June 30, 2025

A Short Hike with my Fuji XT-5

Two weeks ago, I got my dream camera. When I was first thinking about going mirrorless, the camera I was most drawn to was the just-announced Fujifilm XT-5. There was no way I could justify that purchase at the time, so I went with Micro Four Thirds via Lumix and have generally been happy. However, a few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to get my hands on the XT-5, and I jumped at it. I’ve spent the last two weeks tweaking settings (which was surprisingly daunting) and setting up some recipes. Although I shoot RAW, I was excited at the possibility of shooting only JPEGs and relying on the camera’s 40MP sensor for casual outings. Although the menus and settings had me close to tears in frustration in the first couple of days, I’ve finally gotten the hang of it, and I think I’ve landed on a pretty good starting point.

First Impressions

I've been shooting with my GX9 for the better part of a year, and its small form factor is something that I've become accustomed to. The size of the XT-5, while not huge, still took some getting used to. However, this also means the camera can house a larger battery— something that I didn’t realize I’d been missing dearly. With MFT, I always had to keep 2-3 batteries on me if I was going to spend the day (or even just the afternoon) shooting. Although I haven’t been out for a full day with my XT-5 yet, I can already tell the difference. I’ve gone days without charging it, only to find the battery level hovering around 65% after regular, daily use. I’ll eventually get some spare batteries for the summer road trip we’re planning, but it’s nice knowing that the battery life isn’t going to be an issue.

And, of course, film simulations. I love the idea of film simulations. Even if I’m still planning on editing from RAW, getting a preview of what my shot will look like is something I didn’t realize would be so useful. I’ve a keener eye now that I’m getting a real-time preview. And while we’re on the subject of presets, I’ve also been spiraling down the recipe rabbit hole. Being able to zero in on adjustments in camera has made editing so much faster. Big shoutout to Fuji X Weekly for that. I get it now.

Finally, having 40MP is awesome. This sounds so vapid because I’m the last person to care about megapixel count, but I have to admit that knowing how much more I can get away with in post is such a sigh of relief. Also, it simply feels nice having something new. I have a soft spot for older gear, but man, having the current flagship model of something is nice.

Why Fuji?

The long and short of it comes down to compatibility, lens options, and third-party support. Over the last few years, I’ve found myself disappointed with the general lack of support for MFT systems. I like trying new things, especially novelty lenses and filters. There have been many instances where I’ve felt like an outsider looking in on fresh, new things that weren't made for MFT. When I first went mirrorless, this was nothing I was concerned with, but I eventually felt like I was missing out. I think that’s part of the reason I’ve gone through bouts of acquiring different bits of gear: I was trying to find the thing that I felt I was missing. I finally feel like I have that with this camera, and that to me is worth the switch alone.

Finally, I wanted a larger sensor. There was never really a defining moment where I felt like the MFT crop factor was a detriment to my photos, but I certainly felt limited at times and I knew that I could benefit from something larger, especially when it comes to cropping photos. I don’t need (or particularly want) a full-frame sensor, so APS-C felt right.

I said he looks happy, but Andrew thinks he looks miserable lol

Speaking of having acquired quite a bit of gear, I plan on selling much of it, including my trusty G95 and some of my lesser-used lenses. With this new camera, I feel like I can offload a lot of the things that I’ve accumulated with no regrets. I'm so ready for the breathing room.

My Current Kit

I'm currently using a Viltrox 23mm f/1.4 lens, which works out to a 35mm full-frame equivalent. So far, I'm really happy with the lens, though I have already managed to scratch the front element. Luckily, I didn't spend much on it, and the scratch hasn't seemed to impact my photos. One of my favorite things about the lens isn't only the IQ, but also the cost, especially considering that it's an autofocus lens. Like I mentioned before, I'm really looking forward to exploring more third-party options.

It goes without saying, however, that I'm also really looking forward to using some Fuji glass. I have the Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 coming in, which will give me ~50mm focal length. I only really shoot at 50mm when I'm shooting film, so this will be a fun change of pace.

These are just some of my first impressions, so I know I can't sing its praises just yet, but I can say that I feel myself falling into stride much more quickly than I expected. So here's to that.