Fujifilm X-E3

Fuji X-E3: full review

When, in the fall of 2017, Fuji X-E3 was launched, this big little mirrorless camera was a further confirmation of the excellence of Fujifilm in the production of mirrorless digital cameras.

With its incredibly attractive look, the excellent performance and the affordable price, Fuji X-E3 appeared on the market as one of the best middle-range cameras, and it still is a competitive product.

From the performance point of view, Fuji X-E3 arrived in the market without fearing the competition with models like Canon EOS 77D. With some differences, of course, due to its mirrorless nature. Let’s see its features in details, starting from the camera body.

Design and ergonomics

Available in the all black version and in the charming black & silver variant, Fuji X-E3 looks like a beautiful camera with a rétro touch, with very contained size: 121x74x43 millimeters. The vintage lines are those typical of Fujifilm, but this X-E3 really outdid itself in terms of design. 

The materials used to build the camera body are mixed: partly carbonate and partly magnesium alloy, with a weight of 337 grams only. It’s not tropicalized, so it’s not suited to be used in extreme weather conditions.

Seen frontally, Fuji X-E3 shows the lack of incorporated flash and a just hinted grip, unlike any reflex model. The dashboard is very essential.

The back is minimal: the big novelty compared to the E2 model is the presence of the 8 directions focus lever joystick, placed above all the buttons. The viewfinder is on the left, the LCD display makes the most of the contained size, being wide and well-inserted in the reduced geometry of Fuji X-E3.

Talking about ergonomics, Fuji X-E3 can be disliked only by the photographers that consider size very important. And by those who come from Reflex and are used to deep grips, of course. For the rest, the very small size and weight are the true strength of this performing camera that can be put in a pocket.

Obviously, the only way to understand if this Fuji X-E3 really suits you is to hold it before buying it, always considering that prosthetic grips are available to solve the issue of the lacking grip.

Taking pictures with Fuji X-E3

For one like me, used to reflex, starting to shoot with Fuji X-E3 wasn’t easy. Nothing dramatic, the first hassle was widely compensated by weight and size never seen before. Also because the LCD display can be controlled easily, especially if you prefer touch to buttons. There’s no lack, though, of manual controls for the die-hard of the viewfinder. Sure, they’re different from those of reflex cameras. For instance, ISO – natively 200-12,800, digitally up to 100-51,200 – are adjustable only through the display. Then there’s the 8 directions joystick. When I tried it, I found the AF use very practical – 325 phase detection points – and very friendly.

Moving to what matters most, image quality, I can definitely say that this Fuji X-E3 gives really outstanding images. Considering the APS-C format, the ISO performance is really good. Also AF is not bad, even if it was not born to follow moving objects. We are not in front of a camera born for action photography, to be clear. It is not fast like Nikon D7500, to make a comparison with a reflex launched in the same period. Needless to say, it doesn’t have the excellent dual pixel system of Canon.

That said, Fuji X-E3 is still a good purchase two years after its launch, with its social nature with 15 scene modes and energy-efficient bluetooth for real-time sharing on social networks.

Fuji X-E3: versatility

Who was Fuji X-E3 thought for? Many targets, I’d say. If you’re a “travel” photographer, you’ll have excellent images and a weight that will never cause you problems during travels. If you love street photography, it’s great: just keep in mind that when it’s dark the AF doesn’t catch moving subjects. If you take pictures during events, the image quality will never disappoint you but… consider that Fuji X-E3 doesn’t have a comfortable grip and only one memory card slot.

In other words, it is a camera thought for the ambitious amateur and – with all the limits listed before – for a semi-professional approach.

Compared to the previous X-T2 of 2016, the 24 megapixel sensor remained the same, as well as the 8-14 fps burst mode (11-14 with battery grip). Also the excellent video features, 4K (3840 x 2160p at 30 FPS), have not changed. The X-T2 model is tropicalized, a little bulkier and heavier, and has two slots for memory card. Then it has an adjustable display, not fixed like the one of Fujii X-E3. Sure… such professional features affect the final price: Fuji X-T2 camera body only costs approximately one thousand euros. At the moment, Fuji X-E3 costs around 700 euros.

Fuji X-E3: final thoughts

Fuji X-E3 is a big little camera that makes elegance and design the first of its many strengths. Then there’s the portability: the same of a compact camera.

Moving to technical data, Fuji has not spared itself: touch-screen display, 24 megapixel APS-C X-Trans III sensor, Focus lever Joystick, energy-efficient bluetooth. Yet the price is really competitive.

That said, some photographers might not like Fuji X-E3. Well, you can’t please everybody. Probably it won’t please those who cannot leave the optical viewfinder and those who don’t appreciate an unprecedented weight and portability because of the lack of a grip living up to the classic reflex cameras.