XE-2, XE-3, or X-E4... The Dilemma

My first X-E3 was of mid-2018, then my daughter decided she needs exactly this kind of camera and nothing else fits her taste, so she took that X-E3 for herself unreservedly, together with a pair of lenses

I barely managed to catch my current X-E3 new, at the moment when in early 2021 its production was already curtailed and shops were getting rid of the last remnants, freeing up their warehouse shelves for upcoming X-E4.

At that moment, I already had an idea of X-E4 (future) and my temptation to get one was considerable. But - you say it - innovations of X-E4 didn't justify the lost advantages, dropped by Fujifilm for who knows why.

More Mpx? 24 Mp is enough for me, and with more Mpx come more noise.

Tilt screen? I'm neutral about it, so better not to have it at all. I have a tilt screen on X-T20, not that it has been a critically important or necessary feature.

Better UHD 4k 30p video? Yes, oversampled 200 Mbps is good, but its not what I would buy unanimously. Give me UHD 4k 60p oversampled 400 Mbps 4:2:2 10bit H.265 straight to internal SDXC, only then you got me.

Also remember, I own 2 bodies - X-T20 & X-E3, so their technical identicity and (almost) identical layout of controls and overall ergonomics is one of my priorities. With X-E4 too many things has become different, all of a sudden:

• M-C-S switch has gone - why? when I am shooting onstage, I hate digging into menus and buttons for a few seconds, instead of clicking one single switch in 0.1 second. Few seconds is too sloooowww!!! I am losing my shots!
• the rear wheel has gone - why?
• Q button is now hidden on the top plate so I cant press it with my thumb (while keeping the camera near my eye and my index finger on the shutter button ready to fire)  anymore - why?
• thumb rest has gone - why? without it the handling has become uneven, and I hate adding extra weight and size of the handgrip.

So my choice was obvious and I didn't ever regret it since.

My next upgrade from my X-T20 & X-E3 pair may happen no earlier than X-T5, X-T40 and X-E5 will arrive, only than I will decide on what pair of new bodies I will target my wishes at. If there will be none satisfactory, then a pair of X-H2S bodies is the last resort.

But I will never sell my current pair of bodies, I am overall happy with these almost completely.