Product photography by Richard Butler

Introduction

The Fujifilm Ten-A7 is an entry-level APS-C camera with a 24-megapixel sensor, a fully-articulating two.76M dot iii.5" touchscreen, a hybrid autofocus organisation with well-nigh 100 percent coverage, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity inside a lightweight and compact body that comes in a variety of colors. It replaces the X-A5 and although the photographic camera bodies may expect very like, the X-A7 features some substantial upgrades on the inside and out.

Fundamental specifications

  • 24 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • Fully-articulating 2.76M dot 3.5" touchscreen
  • 4K/30p video capture, uncropped with x minute time limit
  • Mic input, only no headphone jack
  • Hybrid autofocus system with 425 autofocus points, 8.5 times the phase detection points every bit the X-A5
  • Tin can shoot bursts at 6 fps with continuous autofocus
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for epitome transfer
  • Rated at 270 shots per charge
  • Can exist charged via USB

What is it?

If we await at the X-A7 compared against its immediate peers, you tin can see its specification is competitive with similarly priced cameras. The Sony offers a viewfinder and simpler/more powerful autofocus for around $150 more. If information technology'southward the viewfinder y'all need, Fujifilm's ain X-T200 adds one to an otherwise like spec at a $100 premium over the X-A7.

Fujifilm X-A7 Catechism EOS M200 Olympus PEN E-PL10 Sony a6100
List price $699 with 15-45mm $599 with 15-45mm $699 with xiv-42mm $850 with 16-50mm
Pixel count 24MP 24MP 16MP 24MP
Sensor size APS-C
(369 sq mm)		 APS-C
(332 sq mm)		 4 Thirds
(225 sq mm)		 APS-C
(367 sq mm)
Autofocus system Phase detection Dual Pixel Contrast detection Stage detection
Prototype stabilization In-lens but In-lens just In-body stabilization In-lens only
Video Full-width 4K upwardly to 30p Full-width 4K up to 24p Total-width 4K up to 30p

Up to 30p
Full-width at 24p
Mic/
Headphone?		 Yes/No No/No No/No Yes/No
Viewfinder No No No Yeah
Rear screen 2.76M dots
3.5"		 ane.04M dots
3.0"		 1.04M dots
three.0"		 0.92M dots
iii.0"
Battery life 270 315 350 420
Weight 320g 299grand 380g 396g

This entry-level APS-C camera is a low-priced option with a 24 Megapixel sensor and a pretty impressive hybrid autofocus organization. Information technology has a large fully-articulating touchscreen interface for beginners that is bright and 1/two inch larger than the screens found on other cameras in this class. It's much closer to the expect and feel you'd get from a modern smartphone.

Without an EVF, the Ten-A7's touchscreen becomes extra of import because information technology doubles as the camera's viewfinder. The body also features twin command dials on the tiptop plate and an eight-way joystick on the back correct side of the camera if you prefer to navigate menus and settings the onetime fashioned way.

The X-A7'southward large, loftier resolution touchscreen is the chief manner for interacting with the camera merely, unusually for this class of camera, in that location are twin control dials and a joystick for more direct control.

There'due south a popular-up flash that does a decent job in depression-light situations and the power to attach an external flash via hot shoe. The photographic camera features a mic input, a USB-C port for charging, and an HDMI port. Only, similar its peers, in that location's no way to connect headphones to monitor audio.

Out-of-photographic camera JPEG
Fujinon XC15-45mm F3.v-five.6 OIS PZ @ 45mm | ISO 3200 | 1/1000 sec | F5.vi
Photograph: Jeanette D. Moses

The torso is made of plastic, merely the control dials have the same tactile feel equally higher-finish Fujifilm bodies. Although the X-A7 is certainly a upkeep photographic camera, it doesn't feel overly cheap.

We've spent the terminal month using the 10-A7 with the Fujinon XC15-45mm F3.5-v.half dozen OIS PZ lens and the XF 23mm F2 R WR lens. The XF 23mm is a mid-priced fixed focal length lens and its adequately vivid maximum aperture lets you exploit more of the camera's capabilities.

What's new?

Out-of-camera JPEG
Fujinon XC15-45mm F3.5-v.half dozen OIS PZ @ 15mm | IS0 3200 | ane/forty sec | f/3.5
Photo: Jeanette D. Moses

The Fujifilm Ten-A7 got a major design overhaul on the inside and out, merely the 16:9 aspect ratio fully-articulating touchscreen display is the almost obvious alter to the camera. This is the outset entry-level Fujifilm ILC to feature a fully-articulating screen, which is often favored by videographers and makes it easier to snap selfies. At 2.76m dots, that large screen is substantially higher resolution than its competitors.

The 24 Megapixel sensor is new, too. According to Fujifilm, its copper wiring reduces digital noise and is the reason that the camera is capable of shooting uncropped 4K/30p video. The X-A7 features 425 autofocus points spread out across the frame. The algorithms for face and eye detection have been improved and, while not form-leading, the AF is significantly faster and more reliable than previous 10-A cameras.

The dials on the camera'due south top plate also see an overhaul. The camera now features front control and rear control dials flat to the superlative of the camera, for easy pollex and forefinger command. The iv-way control found on the X-A5 has been replaced with a smaller 8-way joystick to make room for the larger LCD screen.

The fully articulating rear screen has the advantage that it can be turned-in for protection. Note likewise the easily accessible twin control dials on the camera's acme plate: something usually reserved for more than expensive cameras.

The bombardment is the same NP-W126S version found in the X-A5, just only has a CIPA rating of 270 shots per charge – a substantial drib from the 440 rating of the X-A5. The X-A7 can achieve 440 shots in an economy style that darkens and slows the image preview after a few seconds, so you lot can go the long-lasting simply less pleasant Ten-A5 experience if you wish.

Either manner, if you are planning to be shooting stills for a full day yous will definitely demand to bring a spare battery forth. If you lot are taking advantage of the camera's 4K capabilities wait that bombardment to drain even faster. You can at least accuse the camera over USB, though, then in that location'southward also the option to superlative the camera upward using an external battery pack while traveling.

The 10-A7 has a built-in wink. Information technology'due south not peculiarly powerful but can make for a skilful fill-wink: helping to residuum out a nearby, backlit subject area.

The new 4K/30p video mode is smooth and expert looking. A new characteristic called Countdown Video mode records footage in fifteen, 30 or 60 2nd durations, making it piece of cake to get something shot and uploaded to social media. Unfortunately in that location isn't a way to transfer those video clips directly from the camera to your phone and so yous will still need a laptop for social sharing.

What stands out nearly the camera?

The photographic camera'south redesigned articulating touchscreen is 1 of its biggest strengths. A 20MP 16:nine (widescreen) ratio is default and if you want to accept advantage of the full width of the screen y'all'll want to shoot your stills at that size. You nevertheless have the option to use the full 24MP 3:two region of the sensor if you prefer.

Like about modern ILCs, we constitute the image quality to be extremely loftier. The pictures it produces generally look very good with color response being a particular strong bespeak: even in the pale lite of March in New York, the Ten-A7 produced attractive, vibrant images. Particular capture levels are high and well-judged sharpening and noise reduction make the most of this.

In full general you can get out the camera to exercise its ain matter, with white remainder generally giving a fairly natural-looking result without obliterating all the 'temper' of the scene. Our simply real business concern was that Face Detection mode prioritizes the exposure of faces rather heavily. Information technology ways the people you're photographing expect skillful but you lot'll demand to stop to remember about where the sun is, or which DR style you're in, if you don't want to adventure over-exposing the background.

Click here to see how the Fujifilm X-A7 compares in our studio test scene

The touch interface is the quickest style to access and change settings while shooting and is incredibly responsive. It takes just 2 swipes to admission settings like focus manner, the Q bill of fare, white residue, and film simulation modes. When selecting a moving picture simulation mode, the camera offers a side-by-side comparing of what the motion-picture show simulation will await like before you commit to making a alter. A slider in the middle of the screen lets yous movement the simulation dorsum and forth over your frame.

It's a handy characteristic that nosotros never asked for, but institute to be peculiarly useful when shooting with the Ten-A7. The carte du jour system on the back of the photographic camera is well-organized and responsive as well.

The photographic camera'due south simplified user interface is very visual in its representation. When you change Film Simulation way the camera lets you preview the effect it will accept.

During our fourth dimension with the Ten-A7 we plant the face and eye detection to be responsive with human and animal subjects. Although it'south typically easier to use these features with a viewfinder, the screen on the X-A7 is large enough and brilliant enough that it was like shooting fish in a barrel to tell when the camera had detected a face or an middle in the frame. The bear upon-to-focus feature on the X-A7 is likewise speedy and accurate.

Pare-softening, depth of field effects, exposure compensation and a feature called Brilliant Way that tries to stop highlights and shadows getting overwhelmed, can all be accessed through the touchscreen and give images quick in-photographic camera enhancements that would usually be found on a smartphone.

Fifty-fifty at total intensity the peel softening has a subtle and realistic look.

We have slightly mixed feeling nigh the Fujinon Ninety 15-45mm F3.v-5.6 OIS PZ that often comes arranged with the X-A7. Nosotros find the zoom control to be a bit likewise sensitive – even with the slightest touch of the zoom ring the lens tends to zoom to its full 45mm or back to its widest 15mm view. This makes it difficult to precisely frame an image using focal lengths in the center of the spectrum. We really capeesh the focal length coverage, though: it's appreciably wider than yous commonly arrive this type of camera. The results are impressively sharp, too.

Using the 10-A7 with the XF 23mm F2 R WR lens is generally a more engaging, pleasant and tactile experience. We especially liked the dedicated aperture band that it offers, which the XC lens lacks.

The Ten-A7 has a USB-C port that can be used for off-loading movies or battery charging. Unlike the slightly more expensive X-T200, it can't be used with an adapter to connect headphones.

The camera features both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and transferring images through the Fujifilm Camera Remote app was a breeze on iOS. Equally this is a camera aimed at entry-level users, the ability to shoot and apace share is very of import.

I of our favorite aspects of the X-A7 is how it handles colour. The movie simulation modes inside the camera make it piece of cake to capture cinematic-looking stills and video, while settings similar peel softening and depth of field control go far easy to shoot and share without always having to drop the files into an editing program.

Decision

Our early on impressions of the X-A7 were overwhelmingly positive and now that we've spent fourth dimension shooting with a product model of the photographic camera nosotros are happy to say that this is in fact the all-time entry-level mirrorless ILC that Fujifilm has released. This is enough to make information technology one of the stand-out cameras in its class. Although having the option of an EVF accompaniment would have been nice, the LCD is large and vivid making it perfectly capable for capturing friends and family.

The new sensor inside the photographic camera helps deliver all-time-in-class video and, combined with an updated processor, substantial improvements to face and center detection autofocus.

The redesigned meridian plate, the variety of colour choices and the compact form factor make it a lot of fun to shoot with as well, with twin dials giving yous some room to grow into, if you want to learn the basics of photography. That may seem frivolous, but given the target marketplace for this camera, the fun factor is actually quite important. The all-time camera is the one that y'all accept with y'all, and the 10-A7 is fashionable, like shooting fish in a barrel to apply, and modest enough that information technology won't weigh you down on holiday or when you are out with friends.

Scoring

Scoring is relative merely to the other cameras in the same category. Click hither to larn about the changes to our scoring organisation and what these numbers hateful.