Is The Fujifilm X-T5 THE Best APS-C Camera of 2023?
I’ve spent the duration of March traveling to conferences over on the West Coast. WPPI or the Wedding and Portrait Photographer International Conference in Las Vegas at the beginning of the month, and Outer Edge in Los Angeles at the end of it. Knowing that I’d be spending a good amount of time traveling, I was looking for a way to have a minimal camera kit where I could keep my bags to a minimum. Looking at my current selection of bodies, I love my Sony bodies but I wanted something even smaller than my Alpha 7R IV (this was before the ZV-E1 was announced). Looking at alternatives, I ultimately landed on the Fujifilm X-T5, a 40MP APS-C powerhouse that fit their classic camera aesthetic compared to its flagship twin sibling, the Fujifilm X-H2.
Small Soldier, Big Power
The Fujifilm X-T5, a flagship APS-C sensor mirrorless camera, was released in November 2022, and replaces the two-year-old X-T4. Compared to the X-T4, the X-T5 is around 20% smaller, and it has a more ergonomic grip, making it easier to handle for extended periods. It's also relatively lightweight, making it easy to carry around all day. The X-T5 brings back an articulating screen that swivels both up and down as well and tilts out to the side for vertical composition. For someone who is solely interested with photography with this camera, that already is great compared to the screens that swing out for video use, which the X-H2 family uses. The body features dials for ISO, shutter speed and has a physical aperture dial on my 23mm (35mm full frame equivalent) f/2 lens. Paired with an even smaller lens, like the 27mm f/2.8 gives the camera package a footprint similar to the impossible to find Fujifilm X100V. Having that tactile feedback feels great in the hands and forces me to be even more present about what I’m shooting. The small size meant that it was very easy to pack away into my bag without taking up that much space.
There is a button next to the shutter that offers quick access to wi-fi features, which connects to Fuji’s Cam Remote app, which out of all the camera apps I’ve used isn’t as good as Canon’s but way better than Sony’s. Transfer speeds of JPEGs to my iPhone 14 Pro Max are painfully slow, which bottlenecks what otherwise is a wonderful experience to share images instantly.
Flagship Resolution
The Fujifilm X-T5 has a 40.2-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 High Resolution back-side illuminated (BSI) sensor, which ensures outstanding image quality and sharpness. The BSI design helps to maximize the sensor's light-gathering capacity, which translates to better low-light performance, and the advanced X-Processor 5 image processing engine ensures fast and accurate image processing. This is their newest processor and part of why I leaned to the X-T5. The high resolution ensures that if I need or want to shoot for professional uses, it’s always an option. It’s really powerful, and combined with the film emulations available, make it customizable to create your own look in camera.
Rounding out features that made the X-T5 ideal for travel was its autofocus. Even in bursts walking on the strip between lights, it was able to find its subject and lock in. Being used as a travel and street camera, tracking subjects casually is right in it’s wheelhouse. Trying to track a more active subject, not so much compared to something like my R IV and that’s fine. Knowing what a camera is meant for helps so much in enjoying using it. So when I was on the Las Vegas Strip, or taking photos of panels in LA, it hit its mark every time. It does offer 4K video features which includes F-LOG and F-LOG 2 for capturing footage in a flat camera profile to be color graded later or can be shot using one of the various film emulations, which is useful in a pinch, and having DCI 4K as an option gives you a bit more perspective on the sides when recording.
Conclusion
Overall, the Fujifilm X-T5 is a powerful camera capable of incredible performance with its 40MP resolution, film emulations, dual SD card slots and connectivity features. It fits easily into your bag and can hold its own as a street photographer’s daily driver or professional portrait photographer’s main tool. I’d recommend it easily for someone looking for something extremely portable and looking for more versatility (and availability) than the X100V.
