Lately, I've seen a shift in the photography community. Gone are the days when people shot with the same ol' giant full-frame DSLR. By all means, they were great cameras for what we needed. Sometimes, we want to bring a camera with us on a typical day and not feel burdened; sometimes, we'd rather have a compact and practical camera for documenting our everyday lives.
Enter the Fujifilm lineup of X series cameras, a dominant group of compact, analog-designed digital cameras at affordable prices. They are great for an everyday photographer, and the Fujifilm X-E4 is no exception.
A lot of people's favorite Fujifilm camera is the X100V or X100VI. It's a niche, fixed lens camera with a 35mm film rangefinder silhouette, making it an excellent camera to photograph. Still, unfortunately, it's a camera that's very hard to attain nowadays. It's back-ordered on almost every major retailer around. Thus, people turn their heads to the X-E4 and wonder if it's a worthy alternative. Could it even be the better option? As someone who owns an X-E4 and an X100V, I know they are similar yet distinctively different cameras. Lately, though, I've been grabbing my X-E4 more often.
Check out my YouTube video on how I use my X-E4 for street photography.
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The Fujifilm X-E4 is the fourth iteration and successor to the Fujifilm X-E3, which came out five years ago. The X-E4 boasts the latest fourth-generation X-Processor and 26.1 megapixels with edge-to-edge phase detection autofocus. On the surface, it looks like a photography-focused camera, but it also features a lot of video specs that make it capable of filmmaking.
Compact body: The X-E4 is incredibly tight. Paired with a pancake lens, this camera competes with the X100V size and can easily slip in and out of any jacket pocket.
Interchangeable lenses: Unlike the X100VI, the X-E4 offers the versatility of Fujifilm's wide range of lenses. Their compact f/2 lens lineup works perfectly with this camera, and the ability to use different focal lengths is why I picked my X-E4 up more than my X100V.
Analog design: Staying true to the Fujifilm design philosophy, the X-E4 has elements that remind you of using a film camera. This camera is super fun to shoot with a manual shutter speed dial and a left-justified EVF mimicking a rangefinder.
Brand: Fujifilm
Camera Type: Mirrorless Camera
Best For: Everyday photography, street photography, portraits & landscape. This camera can do it all, but most importantly, it's an excellent choice for anyone who wants a compact, interchangeable lens camera with that signature Fujifilm essence.
The Fujifilm X-E4 is a simple camera. Nothing particularly "game-changing" or vastly unique sets it apart from its other Fujifilm counterparts, but that doesn't mean this camera can't hold up on its own. The simplicity makes it a user-friendly camera you cannot bring anywhere. I can easily recommend this camera to anyone looking to pick up their first Fujifilm camera or even an experienced pro who wants something reliable and compact to bring wherever they go.
The X-E4's body is one of the minor camera bodies Fujifilm sells. The body itself is smaller than the X100VI in dimensions. Weighing only 364g, the X-E4 hardly dents a backpack's overall weight, making it a great camera to bring while traveling. Pair the X-E4 with Fujifilm's 27mm lens; you can easily slide this into a large jacket pocket.
In my regular use case shooting street photography with the X-E4, I typically use the 35mm f/2 lens and carry an additional lens in my bag. Since the X-E4 body and Fujifilm's lenses are so compact, I often find plenty more room to spare in my messenger bag.
However, I always feel more inclined to keep things simple and carry less gear whenever I shoot with this camera. The less equipment I bring, the fewer distractions there are, putting more of my attention on the moments in front of me and just taking photos.
As previously mentioned, I own both the original X100V and the X-E4. Still, I always find myself picking up the X-E4 more often for one simple reason — the ability to use different focal lengths.
Yes, before you say it, I know that the X100V and X100VI were designed to be a single 35mm focal length; that is the whole point of the camera. But limiting yourself to one focal length is not for everyone, and even if you might be okay with that right now, it might not be what you want later on. That was the case for me. I owned the X100V before the X-E4, and it was great shooting at the 35mm focal length, but then a global pandemic happened. Street photography changed because fewer people were on the streets, and you couldn't (or didn't) want to get close to anyone. The 35mm focal length wasn't cutting it for me, as I felt too far from all of my subjects. The X-E4 offers a similar experience to shooting on the X100V but with the option to use any focal length.
Contrary, this isn't to say that the X100V is a lousy camera in comparison; it's just not going to be for everyone. If you're pondering between the two, I think it comes down to the interchangeable lens question. Do you want to use other focal lengths? Choose the X-E4. Do you want to simplify your process and only shoot at 35mm intentionally? Then the X100V might be for you.
I still think the X-E4 is a better option, even if you wanted to shoot 35mm most of the time. I say that because you can still create the intentional challenge of using only one focal length with this camera without sacrificing your creativity in the future. Secondly, you can make the same compactness of the X100V by equipping Fujifilm's 27mm (40mm Equiv.) pancake lens on the X-E4.
The X-E4 opens the door for much more versatility, which is the best way to describe this camera. It's a camera that can do much and fit many types of photographers' needs. Do you shoot portraits? Its fast face/eye detection AF and non-intimidating appearance are outstanding. Do you shoot landscapes? It's incredibly lightweight to carry on hikes or while traveling. Do you shoot street photography? The color rendition, portability, and overall aesthetic are perfect for any street photographer.
Fujifilm released their most anticipated camera of the year, X100VI, the successor to their discontinued best-seller. But what are the key differences & specs?
Read moreThe X-E4 looks and feels like a photography camera. It has the analog aesthetic of a classic rangefinder, but surprisingly, this camera has a variety of capable video specs.
That's a lot for a photography-focused camera; it could be just what you need for your filmmaking needs. However, I would not view this camera as a "video camera." It's photography first, video second, and it's clear as day by the camera's design that's what it's intended. If anything, I think Fujifilm just threw these video specs into the camera because they could.
There is no internal stabilization, actual design, or features on the outside of the camera meant for video making. A tilt screen pulls up 180 degrees, so it's facing the camera, but I think many filmmakers would agree that a flip-out screen would be much better. Since the excellent video specs are there, I've found the X-E4 as a great backup video camera in a pinch, but I wouldn't consider this a "hybrid." Look for the Fujifilm X-T4 or the X-H2S for any filmmaking wants.
There are, of course, no perfect cameras in our world, and the X-E4 wouldn't be without some of its flaws, but even these "flaws" could be viewed more as nit-picks than anything else.
Let's start with the exposure compensation dial. Manual dials on Fujifilm cameras are part of the thoughtful design, and it's great to see on the X-E4, but the compensation dial lacks some needed firmness. I've found it too loose and too easy to turn when handling the camera accidentally. It would be fine if it weren't for the dial's location, which is right on the edge of the camera next to where you handle it. Far too often have I unknowingly had my exposure compensation to under or overexpose my image. I wish it were a sturdier dial that required more pressure to adjust; that way, a slight rub against it with my hand wouldn't turn it so quickly. The X100-series camera dials are noticeably stiffer, which I like.
One aspect of the X-E4 that could be a deal-breaker for many people is that the body is not weather-sealed. However, I've shot a few times in the rain with this camera, and it seemed to do just fine, but it's probably not worth the risk for many people. This could be a potential deal-breaker if you like shooting in the rain.
Lastly, I would have liked to see one or two more custom-function buttons on the camera. The X-E4 initially removed the d-pad on the X-E3, which lost several function buttons. Fujifilm seems to push for custom touchscreen functions, but I've found it too clunky in practice and more prone to accidental use.
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Looks can be deceiving, and the X-E4 is a lot more potent of a camera than it looks. The X-E4 uses Fujifilm's latest X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, which boasts 26.1 megapixels. That's more than enough for the everyday photographer and plenty enough if you want to create prints of your work. Fujifilm's color science is on full display in the photos produced by the X-E4, and you have 18 different film simulations at your disposal.
The Fujifilm X-E4 has the latest X-Trans 4 Processor, making autofocus and auto-exposure extremely fast and accurate. 425 autofocus points that go edge to edge of your frame make this camera excellent for capturing fast-moving subjects, a perfect match for street photography or photographing your kid (or dog).
While this camera has manual controls for shutter speed and aperture (if using a lens with an aperture ring), I've found that the X-E4 performs exceptionally well when shooting in P-Mode, which hypothetically is fully automatic mode. Maybe that's sacrilegious in photography, but the camera judges and processes exposure accurately. Shooting with the X-E4 is as simple as flipping it to p-mode, using your favorite film simulation, and having the freedom to put all your attention to composition.
