Fujifilm X-T20 vs Sony A7 III: A Deep Dive Into Two Iconic Mirrorless Cameras

As someone who has tested cameras extensively over the past 15 years, I’ve developed a keen sense of how different models respond in the field - not just specs on paper, but real-world usability across genres and styles. Today, I’m comparing two mirrorless cameras that appeal to very different segments of the photography market but often come up in the same conversations: the Fujifilm X-T20, a cherished APS-C enthusiast’s tool released in 2017, and the Sony A7 III, a professional-grade full-frame workhorse arriving in 2018.

Both cameras bring their unique strengths and compromises - some rooted in technology, others in design philosophy and ecosystem maturity. My goal in this article is to unpack these elements from my hands-on experience, supported by thorough technical analysis, while maintaining a direct focus on how each performs in various photographic scenarios.

Let’s get started with an in-depth look.

The Battle of Size and Handling: Small But Mighty vs. Substantial Professional

Right off the bat, size and ergonomics define the Fujifilm X-T20 and Sony A7 III as cameras for different spirits of shooting.

With dimensions of 118x83x41 mm and a lightweight 383g, the Fuji X-T20 feels nimble and approachable. Its SLR-style mirrorless body offers a commanding grip relative to its small frame, making it ideal for street photographers and travelers valuing portability without sacrificing control.

By contrast, the Sony A7 III is larger and beefier at 127x96x74 mm and 650g. It demands more pocket space and weight in your bag, but delivers a robust, confident feel in hand. The weight and size factor also help with balance when coupled to heavy telephoto lenses used in wildlife or sports photography.

Fuji’s tactile dials - shutter speed, ISO, exposure compensation - invite photographers who like physical control and manual adjustments without burying themselves in menus. The Sony opts more for customizable buttons and an intuitive menu system, with solid ergonomics but fewer dedicated dials. This can slow down some workflow unless you spend time tailoring button mapping.

My takeaway?

For photographers seeking a lightweight rig without compromising core handling, the X-T20 is a charming companion. In contrast, the A7 III is better suited for those who prioritize versatility and full-frame image quality but can accept more bulk.

Sensor Size & Image Quality: APS-C vs Full Frame - The Larger the Better?

Sensor technology dictates so much about image rendering, dynamic range, noise handling, and depth of field control. Let’s stack the two sensors side-by-side.

The Fuji X-T20 features a 24MP APS-C X-Trans III sensor (23.6x15.6 mm), lauded for its unique color filter array enabling rich tones and sharp images even without a low-pass filter. Its native ISO range is 200-12800, expandable to 100-51200.

Meanwhile, the Sony A7 III packs a 24MP Full Frame BSI-CMOS sensor (35.8x23.8 mm) - more than twice the sensor area of the Fuji - combined with back-illuminated tech to maximize light capture and minimize noise. Its base ISO range is broader: 100-51200, expandable all the way to 50-204800.

Technical edge?

Sony’s larger sensor and BSI design yield substantial advantages in dynamic range and low-light sensitivity. Measured DxOMark scores confirm this:

• Overall score: 96 (Sony A7 III) versus untested but generally lower X-T20 score
• Color depth: 25 vs Fuji’s (non-tested but typically slightly lower)
• Dynamic range: 14.7 stops vs Fuji’s (non-tested but expected 13+)
• Low-light ISO: 3730 vs Fuji’s lower figures

This means cleaner images in dim conditions and more flexibility when recovering shadows/highlights in post.

Yet Fuji’s X-Trans sensor produces incredibly pleasing skin tones and vibrant colors straight out of camera, highly appreciated in portrait and street photography circles. Its absence of an anti-aliasing filter also lends extra sharpness especially when paired with Fujinon lenses.

In my sessions with both, the Sony gave me the edge in shadow detail and high ISO clean files, vital for event or wildlife work, while the Fuji’s files carried an unmistakable filmic character beloved by many.

Viewing and Composing: Electronic Viewfinders and LCD Screens

Viewfinder performance can make or break the shooting experience, so I tested both cameras’ OLED EVFs and rear LCDs side-by-side.

The Fuji X-T20 offers a 0.62x magnification EVF at 2.36M dots resolution, covering 100% of the frame. Its 3.0-inch 920k touchscreen tilts for creative angles but lacks advanced articulations.

Sony counters with a 0.78x magnification EVF, virtually identical resolution (2.36M dots), but with a much bigger view and slightly higher detail perception. Its 3.0-inch 922k tilting touchscreen feels responsive and well integrated.

In real light, the Sony’s EVF delivers a larger and more immersive scene preview, helping track motion and nail focus in fast action. Fuji’s EVF is crisp and color-accurate, though sometimes feels smaller for meticulous manual focusing or complex compositions.

Both screens support touch focus and AF point selection, but Sony adds more customization gestures enhancing workflow speed. The Fuji’s UI is refreshing with its tactile dials yet sometimes requires diving in menus to toggle lesser-used settings.

Autofocus Mastery: Speed, Accuracy and Subject Tracking

Autofocus is an area where the Sony A7 III is renowned for outstanding performance. Here’s how they break down:

• Fuji X-T20: 325 AF points, hybrid AF with both contrast and phase detection on sensor, face detection but no animal eye AF.
• Sony A7 III: A staggering 693 focus points spread over roughly 93% of the frame, with advanced Real-Time Tracking and Real-Time Eye AF extending to animal eye detection.

In low light or fast-moving environments, the Sony’s autofocus technology proves faster and more dependable, locking on swiftly and maintaining tracking during erratic motion. Continuous AF shooting at 10 fps with AF tracking also aids capturing sports and wildlife sequences.

The Fuji is no slouch: it delivers snappy AF for portraits, landscape and street shooting, achieving continuous AF speeds up to 14 fps in burst mode, which is incredibly fast.

However, the lack of animal eye AF on Fuji is a notable limitation for wildlife photographers, and its AF system occasionally hunts under challenging light compared to Sony’s steadfast lock.

Building for the Elements: Durability and Weather Resistance

Weather sealing is another major differentiator.

While neither camera is fully waterproof or shockproof, the Sony A7 III features weather-resistant construction making it more reliable in harsh environments - dust, light rain, and cold weather won’t easily compromise its operation.

The Fujifilm X-T20 lacks official weather sealing, meaning extra caution is needed when shooting outdoors in inclement conditions. Fuji’s build is solid but clearly designed for more controlled environments.

For traveler and outdoor photographers, this often translates to the Sony winning out for rugged reliability.

Lens Ecosystem: Fuji X or Sony E – Which Has More to Offer?

Lens availability and compatibility dramatically influence long-term satisfaction.

Fujifilm’s X mount boasts some outstanding glass - from affordable primes to high-end fast zooms with classic Fuji color rendering and build quality. The lineup includes about 54 native lenses, mostly APS-C optimized with excellent optical performance and size-to-quality ratio.

Sony’s E mount, used on the A7 III, features a vast selection with over 120 lenses available across prime and zoom, APS-C and full-frame designs, and a growing roster of third-party options from Sigma, Tamron, and Zeiss. This ecosystem allows adaptability for everything from ultra-wide, macro, to super-telephoto work.

Sony’s full-frame native lenses tend to be pricier and heavier, though they deliver unsurpassed sharpness and image stabilization. Of note, Sony’s body-stabilization combined with OSS (optical steady shot) lenses creates a powerful combo for handheld shooting.

Fujifilm bodies heavily rely on lens optics for stabilization since they lack in-body image stabilization - a factor influencing handheld low light and macro shooting.

Battery Life & Storage: Shooting Longer With Confidence

Power endurance is a practical concern, especially for long sessions or travel.

• Fujifilm X-T20: approximately 350 shots per charge using the NP-W126S battery.
• Sony A7 III: a whopping 610 shots per charge with the bigger NP-FZ100 battery.

Sony more than doubles Fuji’s endurance, which is a boon for event photographers, travelers, and anyone avoiding frequent battery swaps.

Storage-wise, Fuji offers a single SD card slot compatible with UHS-II cards, while the Sony A7 III features dual card slots supporting SD and Memory Stick formats. Dual slots provide peace of mind with instant backups or overflow.

Video Capabilities: Which Camera Excels at Moving Images?

Both cameras shoot 4K UHD video, but with differences:

• Fuji X-T20: 4K at up to 30 fps, Full HD up to 60 fps, limited to 8-bit internal recording formats (MPEG-4, H.264). It includes a microphone input but no headphone jack for audio monitoring.

• Sony A7 III: 4K at 30 fps capturing full-frame width and high detail, Full HD at up to 120 fps for slow-motion effects. The camera supports 8-bit 4:2:0 internally and output via HDMI, plus microphone and headphone jacks for professional audio control.

Sony’s implementation offers better noise control in video and superior image stabilization via 5-axis in-body IS. Fuji depends on optical stabilization in lenses, so video handheld can be shakier unless using stabilized glass.

For filmmakers or hybrid shooters, the Sony is unquestionably the superior choice.

Real-World Tests Across Photography Genres

No spec sheet alone can tell the full story. Based on extensive fieldwork with both cameras, here are my observations across popular photography types:

Portrait Photography

• Fuji X-T20 shines with flattering color reproduction and sharpness. Its classic film simulations yield beautiful skin tones without aggressive sharpening. Eye detection is good but limited compared to Sony.
• Sony A7 III excels in subject separation, thanks to full-frame bokeh and powerful Eye AF (including animal eyes). Depth of field control is more creative and subtle due to sensor size.

Landscape Photography

• Sony’s larger sensor and dynamic range provide superior shadow detail and highlight recovery - crucial in HDR scenes.
• Fuji’s APS-C sensor offers sharpness and reliable resolution but dynamic range and ISO latitude trail slightly. Fuji’s classic color profiles help produce striking landscapes out of camera.

Wildlife & Sports

• The Sony A7 III’s refined AF system, faster shutter ceiling (1/8000s vs Fuji’s 1/4000s), and high burst rate with tracking deliver better capture of quick, unpredictable subjects.
• Fuji’s faster max burst (14 fps) can rival Sony in controlled lighting but tracking challenges limit reliability for erratic action.

Street & Travel Photography

• Fuji’s compact size, tactile dials, and rich color science make it extremely appealing here.
• Sony is heavier but provides more versatility and better low-light handling - especially important in dimly lit urban environments.

Macro Photography

• Sony’s 5-axis in-body stabilization and superior sensor design facilitate handheld macro better.
• Fuji’s reliance on lens stabilization and smaller sensor makes focus precision critical but its smaller body aids mobility.

Night & Astro Photography

• The Sony A7 III’s cleaner files at very high ISO and longer exposures give it the edge in astrophotography and low-light nightscapes.
• Fuji offers solid results but digital noise becomes more apparent as ISO climbs.

User Interface and Connectivity: Ease and Speed of Use

Both cameras support built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, but Sony adds Bluetooth and NFC for instant pairing and image transfer convenience, appealing for social shooters and those integrating smartphones in workflows.

USB ports differ: Fuji X-T20 employs USB 2.0, while Sony uses USB 3.1 Gen 1, enabling faster data offload - valuable for professionals working with high-resolution RAW files.

Pricing and Value: Paying for Pro Power or Enthusiast Access?

At launch pricing:

• Fuji X-T20: ~$900, delivering great image quality, a compact build, and entry-level mirrorless experience
• Sony A7 III: ~$2,000, a significant investment for a full-frame professional tool packed with modern features

If budget is tight and you want excellent JPEGs, tactile control, and a smaller package, Fuji offers tremendous bang for the buck. The Sony requires a bigger wallet but rewards with long-term versatility and a pro-level feature set.

Sample Images: See Them in Action

Let me show you a curated gallery of sample images from each camera side-by-side, shot in various scenarios from natural light portraits to landscapes, action sequences, and night scenes.

Fujifilm X T20 front Fujifilm X T20 screen back Sony A7 III front Sony A7 III screen back

Look closely at color accuracy, sharpness, and shadow detail. Notice the nuances - the Fuji’s warmth and character, the Sony’s subtle smoothness and dynamic latitude.

Scoring the Contenders Overall

Based on comprehensive evaluation spanning image quality, autofocus, handling, durability, video, and connectivity, here are my overall performance ratings:

The Sony A7 III dominates overall for professionals with its well-rounded performance and future-proof features, while the Fuji X-T20 scores highly on user-friendliness and value for enthusiasts.

Genre-Specific Performance Breakdown

Different photographic disciplines demand distinct priorities. Here’s a snapshot of how these two cameras stack up across major genres:

Keep in mind these scores emphasize practical performance grounded in real shooting conditions, not just spec comparison.

Final Thoughts: Who Should Choose Which?

My deep-diving hands-on experience tells me your choice rests on these core needs:

• Go for the Fujifilm X-T20 if you are:

  • An enthusiast or enthusiast-level photographer valuing portability and intuitive manual controls
  • Focused mostly on portraits, landscapes, street photography with excellent colors straight out of camera
  • On a tighter budget but want solid 4K video and impressive speed in burst shooting
  • Refuse to lug heavy gear, travel frequently, or prefer classic manual dial interaction

• Opt for the Sony A7 III if you are:

  • A professional or aspiring pro needing a robust full-frame sensor with superior dynamic range and high ISO performance
  • Shooting wildlife, sports, events requiring fast, accurate autofocus and high burst rate with tracking
  • Creating videos that demand flexible codec options, headphone jack, and in-body stabilization
  • Willing to invest in a comprehensive lens and accessories ecosystem for long-term growth and durability

My Recommendation: A Balanced Perspective

I wholeheartedly endorse the Sony A7 III as the best all-around camera if your budget and size preferences allow for the weight and price. Its proven reliability in professional settings and class-leading sensor performance set it apart.

At the same time, the Fujifilm X-T20 remains a compelling choice for anyone wanting an entry-level mirrorless that punches above its weight in image quality and user experience, especially for travel and creative portraiture.

Both cameras have retained passionate user bases for valid reasons - this nuance is why I recommend selecting based on personal shooting style, priorities, and budget rather than merely chasing specs.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or testing requests, and happy shooting!