Fuji Film XE-2 or XE-3 or XE-4 in 2024

[pandagamon]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

 

[GreatOceanSoftware]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

Sorry to hear about the leg. Hope it goes well.

Any of those in the series will suit your needs. Since you’re just starting, maybe spend the least, but buy from a reputable source. If you get hooked on Fujifilm, then you can branch out from there.

--
Randy

 

[britcam]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

I still have my X-E2 that I bought in 2014 - it’s done fantastic service & I produces wonderful files. Much in urban & street photography.
There will always be a good market for this little camera and you could easily move up to the X-E3 as your budget permits.



These days I might try & go for an X-E3. Very much more up to date. Prices are higher but nowhere near as high as the X-E4.


Regards
Rich S

 

[BluesJake]

I was asking myself the same question and bought the X-E3 after watching this video. I like the compactness, features and performance of the X-E3. Excellent camera

 

[Jeff Biscuits]

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4?

The X-E2 is still an excellent camera, and it has some benefits that the E3 and E4 don’t have:

1. It has the best viewfinder of the X-E series. It is larger than the one in the E3 and E4, as well as having a longer eye point (making for easier viewing, especially with glasses) and has a much better refresh rate and less lag than the one in the E1.
2. It has an integrated flash, which can be held with a finger to fire upwards and bounce off a ceiling. (Though the minor disadvantage is that if you carry the camera on a shoulder/neck strap you can end up popping the flash up while walking along thanks to the position of the release button.)
3. If you prefer a D-pad to the later joystick, it has one. Some people prefer the pad, some the the stick. But it does mean that the E2 has more configurable buttons than any other E model.

I’d also say it’s the most comfortable E model in the hand (along with the E1 which is basically the same physical design).

You get some improvements in the later models of course: better AF, a higher-resolution sensor, more film sims, and so on. But there’s pretty much nothing an E2 can’t do, and there’s no fundamental reason not to buy one in 2024.

Having owned all four E models I would say that the E1 is showing its age (for me the main issues are the laggy viewfinder, lack of coloured focus peaking, and only two customisable buttons) and the E4 is divisive (thanks to its ergonomics and its custom settings behaviour—both are love-it-or-hate-it features) but the E2 and E3 are universally likeable cameras.

 

[Josef889]

I was asking myself the same question and bought the X-E3 after watching this video. I like the compactness, features and performance of the X-E3. Excellent camera

This is interesting.. has the x-e4 menu system been used on any subsequent fujifilm cameras? Or is it a one-off?

 

[JulietteM]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

I adore my X-E2! It's not the fastest car in the garage for sure but hopefully you'll be focusing more on learning techniques and not relying too much on the camera to do all the work.

I have been shooting street photography for 20+ years and started with 35mm film. I took lots of classes and hung out with other street photographers and eventually, spent my first big chunk of money on a DSLR.

There is something magical about the images that the X-E2 produces, so much so that I thought of buying another one, but haven't yet. I think you'll also do well in resale for either the 2 or 3!

Good luck!

 

[britcam]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

I adore my X-E2! It's not the fastest car in the garage for sure but hopefully you'll be focusing more on learning techniques and not relying too much on the camera to do all the work.

I have been shooting street photography for 20+ years and started with 35mm film. I took lots of classes and hung out with other street photographers and eventually, spent my first big chunk of money on a DSLR.

There is something magical about the images that the X-E2 produces, so much so that I thought of buying another one, but haven't yet. I think you'll malso do well in resale for either the 2 or 3!

Good luck!

I added a Fuji L grip to mine plus a thumb grip so I had a better hold of it in the street, especially as one hand was often holding my dog lead ! Makes it a touch bulkier but it still handles well.
It’s never missed a beat in the 10 years I’ve had it and still looks like new …

 

[HenryChiu]

If not already, please also consider the X-A series with bayer sensorĺ. Compared to the models you mentioned except X-A4, the X-A series feature a tilt screen which you might like when you need to position the camera over your head or at waist-level for best viewing angle. However the X-A series lacks a viewfinder makes it a bit difficult to use under bright sky. They are relatively small & light compared to X-E2. If you really prefer x-trans sensor, also consider the X-M1.

 

[damnnnn]

Bought a used X100s last year which has the same sensor as the X-E2.
I wouldn't recommend the X-E2 unless you plan to take RAW photos with manual focus with it

Mainly because of the reasons below:
1) If you plan to take JPEGs only, the X-E2 is not for you.
Lack of film simulations (It only has Provia, Astia, Velvia, Pro Neg Std & Hi)

The Provia & Astia color profile looks somewhat different than the newer sensors. (In a bad way, I prefer the color from the newer sensors)

2) Autofocus is bad, I mean really really bad. The only way to get decent autofocus is by using single-point AF mode, half press the shutter to focus and recompose.

3) EVF and LCD screens are very low res in today's standard.

Skip the X-E2 and go for an X-E3 or X-T2.

 

[Jeff Biscuits]

Bought a used X100s last year which has the same sensor as the X-E2.
I wouldn't recommend the X-E2 unless you plan to take RAW photos with manual focus with it

Mainly because of the reasons below:
1) If you plan to take JPEGs only, the X-E2 is not for you.
Lack of film simulations (It only has Provia, Astia, Velvia, Pro Neg Std & Hi)
The Provia & Astia color profile looks somewhat different than the newer sensors. (In a bad way, I prefer the color from the newer sensors)

Seems subjective. I’m not a huge fan of X-Trans II either, personally (though it is much better at long exposures than X-Trans III), but there are plenty of people who love it more than other generations, and you can still get a good variety of perfectly good recipes from those sims. So I wouldn’t say it’s “not for” someone else just because you don’t like it.

2) Autofocus is bad, I mean really really bad. The only way to get decent autofocus is by using single-point AF mode, half press the shutter to focus and recompose.

But you have an X100S, not an X-E2. The lens on the X100 series has always held it back: the equivalent ILC bodies focus noticeably quicker with almost all XF/XC lenses.

Try the 9-box “zone AF” mode. That tends to be noticeably the quickest (at the slight cost of letting the camera decide which of the 9 areas to use… if you need more control then it’s worth playing with the size of the single-point box to find the fastest one). The AF isn’t “really really bad”, it’s just not quite as rapid as later bodies. It’s perfectly usable for most things. And it’s better than the X100S.

3) EVF and LCD screens are very low res in today's standard.
Skip the X-E2 and go for an X-E3 or X-T2.

Well, no. They all have the same resolution viewfinder. And they all have the same LCD resolution.

The X-E3 has a viewfinder with less magnification and a shorter eye point than the X-E2, so actually the E2 beats the E3 there (but is beaten by the T2 which has more magnification).

 

[Bob Smart]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

These were taken with my old X-E1 with a Ttartisan 27mm last year in Paris….I really don’t think that you can go wrong with the X-E range….just depends on what one fits your budget….I’m sure you’ll enjoy whatever one you pick

Cheers,

Bob.

 

[RobW54]

Hi everyone, I am a newbie in photography. Usually, I only use a digital camera (pocket) as I love street photography or candid (not in studio, wedding, etc)

I plan to try using a mirrorless camera, and I am interested in FujiFilm, and especially in XE series. By my current budget as a college student, maybe I can only afford XE2 for now. But is XE2 still worthed in 2024?

Or should I wait and save more money to buy the XE3 or XE4? thank you for any advice

Oh yeah, I should also mention that I am disabled with a broken leg, so I also need the lighter camera and have better stability too. THANK YOU!

These were taken with my old X-E1 with a Ttartisan 27mm last year in Paris….I really don’t think that you can go wrong with the X-E range….just depends on what one fits your budget….I’m sure you’ll enjoy whatever one you pick

Cheers,

Bob.

Whàt a great images ! Chapeau

--
••• Rob
IG : @photo.4us

 

[Erik Baumgartner]

I’d pick the X-E3 of that bunch, but would much prefer the more capable/versatile (and likely similarly priced) X-T20 over all of them. Tilt screen, highlight warning blinkies, d-pad/more customizable buttons, etc.

 

[photo_ion]

Great images! Can you share your black and white conversion technique, looks perfect!

 

[DarnGoodPhotos]

I would get an X-E3 as it has a fast enough AF to not feel old. It also has a couple of film sims not in the X-E2.

 

[Bob Smart]

Great images! Can you share your black and white conversion technique, looks perfect!

Thanks, I always used Jorge Perez's "dark knight" recipe when I had my X-E1, with minor tweaks in lightroom .

Cheers, Bob.

 

[RobW54]

Thanks !

Favourite 1st Gen X-Trans Simulation Recipes (X-Pro1, X-E1)

Free simulation recipes & samples.

bit.ly

 

[pandagamon]

Thank you everyone maybe I will stick on budget as in xe 2 or xa series

 

[ASeventhSea]

There’s a lot to like about the XE2, as others have pointed out in some ways it’s better equipped than the later cameras given that it has a built in flash and a slightly nicer EVF.

The one downside I’ll mention (since nobody else has) is the waxy skin issue at high ISOs in jpeg. This is a jpeg only issue so not a problem if you shoot RAW, but at ISOs of 1600 and above the second gen Fuji cameras are infamous for applying a very aggressive method of noise reduction specifically to skin tones, that leaves faces looking “waxy”, heavily smoothed over and just plain weird. Some people don’t mind it of course, but if you’re not one of those people it’s a problem because there’s no way to avoid other than either finding a way of shooting at a lower ISO or switching to RAW. Altering the noise reduction settings in camera has no effect on this particular skin tone “enhancement”.

Thankfully the problem went away entirely on the third generation cameras and above, but IME the XE2 is probably worst of the bunch for it.