Fujifilm X-T5 set to launch soon – and it could be the year’s most exciting camera
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Fujifilm has had a great year, but it’s apparently not over yet. According to some strong rumors, it’s planning to launch the Fujifilm X-T5 next month – and the mid-range all-rounder has the potential to become the most exciting camera of the year.
The source of this speculation is, as always, the reliable Fuji Rumors (opens in new tab), with the site claiming that Fujifilm will “announce the Fujifilm X-T5 in November” and that the camera will also ship in the same month. There is a degree of certainty about these claims that is rarely misplaced.
So why is the X-T5 possibly the biggest camera launch of the year? After all, we’ve seen some brilliant newcomers since January – two of which were the Fujifilm X-H2S and the Fujifilm X-H2. Add in the Canon EOS R7 and Canon EOS R10 for stills, and the Panasonic Lumix GH6 and Sony FX30 for video, and it’s already been 10 big months for an industry apparently plagued by supply chain problems.
The great potential of the X-T5 is that, of all the big launches this year, it could be the most affordable sweet spot for photographers. Since no major specs have been leaked for the X-T5 yet, the word “would” does a lot of work in that sense. But the promise is very clear when you look at the models from which the XT is likely to derive its talents.
The current Fujifilm X-T4 remains high in our guide to the best cameras for photography. When it launched in 2020, our review stated that “no other camera in this class matches the low-light performance or the resolved details of the X-T4”. That claim would now be disputed by the Canon EOS R7, but the X-T4 remains a good value at its $1,699 / £1,549 / AU$2,999 price tag.
But the X-T5 is likely to bring big changes, including a new sensor. According to Fuji Rumors (opens in new tab), this won’t be the ‘stacked’ APS-C chip in the X-H2S, but rather the 40MP that’s in the X-H2. That is good news; we wrap up our testing of the X-H2 and (spoiler alert) it sets a new benchmark for APS-C sensors.
So how will the X-T5 differ from the X-H2, which costs $1,999 / £1,899 / AU$3,399 (body only)? It looks like the main differences will be in the X-T5’s controls and slightly more amateur setup. The X-T5 is expected to use Fujifilm’s retro dials for changing settings such as ISO and shutter speed, rather than the X-H2’s ‘PASM’ (Program, Auto, Shutter, Manual) approach.
The mid-range X-T5 will also certainly be less pro-leaning than the X-H2 in a few key areas. Expect to see dual SD card slots, instead of the faster and more expensive CFexpress, plus a smaller grip, an inferior electronic viewfinder (perhaps the 3.68-million dot one in the X-T4), limited video recording times and no optional battery grip . All of these things should theoretically get the X-T5 in the margins of the X-T4’s launch price of $1,699 / £1,549 / AU$2,999.
This mix of features wouldn’t really make the Fujifilm X-T5 unique. But its trump card compared to its rivals will likely be the variety of high-quality glass available from Fujifilm and, increasingly, third-party brands…
The glass is greener
When choosing the right camera, you should always look at the system’s lenses to see if they are the best fit for the things you enjoy shooting. Sony continues to offer the best range of glass for full-frame cameras and Fujifilm is now moving into pole position for APS-C cameras.
The range of lenses available for the X mount is certainly not perfect – there is a gaping hole at the longer end for some telephoto lenses such as an XF300mm f/4, XF400mm f/4 or an XF500mm f/5.6. And, more importantly for the X-T5, the system needs a lot more ‘Mark II’ lenses like the recent XF56mm f/1.2 R WR to really make the most of that 40MP resolution, even if Fuji claims (opens in new tab) that 20 existing lenses can get the “maximum benefit” from its extra detail.
Still, some of the X-series key primes – including the XF23mm f/1.4 R LM WR and XF33mm f/1.4 R LM WR – have now been updated. Most importantly, the X mount has now been opened up so that third-party manufacturers can fill some of the gaps or provide cheaper alternatives to Fuji’s own lenses. For example, Viltrox recently launched an excellent XF13mm f/1.4 lens for astrophotography, while Sigma kicked off with three prime lenses of its own.
Here, the Fujifilm X-T5 could potentially have an advantage over one of its closest rivals, the Canon EOS R7. The EOS R7 is an excellent camera with excellent autofocus – an area the X-T5 may struggle to match – making it one of the best wildlife photography cameras out there for its price. But it’s also been crippled by a lack of native lenses, along with Canon’s mind-boggling decision to keep the RF mount closed to third-party manufacturers.
With Sony seemingly uninterested in making a mid-range mirrorless camera for photographers – even if a hybrid version of the Sony FX30 now seems likely – the X-T5 could be the closest thing to a powerful, focused workhorse at a reasonable price. price this year.
As always, the proof will be in testing, and there are plenty of ways Fujifilm can snatch mediocrity from the jaws of greatness with the X-T5. But if you’re an avid photographer looking for a new camera, November can end the year with an unexpectedly loud bang.