After a few years of testing numerous film recipes, I feel I have a thorough understanding of how each setting influences the overall look. Many recipes have been very good and I have been thoroughly impressed; on the other hand, some have created looks that I would not consider bad, but are far from my style and preferences for what I would create in my travels and exploration.

When shooting with Fujifilm cameras, dynamic range can initially seem confusing, but understanding and utilizing the dynamic range (DR) settings can dramatically improve your photos, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Fujifilm’s dynamic range feature helps preserve details in the brightest and darkest highlights, allowing you to capture images with richer tonal depth and less risk of blown-out highlights or crushed shadows.

In September, I spent nearly two weeks photographing beautiful Italy. While there, I used two film recipes, one for Matera and one for Florence. I wanted to separate the two locations, creating a different feel while still maintaining my style of photography. With Fujifilm, there are many choices when it comes to shooting modes.

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.

Last month, I completed a personal project focusing on the uptown area of my hometown, Saint John, New Brunswick, in Canada’s oldest incorporated city. For that project, I focused on the uptown revitalization and what I remember growing up in the city. I wanted to use black and white as the absence of colour can convey a nostalgic throwback to the past and direct the viewer’s attention solely to the composition, shapes, lines, light and shadow.

Film photography has experienced a remarkable resurgence in popularity. What used to be reserved for the nostalgic few gained interest, with many looking to return to a tangible process and achieve a unique look for their images. Digital photography was introduced long ago and since then has improved immensely and offered convenience and technical quality that made film mostly forgotten by many.

Located in the province of New Brunswick, Saint John is the oldest incorporated city in Canada. That age is evident, especially in the historic architecture, most prominently in the uptown area. Nestled along the Bay of Fundy in Canada’s eastern province of New Brunswick, Saint John has a storied history that stretches back centuries.

It may seem a little late for a review on a discontinued camera, but there is always the used market if someone is looking for an example. As I anticipate my eventual replacement for this camera, it’s time to reflect on what I consider great about the Fujifilm X-E4, what I find lacking, and where it could improve. Will the next camera in the X-E series be what I need, or will I look for something else in Fujifilm’s offering?

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.

I have been shooting with Fujifilm for a few years now, starting with the X-E2 from years ago. I loved that camera for its size and photo quality. It remained my No. 2 camera for travel for years, and although it was only 16MP, it was mostly fine for travel photography. When I used the X-E2, I never experimented with JPEG or any of the included film simulations, as I thought that RAW would be best in any situation.

As part of my ongoing street photography project, I walked around downtown Halifax, capturing photos using a different simulation. I was using the Fujifilm X-E4 with the 35mm F2, and the recipe I chose was the Kodak Portra 400. Also, I have been shooting both JPEG and RAW in the instance that I wanted to process my RAWS differently, but for the times I have shot both, I never bothered much with the RAWs.

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.