Fujifilm X-T5 overview: The photographer’s alternative | Turbo Tech

Following the launch of its spectacular hybrid cameras, the X-H2S and X-H2, Fujifilm has launched one thing that’s changing into a rarity: a digicam designed particularly for photographers.

Certain, the X-T5 can shoot video, nevertheless it’s clear from the outset that this mannequin is all about taking footage.

It is also fairly engaging, full with the retro dials and classic allure that Fujifilm followers will love.

The query is, how does it work? We have spent a while with it, and that is the way it went for us.

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Design

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

On the floor, the X-T5 has extra in frequent with the X-T3 than the X-T4. Its direct predecessor leaned into its hybrid capabilities, nevertheless it appears to be like just like the XH sequence now carries the mantle and the X-T5 is drawing on its photographic heritage.

The most important design change is that the X-T5 is again to having a tilting display, just like the X-T3, as a substitute of the drop-down display discovered on the X-T4. Some will love this alteration and others will most likely be much less happy. It is clearly not splendid for taking pictures video, however for stealthy avenue images, then again, it is simply the ticket.

There are nonetheless distinguished classic dials on prime of the digicam, very related in look to older fashions. There’s nonetheless a entrance and rear wheel too, however this time they are often pressed to entry further options. As is usually the case with Fuji our bodies, you’ll be able to merely long-press them to reassign their perform, a characteristic we have all the time favored.

The digicam feels stable and well-built, with out being overly heavy, and it is undoubtedly lighter and extra compact than the XH-series our bodies. Actually, it is also barely smaller than the X-T4.

We did not have an older digicam available to immediately evaluate, however the grip feels a bit extra angular and pronounced than its predecessors. In any case, it is easy to get a agency grip on the digicam regardless of its compact dimension, and the widening of the rear thumb and sharp angle of the entrance grip work properly.

Connectivity and screens

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

Connectivity is in keeping with earlier XT fashions, too, and once more reminds us that this digicam is not making an attempt to be a video workhorse. Nonetheless, for those who’re pleased to repair a couple of shortcomings, you’ll be able to definitely get the job achieved 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 splendid 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 create a relatively brittle setup, so it is not one thing we might depend on long run.

Nonetheless, for those who’re strictly taking photographs, none of that issues in any respect. You have bought your distant port and flash sync, what extra may you want?

For storage, you get two UHS-II SD card slots, making storage media extraordinarily reasonably priced and accessible. There are not any high-quality video codecs on board, nor excessive burst taking pictures speeds, so costly CFexpress playing cards will not be wanted on this mannequin.

One factor that is curiously lacking from the X-T5 is the interface for connecting a battery grip, so for those who’re a fan of vertical grips, you may wish to give this digicam a miss.

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

The EVF is similar display because the X-T4, however has larger magnification, making it a bit simpler to see. It really works properly and we had no issues utilizing it, nevertheless it’s value noting that it falls a bit wanting the beautiful 5.76 million-dot 120Hz OLED on the X-H2.

Images and video efficiency.

• APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor: 40.2 MP stills
• Burst taking pictures as much as 20fps/15fps with mechanical shutter
• Video as much as 6.2K 30fps/4K 60fps/1080p 240fps
• 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 pictures had been wonderful. As we discovered after we reviewed the X-H2, pictures are sharp and detailed throughout the board with the superb coloration copy Fuji is understood for.

We discovered the IBIS to be wonderful for taking pictures in low gentle and since that is the center of British winter, we did quite a lot of low gentle taking pictures. The dearth of noise in excessive ISO JPEGs can be very spectacular.

Autofocus was pretty dependable all through, although we might like a faster solution to swap between topic detection modes. As ordinary, we discovered that human faces tracked higher, however the X-T5 did an admirable job taking pictures wildlife, too.

The X-T5 inherits the X-H2’s extremely quick digital most shutter pace of 1/180,000s, an enormous leap from the X-T4’s 1/32,000s. It additionally comes with the choice to seize extremely high-resolution pictures utilizing Pixel Shift Multi-Shot – not one thing we discovered very obligatory, however good to have nonetheless.

The realm the place the X-T5 differs essentially the most from its dearer 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 lack of a mode swap fairly jarring at first. It did not take us lengthy to get used to it although, and there is one thing very satisfying and distinctly charming concerning the retro controls.

One other distinction is in burst taking pictures, whereas each cameras provide as much as 15fps on the mechanical shutter and 20fps on the digital shutter (with 1.29x crop), the X-H2 has a lot larger stamina, particularly for those who’re recording in RAW.

At 15fps with the mechanical shutter, the X-H2 will enable as much as 400 uncompressed RAW frames earlier than slowing down, whereas the X-T5 slows down after simply 19 frames. Taking place to JPEG, the X-T5 affords a way more cheap 119 frames, however this nonetheless pales compared to the X-H2’s 1000+.

We’ve not targeted an excessive amount of on video for this overview, as from our perspective, leaping to an X-H2 is just about a no brainer for anybody working within the area. Nonetheless, that does not imply the XT-5 is not able to superb outcomes, it is simply that the digicam as a complete is extra optimized for stills.

When you select to shoot video on the XT-5, you may discover that you just profit from the identical nice autofocus and stabilization options because the XH sequence. It might probably’t match the 8K decision of the X-H2, most likely as a consequence of slower storage media, however you may nonetheless rise up to six.2K at 30fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 with a 1.23x crop .

At 4K you’ll be able to shoot as much as 60fps with no crop, and happening to 1080p you’ll be able to shoot tremendous gradual movement at 240fps. Nonetheless, it is value noting that we discovered 240fps footage disagreeable and noisy, simply as it’s on the XH sequence.

Verdict

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a superb digicam that places images first. When you’re a photographer who likes a classic really feel and a tilting display, then this could be your excellent match.

A lot of the know-how is inherited from the X-H2, which presently retails for round $200 extra, and for those who shoot quite a lot of video, you may definitely wish to go along with the dearer possibility. As a bonus, the X-H2 provides a full flippy display, full-size HDMI, headphone jack, inside ProRes recording, 8K seize, and better bitrates. All the good options for those who want them.

When you do not, nonetheless, it can save you some cash with the X-T5 and be left with a digicam that has an attractive conventional really feel, wonderful picture constancy, and a tilting display that is splendid for low-key avenue images.