X-E4 command dial

Early Morning Blackibird wrote:

jhorse wrote:

Erik Baumgartner wrote:

Bizarre changes, really? The point of having multiple control options at your fingertips is so it’s quick and easy to dial in any necessary changes both before and while actively shooting without menu diving.

For me, this statememgt is on target.

Then again in my original response I mentioned at least 7 ways to control functions minus the buttons across the top back which most likely will be able to map . To many people complaining over a dial and ibis. If it doesn't work for you move on no need to bash it ...... most probably never had intentions of buying it anyway.

I am in no doubt that the XE4, to judge its output, image quality, will be more capable. Not by much, but a little. I can judge this between my current XE3 and XT4 based on the sensors.

However, In my option, and others who prefer to access functions through dials and buttons, the XE4 will be less ergonomically satisfying. Of course, I shall wait until I have handled one before confirming this view.

Yes, you are right, there are many 'ways to control functions.'  When I got my XT3 there were so many features and functions and so many ways to access them that I created on a spreadsheet a list of every feature and function. I then rank ordered them in accordance with my use requirement in the field. The first one being the one I use most in the field.   I also felt that the touch screen was too imprecise to be useful, a view I carried forward into the XT4 (and XE3), so I permanently switched it off. I then mapped and assigned my top functions to physical buttons and dials. I also did this for the XE3 and XT4. On the XT4, without using the touch screen, I have 16 physical options and 20 in the XE3, including the Q menu. Frankly, I seldom use more than half a dozen in the field,

My contention with the XE4, from images of it, is that the loss of the rear command dial and the SCM switch and with only having what looks like four customable buttons (it remains to be seen if this is the case), including the Q button, that I will have less access to functions in the field if I continue to omit the touch screen. Currently, the XE3 front command dial has three functions, ISO, EC (if the EC dial is set to 'c') and SS, but now on the XE4 may have to accommodate a fourth - aperture. On the XE3 I can adjust aperture (I shoot mainly aperture priority) with my thumb on the rear dial and EC with a forefinger concurrently, which is intuitive, easy and fast.

If the front dial is customable on the XE4 and one can assign, for example, solely EC and aperture (with ISO to the top function button), then I can live with it, but if one is forced to have all four functions (ISO, EC, SS and aperture) and has to scroll around the four after pressing in it, it will be slower.

As for 'too many people complaining over a dial', well, many people like physical dials and buttons, prefer to avoid using touch screens in the field and came to Fuji in the first place because they offered a different ergonomic experience based on dials and buttons rather than touch screens.  If I wanted a different experience I could have just stayed with my Nikons. I did not, nor I suspect do many others, so surely we are allowed to voice a view?