In this post, I’ll be comparing Canon colors with Fuji colors. This article should be read as a companion to my Canon EOS RP vs Fuji X-T3 comparison. No camera comparison is complete without a color comparison test, and certainly not when comparing Canon with Fuji.
During the last several years, Denae and I have shot with almost every modern Canon and Fuji device available. Time and again, we’ve received comments from folks who have debated the merits of their respective “color sciences”. I think most people desire some validation for their purchasing decisions. But how can you be sure without a direct comparison between devices?
Fuji vs. Canon
With that in mind, we’ve prepared a blind test for you. I’ll be showing some photos that are extremely similar - some shot on the Fuji X-T3 and somee shot on the Canon EOS RP. I won’t tell you which is which until the end of the post. You’re job is to keep track of which shot you like best in each scene. At the end of the post, you’ll be able to see which camera color philosophy is going to perform best for you.
As with my recent Leica vs. Fuji color blind test, this blind test will include two color comparisons in one. First, I’ll present the color shots from these cameras in their RAW formats, in both Lightroom and Capture One. I wanted to show both platforms because, like any RAW processor, there are differences in the way they process RAW. Afterwards, I’ll show the same photos again, this time in JPG format.
The reason I’m adding this extra step is to accommodate your work-flow and your priorities in choosing a camera. Everyone wants something different out of their camera. A lot of photographers, myself included, really love the JPG output, particularly from Fuji devices. Though I usually shoot in JPG and RAW, I will often use the JPG output after only minor tweaking to hues and curves. If I mess up my exposure though, it’s really nice to have that RAW file on hand. So, for photographers like me who aren't “too cool” for JPG, I’ve added a JPG color comparison after the RAW color comparison.
Before you start the blind test, there are a few important things to note: In regards to white balance, I shot everything in daylight balance. I did this to keep it simple and ensure I didn’t ruin the comparison by shooting with different white balance settings.
Also, during the course of taking these shots, I used a few different Fuji and Canon lenses to add some variety. We know that lenses affect color, of course. But it’s impossible to compare every lens available for these two cameras.
Additionally, I would discourage you from getting too focused on analyzing the quality of bokeh or field of view in oder to “figure out” which camera took which shot. While I may have had different equivalent depths of field in many of the shots and the field of view might be slightly off, it really defeats the purpose of this blind test if you try to reverse engineer my methods. If it makes you happy, go ahead. I think you’ll have more fun though if you simply focus on which colors excite you the most.
When you reach the JPG comparisons, I will only show three images for each scene. I’ll show you the Canon shot in its Standard JPG mode, (without any tweaking to the JPG in-camera), and I’ll show two different Fuji shots - one in Classic Chrome, and the other in Provia. I realize there are several film profiles I could have used, but I chose these two because I like them the best. Sorry for being so selfish.
Now, before you start typing some complaint about me talking too much, here’s the blind test for Canon color vs. Fuji color:
RAW Comparison
JPG Comparison
Alright ladies and gentlemen, It's time for the big reveal. Here are the identities of each letter from both the RAW and JPG comparisons.
The Big Reveal
I’m really curious to know how you rated these shots. Did each camera match your expectations? Were you surprised by the results? I'd love to hear about it in the comments.
When I did a similar comparison between Sony and Fuji a couple years ago, I was surprised by how many people admitted that comparing RAW on those two systems was a lot closer than they expected it to be. I’ve heard so many Fuji shooters claim that Sony colors are pathetic and that Fuji’s was far superior. That study, however, really did show that the differences were extremely hard to tell when shooting RAW; there was no landslide preference, one way or the other.
I do think people tend to make a bigger deal out of "color science" in RAW than is warranted. While Sony did produce some seriously yellow skin tones at one time, by the release of their A9 model, they had updated their color science so that it aligned more closely with Canon.
In general, Fuji certainly provides cooler tones in their photos than Canon, Sony, or Leica. Beyond that, the differences between the RAW output of these two cameras are small enough that the choice will be arbitrary for many of you. The idea of “color science” really shouldn’t factor into your camera purchasing decision. With a RAW file, you can manipulate the color as much or as little as necessary.
Personally, I’m in love with Fuji’s JPG outputs - especially in the Classic Chrome setting. I like to look at color the way photographers used to look at color; they chose a color film stock that spoke to them and best captured the way they wanted to present their art. Their options were more limited back then, but it provided consistency. That’s what I love about choosing only one or two Fuji profiles in my work right now; it helps me achieve consistency.
It also allows me to focus less on trying to save an image that’s “so-so” and focus more on getting the shot right in camera. As a result, I spend less time tweaking color settings only to look at them a year later and wonder “What I was thinking?'. It also helps control my tendency to chase fads. Similar to shooting with film, I find this style a little more timeless.
Those are my opinions and philosophies about color in photography. Feel free to disagree. Focus on the style that works for you and gives personal expression to the way you see the world. (If we all produced identical images, the world would be pretty boring.)
I hope you found this video helpful in your photography endeavors. Until next time, do good with your camera. We’ll talk to you again real soon.