X-t4 and photographers, your thoughts

Hello

I am switching back to Fuji but dunno if I get the x-t4, it's an absolute beast abd has all I want but this flip out screen is still not convincing me.

I never tried it because there are no rental here in Lebanon and the Fuji shop doesn't have a showroom unit to try it.

I know it's a great screen for video but apparently still photographers hated it.

What are your thoughts after using it for weeks/months?

vegetaleb said:

Hello

I am switching back to Fuji but dunno if I get the x-t4, it's an absolute beast abd has all I want but this flip out screen is still not convincing me.

I never tried it because there are no rental here in Lebanon and the Fuji shop doesn't have a showroom unit to try it.

I know it's a great screen for video but apparently still photographers hated it.

Click to expand...

Have you considered the X-H1? IBIS and a proper screen.

Regarding the screen it’s obviously quite a personal decision. I’m purely a stills photographer and I’m absolutely fine with it, in fact I prefer it to the previous version. If I was a street photographer I might feel differently, but I shoot landscape and nature for fun, and corporate events for work, and it’s worked well for me so far in all situations. It absolutely wouldn’t be an issue for me and I’d certainly buy it again.

In every other respect the refinements in the X-T4 vs the previous versions are pure gain IMO. Particularly the shutter, battery and ibis. It’s a terrific stills camera.

vegetaleb said:

Hello

I am switching back to Fuji but dunno if I get the x-t4, it's an absolute beast abd has all I want but this flip out screen is still not convincing me.

I never tried it because there are no rental here in Lebanon and the Fuji shop doesn't have a showroom unit to try it.

I know it's a great screen for video but apparently still photographers hated it.

What are your thoughts after using it for weeks/months?

Click to expand...

Well, here is my view after previously owning the XT3 and since May 2020 the XT4. I only shoot stills. I wanted the XT4 for IBIS having the non stabilised 16-55 lens. I did not and still do not like the XT4 screen. I far preferred the tilting design of the XT3 as I was able to take low or high shots with the screen remaining on the centre line of the lens. It was also quick and easy to flick open either upwards or downwards.

I do not like the XT4 flippy screen as I cannot take high or low shots with the screen tilted and remaining on the lens centre line, I do not like its extra movements to fold it outwards or return it to its parking slot, and I do not like the design that snags my camera strap every time I unfold it.

For me, it is an appalling design - so appalling that I now fold it inwards and very seldom use it. I only use it to dive into the menus, which in the field is never and only occasionally at home to check an image or setting. I have set up all the function buttons and Q menu to access those functions I need, 26 in total, without having to use the LCD screen. I have set the front Fn2 button to Image Review so I can press it with the second finger and display images in the EVF.

As you can see, I dislike the XT4 screen, but would I buy the XT4 again - yes. Why? Because with the 16-55 lens IBIS makes a difference to me. In truth, I have adapted my style to work without the screen and now in the field just ignore it, which when turned inwards is easy.

Hope that helps, but it is just one personal view.

I've been using the X-T4 now for about 5 months. No complaints. It works.

I like it. The best thing about it is that it can be folded inward which suits me as I rarely use the screen for photography. The EVF is also better for any playback in my opinion, dark, contrasty and free of reflections.

The odd time I do use it, it's very quick to deploy.

vegetaleb said:

Hello

I am switching back to Fuji but dunno if I get the x-t4, it's an absolute beast abd has all I want but this flip out screen is still not convincing me.

I never tried it because there are no rental here in Lebanon and the Fuji shop doesn't have a showroom unit to try it.

I know it's a great screen for video but apparently still photographers hated it.

What are your thoughts after using it for weeks/months?

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I think the answer to your question is a personal one. Are you someone who forever dwells on the things that niggle you about a camera? (Or anything else technical)?

No camera is perfectly designed for a particular user. I recently bought the X-S10 which has the same flip screen as the X-T4. It also misses the retro dials that I enjoy so much about Fuji cameras.

I’ve used it extensively every day for a week and it’s already second nature to my brain; I can shoot without thinking about where I’ve assigned the controls. I’ve completely forgotten about it’s shortcomings and to me it is now an incredibly lightweight, high image quality photographic tool, especially useful for my night photography because of efficient IBIS.
Many other people can’t get past the things that annoy them about a camera’s design.
I do slightly prefer the tilt screen on my X-T3. But give me IBIS this good and I’ll grab the X-S10 first and go shooting at night without hesitation, even with a flip screen. (Which really isn’t so bad anyway).

Don't you have consumer protection laws in your country? When I want to buy something I can't physically try out, I just order it online and have the possibility to send it back within 14 days, if said product does not suit my needs, with a full refund from the retailer. Of course if you're ordering it from abroad then you may be in a different sort of pickle.

yayatosorus said:

Don't you have consumer protection laws in your country? When I want to buy something I can't physically try out, I just order it online and have the possibility to send it back within 14 days, if said product does not suit my needs, with a full refund from the retailer. Of course if you're ordering it from abroad then you may be in a different sort of pickle.

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It's pretty archaic here for tech stuff , you don't have a 14 days ''like it return it'' policy, not even 1 day. That's why you have to rely on reviews and people's experience reports

vegetaleb said:

yayatosorus said:

Don't you have consumer protection laws in your country? When I want to buy something I can't physically try out, I just order it online and have the possibility to send it back within 14 days, if said product does not suit my needs, with a full refund from the retailer. Of course if you're ordering it from abroad then you may be in a different sort of pickle.

Click to expand...

It's pretty archaic here for tech stuff , you don't have a 14 days ''like it return it'' policy, not even 1 day. That's why you have to rely on reviews and people's experience reports

Click to expand...

I'd recommend double checking though, you never know. Look into the Civil Code or Consumer Protection laws or alternatively, if you have someone you know who's a lawyer or knows his way around Lebanese civil law, he or she could maybe point you in the right direction. It's possible those shops simply do not mention this information intentionally.

If such legal institutes are not in place, well lets hope they'll eventually be adopted.

Im happy with the X-H1

I prefer the older style, but the new screen hasn’t been much of an inconvenience. I often have the screen “closed”, which is a nice feature to ensure it doesn’t get damaged.

I used to shoot more often waist-level with the old style screen, but now no longer do...but I can’t say I miss it that much.

Really, every camera I’ve ever purchased (Fuji or other) has always had something I wished was different. This is just one of those things. All of the other features of the camera more than make up for my preference of the older style screen.

I sold my X-T30 to upgrade to the X-T4, which I actually ended up regretting. Build quality and IBIS of X-T4 is great, but the significant increase in weight/size made it much less enjoyable to use for street/vacation photography. Just couldn't get past how heavy it was (felt like a burden every time I took it out). Flippy screen was also a big annoyance for me since I never do videos or vlogging (X-T30/X-T3 screen is much better for photographers IMO). IBIS was a plus for non-blurry low light shots, but it wasn't worth the increased size for me.

My camera actually recently got stolen from my car and I'm deciding which model to purchase with my insurance claim money. Won't be re-buying the X-T4. Will probably get either the X-E4 (if I can wait until Q1'21) or X-S10 or X-100V or X-Pro3 or X-T30.

vegetaleb said:

Hello

I am switching back to Fuji but dunno if I get the x-t4, it's an absolute beast abd has all I want but this flip out screen is still not convincing me.

I never tried it because there are no rental here in Lebanon and the Fuji shop doesn't have a showroom unit to try it.

I know it's a great screen for video but apparently still photographers hated it.

What are your thoughts after using it for weeks/months?

Click to expand...

Why don’t you buy the much cheaper XT3 then? It’s essentially the same camera with a tilt screen and no ibis. Personally I find ibis something nice to have but not that important especially if you use stabilized lenses. Honestly I have never missed it coming from m43 and gx8.

I have both the XT3 (since its release) and the XT4 (also since its release). Using the XT4 I have the screen folded in most of the time for photography, and folded out most of the time for video. I don't find it to be a hindrance, it's just slightly different in operation.

I consider it a trivial thing and not make or break for the camera. I also use the XE3 and 50R depending on what I'm doing. The XT4 is an absolute beast of a camera and I would highly recommend it should anyone ask.

Every camera is going to have a different "manual of arms" as it were.

Having owned the X-T1, 2, 3 and 4, my below thoughts reflect that.

I have had the X-T4 since it came out and like it quite a bit. I agree with others about the screen. I don't like the design and leave it flipped inward most of the time.

A couple other items I'll mention . . .

The battery life/power management is much nicer with the X-T4 compared to older models. And it should be better compared to something like the X-T30 or X-S10. With prior models, it felt like I was (or still am w/my x-t2) always grabbing an extra couple batteries on top of the couple I usually had to venture out. The older models also felt like the battery grip was semi-required for extended or high demand outings. The X-T4 does fine with 1 or 2 batteries (I bought 3, but realistically hardly use the 3rd one), and therefore I was able to forgo purchasing the battery grip.

The other thing that I think isn't mentioned much is the quieter/more solid feeling shutter button and mechanism. It just feels and sounds more polished. A minor thing, but it also is supposed to be more robustly built to last longer as well compared to prior models.

Another nice feature with the X-T4 is the separation of video and still modes. If you want to focus on stills, the video menus/functions stay out of the way with the flick of a dial on the X-T4.

Anyway, a few musings on the X-T4.

Sorry but the "your thoughts" made me not be able to resist posting this.









Hopefully it starts at 3:08! If not start it there and you'll see what I mean ;-)

Meeces said:

Having owned the X-T1, 2, 3 and 4, my below thoughts reflect that.

I have had the X-T4 since it came out and like it quite a bit. I agree with others about the screen. I don't like the design and leave it flipped inward most of the time.

A couple other items I'll mention . . .

The battery life/power management is much nicer with the X-T4 compared to older models. And it should be better compared to something like the X-T30 or X-S10. With prior models, it felt like I was (or still am w/my x-t2) always grabbing an extra couple batteries on top of the couple I usually had to venture out. The older models also felt like the battery grip was semi-required for extended or high demand outings. The X-T4 does fine with 1 or 2 batteries (I bought 3, but realistically hardly use the 3rd one), and therefore I was able to forgo purchasing the battery grip.

Click to expand...

I agree with this. With my XT3 for a day's outing I tended to carry two spare batteries. Now with the XT4 I carry one, and seldom use it. On grips, I like a half leather case and found one for £49 on ebay that is a perfect fit. I do use a metal non-battery grip (SmallRig) when using a 100-400 lens for better holding.

Meeces said:

The other thing that I think isn't mentioned much is the quieter/more solid feeling shutter button and mechanism. It just feels and sounds more polished. A minor thing, but it also is supposed to be more robustly built to last longer as well compared to prior models.

Click to expand...

Wholeheartedly agree with this - the shutter is sublime!

Meeces said:

Another nice feature with the X-T4 is the separation of video and still modes. If you want to focus on stills, the video menus/functions stay out of the way with the flick of a dial on the X-T4.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

Meeces said:

Anyway, a few musings on the X-T4.

Click to expand...

I had a ”touch and feel” X-T4 and X-S10.. Note: My mirrorless cameras either have a fixed screen or just tilt up-down.

The negatives

Compared to the flip out screen, I much prefer the flip up screen, as its one action. The flip out screen just feels a bit clunky as it makes the camera ”feel” a lot larger... Due to screen hanging out on the side.. I would also ”feel” more paranoid about the screen being pushed the wrong way.. But it really feels like shooting with a camcorder to be honest... Looking at screen on a side.

The positives

The screen can be flipped inwards, so technically if I was purely using the EVF.. and wanted to stop chimping this would do the trick (I know you can turn off the screen etc)

My thoughts

Adapting with the times, at the end of the day it's just a tool and unfortunately / fortunately the flip out screen has ”greater appeal” with the increase demand for hybrid shooters. so for me I can imagine myself just adapting and embracing it... While also noting that there are other Fuji product lines/models that might be more appropriate if you are purely photo-centric (choice)

So the Nikon Z story is over?

How come?