I’m a beginner and need help choosing a fuji camera (X-e1,2or3??)

Hi Ari.

I have both the X-El and the X-T3 and I find the image quality to be very good with both cameras. I use both cameras; the X-E1 for slow shooting and with manual lenses and the X-T3 for moving subjects and with AF lenses.

The main differences between the two generations of cameras lie in the convenience features provided by the additional processors, buttons and dials and the faster video stream. The single processor in the X-E1 can't run the AF algorithms that come with the four-core Xtrans4 processor. So the continuous AF-C mode is not really useful on the X-E1.

I don't view the X-E cameras as a "line" of cameras with consistent capabilities. The only constant among them is the small size of the body. So if it was me I would rather look for the best price/feature ratio among all Fuji cameras. You might find a very good deal if you look everywhere. If you buy used gear, you want it to be in perfect working order and looking like new. My old X-E1 shows its age and I wouldn't buy it used unless it's almost free!

You probably will be disappoihted by something when you get the camera. I was disaointed by the slowness of the X-E1 when I got it. The XT3 is a lively camera but I still sometimes have problems with it like the flash won't fire if the shutter is in Electronic mode and I forgot about it and it's very easy to forget since I focus on the subject rather than on the camera. There are sometimes regressions in the newer models. For instance the X-E1 is easy to operate in cold weather with thick gloves on while the new X-T3 buttons are not so well designed for my own hands. The rear dial and the EC dial are stiff and the shutter release trigger point is recessed compared to the X-E1. Those are not dealbreakers of course.