / Fujifilm Cameras / Fuji X i Initial Test

X-T20 Overview First Shots Comparo

Navigate Review Jump to review page...

Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Fujifilm X-T20
Resolution:	24.30 Megapixels
Sensor size:	APS-C (23.6mm x 15.6mm)
Kit Lens:	3.06x zoom 18-55mm (27-84mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD
Native ISO:	200 - 12,800
Extended ISO:	100 - 51,200
Shutter:	1/32000 - 30 sec
Max Aperture:	2.8 (kit lens)
Dimensions:	4.7 x 3.3 x 1.6 in. (118 x 83 x 41 mm)
Weight:	25.2 oz (713 g) includes batteries, kit lens
Availability:	02/2017
Manufacturer:	Fujifilm
Full specs:	Fujifilm X-T20 specifications

Your purchases support this site

Body Only (Black)

Body Only (Black)
Body Only (Silver)
Kit with 16-50mm lens (Black)
Kit with 16-50mm lens (Silver)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Black)
Kit with 18-55mm lens (Silver)

X-T20 Deals

24.30 Megapixels	Fujifilm X	APS-C size sensor

Fuji X-T20 Review

by Jeremy Gray, Zig Weidelich and Dave Pardue
Preview posted: 01/19/2017
Last updated: 06/07/2017

Updates:
05/03/2017: First Shots & Comparison
05/04/2017: Performance
05/22/2017: Field Test

X-T20 Overview

by Jeremy Gray

Following up on 2015's X-T10 interchangeable lens camera, the Fujifilm X-T20 brings with it several key improvements and new features. While the camera certainly shares the similar retro-inspired styling as its predecessor, the Fuji X-T20 offers a lot of changes for photographers to get excited about.

Key Features

24.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor
X-Processor Pro image processing engine
3.0-inch tilting touchscreen display
325-point hybrid autofocus system
4K UHD video recording
Built-in Wi-Fi

Similar looks, but now with a touchsreen

Aesthetically, there are not many changes compared to the Fuji X-T10. The top of the camera looks only slightly modified, as the Fuji X-T20 adds a new video option on the mode dial. The back of the camera has lost a function button in the bottom right corner. Other than those changes and the model name on the front of the camera, there is very little to tell the new Fujifilm X-T20 apart from its predecessor.

The Fuji X-T20 is still a reasonably compact camera with dimensions of 4.66 x 3.26 x 1.63 inches (118.4 x 82.8 x 41.4 millimeters) and a weight (with battery and memory card) of 13.5 ounces (383 grams). The rear of the camera is dominated by its 3.0-inch 1.04M-dot tilting touchscreen display and the electronic viewfinder remains a 0.39-inch, 2,360K-dot OLED display. The viewfinder offers approximately 100% coverage and a 35mm equivalent magnification of 0.62x. While the same size as the X-T10's display, the X-T20's LCD monitor offers a higher-resolution display (1,040K versus 920K dots) and the touchscreen functionality is a new addition, more on that in a bit.

Featuring Super Intelligent Flash, the built-in pop-up flash has a guide number of approximately 7 meters at the low native ISO of 200 and a guide number of 5 meters at the lowest possible ISO of 100. Maximum flash sync is 1/180s and the camera offers numerous flash modes, including TTL, manual and commander modes in addition to first curtain and second curtain flash sync options.

Overall, the biggest change to the camera body is the addition of touchscreen functionality with the new, higher-resolution display. Otherwise, the Fuji X-T20 should look and feel very similar to photographers who used the X-T10, a camera whose physical controls and compact size greatly impressed us.

Fujifilm X-T20 Shooting Features

New 24.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans sensor

With a new 24.3-megapixel APS-C X-Trans CMOS III sensor, the X-T20 has a completely new imaging pipeline compared to its predecessor. The sensor is paired with the X-Processor Pro image processor, which can also be found in the award-winning Fuji X-T2 and X-Pro2 cameras. It also shares the same sized sensor, which provided great image quality and high ISO performance in our reviews for those cameras. We will need to test out the X-T20 in our lab, but it's safe to say that we expect excellent imaging performance and certainly better resolving capabilities than the X-T10. Regarding high ISO performance, the Fuji X-T20 now has a native ISO range of 200-12,800 (compared to 200-6400 for the X-T10) which can be expanded to 100-51,200.

Faster image processor results in speedier shooting and deeper buffer

Despite upping the megapixels, the Fuji X-T20 is still faster than its predecessor per Fujifilm's specifications. We will need to verify all claims in the lab, but nonetheless, the new processor appears to be paying dividends for continuous shooting performance.

When recording JPEG images, you can shoot at up to 14 frames per second using the electronic shutter or 8fps with the mechanical shutter for 42 and 62 JPEG frames respectively. For continuous RAW (lossless compressed) shooting, the buffer depth at 14fps and 8fps is 23 and 25 frames, whereas shooting uncompressed drops the buffer to 22 and 23 frames respectively. Assuming these numbers stand up in the lab (the X-T10 outperformed its specifications in the lab), thats an increase of up to 52 JPEG frames and up to 18 RAW frames. Further, the X-T10 could not shoot using the electronic shutter at speeds faster than 8fps, so if you are okay with the risk of rolling shutter, the X-T20 offers improved shooting speeds over its predecessor.

Regarding the mechanical and electronic shutter, the Fuji X-T20 has a mechanical shutter speed range of 30s to 1/4000s, although it can shoot for up to 60 minutes using its Bulb function, and the electronic shutter has a range of 1s to 1/32,000s.

Further, if the X-T20 meets specs, startup time will be 0.4s and cycle time will be 0.25s, although Fujifilm's definition of these measurements is probably different than what we test in the lab. Still, the Fuji X-T20 looks poised to offer several performance improvements to continuous shooting and overall speed.

Autofocus and Metering: New autofocus system offers more points and better performance

Featuring a new hybrid autofocus system, the X-T20's sensor now offers a total of 325 AF points compared to 49 points on the X-T10, and Zone AF mode also gets an upgrade from 49 to 91 AF areas in a 13 x 7 grid, with three choices of AF point groupings: 3 x 3, 5 x 5 or 7 x 7. And it isn't just the autofocus points that have been improved, autofocus performance and speeds are said to be improved thanks to the new image processor and revised autofocus algorithms. Fujifilm claims that performance with low-contrast subjects has also been improved, as has subject tracking accuracy and speeds.

Continuous autofocus includes five different presets for varying situations. Preset 1, for example, is designed to be your conventional AF-C option. Whereas Preset 5 is designed for sports photography, where subjects move erratically and are regularly accelerating and decelerating. The X-T20 also offers Eye Detection autofocus and an Auto Macro function, the latter of which automatically triggers macro mode while maintaining autofocus speed, thereby eliminating the need to press a specific macro button on the camera.

Metering is provided via a 256-zone TTL system and available modes include: multi, spot, average and center-weighted. The camera offers +/-5 EV of exposure compensation which can be accessed via the dial on the top of the camera. (The dial has a 'C' setting to provide exposure compensation beyond +/-3 EV.)

Touchscreen: Touch Shoot and Touch AF

Thanks to the new touchscreen display, the Fuji X-T20 offers Touch Shooting and Touch AF functionality. Further, during playback, you can also swipe through images or utilize tapping and swiping to adjust magnification. In conjunction with the tilting capabilities of the display, the X-T20 seems like it will be quite user-friendly, even in difficult shooting situations.

Shooting Modes: New Film Simulation

In lieu of a dedicated mode dial, you can use its various dials to select standard shooting modes, including auto (and Advanced SR Auto), aperture priority (leave the shutter speed dial on 'A' and select aperture manually), shutter speed priority (select a specific shutter speed on the dial and leave the lens on 'A'), and full manual.

In addition to these standard shooting modes, the X-T20 has a panorama mode, capable of shooting images with 9600 x 1400-pixel dimensions, and an Advanced Filter mode. There are eight filters: Toy, Miniature, Pop Color, High-key, Low-key, Dynamic Tone, Soft Focus, and Partial Color (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple). Further, the X-T20 has a Grain Effect function, which is available in two strengths -- strong and weak -- and is designed to replicate the look of film photography.

A big appeal of Fujifilm's digital cameras are their Film Simulation modes. The Fuji X-T20 includes old favorites such as Provia, Velvia, Astia and more, but also includes new ACROS film simulation modes.

Video: Fujifilm X-T20 can record 4K UHD video

Unlike the X-T10, the X-T20 can record 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) video. The camera can record 4K UHD video at up to 30fps with a bitrate of 100Mbps. 4K video can be recorded continuously for up to 10 minutes. In addition to 4K video, the X-T20 records Full HD (1080p) video at up to 60fps for 15 minutes and HD (720p) video for up to 30 minutes.

Videographers will be pleased to know that the Fuji X-T20 can output video to an external monitor via the HDMI port and input audio using an external microphone. Further, the camera offers clean HDMI output when the shutter release button is pressed after enabling HDMI Rec Control. You can also use the Touch AF function to quickly and quietly move the autofocus point around the frame during video recording.

Connectivity, media and battery

With its revised NP-W126S lithium-ion battery, the Fuji X-T20 matches its predecessor's battery life of 350 shots despite the enhanced imaging pipeline. The camera has built-in Wi-Fi, which offers diverse functionality including remote control, remote image transfer, geotagging and compatibility with Fujifilm Instax printers. The X-T20 provides a USB 2.0 High-Speed interface with a Micro USB terminal and also includes an HDMI Micro (Type D) port. The camera has a 2.5mm stereo mini connector for an external microphone as well. Media is recorded using a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot with support for UHS-I card types. The camera comes with a battery, dedicated battery charger, body cap, shoulder strap, metal strip clip, protective cover, clip attaching tool and owner's manual documents.

Fuji X-T20 vs Fuji X-T10: Main improvements over its predecessor

Higher-resolution tilting touchscreen display
Higher-resolution 24.3-megapixel sensor
Faster X-Processor Pro image processor
New autofocus system with more autofocus points and improved autofocus speed and performance
Faster startup time
Improved continuous shooting speeds and buffer depth
4K UHD video recording capabilities
ACROS film simulation

Fuji X-T20 Pricing and availability

The Fujifilm X-T20 began shipping from February 2017 in black and silver options. The body-only version is priced at US$899.95 (CAD$1,199.99) and the camera can also be purchased in two different kits. The X-T20 with an XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens costs US$1,199.95 (CAD$1,599.99) and the kit with an XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens is priced at US$999.95 (CAD$1,299.99).

Best Lenses for the Fuji X-T20

What lens should you buy?

*Portrait:*
Standard: Fuji XF 50mm f/2 WR	Upgrade: Fuji XF 56mm f/1.2
*Landscape:*
Fuji XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS
*Wildlife:*
Standard: Fuji XF 55-200mm f/3.5-4.8 OIS	Upgrade: Fuji XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 OIS WR

Fuji X-T20 First Shots Comparison

Comparisons using our Still Life test samples

by Dave Pardue | 05/04/2017

The Fuji X-T10 was quite the popular offering on our site for readers and for the review staff here on our team when it was unveiled in 2015. It took the imaging pipeline from the X-T1 and placed it into a more affordable consumer-priced body, and that formula resonated with a lot of shooters out there. The X-T20 really ups the ante by sporting a similar sensor and processor as those housed in the award-winning X-Pro2 and X-T2 cameras, all while still keeping the price tag well under $1000. So, how's the image quality?

We've just completed our laboratory First Shots, which is our first chance to really inspect the image quality and compare it to its predecessor and current competitors in the mid-level APS-C world. You can head to our X-T20 Samples page to take a much closer look and pixel peep all the way up the available ISO range. We find it even more eye-opening to view the images side-by-side against the competition in our Comparometer, especially as ISO rises. After all, most cameras can produce a good image at base ISO these days, but as the stops increase and ISO rises the quality becomes more distinguishable!

Click to see our Fuji X-T20 First Shots Comparison!

Fuji X-T20 Field Test

Upgraded X-Trans camera balances great performance with a friendly price

by Jeremy Gray | 05/22/2017

Fujifilm released the X-T10 interchangeable lens X-series camera in 2015 and has followed it up with the X-T20. The X-T20 uses the same retro-inspired look as its predecessor, but includes many new features and is positioned as a mid-range option in Fuji's line of interchangeable lens X-series cameras, slotting in beneath the X-Pro2 and X-T2 but above the X-E2(S), X-A3 and X-A10 cameras. While more expensive than the X-E and X-A cameras, the X-T20 continues its predecessor's tradition of borrowing many features from Fuji's flagship cameras, namely the X-T2 in this case, without breaking the bank.

I Field Tested the X-T10 during the summer of 2015 and came away impressed. However, I lamented on the lack of a touchscreen and the small buffer depth, and both have been addressed with the X-T20. To see how the X-T20 fared in the field, read on.