Fujifilm has unveiled a new video-focused mirrorless camera for beginners, the X-M5. It’s absolutely small and very powerful, being Fujifilm’s smallest and lightest X-series camera (in its current lineup), while packing video features ranging from 6K video in colorful 10-bit to an all-new 9:16 vertical video mode.
As with the X-T50, you get Fujifilm’s popular film simulations at your fingertips, twenty in total, accessible via a dial on top of the camera. And the retro aesthetic doesn’t start and end with the camera dials; the faux leather finish is the classic Fujifilm look that many makers have come to love.
Starting at $799 / £799 / AU$1,449 for the body only, the X-M5 joins the X-T30 II as the cheapest X-series camera available. It features better video features and Fujifilm’s latest autofocus algorithms, with improved AF for subject detection. However, the X-T30 II seems to be a better choice for photographers as it has a viewfinder for composition.
Overall the X-M5 offers incredible value for money, so is this the perfect starter camera? I’ve already shared more thoughts in my hands-on review of the X-M5, and my conclusion is that while there’s a lot to like about the camera, it’s missing one key feature.
If I had one wish
The X-M5 is a feature-packed camera and you’ll struggle to find a better hybrid camera for the money. In addition to 6K internal 10-bit video recording, you get 4K video at cinematic 60 fps plus slow-motion 240 fps recording in 1080p resolution.
There are also a few firsts for Fujifilm. The to call for fast and reliable uploads. That high-resolution 6K video also offers enough detail for a new 9:16 vertical video mode (see image below) that records at 1080p resolution without having to rotate the camera, along with recording time presets for social media.
These are all great features for content creators, and the combination of 26MP APS-C sensor and X-Processor 5 engine is exactly the same as in the more expensive Fujifilm X-S20. So the X-M5 is definitely a hit? Well, not quite.
As a video-focused model, the X-M5 sits below the X-S20, and the two models actually share many of the same features despite the large price difference. While the X-M5 costs $799 / £799 / AU$1,449 or $899 / £899 / AU$1,649 with the 15-45mm kit lens, the
So where do the two models differ? Mainly in terms of design. I unpacked this further in my hands-on review, but the one major feature the X-M5 lacks is in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to make handheld videos smoother. No entry-level camera has this feature, but the X-M5 is different So states that the absence of IBIS is noticeable. It has digital image stabilization instead, which is much less effective, as well as imposing a minimum image area crop of 1.32x.
Of course, there are other reasons why the X-S20 costs more. But if I had to add one feature to the X-M5, it would be IBIS. With that feature it would feel complete video camera for beginners. Add to that the small form factor, combined with the likes of the 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens, and it would also be a powerful walkaround camera for photography. Still, the X-M5 is a super-impressive addition to Fujifilm’s retro range of mirrorless cameras, and it hits shelves on November 14.