Rico Pfirstinger - The Fujifilm X-E2: Beyond the Manual

Rico Pfirstinger studied communications and has been working as a journalist, publicist, and photographer since the mid-80s. He has written a number of books on diverse topics, from Adobe PageMaker to sled dogs. He produced a beautiful book of photographs titled Huskies in Action. He worked as the department head for the German Burda-Publishing Company and served as chief editor for a winter sports website. After eight years as a freelance film critic in Los Angeles, Rico now lives in Germany and devotes his time to digital photography and compact camera systems.

Rico Pfirstinger

Publisher: Gerhard Rossbach
Project Editor: Maggie Yates
Copyeditor: Maggie Yates
Layout: Rico Pfirstinger
Cover Design: Helmut Kraus

ISBN 978-1-492000-30-3

1st Edition 2014
2014 by Rico Pfirstinger

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To start off, heres a brief overview of the buttons and controls on your Fujifilm X-E2:

Fig. 1: X-E2 frontal view: focus selector (1), lens release button (2), electronic lens contacts (3), X-Trans sensor (4), AF assist lamp (5)

Fig. 2: X-E2 top view: on/off switch (1), shutter button with thread for a mechanical remote shutter release cable (2), Fn (function) / Wi-fi button (3), exposure compensation dial (4), shutter speed dial (5), hot shoe (6), pop-up flash (7), microphone left/right (8)

Fig. 3: X-E2 rear view: electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment dial (1), eye sensor (2), pop-up flash release button (3), LCD monitor (4), Q (quick menu) button (5), command dial (thumb wheel) (6), status indicator lamp (7), AF-L key (8), AE-L key (9), playback button (10), DRIVE button / zoom in (11), AE button / zoom out (also fourth Fn button) (12), Fn2 button / delete (13), selector keys with macro button and AF button (also third Fn button) (14), MENU/OK button (15), DISP/BACK button (16), loudspeaker (17)

Fig. 4: X-E2 left side view (with 1855mm kit zoom lens): USB/HDMI port cover (1), on/off switch for OIS (optical image stabilizer) (2), aperture mode switch (3), aperture ring (4), zoom ring (5), focus ring (6)

Besides the printed manual, youll also find PDF versions of the manual in different languages on the CD that comes with your camera. Please do yourself a big favor and thoroughly study this manual in order to get acquainted with the different functions of your camera, and dont forget that your lenses come with a user manual, as well.

This e-book doesnt replace the X-E2 camera manual; it builds on it. Beyond the Manual is an enhancement to the existing user manual, with valuable tips and background information about how to use the various features and functions of the X-E2 and make the most of your equipment.

In case you have misplaced your printed user manuals and camera CD or want to update to a newer edition of a manual, you can obtain downloadable PDF versions in all supported languages by clicking here.

The X-E2 is quite a compact camera, which means that the rechargeable battery is also rather small. Depending on how you use your camera, a fully charged battery will last for 250 to 500 shots. When the battery indicator changes from three to two bars, you have already used up more than half of the batterys energy. When the indicator shows one remaining red bar, its almost time to replace the battery.

Your X-E2 is using NP-W126 rechargeable batteries. This type of battery is also used in Fujifilms X-T1, X-Pro1, X-E1, X-M1, and X-A1 cameras, and can be interchanged between these models. You can obtain NP-W126 batteries from Fujifilm or compatible products from a variety of third-party vendors. Not all aftermarket batteries offer the same quality and capacity as the original, but third-party batteries tend to be significantly cheaper, so you can buy more of them.

The aftermarket not only offers spare batteries, but also chargers that work with regular power outlets, USB ports, or a cars cigarette lighter jack. This way, you can charge your batteries not only at home or in your hotel room, but also on your computers USB port or when you are traveling in a car or plane.

While traveling, dont forget that different countries use different formats for power outlets, so you may want to carry a suitable travel adapter. A particularly small and practical solution is the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. It contains adapters for North America, Japan, China, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong. The adapters connect directly to the charger that comes with your X-E2 (no cable required). Of course, you can also use them with chargers for your Apple device (iPhone, iPad, MacBook etc.).

Fig. 5:Some third-party chargers can get their power from more than one source, such as power outlets, USB ports, and car cigarette lighter jacks

Fujifilm keeps improving the firmware of the X-E2 and XF/XC lenses.

• In order to check which firmware version is installed in your camera and lens, switch on the camera while pressing and holding the DISP/BACK button.