Fujifilm X-M5 First Look Review

Fujifilm launches into the creator-sphere with their first entry into this product category. At the time of release, it is the most powerful camera at this price point - but will it stand the test of time for users or are they better to look further up the line? We answer this and more in our hands-on review!

[@ChrisBrogan]

I have the x-T5 as my main camera. I have a Ricoh GRiiiX as my "pocket" camera. This thing gives me a very strong urge to sell the Ricoh and get this, for slightly bigger but still pocket level size (seems like) and the fact I could share lenses. Gah. I thought I was over this.

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

Ricoh is dead, they refuse to listen to their customers. I vote for you to move on

[@opiapr]

Thinking the same. I have My Big Sonys an I love my Ricoh but I want something almost as compact but a bit more robust.

[@animaxxx4429]

How does it compare to zve10m2 in terms of image quality in log, 4k60 overheating and battery. Seems like no one mentioning about it.

[@ZeitouniJad]

Fuji did it again with this camera , a lot of value packed in a small body. Xtrans , open gate , 4k60, flog2.

[@vistek]

Thanks for the great comment!

[@KevinlyFather]

Great review. And I always appreciate Canadian content, especially since I'll be using my next camera to shoot some hockey games. Thanks. I'm looking for a camera that can be my everyday video option but also handle green screen really well. Looks like it's got good specs for the 10bit 4:2:2 and I'm wondering if this would be your choice for a less expensive green screening option compared to the Sony ZV-E1 or the FX30. Thanks.

[@SeanWashPhoto]

Apologies if this is a non-sequitur, but it's important to recognize that this product does not compete with other cameras. This product is competing with your phone. It's trying to make the case that using Fujifilm X-M5 will be a significant improvement over creating content with your phone. Depending on the person, that may be true, but that's the purpose of these products and products like this (Sony ZV series.) Once you have that perspective, these cameras make a whole lot more sense.

[@vistek]

Thanks for the comment. I very much agree, and so not a non-sequitur at all. Very on point.

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

I disagree it's competing with your smartphone aanndd other vlogger cameras like the Sony ZV Line and the Panasonic S9, which with its features I'll tale the X-M5 everyday over the Sony ZV for $200 less and especially less than the train wreck of a launch that was the Panasonic S9 which is $700 more expensive than this little beast. (And yes even after the update)

[@ThePatGoGo]

​@@CallMeRabbitzUSVILet see how auto focus work first then this camera can compare to sony.

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

@@ThePatGoGo Honestly, I've seen edvards videos and Fujifilm autofocus does pale in comparison to Sony's. I'm still rocking my X-H2 on almost release software since the AF was much better then. I think its intentional that Fuji nerfed its autofocus in order to not compete with Sony (Which supplies all of their Sensors)

[@Currrn]

Does it come with an option to go for the kit lens in silver? I’ve only seen pics of the black with it.

[@JayCatterson]

@@Currrn apparently it’s only sold with the black one. Which is a shame.

[@Lifeof-Jo]

I love the silver lens

[@attilaishere_barcelona7935]

Great video, thanks! Might just the thingy I need... 🤔I'll keep my eyes peeled for the production model review.

[@vistek]

Thanks for the comment!

[@snarkyguy]

I wasn't initially interested in this cameras as I've got an X-T5 for my stills, but I am starting to consider it to replace my Sony ZV-1 as it's got a bigger sensor and I can use my existing Fuji glass with it.

[@orduenshambe4891]

Does it shoot 4:2:2 4k 60fps?

[@vistek]

Yes!

[@JayCatterson]

Even though I have the X-T50… why do I want this camera?! Hahahaha 💸

[@darsanvikas]

It's a good thing Fujifilm has produced an affordable, high-quality camera. However, it's unfortunate that the lenses cost twice as much as the camera.

[@vistek]

Thanks for the comment, darsanvikas. There are a number of reasons that this might be the case - one is the optical quality of Fujinon lenses. Sure, not all are runaway bangers, but overall Fujinon lenses have a higher standard of quality - inline with Zeiss, or Leitz optics. So in that way, good will never be cheap, though I do recognize that Fujifilm/Fujinon has to make some value-oriented glass for new photographers/filmmakers. The other is the simple cost or R&D & production - much of the tech that goes into the X-M5, has already been flushed out in their other cameras, so the consumer isn't having to offset the R&D costs for a model like this, whereas there is probably a much larger R&D offset cost to cameras like the GFX 100, or the X-H2 series cameras. This of course, is just my opinion based on my understanding of the economics of the industry.

[@okthen8445]

It is not the first of its kind. There’s the XM1 for example

[@vistek]

Thanks for keeping me honest. Yes, not the first in the M series, but the first to offer a design and spec assortment to match what other brands have started to do in the last 3-4 years. I wasn't aware I had to be so painfully specific ... but here we are. :)

[@ourtvchannel]

What a load of rubbish. It's just another bad focusing fuji camera.

[@jaymills1720]

AF is hot 🥵 🗑️

[@spritual_enlightenment]

Without EVF, no advantage over competition.

[@vistek]

I think that just depends on what the user's needs are. If an EVF makes a camera "better," then this product category isn't really ever going to be of interest to that user anyways. We could compare it to the Canon R50, but from a tech perspective the R50 is laughably underpowered compared to the X-M5, with the only advantage of the R50 being the EVF...

[@CallMeRabbitzUSVI]

With a Real Mechanical shutter, an actual hot shoe, open Gate 6.2k RAW recording, Flash sync support, Microphone AND headphone jack, and a healthy ecosystem of first party/third party lenses. Yeah I would say this definitely has an advantage over the competition

[@POVwithRC]

Not a very enlightened take

[@thomasanderson5929]

This camera is bad; no IBIS?! Just get a Micro Four Thirds camera like an OM System OM-5 if you want a SMALL camera; has IBIS, has an EVF, better and smaller lenses.

[@vistek]

Hi Thomas, I totally get that it might be baffling - the exclusion of IBIS. There are many reasons for this, and as I mentioned in the video - every camera at this price point (at least the APS-C sensors) all exclude IBIS. One is, that it keeps costs down, and as you eluded to, keeps the size down as well. There are also many reasons why someone may still choose this over M43. One is their preference to a Fujifilm image, film simulations, or just the little bite wider FOV of APS-C. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of M43 for many reasons - but that doesn't mean that I think M43 is an automatic solution, or is immediately a better choice for people. Things like EVF are an issue, but not necessarily for the people who this camera is geared towards. As for lenses, I'd advise caution on the assumption that M43 lenses are "better." Better is a moving target, and is highly subjective.