Fujifilm X-T5 Review

Fujifilm X-T5 Preview -- Now Shooting!

Fujifilm returns to its roots with the new 40MP X-T5 camera

by  Jeremy Gray
Preview posted: 11/02/2022

Updates:
11/21/2022: First Shots sample images added
12/22/2022: Gallery Images added

Fujifilm launched the X-T series in 2014 with the original X-T1. The 16MP camera offered customers a weather-resistant, high-end APS-C mirrorless camera with an SLR-style body. The camera kickstarted a very popular camera series for Fujifilm, with the X-T2, X-T3 and X-T4 launching in 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively. Right on schedule, the long-anticipated X-T5 is here.

Like its predecessors, the X-T5 builds upon existing features while delivering numerous new ones. The X-T5 might be the biggest improvement the X-T series has ever seen, thanks in large part to its 5th-generation imaging system comprised of the X-Trans CMOS 5 HR and X-Processor 5. It's the same 40MP image sensor featured in the new Fujifilm X-H2 flagship camera.

The X-T5 also comes full circle by offering an improved EVF over its predecessor. One of the original X-T1's key features was its large 0.77x EVF with only 0.005s display lag. The X-T5 offers an even larger 0.8x EVF that promises 100fps blackout-free performance.

There's a lot more to the X-T5 than its 40MP image sensor and 0.8x EVF, so let's dig in and see what Fujifilm's exciting new camera offers.

Fujifilm X-T5 key features and specifications

• APS-C mirrorless camera
• 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR image sensor
• Native ISO range of 125-12,800, expandable to 64-51,200
• Shoots at up to 15 frames per second with mechanical shutter and 20 fps with electronic shutter
• 1/8000s mechanical shutter with reduced shutter lag
• New IBIS unit that delivers up to 7 stops of shake correction
• New autofocus algorithms and subject detection AF modes
• 1.4x and 2x digital teleconverter
• 160MP Pixel-Shift shooting mode
• 0.8x 3.69M dot EVF
• Three-way tilting touchscreen
• New grip design and improved ergonomics
• 6.2K/30p and 4K/60p video
• 4:2:2 10-bit video and F-Log2
• External RAW video recording via HDMI
• 740-frame battery life

Design and usability: Classic Fujifilm dials on a compact camera body

If you lamented the lack of dials on the X-H2 and X-H2S, then the good news, the X-T5 sticks with the classic Fujifilm design, complete with dedicated shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation dials. That's not to say there aren't any changes, though, as the X-T5 includes some small but significant changes to operability.

The first big change is a significantly improved grip. The X-T5 fits better into the hand than the X-T4 and should deliver a more comfortable shooting experience. In a similar spirit, the X-T5 includes larger buttons on the back. To the left of the EVF are the delete and playback buttons, and to the right of the EVF are AF ON and Q buttons flanking the rear command dial. And while the top deck includes the same dedicated dials as before, the shutter release has been moved further toward the front of the camera, improving the overall ergonomics. The dual command dials, which retain their "click" secondary feature, deliver an improved feel.

Returning to the EVF, this is another area of improvement. The X-T5's EVF uses the same 3.69M dot panel as the X-T4 but includes better visibility against eye position shift, better eye point, and higher magnification (0.8x versus 0.75x). The refresh rate remains the same at up to 100 frames per second, although the eye sensor reaction time has been basically cut in half when moving from the LCD to the EVF.

The rear display retains its three-way tilting design, first introduced in the X-T2. The display appears to be the same, meaning it's a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen with 1.62M dots. By the way, the front of the camera still has the focus drive mode switch, allowing easy switching between manual, single-shot and continuous autofocus. Alongside removing the ability to "click" the command dials, the X-H2(S) also removed the direct focus mode switch. However, you can easily program that function to the Fn button that replaced the switch.

Despite the larger grip and other changes to the camera's design, the X-T5 is lighter than the X-T4 by about 50 grams. That may not seem like a big change, but it should be felt when picking up the cameras. The change also required engineers to scrutinize every component of the camera. Part of the X-T5's weight loss is due to a reduction in volume. The camera's dimensions (W x H x D) are 129.5 x 91.0 x 63.8 millimeters (5.09 x 3.58 x 2.51 inches). The X-T4's dimensions are 134.6 x 92.8 x 63.8mm (5.3 x 3.65 x 2.51 in.). Each camera's minimum depth is the same at 37.9mm (1.49 in.). That's about a 5% reduction in volume alongside a roughly 8% weight reduction.

The Fujifilm X-T5 doesn't represent a radical departure in design philosophy from the prior X-T cameras, which is likely precisely what X-T shooters want. However, while it may look like the X-T4, the X-T5 introduces a better grip, improved EVF, and more user-friendly controls while shaving off a couple of ounces and a bit of width and height.

Image sensor: The X-T5 takes the X-T series to new high-res heights

One of the key changes introduced in the X-T5 is its new image sensor. The image sensor is the same one as is featured in the new X-H2 camera. The 40-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 5 HR image sensor is backside-illuminated but not stacked. The X-T4 used the X-Trans CMOS 4, a 26MP image sensor, the same sensor as the X-T3 used. The X-T5 features the first new X-T series sensor since 2018. While the X-Trans CMOS 4 is a fantastic sensor, the X-T5's 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR promises significantly more resolution and better overall image quality.

The sensor, the highest-res sensor ever featured in an X-T series camera, is designed primarily for landscape, portraiture, and other slow-moving subjects. I say "slow-moving" only because the stacked sensor in the X-H2S shoots extremely fast, meaning it's ideal for sports and fast-moving wildlife. However, regarding wildlife, I suspect the X-T5 will be a popular choice for a few reasons. More on that in a bit.

The X-T5's base ISO starts at 125 and extends to ISO 12,800 within the native range. If you need more flexibility, the extended range goes from ISO 64 to ISO 51,200. As for dynamic range, we don't have exact specifications, but it's fair to expect the X-T5 to be among the best APS-C cameras on the market concerning DR performance.

The APS-C image sensor already offers a 1.5x crop factor, which is great for getting more length out of telephoto lenses such as the new XF 150-600mm super-tele zoom. That makes Fuji X Series cameras great choices for wildlife photography. Getting close enough to your subject is often very challenging, so the crop factor helps. The 40MP image sensor also plays a role here, as the X-T5 can leverage its high-resolution sensor to deliver a digital teleconverter feature. You can extend your reach even further by using 1.4x or 2x digital TC options without sacrificing light-gathering or AF speed as you would with real teleconverters. You don't get 40MP resolution anymore but imagine the XF 150-600mm lens with the 2x digital teleconverter. With the standard 1.5x APS-C crop, it has just over 900mm of reach. Add in the 2x digital TC, and you're looking at nearly 2,000mm. That small bird just got a whole lot bigger.

What if you don't want more reach but more resolution? Thanks to the 40MP sensor and advanced in-body image stabilization system, you can do that too. The X-T5, like the X-H2, includes a 160MP Multi-Shot Pixel-Shift shooting mode. By slightly moving the sensor and capturing a series of images, you can stitch together 20 images using Fujifilm's software on your desktop computer into a single highly detailed image.

Autofocus and performance

Returning to wildlife photography, the X-T5 will likely be popular due to its significantly improved autofocus performance and technology. Like the X-H2S and X-H2, the X-T5 incorporates deep learning technology to deliver better predictive autofocus and more reliable AF tracking. The X-T5 includes subject detection for numerous common subjects, such as animals, birds, cars, bikes, airplanes and trains. The higher-res sensor also includes a 50% increase in the number of phase-detect autofocus pixels, which results in better AF performance when photographing subjects with fine textures like fur and feathers. The increase in PDAF pixels also aids with focusing on grass and trees.

The X-T5 also includes face and eye-detect autofocus. Like the X-H2(S), we suspect there'll be different menu options for face/eye and human subject detection, which is a somewhat confusing part of the UI. Nonetheless, with improved AF algorithms and new subject detection, the X-T5 promises major improvements over the X-T4 concerning autofocus performance. The X-T5 delivers full 100% AF coverage and can focus down to -7 EV, the same as its predecessor.

When using the mechanical shutter, the X-T5 delivers the same shooting speed as the X-T4 despite increasing megapixels. The camera tops out at 15fps when using the MS. The buffer depth has increased for JPEGs, although it decreased slightly for uncompressed raw images. However, if you shoot compressed raw, performance is about the same, with both cameras capturing just under 40 frames before the buffer fills. By the way, the JPEG buffer is 119 frames for the X-T5 and 110 for the X-T4.

If you're after more speed, you can use the electronic shutter with a crop. The ES on the X-T5 allows for up to 20fps continuous shooting with a small crop factor. The X-T4 could shoot at up to 30fps using its electronic shutter with the same 1.2x crop factor.

While shooting speeds are very impressive, the difference in buffer depths is a major one that separates the X-T5 from the X-H2. While both cameras feature the same X-Processor 5 and the same 40MP image sensor, the X-H2 uses CFexpress Type B, whereas the X-T5 sticks with the dual UHS-II SD card slots of the X-T4. The difference in storage media is felt most acutely concerning buffer clearance.

There's a lot shared between the flagship X-H2 and the new X-T5, though, including the in-body image stabilization system. The system promises up to 7 stops of shake correction, a 0.5-stop improvement over the X-T4. Of course, the new IBIS also powers the pixel-shift mode mentioned earlier.

Video: 6.2K/30p and 4K/60p highlight impressive video features

There are many positives to discuss with the X-T5 and its promised video features, so let's get one big negative out of the way first. The camera, despite having the resolution, doesn't shoot 8K/30p video. The X-H2 does. If you want 8K, you'll need to step up to the X-H2. Otherwise, the X-T5 still packs a lot of punch in the video department.

The camera records internal 4:2:2 10-bit 6.2K resolution video at up to 30p and DCI4K video at up to 60p. It can also do ProRes RAW and Blackmagic RAW when recording externally via HDMI (it's a Type D port, by the way, not the full-size HDMI Type A found on the X-H2(S)). The X-T5 also includes F-Log2, promising 13+ stops of dynamic range.

As for continuous recording times, the camera isn't quite as capable as the X-H2 series cameras due to a lack of compatibility with the optional cooling fan, but performance still impresses. The camera can continuously shoot 90 minutes of 6.2K/30p video at ambient temperatures at 25 C (7. For 4K/60p, the time dips a bit to 60 minutes, which is still good.

Plus, the X-T5's new IBIS and improved autofocus should pay dividends during video recording, so the X-T5 promises to improve over the X-T4 significantly. The X-T4's video resolution tops out at 4K, and the camera offers only 4:2:0 10-bit video with about 12 stops of dynamic range, so there are also video quality improvements with Fuji's latest camera.

Fujifilm X-T5 versus X-T4

While not an exhaustive breakdown, we wanted to highlight some key differences between the new X-T5 and its predecessor, the popular X-T4.

Image sensor: This is a big one. The X-T5 includes a 40MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR image sensor, whereas the X-T4 features Fuji's 26MP X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor. The X-T5's native ISO also starts at 125 (versus 160), while its native ISO tops out at the same 12,800 setting as the X-T4.

Features: The X-T5 includes a pixel-shift shooting mode that produces a 160MP image. The X-T4 includes no such mode. The X-T5 also leverages its higher-resolution sensor to deliver 1.4x and 2x digital teleconverter modes, which should aid with sports and wildlife photography.

Autofocus: With improved AF algorithms and AI-powered subject detection, the X-T5 promises better autofocus performance than the X-T4.

Performance: Both cameras shoot at up to 15 frames per second using their mechanical shutters. The X-T4 can shoot at up to 30 fps with a crop using its electronic shutter, whereas the X-T5 tops out at 20 fps. Buffer depths are similar with both cameras, as they each rely on UHS-II SD cards. However, considering the increase in megapixels, maintaining performance is impressive. The X-T5 uses the same X Processor 5 as the X-H2(S), whereas the X-T4 has Fuji's X Processor 4.

Video: The X-T5 offers better-quality video at higher resolutions (6.2K versus 4K) than the X-T4. The X-T5 records 4:2:2 10-bit video with up to 13+ stops of dynamic range, while the X-T4 shoots 4:2:0 10-bit video with 12 stops of DR.

Usability: The X-T5 has a more powerful IBIS unit than the X-T4 (7 stops versus 6.5 stops). The X-T5 retains the dial-driven design while delivering a more compact, lighter form factor, higher-magnification EVF, and improved grip and ergonomics. Unlike the X-T4, the X-T5 is not compatible with a vertical grip. However, another advantage of the X-T5 is its improved battery life (740 versus 600 frames).

Fujifilm X-T5 versus X-H2

The Fujifilm X-H2 is a natural comparison for the X-T5, given that both cameras include the same image sensor and processor combo. However, the X-H2 is more expensive ($2,000 versus $1,700) and is aimed at a slightly different audience. The X-H2 is geared toward pros, although we think that many will also use the X-T5.

Performance: The X-T5 and X-H2 shoot at the same speeds (15 fps with MS and 20 fps with ES), but because the X-H2 has a CFexpress Type B slot, its buffer depths are significantly better (1000+ JPEG and 400 raw images). This is potentially the biggest difference between the X-H2 and the new X-T5, especially for photographers looking to photograph any sort of action.

Usability: This is a section that could be a bit polarizing. The X-H2 ditches the traditional dials of many Fujifilm cameras in favor of a standard mode dial, more like what you see on cameras from other manufacturers. It's faster, but some Fuji users find it lacks the charm and enjoyability of direct dial control. The X-T5 sticks with the shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation dials of the X-T4. Which is better? Depends on the user. The X-H2 has some indisputable advantages, including a higher-res 5.76M dot EVF with 120fps refresh rate, separate headphone and mic inputs, a full-size HDMI port, and faster storage, an optional cooling fan and optional vertical grip. The X-T5 can use an optional hand grip with an integrated Arca-Swiss design, although it's different from a full-blown vertical grip with controls.

Video: There are some differences here, too, primarily that the X-H2 records 8K/30p video while the X-T5 shoots at just 6.2K. Of course, for many users, 6.2K is plenty of resolution. The X-H2 also supports the optional cooling fan, and, as mentioned above, has a better port selection.

Fujifilm X-T5 release date and price

The Fujifilm X-T5 will be available for $1,699 beginning November 17. The X-T5 will also be sold in two kits, one with an XF 18-55mm lens for $2,099 and a second kit with the XF 16-80mm lens for $2,199.