Close to two years ago, I wrote a post about the Fujifilm X-E4 and why that camera was great for travel. At that time, I had been using the X-E4 for over a year and had used it on many travel destinations. Since I had moved from a two-camera setup while travelling down to using only the X-E4, I felt I had enough experience with the camera to say it was one of the best I had owned and used for my travels. There were numerous reasons why.

I visited Peggy’s Cove a few weeks ago, which was my first time being there in years. It was a brief visit, but I saw the changes since my last time there. Our last few weeks have been somewhat gloomy, and the sun had rarely appeared, but this night, the forecast called for clear skies. I knew it would still be quite cold with the wind around the lighthouse, which is typical.

Having experience with the 35mm f/2, I believe the 23mm f/2 fits well with what I like about a lens: compactness. I like small, discreet lenses, and I wanted something wider than the 35mm that would still fit the bill. I was considering one of two wider lenses, the 16mm f/1.4 and the 18mm f/1.4. After testing both, I found they were too wide, a bit larger than I hoped, and ultimately too expensive.

In December, I mentioned that I was parting ways with my Fujifilm X-E4, a camera that I adored using. I have owned that camera for nearly two years, which has been with me on many travels. Still, I have been considering upgrading the camera for months now as there are a few features that I was missing in the X-E4.

My adoration of Fujifilm’s X-E series started with the X-E2 almost a decade ago. I used it as my secondary camera during travel, with the Canon 5D Mark II as my primary. The X-E2 was a fine choice when I didn’t want to use a larger, heavier, more obvious camera. I still have favourites from that camera.

Fujifilm is renowned for its diverse range of cameras; since 2012, the X-E series has been part of it. With a subtle design, the X-E cameras have offered photographers an affordable way to get into the Fujifilm world while demonstrating excellent build, fantastic image quality, and solid performance overall. It’s been nearly seven months since the Fujifilm X-E4 was unofficially discontinued in March after just two years on the market.

With the Fujifilm X-E4 being discontinued on numerous sites like B&H, we will soon be introduced to the inevitable replacement, whether an X-E5 or something else. Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be great. With the discontinuation, I feel it is a good time to reflect on my experience with the X-E4 and explain how using this camera has changed my photography.

After using a combination of the Canon 5D Mark II and Fujifilm X-E2 along with two or three lenses for travel, I decided I needed to cut down on gear as it was becoming a challenge. Carrying around a bunch of gear is tiresome, and having the choice of what camera or lens to use made me sometimes think too long before taking the shot.