Fujifilm X-E4 (body only, $89.95) is the latest version of its beloved rangefinder-style mirrorless camera. The viewfinder is placed in the corner. It has a sleek body with a minimal handgrip that matches prime lenses. It has tactile dial-based controls, in-camera film simulations and a touch-based control system. You'll also enjoy 4K video and excellent autofocus. Although the X-E4 may not be as popular as other digital cameras, such as the Editors Choice-winning Fujifilm X-T30 and X-T30, this camera might still suit you if you prefer to live off the beaten track.
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Rangefinder Style with EVF
Because of the position of the viewfinder, we call X-E4 a rangefinder-style model camera. You'll find it in the upper left corner of the Leica M rangefinder. This is in contrast with the SLR-style viewfinder that places the viewfinder behind a lens.
It's a style Fujifilm owners are used to seeing. The fixed-lens X100V, the latest in a long-running series of compacts, and the high-end swappable-lens X-Pro3, put the viewfinder in the same place. Those models offer (basically) the same image quality, but cost more due to weather protection and hybrid viewfinders that swap between optical and electronic views.
The X-E4 has a full-time electronic seefinder, but it doesn't provide any splash or dust protection in order to match its low-end price. The X-E4 is also very compact at just 2.9x4.8x1.3inches (HWD), and 12.8oz without the lens. You can get it in black or silver (which we were able to review).
You can buy the camera as a body only and pick your own lens, or get it in a kit with the freshly updated XF 27mm F2.8 R WR for $1,049.95—a $200 discount compared with buying them separately. The 27mm is Fujifilm's smallest prime lens—the kit slips easily into a jacket pocket.
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Handling and controls
It pairs nicely with the 27mm. Fujifilm offers small lenses with different focal lengths in 16mm-18mm, 23mm and 35mm. An add-on grip (Opens in new window) can be purchased for $90 if you want to have more control over your camera. Although I was unable to test it out, it does have some nice touches such as access to the battery compartment, and dovetails for Arca quick-release tripod heads.
Most XF lenses include an aperture ring, so you can set the f-stop via the lens itself. The X-E4 includes a front command dial, useful for XC series lenses that omit on-barrel control. Shutter speed is handled by a dedicated dial on the top and a second dial sets EV compensation. If you prefer to take less control over settings, the shutter dial has a P setting to put the camera into Program mode, one where you don't have to worry about setting the f-stop or shutter speed.
The dials are not the only thing that bring the camera back in the past. It's not just the dials that make it work, but also the aluminum top plate and textured suede. The threaded shutter release is what really makes it stick. If you wish, you can attach a soft-release button or a threaded cable to the release.
Other controls are more digital. The top includes two function buttons, one of which is mapped to the on-screen Q menu interface by default. The rear is minimal—Drive/Delete, Play, and AEL/AFL buttons are in a row at the top, next to the viewfinder. Menu/OK and Display/Back buttons are on the rear, to the right of the tilting LCD, and an eight-way joystick rounds things out.
You can interface with your camera using physical controls. You can also use the Q menu on-screen to adjust other features. You can navigate it via touch but also the front joystick or rear wheel. You can customize the Q menu, which is extremely useful. The default functions include focus modes, ISO and the screen brightness. There are also image processing options.
The display also supports swipe gesture control. It's not a feature I reach to, but you may appreciate it. You can map up, down, left, or right swipes to set different functions. LCD quality is excellent too. The 3-inch screen is sharp and shows accurate colors, is very responsive to touch, and is mounted on a hinge. It tilts up or down to more easily hold the camera at high or low angles, and flips up above the camera to face forward for selfies.
With 2.4 million dots and a good 0.62x magnification, the OLED EVF eye-level electronic viewer is sharp. The OLED EVF is larger than that found in entry-level SLRs such as the Canon Rebel T8i and it's comparable to other mirrorless cameras within this price range like the Fujifilm X-T30 and Canon EOS M50 Mark II.
Connection and power
Although the X-E4 does not have an onboard flash it has a hotshoe that can be used to connect an external one. The X-E4 also has a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting an external microphone and an output micro HDMI to use with external recorders. The USB-C port does double duty—you can connect a set of headphones to monitor audio with the included 3.5mm dongle, and it's a charging port, so you can top off the battery without having to carry an external charger (not included).
The NP-W126S battery and UHS-I SDXC card load in the bottom. The battery is rated for 460 photos per charge or about 45 minutes of 4K recording time. It's a bit better than what you get from competitors like the Sony a6400 (410 photos), but lags behind the 600-shot battery that powers the larger Fujifilm X-T4.
You can connect wirelessly. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are used to connect the X-E4 to Android, iOS and tablet devices. To set it up, you will need the Fujifilm Cam Remote App, which is a free app. After you have it up and running, you will be able to transfer images to your smartphone's camera roll or use the phone as a wireless remote controller.
Rapid, reliable autofocus
Fujifilm's current-generation cameras use the same hybrid phase contrast focus system as its XE4 and XT4. The focus is done on-sensor. It is intelligent enough to recognize faces, eyes, and track moving subjects.
You can let the X-E4 take the reins and set a focus point on its own—face and eye detection work well for photos of people. You can also set a focus point manually—there are numerous areas of interest available, from a small pinpoint to a wide zone. It's quick to change, too—just nudge the rear joystick and turn the front dial to cycle through the options.
The lens choice can also impact autofocus response. This is especially important considering that the XF27mm F2.8, one of Fujifilm’s slow-focusing lenses, is not in focus. The lens' optics are more responsive than lenses with quieter, smaller focus elements, such as the XF23mm F2. Although it's not an obvious difference, you will notice some stuttering or noise with the XF27mm.
The camera supports 8fps with its mechanical shutter. Its buffer is good enough to hold about 15 Raw or 100 JPG shots, with about 15 seconds required to clear a full burst to memory. The burst rate goes higher with the electronic shutter—20fps at full resolution or 30fps at 16MP.
Sublime Imaging
Fujifilm's X-E4 uses a 26MP sensor, the same as its other models. (A few entry-level models use an older 24-MP imager. The BSI CMOS design of the camera and Fujifilm's XTrans color filter array provide a rich color and grain selections. They also read quickly enough to allow silent electronic shutter photography.
Photographers working in the JPG format can choose from several color profiles, many named after analog film emulsions. The standard look is Provia, and you also get vivid (Velvia), soft (Astia), muted (Classic Chrome), black-and-white (Acros), and some others. Fujifilm bills its Eterna and Eterna Bleach Bypass simulations as good fits for video, and I leaned heavily on the 1980s throwback Classic Negative during my time with the camera.
Raw capture is a great option for both hobbyists and professionals who are looking to buy an XE4. You'll need to process images to finish them—either using desktop software like Adobe Lightroom or Phase One Capture One, or in-camera. Lightroom allows you to use many of the same simulations as in-camera. You can also adjust white balance and open shadows.
Image quality is as good as you'll get from an APS-C camera. There's plenty of resolution—the only similar model with more pixels is the 32.5MP Canon M6 Mark II—and you'll enjoy photos with sharp, clear lines from the low extended ISO 80 setting up through 3200. Photos are a little softer at ISO 6400 and 12800, but it's not until you push to the extended range, up to ISO 51200, where results are really blurry. Automatic ISO control doesn't range higher than 12800.
There's some room to fine-tune things—if you're working with JPGs, you can increase or reduce noise reduction, open up dynamic range for a modest HDR effect, and adjust sharpening, among other settings.
4K Video
Even though the X-E4's video capabilities are somewhat hidden, it is a powerful video camera. The X-E4 does not have a Record button, nor a movie mode dial. Instead you will need to go into the Drive selection menu and locate the movie mode at the bottom. Flexible controls come in handy if you're a frequent video user—you can map the unmarked top function button to Record if you'd like.
4K is available at the cinematic 24fps and standard 30fps video frame rates in either UHD (16:9) or DCI (17:9) aspect ratios. You can also set the resolution to 1080p and push frames to 60fps with sound. In-camera slow-motion is available at 120 or 240fps. Autofocus works during all video modes, including slow motion.
Any of the available film simulation modes can be used for video. A flat F-Log profile is also available to video professionals who wish to color grade their video using professional editing software. The camera can only record 4:2;0 8-bit footage internally, but it outputs 10-bit 4:2 to2 footage better than HDMI.
Video is clear, but the X-E4 doesn't include a stabilized sensor, so you'll see some shakiness when working handheld, especially with an unstabilized lens like the XF 27mm. If video is your thing, the X-S10 has the exact same toolkit, but with a 5-axis IBIS system for smoother handheld shots. The X-T4 goes even further—it records 4K60 at 10-bit quality internally.
A Mirrorless X for Rangefinder Fanatics at a Reasonable Price
Fujifilm X has been a trusted rangefinder camera system since the beginning. With swappable lenses, the compact X100 was the first to bring retro into the mainstream. The X-Pro1 came shortly afterwards with the X-Pro1. These models are still available today and use Fujifilm’s optical-electronic hybrid visionfinder. These digitals are the closest to the optical rangefinder experience without having to spend thousands of dollars on a Leica.
The X-E4 drops the optical portion of the viewfinder, cutting down the cost of entry to $1,050 with the XF 27mm lens, but it doesn't detract too much from the experience. Everything else about the camera feels like a vintage rangefinder, including the corner EVF, shutter speed dial, and flat front grip.
Older X-E models are also eligible for upgrades. This series' first tilting display, along with the 26MP image sensor (a first in the series) and in-camera charger support, are significant updates to the 16MP XE1 and XE2.
If you're a fan of the style, the X-E4 will serve you well. It's not the best all-arounder, though. Our Editors' Choice-winning Fujifilm X-T30 has a centered viewfinder and a molded handgrip, so it's a better fit for zoom lenses. If you're not in the Fujifilm system, the Sony a6400 is another one to consider—it puts its viewfinder in the corner like the X-E4, but uses more common mode-dial controls and has a nice grip to better balance with zoom lenses.
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