Fujifilm X-T5 First Impressions (First Week Review)
Recently, I decided to make the jump from the Sony system to the Fujifilm camera system. While in Japan, I happened to get my hands on the X-T5. I’ve been using this camera for about a week, learning the in’s and out’s of the menu system and how getting a feel for it. I’m now in Da Nang, Vietnam and I’ve had the pleasure of using this camera here over the past week. I will be discussing some of my first thoughts as well as sharing some of my first photos with this camera.
Disclaimer: This blog is written by me without any outside influence. I have made the switch from Sony to Fujifilm recently due to personal, travel, and preferential reasons and this is a first impressions review. As I use the camera more, I will create a more detailed post about my thoughts.
What I like so far
Aesthetics- Let’s just get the obvious out of the way. I really love the way it looks. I chose to buy the silver model as it was the only one available at the time. I was a little worried at first if I would like it, but it’s beautiful and sexy, there is no denying it. I love carrying it around with me.
Ergonomics- For the size and weight of this camera, the ergonomics are very good. I like the front grip and I always feel like I have a good hold on the camera. It is not to heavy. From a woman’s perspective, the grip fits my hands well.
Image Quality-The image quality on this camera is no worse than my full-frame camera experiences. I’m finding that I like the look that comes out of this camera just as much. In fact, I prefer a softer photo and this camera gives a softer feel, which is great.
Colors- The colors are absolutely great and something that I can easily get used to. The film simulations are really nice to use as well as grain, hdr, color chrome, and custom white-balance settings. I really like how much customization I have with this camera at a fraction of a full-frame cost.
Shooting Experience- The XT line from Fuji feels like a good blend of digital and analog. It’s just enough digital where I can rely on it, but I don’t feel like the camera is doing all the work. I feel like I have to put thought into my aperture, ISO, and shutter as opposed to pointing, shooting, and coming out with a good photo. I really enjoy using this camera because I actually have to think about my settings and adjust through the manual experience of using dials. I like the dials so far.
Battery Life- I bought one spare battery so I have 2 and it’s been plenty so far. Plus, they charge very quickly.
Video Capability- In my opinion, the X-T5 has amazing IBS. I shot a scene of the waves at the beach handheld and when playing back the clip, I barely saw any non-fixable camera shake. This is huge for me as my Sony gear I always had so much camera shake I had to fix in post. Again, this is just my early opinion on that, but so far so good.
Negatives
Build Quality- so far I think the build quality is just okay. It does not feel cheap in my hand necessarily, but it does feel like it will scratch up with more and more use. This is not a major negative for me though. In some ways I am actually ok with it. Since this camera is used for travel, I like it looking older and worn down a little bit. I never owned the X-T3 or X-T4, but I have read that the build quality is slightly lower than previous models, which is not a great thing. The build quality is still good enough for me and my use case, however it is something to consider. If you can, I suggest seeing this camera in person to make sure this is not a dealbreaker for you.
Neutral Opnions thus far
Screen- Coming from cameras with a flip-out screen, the screen on the X-T5 is an adjustment. I’m still getting used to it, but I actually do prefer shooting on the street with a tilting screen. I find it easier in a lot of ways. I don’t use this camera to film myself, so I am wondering if I will miss the flip-out screen at all.
Autofocus- I need more time to fully grasp an opinon on the autofocus, but so far I don’t have any complaints. My style of shooting is generally slower and shots are thought out so I don’t feel like I have noticed a drastic difference yet from the Sony system. I have noticed the autofocus is maybe not as consistent as the Sony, but once it catches onto a subject or eye it holds long enough for me to take the shot, which is good enough for me right now.
Summary
So far I am really liking this camera a lot and have no complaints that make me regret my decision. I have really been enjoying the shots SOOC, the smaller form factor for travel, and the ease of use. As this is my first XT camera, I cannot comment on the previous versions however, for the size and quality that comes out of this camera, it’s a solid purchase. If a small form factor is important to you, this is a great contender on the market. Of course as I use this camera more, I will do a more detailed post.
*If you are considering purchasing this item and use my affiliate link below, it will cost you no extra but I will receive a commission of the sale. This keeps the blog free to use and ad-free. Thank you for your support!
Links Here: