The Fujifilm X-T5 Long-Term Review | The Jack of All Trades

The Photography

A camera like the X-T5 is something you desire when you want a camera that feels as good as it shoots. The images from this 40-megapixel sensor have improved their clarity and depth. When you graduate from an X-T2 or X-T3, you will immediately see the difference that, in some instances, feel lightyears ahead. It makes the experience memorable because of its noticeable improvement in image quality, but it maintains an analog-inspired shooting experience that creates this playful dichotomy.

The shutter speed and ISO dials can lock in the necessary settings for your aperture, bringing you closer to the photograph. Undoubtedly, many will appreciate the heightened haptic nature that the X-T5 delivers. Is it for everyone? I would argue that more people would enjoy it than not—especially professionals and those simply looking to grow and enjoy their photography.

Pairing this shooting experience with the upgraded internals exemplifies how far we've come with creative technology. You get these deep, rich RAW files from the Fujifilm X-T5 that truly feel improved from cameras like the X100VI or X-E4. There's a recognizable upgrade here for the wedding, portrait, landscape, and architecture photographer that feels like you're getting money's worth. I could crop, skew, and manipulate my images with much more latitude, where it seemed like I was hitting the ceiling of the RAW file less than I did in the past with older Fujifilm cameras.

The design and image quality are the two standout features of this camera that I would underscore the most for any prospective shopper, but let's not forget that this camera delivers so much more. You have overhauled an enhanced and intelligent autofocus system for any creator's suits. While it may be slightly slower than the Fujifilm X-H2s, it's still wicked fast and will cover most use cases. The 19 film simulation modes are split into seven custom profiles, making for a fun way to develop your style. If you're looking for a head start on building your profiles, check out my video of the seven custom Fujifilm profiles I still use here.

And another helpful note: TIFF conversion. Like many Fujifilm cameras, the X-T5 allows users to convert their image into a TIFF in-camera, a painless and powerful way to preserve your Fujifilm recipe into the final image in a more depth format than your standard JPEG file.

All in all, the photography experience on the Fujifilm X-T5 is simply fantastic. When you pick it up, this heirloom tool invites you to shoot and keep shooting for a lifetime. It's a product, like the X100VI, that appeals to existing and non-Fujifilm users. Similar to what the X-T2 was for me, this new version is something I see many people from other platforms transitioning from and finding a renewed interest in photography. It is that good. You could invest in this camera for photography alone and feel you've gotten more than your money's worth. Still, the remarkable thing is that Fujifilm has also elevated the video experience in this product line.

The Videography

The Fujifilm X-T5 can record 6.2K footage at 30P in a widescreen format, and if you drop to 4K, it's 60P recording. If you're editing and grading your footage on a computer, you'll want to take advantage of F-Log or F-Log2, which have a base ISO of 500 and 1000, respectively. F-Log2 will give you about 13+ stops of dynamic range in the field but may require an ND filter to cut the light and a bit of noise reduction in post, which is handled quickly. Going to F-Log loses a stop of dynamic range but may be valuable for indoor environments.

What's also wild for a camera of this size and nature is that you can record in ProRes or BlackMagic RAW via HDMI. I've been using Fujifilm cameras for over five years, and that's still nuts to me, but here we are. The RAW footage is fantastic, and you can also expect about 13 stops of dynamic range here. I am still waiting to see the RAW video format as valuable as using F-Log from a workflow standpoint.

Further, you get an improved five-axis, image stabilization, subject detection in movie modes, digital zoom options, focus meter assist, recording frame indicators, flicker-less shutter speed, and more. It all comes together for a powerful video solution for hybrid creators. To make this a sole video solution, several key features still need to be included, but Fujifilm does this intentionally. It's a photography-first camera that captures excellent video. An ideal hybrid, if you will.

The noise performance is highly manageable, and more importantly, the noise tends to have a more film-like character that isn't as patterned and predictable as other mirrorless solutions. When you capture in lowlight environments, you can clean up the footage to a great degree or leave the grain in for something that feels textured but not jarring.

You don't get the flip-out LCD anymore; that's now reserved for cameras like the X-H2, X-H2s, and X-S series. Instead, the X-T5 better caters to people who spend their time behind the lens; less vlogging and selfies and more around the craft of photography. Is it for everyone? No, but it doesn't have to be. The X-T5 was produced for a specific user and often outperformed expectations. That said, there are ways in which the Fujifilm X-T5 can be polished.

The Improvements

I hope Fujifilm can return to its 'Kaizen' era of software development, where users can expect 2-3 firmware updates yearly that bring valuable upgrades to their higher-tier cameras, not just bug fixes. One of the upgrades I would like to see is highlight-weighted metering, where the camera automatically exposes the brightest part of an image thus preventing any overexposed shots. You can find this on Sony and Leica cameras, which street photographers in Fujifilm would love to have.

With all the new features and functions, Fujifilm needs to overhaul its menu system and triage all the settings into a more accessible menu tree with nested options. I've done this as a thought exercise, and Fujifilm can reduce its menu to three main pages and a user-defined favorites page. Beyond this, using more straightforward language to convey settings must be taken seriously, as new users need to take advantage of vital options that can benefit their workflow.

Next, I would love a more straightforward method for saving and exporting custom settings and profiles. This workflow would work nicely with a direct-to-card process or direct-to-app. We spend all this time building out our settings and shapes, and there's no easy way to save all of them. Some people might want to point to connecting to their computer and using the desktop app, but this can and should be simplified.

Oh, and speaking of apps, can we please get a new Fujifilm mobile app? They've rehauled the latest version, but it still doesn't hold up.

As I've said for years, the current one requires significant improvement. It doesn't deliver an experience worthy of their camera bodies; it's more like a punishment if you own multiple Fujifilm products. The user experience feels dated, like what apps used to feel like in the early days of the iPhone App Store.

Lastly, I would love to see deeper transparency on the Fujifilm X-T5's video functions: how to use the settings for optimal results, how the LOG profiles can be better utilized, and the technical info that can aid professionals in getting the best results from this sensor. This clarity would go a long way in building goodwill and empowering users to capture their best work.

The Competition

How does the Fujifilm X-T5 stack up against other Fujifilm competitors?

If you're only capturing photos, want to experiment with video, and don't need to run three batteries at a time for your line of work, the Fujifilm X-T5 is the new high-end solution you should look at first. I'd gravitate to the X-H2s if you're filming more video, choose the X-H2 if you want the best hybrid solution and hope to use a vertical grip, and only consider a GFX solution if you sit in a much higher tier that requires a considerable leap in image quality.

The Fujifilm X-T5 doesn't have better autofocus than the Sony A7 IV or A7R V, but it's a marginal gap that most may not notice in their shooting environment. It doesn't have the simplicity of a Canon EOS R5, but the color options and profiles make for something that could give you a better image at the moment that caters to your style. It doesn't have the image quality and character of a camera like the Leica M11. Still, it is a *FRACTION* of the cost with an expansive library of XF lenses capable of delivering exceptional results in their regard.

The Fujifilm X-T5 doesn't best any particular camera for any specific category; it provides a damn good alternative. It's special because it combines everything in one unique package that rarely stumbles during use.

The Conclusion

The Fujifilm X-T5 is the best consumer camera that Fujifilm makes.

While specialty cameras like the X-H and GFX series excel in specific categories, the X-T5 provides a quality-to-price ratio that's damn hard to beat.

It also looks much better than any of the previously mentioned cameras. The Fujifilm X100Vi is an extraordinary camera and something I may even personally enjoy more than this, but that works in a specific and limited way that may not appeal to most people. If we're looking at the best Fujifilm solution for most people, the Fujifilm X-T5 is that camera. It provides a wide array of versatile features in a refined body that excites you to create.

Quite simply, it's a camera that you'll want to take everywhere — the jack of all trades, the perfect choice for a hybrid capturing solution.