Why I bought the Fujifilm X-E4.
Premise!
I started my photographic journey with the tiny but mighty Ricoh GR III. I loved everything about it. Pocket-sized, whisper-quiet, effortlessly discreet. It felt like carrying a secret rather than a camera.
And yet… the 28mm began to feel like a room with walls slowly closing in.
When 28mm Stops Being Enough
The more I shot, the more I drifted toward tighter focal lengths.
Not by strategy, but by instinct.
First through a vintage Italian camera with a 35mm lens, then with a 55mm on an old film body. Those focal lengths didn’t just change what I saw, they changed how I saw.
First time shooting with a film camera (Ferrania Lince 3 and its 35mm focal lenght).
Sicily, 2025. Photo taken with the 55mm focal lenght paired with a Ricoh KR-5.
The problem?
Film wasn’t sustainable. Every shot had a cost, and when you’re still figuring yourself out, that cost stacks up fast.
So I made a decision that felt like a leap at the time, but in hindsight was inevitable.
I bought the Fujifilm X-E4.
A Camera That Gets Out of Your Way
Coming from the GR III, I needed something compact, discreet, but with interchangeable lenses.
The X-E4 hit that sweet spot perfectly.
Minimal dials. Clean design. No unnecessary noise.
Attach a lens, tweak a couple of personal settings, and you’re ready to shoot. It’s that kind of camera. No friction, no ceremony. Just you and the scene.
I paired it with the Fujifilm FUJINON XF35mmF2 R WR, giving me that beloved 50mm equivalent.
And that was it.
Game over.
The lens I use the most. You can purchase it here → AMAZON
Falling for 50mm… and Then 75mm
The 50mm equivalent quickly became my visual language.
But then curiosity knocked again.
So I went tighter.
And that’s when the 75mm entered the chat.
My 75mm equivalent focal lenght. You can purchase it here → AMAZON
It didn’t just change my compositions, it changed my “tempo”.
I started slowing down, observing more, anticipating instead of reacting.
That focal length became one of my favorites almost instantly, to the point where I eventually dedicated an entire blog to it.
Tested Everywhere
With my setup ready, I took it on the road.
Spain, Portugal, Poland, Sicily, Sardinia… and eventually a full month in Asia.
The X-E4 never flinched.
Cold mornings, humid afternoons, chaotic streets, silent alleys. It just worked. No freezes, no weird behavior.
The One Big Limitation
Here’s the honest part.
Not a flaw, but a mismatch.
As my needs evolved, I started caring more about video. Not just documenting, but creating something more cinematic.
And that’s where the X-E4 hits its ceiling.
No IBIS.
For photography? Completely irrelevant for me. Never once felt limited.
For video? Different story.
That’s what eventually led me to the Fujifilm X-T4… but that’s a whole other chapter.
Accessories
I’ve made a dedicated blog to highlight the accessories I use for this camera and its lenses. You can read it here.
Ergonomics
Let’s talk comfort.
The X-E4 is flat. Beautifully flat. But also… flat.
During long sessions, you might feel it in your fingers. I did.
Solution?
Thumb grip
Hand grip
Small additions, big difference. You lose a bit of that ultra-compact feel, but gain actual usability. Worth it every single time.
Here’s the hand grip I use. You can purchase it here → AMAZON
Batteries and Reality Checks
I’ll keep this simple.
Original batteries? Overpriced.
Third-party batteries? Totally fine.
I’ve used them consistently and never had issues. For the price of one original, you can build a small army of backups. Easy choice.
Final Thoughts
The Fujifilm X-E4 is one of those cameras that doesn’t try to impress you with specs.
It wins you over quietly.
It’s minimal, reliable, and disappears in your hands. And that’s exactly why it works so well, especially for street photography.
If you value simplicity, discretion, and a camera that lets you focus on seeing rather than settings, this thing is still a beast.
And honestly? It will be for a long time.