X-E3: No Touching!

Today I tried something that made me like the X-E3 better than ever: I turned off its touch screen.

At one time or another I've been convinced that I'd buy each of the current 24Mpx Fuji cameras; the only one I followed through on is the X100F. LOVE that camera. But I'm still looking at the others, wanting that new sensor and more F-like controls in a machine to replace my X-T10. The X-E3 comes closest to being my ideal camera, but.

But: I intensely dislike touch screens. I know I'm unusual in this, but it's visceral and not negotiable.

So today I went to my local camera store, where everyone already knows me, and tried out the X-E3 again. Eventually I found how to turn the touch screen off, and I was transformed. No more unexpected options popping up, or not popping up when I want them. No more jumping AF points – and, as a left-eyed person, no more nose-detect autofocus. Simple. Predictable. Bliss.

With Fn, AEL and AFL, there are still three custom buttons available. Honestly, as a raw-only person, after assigning white balance to Fn and setting up the Q menu I'm not sure what I'd use the other two for. Not that it really matters, because it's so easy to reassign them on the fly that they can do whatever I want, whenever I need them.

The X-T20 may be a more natural replacement for my X-T10, especially since I like my MHG grip-plate for it and would be able to carry it forward, and I really like the flip-out screen for versatility and tripod work… but there's just something about the cleanness of the X-E3 that appeals to me. And, if I have to choose, I think I'd rather have the joystick than the four-way controller.

Decisions, decisions. There's definitely more trips to the local camera store in my future.