I never think Fujifilm products get enough love and the Fujifilm X-E3 is definitely one of those products.
The Fujifilm X-E3 came out in 2017 without much fanfare, and it has continued to be a secret amongst industry professionals. I think I’ve seen just one Fujifilm X-E3 review since it came out, despite the fact that it’s an excellent camera for photographers looking for a cheap second camera body.
It also happens to be one of the cheapest cameras available for photographers who need 4K video capabilities and it's an incredibly beautiful camera as well.
Now, if you read this review and you end up liking the Fujifilm X-E3 as much as I do, then you need to make moves to pick one up as soon as possible because, as of March of this year, Fujifilm rumors say that the entire line is going to be killed off before any more X-E mirrorless cameras come out.
In this Fujifilm X-E3 review we are going to go through the Fujifilm X-E3 specs, Fujifilm X-E3 handling, and finally the Fujifilm X-E3 price (for those looking to snag a good deal during these unprecedented times).
Fujifilm X-E3 Specs
Before we dive into all of the specs of this camera, let’s go over the Fujifilm X-E3 on a broader level.
The Fujifilm X-E3 is a 24MP mirrorless camera which was designed to be smaller than its sister model, the X-T20. It was able to be built so much smaller because it relies quite heavily on its touchscreen for a lot of functions.
This body is also smaller because it does not come with a built-in flash and it does not come with a four-way controller. When we say that it is touchscreen-driven, we are not joking. If you aren’t comfortable using a touchscreen, this is not the camera for you.
Despite the fact that it came out quite a few years ago now, it does come with most modern specs. It can shoot impressive 4K video and its AF system is nothing short of excellent. Plus, it was the first Fujifilm body to include Bluetooth.
But, one of the most interesting features of the Fujifilm X-E3 is its Film Simulation mode, which includes 15 different modes with a wide range of different color tones and gradations that young photographers may be especially drawn to because you can get a classic film feel without actually using film (or one of those cheesy Instagram filters that mimic film).
Other Fujifilm X-E3 Specs:
- 24MP sensor
- 4K video
- ISO range of 200-12,800
- 3” 1.04m-dot touchscreen LCD
- Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- 350-shot battery life
- Film Simulation mode
- 0.74 lbs
Fujifilm X-E3 Body & Design
The Fujifilm X-E3 body is one of the reasons I love this camera. Obviously, it weighs less than a pound so it is a great everyday camera to drag with you everywhere.
But, it also has that Fujifilm aesthetic that we all love. It reminds me of a camera my father used to shoot with way back in the day. It feels classic. It’s simple. It isn’t trying too hard to fit a certain aesthetic.
The Fujifilm X-E3 is also exactly what you’d expect out of Fujifilm. It is made of dense plastic and comes with a top plate that is made out of metal, so it isn’t the sturdiest camera in the world but it will definitely do the job.
The Fujifilm X-E3 design works really well for travel, but it also works well for family portraiture and other people-centric photographs, because you can pretty much do everything you need to do with the camera with the swipe of a finger on the touchscreen, which ensures you can be 100% present during the photoshoot.
One of the bonuses I found with the design of this camera is that it features a spring-loaded connector door, instead of those pesky rubber flaps that always get stuck and are generally just a pain to deal with.
Finally, it comes with two control dials, one of the rear and one on the front.
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Fujifilm X-E3 Build & Handling
The Fujifilm X-E3 build allows you to comfortably grasp the camera. It comes with a thumb rest on the rear of the body and a ridge on the front so that you can hold it for a few hours without hand cramping.
Of course, it is a mirrorless, so if your main worry about a camera body is handling, then you should definitely opt for a DSLR with a chunkier grip and body.
The Fujifilm X-E3 comes with an AF joystick, as opposed to earlier models in this line which didn’t get one, and that also helps tremendously with handling.
Unfortunately, this camera doesn’t come with an articulating touchscreen, which will make handling very difficult if you are mainly looking for a vlogging video, or a street photography camera that you can snap photos with without standing out.
If you haven’t worked with a touchscreen before, you may find handling this camera a bit frustrating because, in order for the touchscreen swipes to work, you need to press fairly hard on the screen.
Lastly, this camera does not come with a headphone jack, which is a frustrating fact considering the rest of the videography on this camera is really good.
Fujifilm X-E3 Video Performance
Thank you to Kevin Mullins for supplying the video test on the Fujifilm X-E3 above.
As aforementioned, the Fujifilm X-E3 video performance is very impressive for being 3 years old and the reason being is that it was probably the best video performance in any Fujifilm to date when it came out.
Some of the best Fujifilm X-E3 features, when it comes to video, is obviously its 4K video, its touch screen autofocus, and its great focus peaking.
It comes with a histogram, you can adjust your audio levels while you are recording, and it's highly customizable (even for videographers). For instance, there are a ton of FN buttons that are customizable and you can assign four functions to the touch screen so that you can slide up, right, left or down to execute those functions.
But, there are some problems with its video. For example, you can’t shoot 4K at 60p, which would affect professional videographers if they were using this camera for some reason. I don’t otherwise think it affects enthusiast-level videographers or photographers.
The Fujifilm X-E3 LCD is fixed, which is going to be a problem for people who are shooting vlogs on the go. For this reason, I don’t recommend this camera for YouTubers.
There also isn’t any in-camera image stabilization (not that you would expect it at this price point for a camera that dropped 3 years ago).
Finally, the largest disadvantage of shooting video with this camera is that 4K video is limited to a 10 minute recording time. If you don’t purchase this camera because of this, I definitely don’t blame you.
This recording time limit does jump up to 15 minutes when shooting in Full HD.
When you finish recording your video, it also takes the camera a few seconds to process your request and store the clip. This wouldn’t be a huge issue if it weren’t for the recording time limit. These two problems together ensure serious videographers can’t use this camera as their main camera.
However, if you want to use this camera for shooting video of vacations or everyday special moments, it’s lightweight, easy to carry, and produces beautiful video.
Fujifilm X-E3 Price
The used Fujifilm X-E3 price starts at $465 on MPB. Now, since this camera originally cost a few extra hundred dollars when it first dropped, this is a relatively great price.
Besides great prices, I recommend MPB as your go-to for used gear because they have a strict grading system for the gear they sell. Each item is thoroughly tested and inspected, and its grade is clearly stated in the product listing. This means that you know exactly what condition the camera will be in before it arrives at your door.
But, just in case, MPB offers a six-month warranty on most cameras so you’re protected in case something goes wrong.
I’ve bought numerous items from MPB and haven’t been disappointed yet. If you want to add an X-E3 to your bag and save money while doing it, give MPB a try!