When Fujifilm unveiled the X-E1 in 2012, it distilled the then-new X-Pro concept into a trim, rangefinder-style body that cost and weighed far less than the flagship X-Pro1, yet kept the same dial-driven shooting experience. The X-E2 and X-E3 continued to shave still more millimetres and buttons, but the X-E4 pushed minimalism to the limit, and its slim, grip-less body became both a selling point and a sore spot for street and travel shooters.
That polarising design, combined with pandemic-era supply woes, saw the X-E4 vanish from retailers after a very short stint on store shelves. However, demand for the X-E line was still there, though, with second-hand prices soaring, so it was only a matter of time before Fujifilm revisited the concept. After a four-year pause, the X-E5’s arrival revives a series whose understated charm has consistently earned a devoted – if niche – following.
