Published: November 27, 2018
The Fuji X-T3 is an APS-C mirrorless camera that has many improvements over the previous X-T2. The X-T3 has a fourth-generation X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor with 26.1MP resolution and back-side illumination for less noise at high ISO. Its base sensitivity is 160 ISO. Fuji improved the image processor with the X-Processor 4 which is three times faster than the previous generation. The autofocus system incorporates over 2 million phase detect points on the sensor that cover the frame. It can record 4K video up to 60 fps.
The X-T3 has dual memory cards slots and supports UHS-II cards in both slots. A total of 116 SD cards were tested in the X-T3, including UHS-I and UHS-II cards. Results are provided in write speed for continuous shooting of RAW images. A detailed analysis contains observations from the tests. Recommended SD cards for the X-T3 are given based on the test results and summarize the fastest cards for this camera.
The tests are conducted with X-T3 mounted on a tripod and controlled by a remote release timer. The image subject is a detailed test scene with controlled lighting. A manual focus adapted lens is used with fixed aperture.
Write speed is calculated using the buffer full condition. The remote timer is set to 30 seconds and the test interval is the time from when the frame rate is limited to the end of the interval. This provides a more accurate and consistent measurement of write speed compared with the card access indicator since the write indicator illuminates when the shutter is activated and not when the first file begins writing. The fastest 28 cards were tested twice and the result is averaged. Write speed is provided in megabytes per second, where 1 MB = 1,048,576 bytes. The write speed results are for RAW image mode. RAW+JPEG and JPEG modes result in lower write speed.
The Fuji X-T3 measured up to 169.5MB/s average write speed during continuous shooting of uncompressed RAW images. The camera supports UHS-II as well as UHS-I mode SDR104. The highest write speed using UHS-I cards was 77.1MB/s. Buffer capacity when shooting 56.1MB uncompressed RAW images was from 34 to 43 shots; the fastest cards fastest cards provided up to 43 shots, while the slowest card provided only 34 shots before the frame rate slowed.
The most notable difference between SD cards is experienced after the buffer has reaches capacity. In this condition fast cards provide up to 3 fps uncompressed RAW while the slowest cards only provide 0.25 fps.
Switching to 34.2MB compressed RAW images, the camera captured up to 52 shots at full frame rate with the fastest card before dropping to a lower frame rate of 4.6 fps for 38 shots, then 3.2 fps for the remainder.
Shooting 16.1MB JPEG images the camera captured up to 262 shots at full frame rate (11.1fps) using the fastest card, then dropped to 7.3 fps for the remainder. Using slower cards reduces these numbers.
Mode: Overflow - writing to one card | Images in 30 Seconds RAW (uncompressed) |
---|---|
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB | 117 |
Lexar 2000x UHS-II 64GB | 117 |
SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB | 71 |
Mode: Backup Card 1 & Card 2 | Images in 30 Seconds RAW (uncompressed) |
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB (Card 1) Lexar 2000x UHS-II 64GB (Card 2) | 114 |
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB (Card 1) SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB (Card 2) | 71 |
Mode: RAW Card 1 / JPEG Card 2 | Images in 30 Seconds RAW / JPEG |
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB (Card 1: RAW) Lexar 2000x UHS-II 64GB (Card 2: JPEG) | 111 |
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB (Card 1: RAW) SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s U3 V30 64GB (Card 2: JPEG) | 110 |
Sony Tough SF-G UHS-II 64GB (Card 1: RAW) SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB (Card 2: JPEG) | 110 |
The Fuji X-T3 has two cards slots. Both slots support UHS-II. Setting the camera to backup mode where the same images are written to both cards, using the fastest two cards from these results, the camera was able to capture 114 uncompressed RAW shots in 30 seconds. This is only slightly less than the 117 captured when writing to only one of the cards individually. When writing RAW to one card and JPEG to the second card, a total of 111 images were captured in 30 seconds.
Switching to a slower card in Slot 2, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I V30 64GB card, and setting the card to backup mode where the same uncompressed RAW images are written to both, a total of 71 shots were captured. This is the same as writing to the slower card alone. When a slower card is used in the second slot in backup mode, that card becomes the limiting factor.
When writing RAW to Slot 1 with a fast card and JPEG to Slot 2 with a slower card, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I V30 64GB card, the camera captured 110 shots in 30 seconds. There is little penalty when using a slower card in the second slot provided the card can still sustain the write speed for smaller JPEG images. Switching the card in Slot 2 to the SanDisk Extreme 90MB/s U3 V30 64GB, the camera still captured 110 shots in 30 seconds.
Image Mode | Images in 30 Seconds |
---|---|
RAW (uncompressed) | 117 |
RAW (uncompressed) + JPEG fine | 96 |
RAW (compressed) | 140 |
RAW (compressed) + JPEG fine | 117 |
RAW (compressed) + JPEG normal | 124 |
JPEG fine | 309 |
RAW uncompressed: 56.1MB, RAW compressed: 34.2MB, JPEG normal 16.1MB, JPEG fine 10.7MB
The fastest card measured in the X-T3 was the Lexar 2000x UHS-II 64GB SDXC card which averaged 169.5 MB/s during continuous shooting. Following this were the Sony Tough SF-G, and Sony SF-G cards. Delkin Power, and SanDisk Extreme Pro, Integral UltimaProX2 UHS-II V90, ProGrade 250MB/s UHS-II V90 64GB, Verbatim Pro II Plus, Adata Premier One, Transcend 700S and Toshiba Exceria Pro. Among UHS-I cards, the fastest cards were various capacities of the SanDisk Extreme Pro 95MB/s UHS-I cards.
The Fuji X-T3 has a USB Type-C port that can be used to transfer images directly from the camera. In testing, downloading images from the camera by USB to a USB 3.1 port averaged 53.0 MB/s transfer rate when downloading 5.5GB of RAW images. Much faster transfers are possible using UHS-II card readers, up to 250MB/s read speed when transferring RAW images. Card Reader Reviews compare card reader performance with different memory cards.