Fujifilm X-E3: A camera that can serve both amateurs and professionals

Manual mode is pretty accurate and offers a lot of control, provided, of course, you're comfortable with manual controls

The Fujifilm X-E3 (Rs 70,999, body only) mirrorless camera, despite being built with a plastic and metal body, looks and feels solid. The review sample was paired with a 35mm lens (Rs 42,999), which also had an aperture ring. The clickable control rings are easy to use and, in combination with the 3-inch touchscreen display, offers plenty of wiggle-room for customisations.

I went out one afternoon and clicked a lot of pictures in auto mode, simply because it was so easy. The jpeg results were outstanding — punchy colours and detailing, as well as life-like skin tones; at high ISO settings, there was a lot of detailing and not a lot of noise. The AF joystick is a godsend and the camera’s fast auto-focussing ensures you don’t miss those precious split seconds. It’s also a decent low-light shooter. A caveat: If you’re a left-eyed shooter like me, you could inadvertently change controls if your nose bumps into the touchscreen.

Manual mode is pretty accurate and offers a lot of control, provided, of course, that you’re comfortable with manual controls. I loved the 15 film simulation modes, which added to the retro appeal of the camera.

The Fujifilm X-E3 is for those who love shooting lots of jpeg images. Veterans will love the nostalgic feel of manual controls, while the autofocus mode will be comforting to newbies.