FUJIFILM

Fujifilm X-M5 Camera Hands-On: Compact, Affordable And Great For Vloggers

Fujifilm has just announced its latest mirrorless camera, the Fujifilm X-M5. It’s smaller than you might expect for a camera that has interchangeable lenses, and it has new features. I’ve tried it, briefly, and here are my first thoughts.

Fujifilm’s 90-year history has seen the company change massively. The point-and-click cheap digital cameras that were once its bread and butter have been replaced with a range of sophisticated, beautifully crafted cameras designed to appeal to everyone from dedicated photographers to street snappers to video creators (not all the same camera, obviously).

The 26-megapixel X-M5 feels great in the hand. Like the (deservedly) successful X100VI, this is small and light enough to sit comfortably in one hand, discreet enough for people to not notice you’re carrying a camera at all, while still being powerful and capable.

At 355g, it’s the lightest camera in the X series, which adds to its portability and allure. It also looks great, with Fujifilm’s signature authoritative, classic design, especially in the silver model—though the all-black is also good.

Like the Fujifilm X100VI—and, dear reader, you will have worked out from my repeated references that that is my hands-down favorite camera right now—the X-M5 is sublimely intuitive to use, with the joystick guiding you around menus, and a touchscreen that’s easily configurable. The display flips out and turns round for great versatility and is especially useful for taking selfies.

Fujifilm X-M5. David Phelan

And if your work includes shooting video of yourself, Fujfilm has introduced a cool extra: with the camera standing upright, not on its side, you can shoot video in 9:16 aspect ratio. That’s not a typo: it’s designed for those vertical videos that are crucial to vloggers, with a short video option that’s very useful. Video creators will love this cameras, though so will people upgrading from their smartphone cameras—the results here are exponentially better.

There are a lot of features on board, from subject detection auto-focus that can spot moving animals or cars thanks to AI, to that Fujifilm essential: a Film Simulation Dial that can lead you to richly colored, evocative shots with ease.

I’ll be reviewing the camera in due course, but first impressions are very strong.

The Fujifilm X-M5 goes on sale on Nov. 14 for $799 body-only, £799 in the U.K.—a great price for a camera this accomplished.

David Phelan