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Fuji X-A3 Camera Review – Perfect Choice for Families

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Today I’m really excited to be sharing my Fuji X-A3 Camera Review with you all. As a Mom, we lead busy lives focused on our families. There is nothing that can fill my heart up faster than hearing one of my girls giggle because they’re enjoying themselves. These moments mean so much and I store them in my heart vault and bring them out on those oh-so hard days. As I look through my photo albums here on the blog or in person, I’m struck by the fact that a photo isn’t just a reflection of a moment in time but of a memory.

For me, these moments can be lost quickly as I have a brain injury that steals many from me. Over the years I’ve learned that having my camera on hand means that I have a tangible reminder that can spur on the memory, out of the fog and into my heart. You know that feeling…the one where you see a photo for the first time and then you have to look twice because you have a stirring of an echo of a feeling in your soul. Isn’t it beautiful what a photo can do?

Fuji X-A3 Camera Review

Today I have the pleasure of telling you about a mirrorless camera which is lightweight, compact and capable of taking some VERY impressive photos just on the Automatic setting. I’m often asked about cameras that are good for the non-technical person and the Fuji X-A3 is one I’d recommend highly, not just for the average shooter but for anyone who wants to explore the Manual mode as well.

Things I adore about this camera:

Retro Look & Quality

The X-A3 will come bundled with the XC 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OIS II lens in your choice of three colors: silver, brown or pink. With the 24MP APS-C sensor, this camera gives better image quality in low light situations and makes it easier to isolate the subject from the background, giving you more control of depth of field.

Also noteworthy is that this camera is USB chargeable. This is a wonderful thing for travellers who don’t want to take the full battery charger along with them. Fuji has put thought into the performance and battery life and the end result is that you can take approximately 410 photos with the battery.

Adorable shot of Olive on Auto mode – look at the detail

Of course our Cocoa needed to be included

Selfies

The camera has a 3″ LCD that flips upward by 180 degrees and slide it up, it automatically inverts the shot for the perfect selfie. This enables face detection and eye detection for focus.  You can also use the command dial on the back of the camera to snap your shot, this allows for a firm grip on the camera so no drops!

If you can look past the look on my face…check out the focus quality on both of our faces

This is my daughter being silly with a selfie…but look at that quality!

I zoomed right in and look how crisp her eyes are

The LCD is touch-enabled and includes a new ‘touch zoom’ feature.

When you use the Self Timer mode, it offers Smile Detection, Buddy Timer and Group Timer modes without any effort. When you have this enabled, you don’t have to press the shutter…just smile and it will take your shot. With the Buddy Timer mode, if you set it to recognize 3 people in the shot and it recognizes there are 3 in the space it will take the photo…how cool is that!

Touch Screen

This is a BIG deal for me! Having the LCD screen be touch focus is liberating. No longer am I struggling to get one area of the screen to be my focal point, I simply touch it and voila.

Can you guess where I touched? Backwards on the left at the stem

There are two settings for this: “Touch” where it’s the touch screen focus and “Shot” where I can just touch the screen and it will focus, then automatically snap the photo.

In the Playback mode, the touch screen allows me to swipe between images and also pinch and zoom just as I would on a smart phone.

Film Simulation and Filters

It has 11 film simulations and 10 advanced filters to help you take unique pictures which are perfect for social sharing immediately using the wireless features.

A quick shot of Brad using the Advanced Filter with the Blue option

The Sepia filter option

The Toy Camera mode

Again the Partial Colour mode – blue

Partial Colour mode – Red

Sepia mode

Using the Fish Eye

Full on Auto

The Fuji X-A3 features a newly-developed 24.2MP APS-C sensor which in a nutshell, means you end up with crisp images in a wide range of shooting conditions, and excels in naturally reproducing skin tones, textures and colors.

Wireless Function

The X-A3 has built in wifi that allows you to connect directly to your smartphone and transfer your images. This is fantastic for sharing on social media. You can also use the Fuji Remote App to control the camera with your phone which is great for big group shots with you in them.

If you have the Instax Share Printer, you can easily connect the X-A3 to it and print instantly!

From landscapes and portraits to macro shots, this camera is EASY to use and has the quality to produce amazing images.

Video and Audio

If you’re like me, you love taking video and with the X-A3 it couldn’t be more simple. It has full HD video, the frame rate can be changed from 24 – 60 frames per second and you can control shutter speed, aperture and ISO. Personally, I use the auto settings and love how the face detection will follow me around the screen.

You will need an SD card that can handle this quality and remember that clips can be 14 minutes in length.

#Fuji4Families Twitter Party

  • Date: Wednesday, February 8th, 2017
  • Time: 9 pm EST
  • Hashtag: #Fuji4Families
  • Hosts: @FujiGuys; @SJConsulting_CA
  • Eligibility: Open to Canada

Prizing: Total Prize Value of $2400!

Grand Prize: X-A3 Camera/kit (valued at $750 CAD)
2nd Prize –X-A10 camera/kit (valued at $600 CAD)
2 Prize Winners of –2 SP-2 printers + film (valued at $250 CAD each)
5 Prize Winners of – mini 8 instax cameras + film (valued at $110 CAD each)

Come join us for some great conversation, prizing and FUN!

Enter to WIN a Fuji X-A3 Camera!


I’m super excited to announce that we have 1 Fujifilm X-A3 kit valued at $750 to giveaway to one Canadian reader! 

Giveaway ends Feb 15th, open to Canadian residents, excluding Quebec – please see Terms & Conditions for more details!

Disclosure: I am participating in the FujiFilm campaign managed by SJ Consulting. I received compensation in exchange for my participation in this campaign. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. I would likely take a picture of a flower or some sort of plant. I don’t know why but I seem to enjoy taking pictures of flowers :)

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  7. I would take a picture of Our Christmas tree first … you know the one I refuse to take down because it’s awesome lol But would really look forward to making this our new travel camera..and everyday social media camera!!!

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  8. I’ve been following you for just over a year now. I love your stuff :) you’re an amazing lady! Thank you for the chance for such a lovely camera

    Reply

  9. hahah to be honest myself I would love to check out the selfie mode on it :D but then of course after would be kids and fur babies

    Reply

  11. First thing I’d take a picture of would be my beautiful children! 😃 They’re not so little anymore, but I love them and don’t nearly have as many pictures of them as I’d like. ❤

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  12. I would take pics of my kid, he loves getting is pics taken and he’s always making funny faces, this would be such a fantastic win, thanks for the contest

    Reply

  15. I would take a picture of my dog (she would probably be great friends with yours!). She’s a senior dog I adopted a year ago and the sweetest fog I’ve ever met! I also work in social media management and this would help with taking client pictures for sure!

    Reply

  18. I would take photos of the day trips that include my brother, his wife, his step son, our Mom and myself, when we head up to the mountains. My sister in law and nephew are from China, they both love the mountains so much it would be wonderful to capture the joy on both their faces, and on my mom’s face watching her first grandson. The pride my mom has for her son at being such a wonderful husband and father.

    Reply

  23. First of all, I have to say that you have inspired me so much. I keep up with you on Fb and really want to thank you so much for sharing your journey. Your story has inspired me to write my own sober story, and in turn really begin to live life!
    If I win this camera I plan to take lots of pictures of my family and the joy we have of living and feeling and enjoying our lives together!

    Reply

  24. I would Love to my very first Family Photo with all 10 of my Children .. Epic Giveaway. . .. and Awesome Review …Thank you

    Reply

  28. We are picking up a brand new puppy in 2 weeks…..1st one! He will be to help my daughter with her anxiety….but man oh man he is adorable. I see many many pictures being taken real soon!

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  37. My first photo would be of my precious dog Jaxx that I rescued. He is the apple of my eye and the best friend!

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  42. I’d take a picture of my granddaughter for the first shot and probably mostly of her everytime I use it. Lol

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  61. I would take a picture of the camera itself in a mirror, for both sharing the news and for insurance records. :) my mom taught me that. :) then it would be family, dogs, birds, flowers, fish, wildlife, flowers again…lol

    Reply

  65. I would probably stroll down to our waterfront and snap away. I love how the harbour and pier look in the winter, especially after a really cold snap or big snowfall. Thanks for the review and of course the giveaway.

    Reply

  67. The very first thing I would take a picture of is one of my dogs. They are getting older and it would be great to have some super shots of them before they leave this world.

    Reply

  75. It would be terrific to win a Fujifilm X-A3 kit.
    In response to your question of
    What would you take a picture of first with this camera?
    I would take a picture of my cat.
    Thank you for having this contest.

    Reply

  77. I am participating in a photography blog this year so although I should say the first photo would be of my kids or my hubby or puppy, it would likely be one of the topics for that week instead!

    Reply

  96. I would love to give this to my sister since she is expecting and due in March. So the first picture we will take will be her baby!

    Reply

  98. I would be so excited I wouldn’t know what to take a photo of first! I would definitely take lots of family photos.

    Reply

  102. I would take this camera on my very first trip down south .. my hubby and I are getting married July 07 2017 and this would be such a wonderful camera to win to capture our wedding memories

    Reply

  104. Well, I’m a huge cat lady, so my first picture and probably 90% of the pictures after that would be of one of my cats

    Reply

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