The Fujifilm XE4 feels like a point-and-shoot, yet it has the image quality of a camera that costs twice as much.

The smaller a camera is, the more likely photographers will carry it with them everywhere. The Fujifilm XE4 is one of the smallest mirrorless bodies from Fujifilm yet. Paired with a newly announced 27mm kit lens, and the XE4 feels almost like packing a point-and-shoot. At $850 body-only (or $1,050 with the kit), the XE4 is one of the more affordable Fuji mirrorless cameras. Even with that price, the XE4 still packs in the same sensor and processor as the Fujifilm XT4. So, what did Fujifilm cut to get to that sub-$1000 price point?

While image quality will be the same as a camera that costs twice as much, the XE4 lacks in-body stabilization. The camera also isn’t weather-sealed and has fewer controls. But, the XE4 evokes a bit of nostalgia with its rangefinder-style viewfinder, demands to be taken everywhere with its small size, and sits as an affordable entry to mirrorless. I spent two weeks shooting documentary-style photography with the XE4 to see how this $850 camera performs.

Too Long, Didn’t Read

The Fujifilm XE4 is a good, affordable camera that doesn’t sacrifice image quality. It does omit stabilization and weather-sealing, while tracking autofocus also needs improvement. However, it’s not a bad buy for photographers on a budget — and particularly those yearning for the look and feel of a film camera.

Fujifilm XE4 Pros and Cons

Pros

The same sensor and processor as the pricier XT4

Compact design

Classic look and feel

Addition of a P mode

Cons

No in-body stabilization

No ISO dial

No weather-sealing

Autofocus tracking is sub-par

Gear Used

I tested the Fujifilm XE4 with the 27mm f2.8 R WR.

Innovations

The Fujifilm XE4 is a refresh on a budget model: unsurprisingly, it’s not a groundbreaking camera. But, the XE4 is Fujifilm’s smallest and lightest X body, and that’s something.

Fujifilm XE4 Tech Specs

These tech specs are a much-shortened version of what’s available on Fujifilm’s website:

26.1 Megapixel X Trans 4 sensor

X Processor 4

2.36 million dot EVF

3-inch touchscreen

180-degree tilting LCD screen

18 film simulations.

8 fps burst in the mechanical shutter.

20 fps burst in electronic shutter

Autofocus: Intelligent Hybrid AF; -4 EV, -7 EV with XF50mm f1.0

4K video at up to 30 fps, 1080p at 240p

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Battery life: 460 frames

Ergonomics

With the new pancake 27mm lens on the front, the XE4 feels almost like working with a point-and-shoot. The Fujifilm XE4 actually fit inside the pocket of my coat. I don’t recommend storing a mirrorless camera in your pocket, but Fujifilm’s pocketable claims aren’t lies (with larger jacket pockets, not jeans pockets). The body is just 1.28 inches deep and under three inches high. If you stacked three iPhones together, the iPhones would be bigger. I slung it around my neck for a three-mile hike and could almost forget it was there.

While the XE4 has the classic look of Fuji’s high-end mirrorless cameras, it doesn’t house all the same controls. The ISO dial is missing (you get an unlabeled button at the top that brings up the ISO controls on the screen). The top also houses an exposure compensation dial, shutter speed dial, a quick menu shortcut button, the hot shoe slot, and, of course, the shutter release with an on-off switch.

The back of the camera also feels very minimal. There are no arrow buttons to navigate the menu with. Instead, you get a little joystick. I didn’t miss the menu buttons; the joystick is faster and works well to select the autofocus point. The rear of the camera also houses playback controls, menu options, and an autofocus and auto exposure lock. Unlike the X-E3, there’s no second dial at the back.

The three-inch touchscreen tilts using a hinge system. Of course, the XE series’s hallmark is that rangefinder-style viewfinder situated in the upper left corner, so you can keep one eye on the scene and the other looking at your shot. While the ...