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X-E4 impression from an X-T3 shooter

Started Mar 26, 2021 | Discussions thread
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dht Regular Member • Posts: 264
X-E4 impression from an X-T3 shooter
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I've been using my X-T3 since Oct 2018, and have very much enjoyed the Fuji experience. Recently I've been thinking of getting a smaller Fuji body, and rented the X-E4. Here are some of my thoughts:

  • Really wish Fuji could have given the camera even a small ridge or curve on the grip. They clearly were going for a minimalist, boxy, industrial design, however the complete lack of any kind of grip is just a bridge too far into poor ergonomics. Some minor grip would add minimal weight or bulk, and make a huge difference IMO.
  • The body itself feels high quality, even if the X-T3 is still made of better materials. The X-E4 did not feel plastic-y to my touch.
  • The camera is extremely light to hold, or keep around the neck, especially with a small lens.
  • The menu and back buttons are way too flush to the camera, and offer very little travel. Just seems like an unforced design error on Fuji's part.
  • When trying to hit the Display button to review images, the eye sensor keeps getting triggered, and the back display goes off temporarily. Fuji really needs to think of a firmware fix for this.
  • The flip up screen is quite stiff, and you can't flip it up from the bottom. You have to use a little tab on the left side, which I fumbled with at times. The X-T3's tilt screen is easier to quickly grab and lift up.
  • The memory card location is very tucked away near the hinge of the battery door, alongside the actual battery. I found it hard to pull the card out.
  • The shutter is quite loud, however it makes a satisfying actuation sound.
  • The camera feels quite snappy in operation. It starts up fast and navigating menus is also fast. Not sure if they put a new processor in or not since the X-T3, but it somehow feels a bit quicker to me.
  • Much has been made about Fuji taking away the focus mode selector, which was on the front of the X-T3 / X-T4, however this didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. I assigned the function button near the trigger to let me select focus mode, and it was quick and easy to make changes.
  • Likewise, I didn't miss the back dial as much as I thought I would either. Fuji has thought through gallery navigation and zooming through the use of the front dial, and I found it to work quite well.
  • The lack of a drive dial also didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. The drive button is prominent, and navigating to the drive setting I wanted was quick.
  • I never had a problem with the touch screen function "buttons", unlike many YouTube reviewers. It was easy for me to set focus type, film simulation, and white balance using the touch screen.
  • Some YouTube reviewers are dead set on the D-pad, however I didn't mind not having it.
  • Image quality and colors are absolutely superb. I felt like the JPEG colors were slightly better than the X-T3, but perhaps I'm just imagining this.

Overall I think Fuji delivered on the goal of producing a minimalist snap shooter. I'm struggling with whether to actually purchase or not however. The X-T3 definitely has more capable controls, and feels like a more luxury experience, however the weight is much greater. I tried the X-S10 earlier this year, and while the grip and IBIS are huge advantages over the X-E4, from a size perspective I don't know that I'd be gaining much relative to the X-T3.

Curious if other X-T3 / X-T4 / X-T2 users have impressions of the X-E4 as well?

 dht's gear list:dht's gear list
Sony a6400 Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS Sony E 35mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS +2 more
Fujifilm X-T2 Fujifilm X-T3
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