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This article is mostly intended for photographers trying to decide if they should upgrade their Fujifilm X-E3 to an X-E4, though it will also be valuable for photographers trying to decide on the X-E3 vs X-E4.
There are a lot of X-E3 vs X-E4 comparison articles out there, most of which discuss how the cameras are different on a specifications level. Which is important, don’t get me wrong.
But what practical impacts will that have on you as a photographer? Especially if you love your X-E3 and are deciding if you should upgrade to an X-E4?
There’s actually a lot to consider.
The Obvious Differences
Initially looking at the X-E3 and X-E4 side by side, it’s obvious that the body is a bit different. The X-E4 is actually smaller than the X-E3, both a blessing and a curse, especially for those with large hands.
This is awesome if, like me, the X-E3 was your backup or secondary body. The slimmed-down X-E4 will hide in your bag a bit better. It’s a touch smaller (almost 25% slimmer) because there are fewer protrusions (no thumb or handgrip).
Even though it’s slimmer, the LCD touchscreen now tilts up a full 180° – great for waist-level photos, shooting above your head, and even checking yourself during movie recording.
You can also probably guess that the tech is better. The X-E4 features the latest 26.1MP backside-illuminated sensor and X-Processor 4 computer. That’ll give it some extra capability we’ll get to in a minute.
If you love Fujifilm cameras for their in-camera JPEG styling capabilities, the X-E4 will give you all the latest options in the X-series line. All of the film simulations like Eterna Bleach Bypass and Classic Neg, Color Chrome Effect and Color Chrome FX Blue, and the Clarity setting. This alone may be reason enough for you to ditch the X-E3 in favor of the X-E4.
But wait…there are some important subtleties to consider first.
The Subtle Differences
This is where the X-E3 vs X-E4 comparison articles skim over, but can have some serious implications for your technique.
Look closer at the body. There are way fewer physical controls!
This does make it sleeker, but also means that more must be done in menus versus dial or button activations – one of the reasons we love our Fujis.
Here’s a list of what’s different in the X-E4 from the X-E3:
- No Focus Mode switch on the front. The Focus Mode must be changed in the AF/MF SETTING menu. You can program a custom function control to FOCUS MODE or put this in a custom menu for faster access if this is something you use a lot.
- No Rear Command Dial. This was for enabling the focus zoom and also refining shutter speed. But it is no more. You can still enable focus zoom by programming the FOCUS LEVER SETTING – PUSH to ZOOM. And now all exposure refinements will be crammed into the Front Command Dial, which can be pushed to cycle through three different settings you can set.
- Combined AE-L and AF-L. Like the X100V, these two buttons have now been merged into one. If you used both of these on the X-E3, you’re going to have to change up your technique in the X-E4.
- Missing View Mode button. If you constantly found yourself going back and forth between EVF ONLY or EYE SENSOR depending on your needs…this is now in a menu.
Other control differences include:
- No AUTO mode lever on the X-E4.
- Added a “P” setting on the shutter speed dial for quickly getting to Program AE mode.
- The Q button has been moved to the top plate.
- The Playback button has been moved to above the LCD.
These aren’t necessarily complaints. All I’m saying is that, if you’ve had that X-E3 muscle-memory and technique for years, going to an X-E4 is going to take some re-learning.
Custom Setting Hell
I loved my Custom Settings to create different “Film Recipes” to stylize my photos based on the subject matter & mood I was photographing. Whereas the custom settings in other cameras let you save things like focus & shooting settings, the custom settings in the X-E3 and other Fujifilm cameras were all about the image styling.
Fujifilm has now included all the shooting settings, focus settings, and more into the new Custom Setting structure in the X-E4, and that’s been a huge pain point for me. Another blessing and a curse. More on that in this video.
“Under the Hood”
Ok, so we got all the “usability” stuff out of the way, considering the X-E3 vs X-E4. What about the techie specs?
Shooting & Exposure
With the newer sensor and processor, you now can now go to a lower native ISO (160 vs 200). The expanded ISO can also go lower (80 vs 100).
If you do a lot of burst photography, like for sports or wildlife, the X-E4 will give you a faster Continuous High burst mode. The speed nearly doubles, from 14 frames per second to 20. Just note that this uses the Electronic Shutter; the Mechanical Shutter still tops out at 8fps. You can get an even faster burst mode, up to 30fps, by enabling a 1.25x cropped image.
There are some additional features found in other newer Fujifilm cameras, like Pre-Shot ES and Sports Finder Mode, which are both useful for sports, action, street, and wildlife photographers.
A feature I’ve come to love that started in the X-T3 but is missing in the X-E3 is Auto White Balance Lock. This is now in the X-E4. Set your White Balance to Auto (there are three Auto flavors in the X-E4 for different moods), assign the AWB-LOCK ONLY function to the top Fn button, and press it when the auto white balance “looks right”. That white balance will now be set for more consistent colors from one JPG to the next in a series of photos.
Using the LCD in a “normal” shooting environment, expect to get close to 100 more photos out of a single battery charge in the X-E4 (460 vs 350).
Autofocus
The X-E4 now has super-duper fast autofocus, the same found in the X-T4. It’s spec’d down to .002 seconds for an AF lock, and that’s pretty darn fast. There are also improvements in the way Face & Eye detection works and continuous autofocus tracking.
On top of the improved autofocus algorithms, the X-E4 also features more focus points on the sensor (425 vs 325). Phase-detection points now cover the entire sensor instead of the middle only, enabling better autofocus tracking of moving objects.
Autofocus capability in low light is also significantly improved, down to -7EV like in the X-T4.
Movies
While both could record 4K at 30fps, the X-E4 has a bitrate up to 200Mbps (vs 100Mbps in the X-E3). The X-E4 now has a High-Speed Recording option for super-slo-mo movie recording.
Other movie features in the X-E4 include 10-bit output when connected to an HDMI monitor, F-Log recording for better control in post-processing, and a separate set of Movie menus when DRIVE is set to Movie.
Which Camera is for You?
So you have an X-E3 and are on the fence about upgrading to an X-E4. Or you’re new to these cameras altogether and are trying to figure out which one to get.
Only you can really answer this, but here’s my two cents.
When this camera was first announced I said, I must have this and get on a preorder list! To be able to replace my X-E3 with a camera that had the same innards as my X-T4 would be amazing.
Then I held the camera and looked at the redesign of the controls, and said, no, I don’t think this will work for me.
But then when I started going into the menus and seeing all the ways I could customize the camera, I said, yeah, this actually might work for me!
Then I took it out in the wild. Even after a week of trying to get used to the new controls, I had to go back to no, this just won’t work for me.
I don’t want to have to re-teach my brain how to use a camera that, for me, is supposed to be something I can seamlessly put down and pick up between using another camera body.
But that’s just me. My opinion – Fujifilm sacrificed a proven UI for slick looks.
Decision points
That’s not to discourage anyone from using this camera. I really want to love it.
If you’re only using an X-E3 then yes, I’d absolutely say you should consider the X-E4. Just know that you’re going to have to re-learn how to use it.
And if you’re new to Fujifilm cameras altogether, yes, I think you’d love it since you’re learning Fujifilm X cameras from scratch on this one.
But if it’s a compliment to your collection of other Fujifilm X cameras, I just want you to consider that it might trip you up. Most other Fujifilm X and GFX cameras are similar enough in the way they’re controlled, but the X-E4 seems to cross that threshold.
At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is, did you get the shot? And if you missed it because you reached for a rear command dial that wasn’t there, then tried to remember what the substitute is, that’d be a shame.
If you do decide to go with the X-E4, I have an X-E4 tutorial course available to take you through the camera features.
What do you think about the new camera?
masa tamashi
Saturday 29th of January 2022
As a general "hobbyist", I have at one time or another owned the x100, x70, x-t1, x-t2, x-e3 and now the x-e4. I took a lot of pictures with the x70, x100 and the x-t1 in that order. I hardly used the x-t2 or the x-e3 (both sold). Locally I found a package of the { x-e4 + 27mm WR kit + thumbrest and grip } at a really great price so jumped on it. With great luck, I was also able to re-sell the x-e3 + 27mm non-WR lens at a net zero cost for the x-e4 upgrade (i think covid supply/demand issues and inflation made this possible ... and a very accommodating seller).
In my month of x-e4 use, I find it a good fit for me. I had been planning to actually get the x-t3, but the x-e4 configuration really works and meets my needs for light weight, flip up screen, lens interchangeability and mostly, the missing features don't really bother me as I didn't use them that much before. I suspect this will genuinely take the place of the x70 which was my most used camera.
All this reading about on why so many people think the x-e4 is undesirable because it was dumbed down gave me a headache. ;-)
John Peltier
Sunday 30th of January 2022
Thank you for articulating the reasons why the X-E4 is a good fit for you. That's important for others to see. Just as I have done in this article, please acknowledge that this camera will work for some photographers (you) and not for others (me). I'm sorry the reading gave you a headache. The X-E4 gave me a headache. I'm genuinely thrilled it works for you and so many others. I wish I did for me. Fuji just took it too far for my working needs.
J'son
Thursday 16th of December 2021
I get the sense that a lot of shooters have never shot a camera that TRULY gets out of their way so they can focus on creating. Most of what I've seen said about the XE4 is like getting ANY new camera --> the "new camera blues". I also think that "you get used to it", and then it's your new normal. Then shortly after that you wonder how you ever survived your entire life w/out having an XE4. :) I take my GRii out a lot for the simple reason that it's less "in my way" than my A7iii and A6500. My prediction is... history will rate the XE4 much higher than it's being rated today. (someone screenshot that so they can call me out later). LOL
I think another issue is people "thinking" the that XE4 is the "new XE3" and that's totally gonna lead to disappointment. But I think Fuji's is the blame for this because of the naming convention used. :) When the XE3 came out the XE2 people were losing their minds. All I heard was "touch screen isn't needed --- WHERE IS MY D-PAD?"and "they moved the buttons from the left side of the screen... I don't want to re-learn". I find this hilarious since Fuji shooters "say" that want something more like shooting a Leica - Fuji listens and get's skewered for it.
Here is what I learned when I got my first Ricoh GRii. It frustrated me... I parked the camera for over 6 months. One day... I gave it another look and shot it the way the engineers designed it to be shot (vs complaining that I can't shoot it the way "I" wanted to shoot. What did I learn? That the engineers at Ricoh was on to something that I had NO CLUE about. The XE4 is AMAZING (borrowed it for 2 weeks) when you don't pretend that's it's an "XE3 ii". Happy shooting!!!!
IG: freshouttafocus
John Peltier
Friday 17th of December 2021
I absolutely love the philosophy of "less is more," but one must recognize that it can go too far. The camera redesigns, specifically between the X-E2/3 and X100F/V did take some getting used to, though I still wish the 100V still had the D-pad. After almost two years I still fumble with that touchscreen after reassigning my D-pad functions to it. The X-E4 takes what was a bare minimum functional camera in the X-E3 and further minimized it, making it unusable for so many. I'm thrilled that other photographers are falling in love with its minimal design, and that it's the right tool for them now. But it just doesn't work for some of us and never will no matter how much time we give it.
Leon
Monday 6th of December 2021
Love your site, (which I just found today and already spent hours readimg) but I particularly appreciate this article. I LOVE the x-E line and hate that most won't even consider them part if the X-series lineup.
The X-E4 would have been my dream camera if they kept the old layout. I despite the new layout and almost ended up going back to the 3 because the layout was that bad.
At first I was convinced Fuji didn't dropped the layout from xe3 when upgrading because it would have cannibalized sales of their other bodies, specifically the x-100v. I don't for a second think it was done to make the camera more consumer friendly for entry-level because they have so many consumer models already and it just wouldn't make any sense. They would have made a bigger deal about explaining that they simplified the design if it had been an intentional move.
I think it is actually just something they didn't put any thought into at all. It looks nice and clean and there were less moving parts that tend to break and add to manufacturing costs. They probably just didn't put enough thought into how important three extra buttons are to photographers who spent 5+ years using their camera in an extremely particular way.
Fuji has done bizarre things like this several times though, like when they dropped the flash from the X-E2. That was an amazingly powerful little fill flash that worked better than any on camera flash I've ever seen. That built-in flash gave me countless images that wouldn't have been possible otherwise (It also worked great to trigger strobes if I wanted to take a few shots in the studio on my fuji).
It's weird that camera manufacturers all do weird things that everyone uniformly wishes they didnt. Sony does shit like this all the time too. You would think that they would research what their consumers want a little more.
John Peltier
Tuesday 7th of December 2021
Yeah for sure, I would ditch my X-E3 in a heartbeat and get the X-E4 if it kept the same physical design. The 4 is such a departure that I'm surprised they kept this design in the X-E line. Imagine if the X-T5 had a design like the X-S10 but they still called it an X-T5!
corot2
Friday 4th of June 2021
I had the xe4 twice John. The first time focus peaking was not working accurately. Since I have extensive experience with Fuji x cameras I returned it. The second time I ordered it pulled out the LCD and the image flipped upside down if not in the right position. I did the firmware update no help. I shoot a lot of street totally unacceptable so I returned it. The feel was fine for me but for now I will use my xt20 in conjunction with my x100v. I ordered the xe4 when first announced but terribly disappointed in the camera. My xt 20 has a cracked LCD so probably will pickup the xt 30
John Peltier
Friday 4th of June 2021
Yeah I've heard about those problems from others. Quite disappointing. I really wanted to keep this camera to get more consistent images between my primary (X-T4) and secondary (X-E4) but will have to stick with my X-E3 for now.
Albert Smith
Friday 23rd of April 2021
"I don’t want to have to re-teach my brain how to use a camera that, for me, is supposed to be something I can seamlessly put down and pick up between using another camera body."
Exactly! I was so happy that Fujifilm kept the X-E class alive, but upon seeing the specs and physicality of the E4, all it did for me was to make me baby my X-E3 so that it can last as long as possible. My E3 supplements my X-T2 and T3 and X-PRO2, and I can grab any of them and in a second get on with shooting without regard to which camera is in my hand.
Thanks for doing this article.
John Peltier
Friday 23rd of April 2021
And don't even get me started on the new way it does the custom settings. The more time I spent with that the more I wanted to chuck it in the lake, but it wasn't mine, so I had to restrain myself.