Fujifilm X-E3 4K camera with 24 MP sensor

The Fujifilm X-E3 is a 24-megapixel APS-C mid-range camera designed as the younger sister of the smartphone-type SLR-like X-T20. In terms of their internals and features – the two cameras are very similar, but the X-E3 uses more of a touch panel for controls and is more like a rangefinder camera from the 70s.

Slightly smaller than previous X-E models by removing the four position controller and built-in flash, which makes the body lighter and more compact. An uncomplicated strap-on flash is included, but without the ability to tilt or swivel to compensate for the decision to make it a separate component itself. Let’s take a closer look at this model in the Fujifilm X-E3 review.

Features

– 24-megapixel APS-C sensor with X-Trans color filter.

– Improved AF tracking.

– Wi-Fi with Bluetooth for constant connection to your smartphone.

– Shutter speed and exposure wheels.

– Clickable clickable interactive control wheels.

– Joystick AF.

– 4K UHD video 30, 25, 24 and 23.97p.

– USB charging.

More advanced is the finger-swipe touchscreen, replacing the four-position controller, with double-tapping to zoom in on playback and the ability to use the screen as an AF touchpad. Also, the Fujifilm X-E3 becomes Fujifilm’s first Bluetooth model to establish a full connection between the camera and a smartphone.

This allows for instant transfer of images when shooting or faster Wi-Fi reconnection if you just need to transfer selected shots . The company claims to have improved the AF tracking algorithm for smaller and faster objects. Fujifilm says this improved algorithm will also be in the X-T2, X-T20, X100F and X-Pro2 firmware updates in November and December 2017.

Body and ergonomics

The body of the Fujifilm X-E3 is very predictable: a sturdy chunk of fairly dense plastic with a metal top plate. It’s slightly smaller than the X-E1, 2 and 2S, but most of the space freed up by removing the four-way controller has been given to the 3-inch touchscreen on the back of the camera.

The camera fits comfortably in your hand, with a small protrusion on the front and a large stop on the back. It’s not the hold grip for hours of shooting like most modern DSLRs, but a comfortable and stable way to hold the camera while you shoot.

Autofocus joystick

The Fujifilm X-E3 features the AF joystick we first saw on the X-Pro2. This greatly improved the ergonomics of both X100F and X-T2. This is important because the number of selectable focus zones is continuously increasing. When 91 zones 7 x 13 grid are selected, the LCD touchpad will do the job without any problems, but if you select the finer 325-point mode 13 x 25 , the joystick provides a better balance of accuracy and speed.

Fujifilm X-E3 and X-E2S differences

The main differences between the X-E2S and X-E3 are the lack of a four-position controller, the lack of a built-in flash, and the addition of a focus joystick. The changes haven’t affected the weight, with the Fujifilm X-E3 losing only 13g to its predecessor. The Fujifilm X-E3 has lost about 8mm of width 1/4″ , and that’s the only significant difference. Characteristics specified by the manufacturer give unwarranted weight to the distinction of a slightly more prominent front and rear grip, which make no real difference in changing first impressions of camera size.

Auto ISO

The Fujifilm X-E3 has the same Auto ISO implementation as recent Fujifilm cameras. Three sections are available for settings, each containing a minimum and maximum ISO setting used along with a shutter speed threshold that can be used to increase sensitivity. There’s also now an “Auto” option that links the shutter speed threshold to the current focal length. Auto ISO is also available in movie mode, but without control over settings.

Battery

The Fujifilm X-E3 continues to use the NP-W126S battery, from which it can squeeze 350 shots per charge, according to the CIPA testing standard. These numbers don’t necessarily tell you exactly how many shots you can get from the camera you can get significantly more , but they’re usually comparable.

Controls and shooting

Even the quick menu is now touch-sensitive, creating a list of available options for each group. But while the intensive use of the touch screen is the most obvious difference between the X-E3 and X-T20, the operation of the Fujifilm X-E3 is still quite traditional.

While the range of functions controlled by the touch screen has increased, so has the push-button control of basic camera exposure settings. And thanks to the advent of the AF joystick, AF points can be selected more quickly than with the X-T20, even without using the touch panel.

Touch Screen Operation

The touchscreen does most of the things you’d expect in a modern camera. For instance, you can touch the screen to set the AF point position, lock it and focus capture, or you can set the point, focus and click the shutter to take the picture a small “button” in the upper right corner of the LCD screen toggles these options .

You can also use the touch screen as a panel to move the AF point when using the viewfinder. There is a menu option that controls whether the left, right or entire screen area is active. Unfortunately, even if only the left side of the screen is activated, any contact with the right side will stop the panel, so the problem of nose-to-screen contact for left-handed people who look into the viewfinder with their left eye is not solved.

The touchscreen also acts as a four-position controller on previous X-E cameras: swiping left, right, up, or down triggers one of four different functions. These functions can be set up just as if they were physical buttons, so in fact there are just as many control buttons as existing cameras, but in a slightly smaller body and with a larger screen.

Control dial

As with previous X-E cameras, there are dedicated shutter speed and exposure dials. Plus most X-series lenses have an aperture ring. The Fujifilm X-E3 also has two interactive command sets that can play certain roles, viz:

Available functions

Front Disk (Press to toggle	Shutter speed	Adjustment within ± 2/3EV at a given shutter speed
		Full control when the shutter dial is set to “T”
		Disable via menu
	ISO	Can be accessed via the menu
	Exposure	Compensation within ± 5EV when the exposure dial is set to “C
Rear dial
	F-number	Controls the F-number of XC lenses no aperture ring
	User function	Push function can be adjusted default is Zoom

This gives you more control over camera functions. It’s a little disappointing that the Auto ISO values are above the highest ISO value, not below the lowest. This won’t seem trivial to anyone, given that the list doesn’t work in circles, and you have to turn the dial by at least 21 clicks to switch between ISO 200 and Auto mode.

All Area focus mode

What is typical of Fujifilm, among the big changes in functionality is a number of small tweaks and additions. One of them is Fujifilm X-E3’s “AF ALL” autofocus mode. This combines the three existing modes: Single Point, Zone and Wide/Tracking into one option.

When you push the joystick inward slightly to resize the AF area, it is no longer constrained by the size. If you increase the zone size beyond the 3×3 limit, the camera will go into Zone mode, continue to increase the zone and then activate Wide/Tracking mode. Even though it’s a small change, you don’t have to go to the Q-menu now, which can only be a bonus.

4K video

The Fujifilm X-E3 can shoot UHD 4K video at frame rates of up to 30p, with 25, 24, and 23 options also available.97p. Video is captured from full-size frames, just like on the X-T20, so you can expect an excellent level of detail. While shooting video, you can choose continuous autofocus mode with focus push or manual focus with maximum focus.

2 can be used as a microphone input.The camera’s 5mm remote control connector. Live View Highlight Alert mode can be used as a simplified form of Zebra-type alert to help eliminate overexposure.

First Impressions

A little hands-on interaction with the Fujifilm X-E3 and the initial skepticism can be forgotten. Fans of the X-E series can feel confident: Fujifilm hasn’t stolen their camera and turned it into a smartphone imitation. The camera still offers traditional disc-based control of exposure settings, and the autofocus joystick does offer better physical control over one of the essential photographic functions.

In fact, the four-position controller is rarely used for anything other than AF point selection, so having to scroll through the back screen to access one of the functions doesn’t slow down shooting at all.

In fact, the only controversial aspect of the touchscreen is the constant presence of a virtual button that cycles between three touch-determined settings … Set AF Area, Set AF Area and Aim, and Set, Aim and Shoot . Since you usually only use one of these options, and you can specify it in the main menu, it’s strange that you have to keep an eye on this button to make sure you don’t accidentally change the focus and shooting modes.

Also, since the Fujifilm X-E3 is supposed to replace the X-E2S, it has taken most of the features of the X-T20 which itself used many of the best features of the X-T2 , offering them now in a package with a better control system.

The X-E3 price

Sales are expected to start by the end of September. The camera will be priced at about 60 thousand. rub. With the XF-23mm F2 lens, the pleasure of the purchase already costs 77k. rub. XF18 -55mm F2.The 8-4 will add another 25k. to the price of the body.

X-E3 review

At the conclusion of Fujifilm’s X-E3 review, it’s clear that this isn’t exactly a cheap startup for beginners, not without its rough edges for enthusiasts. As usual for Fujifilm – a solid mid-range camera. Another switch to smartphone-like control. Well, times change..