Fujifilm X-T5 review: The photographer’s choice

Following the discharge of its spectacular hybrid shooters, the X-H2S and the X-H2, Fujifilm has launched one thing that’s changing into fairly a rarity – a digital camera designed particularly for photographers.

After all, the X-T5 can shoot video, nevertheless it’s clear from the get-go that this mannequin is all about snapping pics.

It’s fairly the looker, too, full with the retro dials and classic attraction that Fujifilm followers will adore.

The query is, how does it carry out? We’ve spent a while with it, and right here’s how we received on.

​​​​​​​Fujifilm X-T5

Advisable

When you’re primarily a stills shooter, and you want a little bit of retro attraction, we predict you will be delighted with the X-T5. It appears to be like and feels nice and it is appropriate with a few of the best lenses round. The high-resolution sensor captures excellent photos and the digital camera gives fairly respectable worth for cash, too.

Execs

• Glorious design and dealing with
• Spectacular photograph efficiency
• Good autofocus and subject-tracking
• Supreme display articulation for avenue pictures
• Nice IBIS for low-light taking pictures

Cons

• Not ultimate for video taking pictures
• Small buffer for RAW burst taking pictures

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Design

• Physique: 129.5 x 91 x 63.8 mm
• Weight: 557g
• Climate-resistant physique
• Retro shutter, ISO and EV comp dials

On the floor, the X-T5 shares extra in frequent with the X-T3, than the X-T4. Its direct predecessor leaned into its hybrid capabilities, however it could appear that mantle is now being carried by the X-H collection and the X-T5 is popping to its photographic heritage as an alternative.

The most important design change is that the X-T5 has reverted to a tilting display, just like the X-T3, moderately than the flip-out display discovered on the X-T4. Some will love this modification and others will seemingly be much less happy. Clearly, it’s not ultimate for video taking pictures, however for stealthy avenue pictures, then again, it’s simply the ticket.

There are nonetheless outstanding classic dials throughout the highest of the digital camera, very related in appear and feel to the older fashions. There’s nonetheless a entrance and rear wheel, too, however this time they are often pressed in to entry further features. As is often the case with Fuji our bodies, you possibly can merely long-press these to reassign their operate, a characteristic that we’ve all the time been keen on.

The digital camera feels strong and well-built, with out being excessively heavy, and it’s undoubtedly lighter and extra compact than the X-H collection our bodies. Actually, it’s slightly smaller than the X-T4, as effectively.

We didn’t have an older digital camera readily available to immediately examine with, however the grip feels slightly extra angular and pronounced than its predecessors. In any case, it’s simple to get a strong maintain on the digital camera regardless of its compact dimension, and the rear thumb flare and the sharp angle of the entrance grip work effectively.

Connectivity and shows

• Micro HDMI, USB-C and three.5mm mic socket
• Twin SD card slots
• 3-inch 1.84 million dot tilting LCD monitor
• 3.69 million dot OLED EVF

The connectivity is consistent with earlier X-T fashions, too, and it once more reminds us that this digital camera is not making an attempt to be a video workhorse. Although, when you’re glad to work round some shortcomings, you possibly can definitely get the job executed with these ports.

We have by no means been followers of the flimsy Micro HDMI connector and the shortage of a headphone port is lower than ultimate for skilled video work, however Fujifilm features a USB-C to three.5mm adapter within the field, and you may monitor audio through USB. These connections collectively make for a reasonably fragile setup, so it isn’t one thing that we would be assured counting on long-term.

Nonetheless, when you’re strictly taking pictures images, none of that issues in any respect. You’ve got received your distant port and flash sync, what extra might you want?

For storage, you get two UHS-II SD card slots, which makes storage media extraordinarily reasonably priced and accessible. There are not any high-grade video codecs on board, nor excessive burst taking pictures charges, so no want for dear CFexpress playing cards on this mannequin.

One factor that is curiously absent on the X-T5 is the interface for connecting a battery grip, so when you’re a fan of vertical grips, you may need to give this digital camera a miss.

The tilting LCD is sharp and clear with a great degree of adjustability. We particularly like the flexibility to tilt the display to the aspect for low-angle vertical photographs. This is not a brand new characteristic, we noticed it on the X-T3 as effectively, nevertheless it’s as useful as ever – and few implement it in addition to Fuji.

The EVF is identical show because the X-T4, nevertheless it has elevated magnification, making it a bit simpler to see. It really works effectively and we had no points utilizing it, nevertheless it’s value noting that it is a bit of a downgrade from the beautiful 120Hz 5.76M dot OLED on the X-H2.

Picture and video efficiency

• APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor – 40.2MP stills
• As much as 20fps burst taking pictures/15fps with mechanical shutter
• As much as 6.2K 30fps/4K 60fps/1080p 240fps video
• 7-stop IBIS and topic detection autofocus

At its core, the X-T5 homes the identical wonderful sensor because the X-H2, so it got here as no shock that the ensuing photos had been excellent. Simply as we discovered after we reviewed the X-H2, the photographs are sharp and detailed throughout the board with the superb color rendition that Fuji is thought for.

We discovered that the IBIS was excellent for low-light taking pictures, and since we’re within the throes of British winter, we did numerous taking pictures in dim circumstances. The dearth of noise in high-ISO JPEGs can be very spectacular.

Autofocus was fairly dependable all through, although we wish a faster option to swap between subject-detection modes. As ordinary, we discovered human faces had been tracked the perfect, however the X-T5 did an admirable job taking pictures wildlife, too.

The X-T5 inherits the X-H2’s insanely quick most digital shutter velocity of 1/180,000 sec, an unlimited soar from the X-T4’s 1/32000 sec. It additionally comes with the choice to seize extremely high-resolution photos utilizing Pixel Shift Multi-Shot – not one thing that we have discovered a lot want for, however good to have nonetheless.

The realm the place the X-T5 most differs from its pricier sibling is within the interface. As hybrid shooters with extra of a video background, we discovered the transition to the X-T5’s dials and the shortage of a mode swap to be fairly jarring, initially. Nonetheless, it did not take us lengthy to regulate to, and there is one thing very satisfying and distinctly charming in regards to the retro controls.

One other distinction is within the burst taking pictures, whereas each cameras supply as much as 15fps on the mechanical shutter, and 20fps digital (with 1.29x crop), the X-H2 has far superior endurance, notably when you’re taking pictures RAW.

At 15fps with the mechanical shutter, the X-H2 will permit for as much as 400 uncompressed RAW frames earlier than slowing down, whereas the X-T5 slows after simply 19 frames. Stepping right down to JPEGs and the X-T5 gives a way more cheap 119 frames, however this nonetheless pales compared to the X-H2’s 1000+.

We have not targeted on video an excessive amount of for this evaluate, as from our perspective, the soar to an X-H2 is just about a no brainer for anybody working within the subject. Nonetheless, that does not imply that the XT-5 is not able to some beautiful outcomes, it is simply that the digital camera as a complete is extra optimised for stills.

Do you have to select to shoot video on the XT-5, you will discover that it advantages from the identical nice autofocus and stabilisation options because the X-H collection. It will probably’t fairly match the X-H2’s 8K decision, seemingly because of the slower storage media, however you will nonetheless stand up to six.2K 30fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 with a 1.23x crop.

In 4K, you possibly can shoot at as much as 60fps with no crop, and by dropping right down to 1080p you possibly can file in super-slow movement 240fps. Nonetheless, it is value noting that we discovered the 240fps footage to be disagreeable and noisy, simply as it’s on the X-H collection.

Verdict

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a wonderful digital camera that places pictures first. When you’re a stills shooter who likes a little bit of a classic really feel and a tilting display, then this can be your good match.

Loads of the tech is inherited from the X-H2, which presently retails for about $200 extra, and when you shoot loads of video, you will definitely need to go for the pricier possibility. For the additional, the X-H2 provides a full flippy-screen, full-size HDMI, headphone jack, inside ProRes recording, 8K seize and better bit charges. All nice options when you want them.

Nonetheless, when you do not, it can save you some money with the X-T5 and be left with a digital camera that has a stunning conventional really feel, excellent picture constancy, and a tilting display that is ultimate for discreet avenue pictures.