X-E3vs Nikon Z9
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Street & Travel — X-E3 (2017): The X-E3 is the lightest Fujifilm interchangeable-lens camera with the 24.3MP X-Trans III sensor. Its slim, compact body appeals to street photographers who find the X-T line too bulky. The touchscreen joystick and Bluetooth connection are welcome additions. 4K is technically available but limited to 15fps — this is a stills-first camera. An excellent compact travel camera at used-market prices.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Who should buy what
X-E3 (2017)
- Street photographers who want Fujifilm colours
- Travel photographers prioritising size
- Minimalist camera users
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- Professional sports, wildlife and photojournalism photographers
- Nikon D6 or D850 users making the final switch to mirrorless
- Those who need the fastest, most reliable AF Nikon has ever made
- Professionals who need a flagship body with no mechanical shutter
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the x-e3 is the most affordable; only the nikon z9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | X-E3 (2017) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £300 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.3MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 4K/15p, 1080p/60p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Phase-detect AF, face detection | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 8fps (electronic shutter up to 14fps) | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 337g (body only) | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 121.3 × 73.9 × 42.7mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.62× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen (fixed), 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Fujifilm X-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | X-E3 | Nikon Z9 |
|---|---|---|
| Street | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Portrait | — | |
| Casual | — | |
| Landscape | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history