X-E4 vs X-Pro3? If money is not the main factor. Street photography.

I am borrowing a friend's old X-E2 and her older, smaller 18/2 and liked the experience.  Nearly weightless compared to my current bodies and lenses.

It has me thinking of getting an X-E4 and either the 18/2 or the newer 18/1.4.

Another option is the X-Pro3 for use with one of those 2 lenses.

If money were not a factor, what could be some key differences between the X-E4 and the X-Pro3?

The intent is to use it for candid street photography.  The smaller size of the X-E4 is attractive for stealth.

The X-Pro3 has the option of using the OVF in its hybrid finder but I don't think that's important for me.  I shoot with an EVF normally.   Having said that, the X-E4's smaller EVF is slightly worrisome (can I assume that it's the same EVF that's in the X-E2?  Could it be like that of the X-T10, which is even smaller than that of the X-E2?)

The X-Pro3 is pretty and handles very well, but it's larger and heavier than I'd like for street.  It pairs well with larger lenses though.

I'm not sure how I feel about the X-E4 missing the MCS switch on the front.  Is it a pain to change modes?  The rotary switch on most Fuji bodies is great.  I'm not sure why that was sacrificed in the X-E4.

WR is not important.  If it's raining, I'm probably not out shooting in it.

canonbcguy wrote:

If money were not a factor, what could be some key differences between the X-E4 and the X-Pro3?

The X-E4 lacks weather sealing, the hybrid viewfinder, and a few controls including the MCS switch compared with the X-Pro3. It also doesn't have the film simulation LCD

The intent is to use it for candid street photography. The smaller size of the X-E4 is attractive for stealth.

The X-Pro3 has the option of using the OVF in its hybrid finder but I don't think that's important for me. I shoot with an EVF normally. Having said that, the X-E4's smaller EVF is slightly worrisome (can I assume that it's the same EVF that's in the X-E2? Could it be like that of the X-T10, which is even smaller than that of the X-E2?)

All three cameras (X-E2, X-E4, and X-T10) have the same viewfinder.

The X-Pro3 is pretty and handles very well, but it's larger and heavier than I'd like for street. It pairs well with larger lenses though.

I'm not sure how I feel about the X-E4 missing the MCS switch on the front. Is it a pain to change modes? The rotary switch on most Fuji bodies is great. I'm not sure why that was sacrificed in the X-E4.

It's not a pain to switch if you setup the Q menu correctly, but I will say it's the only control that I actually miss. The other control dials I don't miss at all.

Really though, if you opt for the 18/1.4 I'd grab the X-Pro3 and look to pair it with the 56/1.2 since they're the same size and share the same filter but if you opt for the 18/2 I'd get the X-E4 packaged with the 27/2.8 which you can keep either lens in your pocket while you're using the other one.

Gringostarr wrote:

All three cameras (X-E2, X-E4, and X-T10) have the same viewfinder.

Fairly sure that’s not the case once you take into account magnification and eye point: the E2 comes up a bit larger with a longer eye point. But even as a glasses-wearer I find them all fine, even if the E1/2 are a little better (and the T1-4 better still).

Personally I’d take the X-Pro3 over the X-E4 any da6 of the week, for absolutely every reason I can think of, but if your bag is candid street photography whilst being stealth, I would look at the X100V: it’s pretty much ideal for that task, with its near-silent leaf shutter and compact size.

You can put the focus mode menu item in MyMenu. I think MyMenu is extremely handy. This comes up when you hit the Menu button, but only if you have an item or two (or eight) in it.

X-E4 electronic shutter is completely silent if you turn down the synthetic "shutter sound" volume to zero. I like the little "tick" noise, and I set volume to 2. I can hear it but it is very quiet. You can turn it off (silent mode) but then flash does not work. To make it silent without affecting other stuff, set the shutter sound volume to zero.

Electronic shutter will suffer rolling shutter distortion but it is unnoticeable almost all the time in my experience.

X-E4 attempts to do the waist-level LCD like the X-Pro3, but there is a glitch. If you flip out the X-E4 LCD to do waist-level shooting, and you get the camera within 8 inches of your waist, the LCD image will invert. If you move the camera more than 10 inches from your waist, it will be OK. These distances vary from camera to camera and some are much more sensitive than others. As yet, there is no fix for this.

I bought the package with the 27mm WR lens. It was $200 more than the basic body. If you want, you can easily sell the 27mm F2.8 WR lens for $300 or so. In other words, the package is a super good deal.

If you are shooting all day, I recommend you buy a spare Fuji battery for it.

Fuji electronic lenses seem to me to be problematic for quick use. I prefer manual primes. You can set focus and aperture and the camera cannot do anything about it. This eliminates autofocus and aperture set delays when you need to catch action.

Whatever choices you make, best of luck to you!

I'm really don't think there would be much difference in "stealth" between the XE4 or the XPro3 with a 18/1.4  mounted.  It is not a dainty lens on an XPro3 compared to the smaller 2.0 primes.

The x100 has been my main camera since 2012. I've owned every version. I love the size and form factor. I'm mainly a street photographer and one can do a whole lot at 35mm on the street.

When I first got my xpro3 I was kind of appalled by the size and within a few days determined I was going to sell it. I decided to give it one go out on the street and almost immediately fell madly, head over heels in love.

It's a really beautiful and robust camera, and ticks every single box for a versatile street machine. The size over the x100 quickly became a non-factor. And as good as an all rounder FL 35mm is, I've really enjoyed the 35mm 1.4 (50mm eq) and 16mm 1.4 (24mm) as a fantastic one-two punch for low-light street photography. This combo has really increased my range and artistry from just using the x100v.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83702654@N07/

canonbcguy wrote:

I am borrowing a friend's old X-E2 and her older, smaller 18/2 and liked the experience. Nearly weightless compared to my current bodies and lenses.

It has me thinking of getting an X-E4 and either the 18/2 or the newer 18/1.4.

Another option is the X-Pro3 for use with one of those 2 lenses.

If money were not a factor, what could be some key differences between the X-E4 and the X-Pro3?

The intent is to use it for candid street photography. The smaller size of the X-E4 is attractive for stealth.

Funny! Do you really think that a small difference in camera size will make you invisible?

The X-Pro3 has the option of using the OVF in its hybrid finder but I don't think that's important for me. I shoot with an EVF normally. Having said that, the X-E4's smaller EVF is slightly worrisome (can I assume that it's the same EVF that's in the X-E2? Could it be like that of the X-T10, which is even smaller than that of the X-E2?)

The X-Pro3 is pretty and handles very well, but it's larger and heavier than I'd like for street. It pairs well with larger lenses though.

The X-E4 is a fine camera too but it depends on you hands. Larger hands like me and a X-Pro body is much more comfortable.

I'm not sure how I feel about the X-E4 missing the MCS switch on the front. Is it a pain to change modes? The rotary switch on most Fuji bodies is great. I'm not sure why that was sacrificed in the X-E4.

WR is not important. If it's raining, I'm probably not out shooting in it.

I am using the X-E4 for street because I like the small form factor and light weight. Sure the viewfinder on the X-Pro3 is better but I mostly use the back display for discreet shots. And the back display mechanism of the X-E4 is much better and more flexible than on the X-Pro3.

I do miss the AF rotary switch as well (using manual and AF lenses) but how often do you switch between AF-S,AF-C and MF for your usecase? As I do not use back button focus and set the AEL/AFL button to change focus modes.

canonbcguy wrote:

Another option is the X-Pro3 for use with one of those 2 lenses.

You've got gear drift. You've tried something nice and small and liked it because it was small, and now you are thinking perhaps something not as small might be good. Before you know it you'll have a ton of Fuji gear and need a small draught animal to carry it. You are even thinking of a bigger lens (18/1,4). The 18/2 is excellent. The 27/2.8 is well worthy of consideration, especially in the E4 kit.

Of course you get a while to think as you can't buy anything at all at the moment.

Stealth is about how you behave, not about the gear.

Q. Does Max mechanical shutter speed matter to you ?

I would always choose the X-Pro3 *but* I really value the hybrid optical finder and things like weather resistance, ruggedness, faster shutter and two card slots. I dig the screen too.

In your case it sounds like the first thing you noticed and valued about the XE2 was it’s small size and weight, and while the XP3 isn’t huge there’s no mistaking the fact that it’s slightly bigger and heavier than an XE body. So given that you’re not bothered by WR or the optical finder, it seems like the XE4 is the more logical choice. I’m sure there are reasonable workarounds for the control differences, those are the sort of things that might bother you for a day or so but you then just adapt to.

Of course the other option is to just pick up an XE2, since that’s the camera you liked in the first place. They still take nice pictures, and it’d be a cheap entry into the system while you figure out what else you want.

Gringostarr wrote:

canonbcguy wrote:

If money were not a factor, what could be some key differences between the X-E4 and the X-Pro3?

The X-E4 lacks weather sealing, the hybrid viewfinder, and a few controls including the MCS switch compared with the X-Pro3. It also doesn't have the film simulation LCD

Thanks.  What is "film simulation LCD"?

I'm not sure how I feel about the X-E4 missing the MCS switch on the front. Is it a pain to change modes? The rotary switch on most Fuji bodies is great. I'm not sure why that was sacrificed in the X-E4.

It's not a pain to switch if you setup the Q menu correctly, but I will say it's the only control that I actually miss. The other control dials I don't miss at all.

Really though, if you opt for the 18/1.4 I'd grab the X-Pro3 and look to pair it with the 56/1.2 since they're the same size and share the same filter but if you opt for the 18/2 I'd get the X-E4 packaged with the 27/2.8 which you can keep either lens in your pocket while you're using the other one.

Thanks.  It might be a combo of an X-E4 with 18/2 and an X-Pro3 with the 56 mounted and the 27 in a pocket.

My friend's 18/2 is doing well and the extra 1 stop of light to the 18/1.4 might be too much of a luxury.

Jeff Biscuits wrote:

Personally I’d take the X-Pro3 over the X-E4 any da6 of the week, for absolutely every reason I can think of, but if your bag is candid street photography whilst being stealth, I would look at the X100V: it’s pretty much ideal for that task, with its near-silent leaf shutter and compact size.

I sometimes find the 23 not quite wide enough.  That's why I was testing out the 18/2.  It's mostly wide enough.

The X100V is great though.  It's a great choice if there's going to be only 1 body.

Tom Schum wrote:

You can put the focus mode menu item in MyMenu. I think MyMenu is extremely handy. This comes up when you hit the Menu button, but only if you have an item or two (or eight) in it.

Thanks.

X-E4 attempts to do the waist-level LCD like the X-Pro3, but there is a glitch. If you flip out the X-E4 LCD to do waist-level shooting, and you get the camera within 8 inches of your waist, the LCD image will invert. If you move the camera more than 10 inches from your waist, it will be OK. These distances vary from camera to camera and some are much more sensitive than others. As yet, there is no fix for this.

What a weird bug!  Does anyone know what causes this?

Fuji electronic lenses seem to me to be problematic for quick use. I prefer manual primes. You can set focus and aperture and the camera cannot do anything about it. This eliminates autofocus and aperture set delays when you need to catch action.

Yes, the 18/2 did seem a bit indecisive sometimes.  I believe the 18/1.4 is faster at AF.  But it's considerably more expensive, larger, and heavier.

The trouble with manual focus lenses is that I can't think of an 18mm or 16mm in manual focus.  (I haven't looked too hard though.)  And the 18/2 should be more compact than any other non-XF-mount 18 or 16 when you factor in an adapter.  Compactness is a big bonus for me on the street.

athensGA wrote:

The x100 has been my main camera since 2012. I've owned every version. I love the size and form factor. I'm mainly a street photographer and one can do a whole lot at 35mm on the street.

When I first got my xpro3 I was kind of appalled by the size and within a few days determined I was going to sell it. I decided to give it one go out on the street and almost immediately fell madly, head over heels in love.

It's a really beautiful and robust camera, and ticks every single box for a versatile street machine. The size over the x100 quickly became a non-factor. And as good as an all rounder FL 35mm is, I've really enjoyed the 35mm 1.4 (50mm eq) and 16mm 1.4 (24mm) as a fantastic one-two punch for low-light street photography. This combo has really increased my range and artistry from just using the x100v.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83702654@N07/

Agree on everything.  Though if one had only 1 camera to carry around it'd be an X100-series.

You have a great Flickr gallery.

Joachim Gerstl wrote:

The intent is to use it for candid street photography. The smaller size of the X-E4 is attractive for stealth.

Funny! Do you really think that a small difference in camera size will make you invisible?

It's not that a small difference will make me invisible.  I long gave up on that dream.

But a smaller camera with a small lens is less noticeable.

And importantly, less intimidating.  Kind of like how--amazingly to me--people can walk around taking quick snaps of others with a cellphone and the subject either doesn't notice or care; yet when I point a real camera at them, suddenly alarm bells in their heads go off.

An X-E4 with an 18/2 or 27 could look like an old point and shoot, which again is less intimidating.

I'm not exactly shy.  I've pointed a 50-140 mounted on an X-H1 with a battery grip at people.  They notice immediately.  And for candid street, that changes everything.

a_c_skinner wrote:

canonbcguy wrote:

Another option is the X-Pro3 for use with one of those 2 lenses.

You've got gear drift. You've tried something nice and small and liked it because it was small, and now you are thinking perhaps something not as small might be good.

Correct! 

Before you know it you'll have a ton of Fuji gear and need a small draught animal to carry it.

Too late!    My collection of Fuji gear has indeed grown over the years.  It's such a great system!

canonbcguy wrote:

I sometimes find the 23 not quite wide enough. That's why I was testing out the 18/2. It's mostly wide enough.

The X100V is great though. It's a great choice if there's going to be only 1 body.

Well, there is an even further leftfield option on the used market, namely an X70 plus and X-E2/3—which together would come in at a similar price to an X-E4 body. Obviously the X70 lacks a viewfinder but with its small size, tilting screen and leaf shutter it’s about as stealth as you get outside of a Ricoh GR, and it gives you the 18mm focal length in a form that’s not significantly larger than the equivalent X-mount lens. Then you also have an X-E option for a different focal length and a different way of working, and you can have both focal lengths ready to shoot at once.