FUJIFILM X-E4 // MORE THAN JUST A STREET PHOTOGRAPHY CAMERA

[@CollectiveMindz]

I just picked one of these up and I am loving it so far. It was an adjustment thinking about what buttons and swipe functions I would need to map but overall I am very happy where I ended up. Front button is SS and a press in now ISO. Don't need aperture on this dial as it is on all my lenses. ISO solved. AEL/AFL became my Q button. Added focus mode to Q menu. So focus mode is solved. Q button became display toggle. I don't really like to use the display unless I am viewing pictures of going to the menu. Solved. Fn button became switch custom settings. Solved. Swimp functions for Photometry, AF Mode (af point selecting), face/eye detect on/off, and shutter type toggle. Solved. The lugs are a big bummer for leather straps but no problem putting my peak design quick straps on and work great for these little guys. Perfect little travel camera and only wish it was weather sealed.

[@notfriso2448]

Hey collectivemindz! Nice review. I have a question, you said you just picked up the xe4. I’m trying to get this camera for months but they’re sold everywhere. Could you tell me where you bought it? I would really appreciate it!

[@davidfirth1]

As an old-ish timer who grew up with many a film rig that was shaped like a slab, the XE4's shape doesn't bother me much. Nor the button situation, as I have mapped my important things and use the Q (quick) menu for others. I appreciate your opinion and your approach to the XE4. I've had mine for a year, and it has been a great camera where I didn't want to haul around my larger, heavier, and so much more noticed XT4. My small XE4 'go bag' has the 18-55mm, 27mm pancake, and either the Samyang AF 12mm or the Fuji 16mm f2.8 in it. Makes for a balanced setup for my uses. I use a Smallrig cage when doing video, to have mount points for my mic and, occasionally, a LED light. I came to the XE4 from a XE3 and a X100F, and sold the X100F to get it. Not sorry :)

[@chriswayne5000]

Informative! Thanks! I ordered a X-E4 today.

[@luxdalet]

Fantastic review! Very thorough, and I fully agree with the idea of testing and actually carrying out the X-E4 with the 70-300mm! Compact and great performance. Awesome photos and scenes as always!

[@Goughie]

It’s such a good little combo, does require you to lean into the ISO a little as the shutter speed remains quite high without IBIS, but the joys of having the best current Fuji sensor help out! Thank you for watching!!

[@willb.8375]

I really like the presets you used for your photos in this video.

[@derdiegus]

Great review and images! I‘ve been getting used to the X-E4 for the last months coupled with the 23 mm f2 and thought I would just sell the 27 mm but its size makes it really practical to carry around. The only thing I’m missing is a little bit more of low light capabilities (I usually shoot Nikon FF). I wonder if a faster lens would really make a noticeable difference on the long term.

[@The_TechTuber]

Hey, Can you do a comparison between the XE4 and the XT-30 ii?

[@R8135003]

I am looking forward to pairing the X-E4 with a Viltrox 75mm f1.2 for street photography. I know i know. not what you would normally expect but I the like compression of mid range lenses.

[@alfabethev2.074]

Quality content as always 👍🏻 . From my perspective, the only thing i miss on my x-e3(vs. the x-e4) is the tilting screen ! Cheers!

[@mjherb]

Great video, did you shoot a recipe, loved tones in the images?

[@Goughie]

Edited in post in lightroom for this video, recipe wise though my current favourites are Fuji weekly’s Ultramax and Tri-X

[@beastii7414]

some gorgeous photos, especially the robin photos. looking at purchasing this camera to replace my x100s. I wanna shoot way more street photography but also use it for it's video. love the small size bc I can use it p much anytime. latest sensor in an x100v with changeable lenses but no scroll wheel, or focus switch but I save £300? yes please. really looking forward to the modern film simulations! + looking forward to having the new sensor + shooting 4k - yes it's 8bit but 10bit with external monitor. anyway, you get my point man. nice review and some good photos, I can't wait to get my hands on one.

[@Goughie]

Only thing I can think of is overheating, I didn’t play with it enough to properly mention it in the review, but the camera switched off after a couple mins of 4k video on a hot day, might not be a problem but might be worth checking other reviews for

[@serdelosreyes]

I bought a XE4 a few moths ago. Lately, I have been trying to add some Film Simulation Recipes, but I have noticed the my camera settings are not allowing me to do many things. For example, the Clarity or Dynamic Range are kind of off, they don't work. There are there, but I can't click on them and change them. I am not sure if I am igniting something very important. Also I can't find Shadow. Any help?

[@RYANPARKPHOTOGRAPHY]

X-E series camera a really nice except weather sealing for me! thanks for sharing your first impression!

[@Goughie]

Same for me! It’s the weather sealing that holds me back

[@sidharthdas80]

Nice video, thanks. Can you share more about the presets you used?

[@Goughie]

I think it’s likely that I used Roman Fox presets based on the timing of this video, and classic chrome as my base recipe

[@ciudadanosdelcosmos]

Hi,,good video, i choosing buy a camera for street and some portraits,,, i am between fuji xpro3 or 2,,, xe4 or panasonic gx9? wich you consider to have the best image quality and material buits? Thanks!

[@JPgreekgaming]

The X-E4 paired with the 18-55 F2.8-4 and the 70-300 is my dream kit for travel and general photography and my goal for this year. This kit weighs about as much as my Pentax K1 body only (almost) not counting lenses and ofc its much smaller as well.

[@richiehodges84]

Nice video thanks, I have an XT4 and an XE3 and the XE3 is my go to camera, tempted by the XE4 but sure would miss the rear dial. Focus switch not such an issue.

[@georgedemetriou1496]

Hey Goughie, I've got an XE2. I know the XE4 has a bigger sensor and faster processor but the XE2 would appear to have better ergonomics and more function buttons and a focus selector switch. In your opinion is the trade off worth it for the XE4?

[@Softlol]

Was wondering how it would handle telephoto lenses. Thanks for the informative video!

[@Goughie]

Surprisingly well, the downside is without IBIS, in anything but sunny conditions you find yourself having to lean into your ISO a fair bit!

[@Softlol]

@@Goughie the E4 is my first personally owned camera (haven't received it yet). I know its ideal for street photography, but I live in a relative small town so people will definitely notice me, so I wanted to get some telephoto lenses for wildlife/scenery shots. The IBIS is a big downside, but I see myself mostly taking pictures at daytime anyways. I would like to try using a speed booster to canon/sony telephoto lenses. As far as I understand you should be able to capture more light with a speed booster, so it should be bettar at night time. I would also like to get into macro photography, but pretty much the same applies there as night photographs.

[@Grant_Ferstat]

I wish Fuji still made these.

[@Goughie]

agreed! I wonder if we will ever see an XE5!

[@veryjr2966]

Thx for this. Even though this wasn’t your focus - I‘d still be interested in how the 23mm on the XE4 performed vs the X100 V - any thoughts on this ?

[@Goughie]

Optically I find the 23mm f2 and the 23mm on the X100v very very similar. I think the biggest difference I can think of is close focusing X100V is 10cm where the 23mm f2 is 22cm. If memory serves me right I think the 23mm f2 lens is a little soft up close wide open too where the X100v is very good at this. Then less to do with lens and more to do with the camera itself, it feels like XE4 paired with the 23mm is a little snappier with autofocus than the X100v. I very much doubt that from a final image perspective I would ever be able to tell an X100v and X-E4 + 23mm f2 image apart. Optically basically the same, the big differences between the two set up is pretty much down to the camera not the lens (eg. ND filter, leaf shutter, weather sealing etc). Hope that helps!

[@tomjsmith000]

I just sold my X-E4 for an X-T2. The size and weight difference between them is negligible (especially with a grip and thumb rest) and now I have much better EVF, grip, controls and £300 change.

[@Goughie]

I loved my old XT2! Such a good camera for the price! It’s really stood the test of time

[@hellni79]

how do you feel about the image quality difference stepping back to the older sensor?

[@tomjsmith000]

@@hellni79 It’s negligible. 20MP is more than I’ll ever need as I only print up to 18x12 or so.

[@nointernetdinosoursgame2351]

i found the back display to be very saturated? I know this doesn't affect the image at all but is this same for you?

[@Haerleif]

What film simulaton did you use here, some look processed too?

[@Goughie]

This video is 2 years old, quick glance at the images they all looked edited

[@charlienanagara]

Beautiful pictures. What film simulation settings did you use?

[@Goughie]

I think it was a classic chrome base! With a bit of desaturation, and curves applied in post, it’s a long time ago now though

[@mavishenator123]

I liked your review. Would you recommend shooting short films with this camera?

[@Goughie]

I think I said in this near the start that I never tried the video capabilities, in theory the specs are okay, but lacking IBIS will make any handheld footage very shaky, being small it would be worth checking in other reviews if it overheats, imagine there’s much better cameras out their for video

[@davidfirth1]

I've had a XE4 for a year, and I've used it for video more than stills. On a tripod or other stabilization mount, it performs nearly as well, in my experience, as my XT4, and better in some ways than my XE3 (some of the exposure settings in the menus are nicer to use IMO). The XE4 is small enough to be on a hybrid size gimbal, such as the Crane M3 (or M2s, M2, etc. though the XE4 is not supported for control from the gimbal handle). I've used it for live streaming by handing off clean HDMI to an Atem Mini Pro. I shoot mainly HD 1080p so can't say much about 4K other than it does it and has some of the same heat issues as all other mirrorless rigs of similar size. Smallrig makes a cage for it, and this gives more mounting points and handle options. I consider weather sealing a nice-to-have (and the XE4 doesn't) and controls that I need are either mapped to the buttons or on the Q (quick) menu, so I've not terribly missed the focus mode dial.

[@steffen_r]

Liked & subscribed. I just purchased the XE4 with the 27 2,8 and the 70-300. Looks like this was a good decision. Not sure, if i should change the 27 to a 23 2.0. Thanks for the review.

[@Goughie]

Personally found the 40mm FF equivalent of the 27mm a bit odd, and the form factor is great for being compact but no so much from a usability point of view. Personally I’d have the 23mm f2! But it’s all down to preferences! From memory not sure the autofocus was all that quick on the 27mm either! But I could be wrong! And I only used it for a couple days

[@thomaschipman]

the minimalism in the physical controls and lack of IBIS and weather sealing really disappointed me. the XE-3 was near perfect and i was very much looking forward to the XE-4. as a fan of rangefinder style cameras, i've been waiting for fuji to release an XE body with IBIS, an articulating display, and weather sealing but it looks like that day will never come; it seems they've decided to position the XE series closer to their entry-level offerings.

[@Goughie]

Being one of their newest cameras I hope this isn’t the start of a reduction of physical controls for future cameras! As it’s one of the biggest appeals of Fuji cameras

[@Goughie]

@Jack Burton agree with the IBIS comment, it annoys me that people expect IBIS, the same people will complain it’s too expensive and too big of it had it

[@abp1400]

I have X-E4 with 18-135 and 70-300. LOLL!

[@Goughie]

Love it! 💪🏻

[@hanzkilian1806]

If you are so disappointed and find so many faults, WHY then did you rent it. There is just enough buttons. ( for any experienced photographers)

[@Goughie]

Ahhh I just need more experience! This was definitely a positive review of the camera, I enjoyed using it! And I stand by wishing they hadn’t reduced down the controls so much

[@geedee3817]

@@Goughie love your response :-)