Some personal thoughts on the X-E4

I already tried a lot of digital cameras within the last 15 years, ranging from the Nikon D70s to Olympus/Panasonic to Sony A7m3, and more. However, my photographic tour starts 35 years ago with my Dad’s Kodak Retina Ib, so I worked with a minimalist camera from the very beginning. I also had some time with Fuji, especially the X100F (but the TCL/WCL concept destroys it for me, and 23mm is not my preferred focal length) and the X-Pro2. But I rarely used the OVF on both, but of course, we have to pay for its delicated mechanics. After the release of the X-Pro3, I left Fuji – the XP3 seems too arty for me.

My 35 years way in photographic gear: X-E4 and Kodak Retina Ib

Suddenly, the X-E4 arrived. Wow. I love the design, because its not that much retro as the other X-E cameras but straight on the “form follows function” concept. First reason to return to Fuji land. However, I was a bit afraid of its user interface, since many stated that there are too few buttons, and others lamented about the loss of the grip and of the AF mode switch.

No issues for me. The camera is set to MF, with AF-ON on the FN button. That’s what I need at core. AE-L/AF-L button is assigned to switch the AF mode, and Q serves for ISO selection. Otherwise, the joystick works great, it is so easy to flip through the menus if necessary. Oh, I have to add that I shoot RAW only.

X-E4 with 18mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 14mm f2.8, 60mm f2.4

The camera body itself have been made for Fuji’s small prime lenses, obviously, either the "Fujicrons" or the older ones. I am fine with these "Generation 1" lenses (have the 14 / 18f2 / 35f1.4 / 60), because I love their specific but consistent rendering. 2nd reason why I’ve returned. Adding a grip (I have the SmallRig L bracket & grip), it’s possible to handle also larger lenses – well, maybe not the pro zooms, but guess the 90mm f2 will still be fine, for example. However, using the grip, it’s rather impossible to get the card out of its slot.

With SmallRig L bracket and 14mm f2.8

Image quality is nothing to mention specifically since the camera delivers like the other X-Trans 4 cameras. That’s a great thing with Fuji – you select the camera concept but get all the same IQ-related things (beside of IBIS, granted). It’s like the past film cameras, there the film and the lens were decisive for IQ, but not the camera body. By the way, the fantastic film simulations are reason no. 3 for returning to Fuji.

The Fuji Q

Everything else with the camera is just fine. AF works significantly faster even with the older lenses. The camera is responsive and fast in operations. It seems reasonable robust, not as a X-Pro2, but comparable to the X100 series IMO – which is fine for most occasions. WR would be nice, but I never killed a camera for whatever reason until today (knocking on wood!).

With SmallRig L bracket and 14mm f2.8

What is it good for? Well, I guess it’s targeted for street, travelling, family, walking around. But it can be used as a general-purpose camera as well. I have absolutely no concerns to use it for my marketing/corporate influcencer work, for instance. And, if you worry about its robustness – you can get two X-E4s instead of one X-Pro3 for the same money, roughly. Sounds like a deal, doesn't it?

Ready to go: My super minimal travel kit

Thanks for reading!

Yours,
Markus

Hi,

The X-E4 is a really nice camera that feels good in the hand. When I sold my XF50/2 I could handle the X-E4 of the guy who bought it from me. He also has a X-T4 plus the 16-55 but uses the X-E4 plus the small primes most of the times.

I'm an X-Pro person and recently got the X-Pro3 after a lot of hesitation but the-X-E4 is a very attractive and capable camera. Fuji just knows how to make cameras that you just like to shoot.

Nice review Markus, thank you. So the X-E4 dropped a little bit under the RADAR of most of the Fujifilm enthusiast here. It's a little bit the essence of the X-system.

Very happy with my X-E4. Still have my X-T3 but haven't used it lately. I have the JJC grip, negligible weight, card & battery easily removed. Used it a lot today & yesterday with my 70-300 hand held, trying to practice my snow shots (squirrel & birds on my deck at the feeder) I aced a few of my shots yesterday, but had issues today as the sky was 100% overcast & same colour as the snow. Blinkies worked as advertised.

Hi, thanks for your write up. The XE4 has turned out to be a great camera. The camera has grown on me and I use it most weekends, especially with the 16/f2.8, 23/f2 and 50/f2. Here were my first views, written a few months back.

XE4 - I was wrong: Fujifilm X System / SLR Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)

…reading your review some weeks ago made me confident that the XE4 is the right thing for me - thanks!

japauko wrote:

What are your thoughts on the viewfinder? Are you using the X-E4 with glasses by any chance? I read somewhere that it might be hard for people with glasses to see the full viewfinder image. I am thinking about buying the X-E4 because of the form factor (similar to the X100 series - which I love) the ability to change lenses and the price point.

Thanks!

I have no issues with my vision and found the EVF to be very small, that's why I sold my xe3 time ago. xe4 shares same evf
The camera is lovely, but I needed to get my eye inside the camera to see something.

I am wearing glasses and have no issues with the viewfinder. But I guess that this is a personal thing - of possible, try it at your local dealer.

Yours
Markus

HVphotography wrote:

I got X-E4 when it first came out, right time I need small camera for travel and it is my first Fuji. I like Fuji color and its compactness for traveling. It just that the menu system is not what I expect as I still use Canon. Anyway, I like X-E4 a lot.

Just for curiosity... which lenses do you use?

Yours
Markus

What is the brand/model of that square hood you have on XF14/2.8?

X-E4 is a fine camera. If only that EVF was larger.

Dr_J wrote:

What is the brand/model of that square hood you have on XF14/2.8?

It is this one: https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07RK2WSSL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yours
Markus