My Quick Review of Fuji X-E4 kit

Adso of Melk wrote:

notchy wrote:

Adso of Melk wrote:

notchy wrote:

Adso of Melk wrote:

Good review.

I believe that many who criticize the X-E4 have never had it in hand. My impressions are similar to the X100V, which costs more because it includes the lens and has a better viewfinder (in addition to the optical viewfinder), but in quality of finishes they are very similar, If there are differences they are minimal.

...and a leaf shutter, and a built in flash (that can sync at 1/1000 with the lens wide open without vignetting), and a 4-stop neutral density filter, and greater weather resistance, and an all-metal chassis, a rear dial, more customisable buttons...

You get a lot of desirable features for your extra money!

Lou Capeloto over in your X-E4 vs X100V thread stated that he regarded the X100V as being better built than the X-E4, and he owned both cameras simultaneously.

I had both the X-E3 and X100F together for a couple of years. Flimsy X100F battery compartment door aside, both were very well made. However (that battery door notwithstanding), the X100F was a more "premium" feeling unit. X100 cameras have an all-metal chassis, whereas the X-E range uses a polycarbonate chassis with a metal top and bottom plate, which probably partly accounts for some of the difference in build quality perception. If memory serves, the buttons on the X100F were also a tad larger and thus felt more positive.

Perhaps the X-E4 has closed the gap in "feel", although I'm sceptical. Fuji clearly differentiates between the two lines and markets the X100 line as being a step up. I'm not knocking the X-E line. I really liked my X-E3 and if I didn't have too many cameras already I'd have kept it. If you hid the EXIF data, no one could tell that an X-E3 image wasn't from an X-T2 or X-H1. It punched well above its weight and for the price was a bargain, I thought.

The X-E4 has a magnesium alloy internal chassis. For me the construction is identical, if there is any difference in quality it cannot be seen with the naked eye.

I'm not talking about what the camera looks like, but what it feels like to hold and use.

I think you'll find it's only the top plate on the X-E4 that's magnesium alloy. The chassis is plastic as it was on the X-E3.

Regardless, with the X100V you get a lot of extra features for your money. It isn't just an X-E4 with a fixed lens.

The chassis construction of the X-E4 is the same as that of the X-S10. And no one has complained about the quality of the X-S10.

You're obviously new here

Adso of Melk wrote:

...

The chassis construction of the X-E4 is the same as that of the X-S10. And no one has complained about the quality of the X-S10.

You know, you could acknowledge it when someone has a fair point instead of just deflecting by moving the goalposts.

I didn't say that people were complaining about the build quality of the X-E4. My comment above makes clear that I thought the X-E3 (which I'm sure has a very similar build quality to that of the X-E4) had perfectly acceptable build quality. In fact, when I bought it I regarded it as one of the best devices I'd ever owned, especially when paired with the "Fujicron" lenses.

You ignored my list of significant differences above to pick on one thing that you disagreed with. Something you asserted without any evidence. Having read dozens of your one-sentence comments now, it's hard not to get the feeling that you're more concerned with being right than in learning about the cameras you claim to be interested in.

Adso of Melk wrote:

notchy wrote:

Adso of Melk wrote:

...

The chassis construction of the X-E4 is the same as that of the X-S10. And no one has complained about the quality of the X-S10.

You know, you could acknowledge it when someone has a fair point instead of just deflecting by moving the goalposts.

I didn't say that people were complaining about the build quality of the X-E4. My comment above makes clear that I thought the X-E3 (which I'm sure has a very similar build quality to that of the X-E4) had perfectly acceptable build quality. In fact, when I bought it I regarded it as one of the best devices I'd ever owned, especially when paired with the "Fujicron" lenses.

You ignored my list of significant differences above to pick on one thing that you disagreed with. Something you asserted without any evidence. Having read dozens of your one-sentence comments now, it's hard not to get the feeling that you're more concerned with being right than in learning about the cameras you claim to be interested in.

I am not going to argue with you any more. I have had both cameras in my hands and you cannot deny me what I have seen with my eyes, the finish is practically identical.

You're contradicting a claim I didn't make. I didn't mention the finish of either camera.

Anyway, you've obviously made up your mind, so go get yourself that X-E4!

I can recommend the original LH-XF27 lens hood together with the LHCP-27 cap. Would have beeen better when it was in the box, but after all it's an inexpensive great but nice and small combo. But.......you have to be patient. After 3 weeks of searching online almost every day I was lucky to find it in one of my favorite shops. Ordered it, got it next day and 2 days later it was out of stock again As it is now in every shop here. Good luck!

Tom Schum wrote:

The X-E4 camera is a nice size, only very slightly larger than my X30 (not talking about the X-T30 here). Weight is quite nice and light. Build does not seem flimsy to me.
The power off-on switch design is the best I've seen so far. It's small, not too tight, not easily turned on while putting the camera into your camera bag.
The joystick easily replaces the four "selector" buttons seen on older cameras. It is easy to navigate menus using it, and press it in to make settings. There is also an OK button, so there are two ways to make menu setting. Joystick haptics are very good.
Some have complained about the "mushy" feel of the three rear buttons, and I agree. A more definite haptic click would be nice. The buttons on the top cover are much better in my opinion.
The body is really a bar-of-soap design, maybe a little bit slippery but I'm using a neck strap so it is ok. I think the Fuji thumb rest (when it becomes available) will be very helpful. I've ordered a Peak Design wrist strap. Blank areas on front and rear near the right side give me lots of room to grip. I like this.
The EV compensation knob is smaller, so it is less easily turned by mistake. I like it.
The front command dial is easily turned without using enough pressure to press it in. This is much better than the one on my X-T3.
I like the strap loops. They are slots really, not requiring a split ring to mate to the strap. I'm using Peak Design components and they fit just fine.
The battery/SD card cover is quite like others on X-E1 etc. Nothing to complain about unless you prefer the deluxe battery cover on the X-T3.
The EVF works fine for me. Your results may vary. I had a similar one on my X-T100, and this one might even be a little bit better. I have mine set up to use the EVF on eye-detect, and not to use the LCD at all. This still uses the LCD for reviewing images though. I'm a glasses wearer, and I do find it a little bit hard to see ALL of the viewfinder image, but moving my eye around just a little is enough to see all the corners. I just can't see all the corners at once. This is normal for the 17mm eye relief spec. I have the same thing in my X30, and my X-T100 was also the same.
The rear LCD is quite nice. I haven't used the flip out features.
I turned off all touch functions. I'm a left-eye guy, so my nose is always up against that LCD. The other buttons are plenty enough for me. I assigned the AEL/AFL button to bring up the live color histogram, and I am using the unmarked function button to bring up the 3-D electronic level.
With touch functions turned off, I find it easy to shoot manual lenses. I move the focus point with the joystick, then press it in to fix the focus point where I want it, then press again to bring up the focus magnifier. Very seamless!
I've never moved the shutter speed dial off the "A" (automatic) setting, for the kit lens and for manual lenses.
Setting the focus mode to manual or autofocus is a little bit of a menu dive for me, but I don't often need to change it. Also, setting the focal length of the manual lens I am using is a menu dive, and I'm not willing to commit a function button to this (actually, this is not something I can choose for any function button on any Fuji I have ever owned. It would be nice to have it as a choice though.)
Mostly I shoot stills and no video.
I like to shoot in ISO bracketing. The write time for my SD card is a few seconds per image, but 6 files are written per image! Data rate on my particular SD card is 60mb/s max.
I've done some brick-wall shots to try to find out how well the sensor is aligned to the focal plane. I used two lenses for these tests, the kit lens and my Fuji XF 50mm F2 R WR lens. Generally the camera seems a tiny bit weak on the left, but this seems to be an issue with all my Fujis so it might just be me. The problem is minimal if it exists at all. I've had lenses that seem to show problems, but the problems disappeared when I used the lens correctly. So, I'm not sure I have an issue with sensor alignment quite yet. The jury is still out.
The XF 27mm F2.8 R WR kit lens is tiny and very good optically. It "jumps" a little bit when I power-up and power-down, and when I review images after shooting with it. Just a small quirk. I have put a Fuji PRF-39 clear protector filter on the front, which works fine. The lens came with a pinch cap but no hood, so I am considering what to do about a lens hood, if any. I'll probably just do without a hood.
In manual focus mode, it focuses a little bit "jumpy" in my opinion. Not a serious issue though. My XF 50mm F2 R WR lens is better.
I've been using the electronic shutter exclusively, so far. The mechanical shutter works fine, but I like the short click sound of the electronic shutter. Also, this does not cycle the mechanical shutter at all, so there is no wear and there won't be any tiny oil splatters on the sensor either. These oil splatters have not been a problem on previous Fuji cameras, but they have been a problem with other manufacturer's cameras. I have not seen any insurmountable problems with the electronic shutter, except for a little blurring of fast motion. But I don't do much of that sort of photography either. I like being able to choose the mechanical shutter if necessary.

Also, since this camera is not weather resistant, I bought a 3-year drops and spills warranty (third party) for $109. It's less to worry about, but what they say about insurance is that if you buy it you will never need it.

Hey! Glad it finally came.

FYI, I wound up returning the Fujifilm leather half case, but I’m very happy with the metal grip and thumb rest. I will probably get a third party case this summer.

I hadn’t thought about the “virtual weather resistance.” I’ll keep that in mind next time 😉

HenriC wrote:

I can recommend the original LH-XF27 lens hood together with the LHCP-27 cap. Would have beeen better when it was in the box, but after all it's an inexpensive great but nice and small combo. But.......you have to be patient. After 3 weeks of searching online almost every day I was lucky to find it in one of my favorite shops. Ordered it, got it next day and 2 days later it was out of stock again As it is now in every shop here. Good luck!

I am using a clear protector filter, Fuji PRF-39.  If I put the LH-XF27 hood on top, do you think it will cause vignetting at the corners of my images?

notchy wrote:

Anyway, you've obviously made up your mind, so go get yourself that X-E4!

And, if you do, I'm thinking you will like it.

Of course it costs $850, not pocket change for sure!

No experience with that, but there is a big chance it does Tom. The advantage of the lens hood ánd the cap is that the lens stays as small as when it came out of the box with the hard plastic cap.
By the way, coming from 48 years working with (d)SLRs (sold my Nikon D850 some weeks ago and got the E4 with some bells and whistles) I bought the grip. I like it especially with the 18-55mm screwed on, but even with the 27mm it gives a bit the feeling I was used to. Weighs almost nothing, useful on a tripod.
Moreover..........thank you for your long story!

robert1955 wrote:

very informative, thanks a lot

One small question for the moment: with ISO bracketing the number of files used to be fixed at 3, with max 1 stop apart [IIRC]. Is the number now fixed at 6 RAF's and what is now the setting range?

No change to the three files limit:  three renderings are the limit and the range is still +/-1EV max.

You can specify Raw+JPG image recording, in which case you will get three JPGs and three RAFs.

I shoot Raw+JPG, and I shoot ISO bracketed at +/-1EV. Mostly, I use the JPGs and only seldom do I use the RAFs.

Here is page 88 of the X-E4 manual: