The X-T5: Should I upgrade from my X-T2?

Welcome to the family X-T5!

Fujifilm X-T1 to the X-T5

Fujifilm X-T5 is 3 generations newer than my venerable X-T2. It is a camera designed specifically for photographers who want to capture high-quality photos. How much better is it than my X-T2?

Here are the main features of the X-T5

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a photography-focused camera that features a five-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system that provides up to 7.0 stops of compensation and a 3.69 million dot EVF with an 0.8x magnification ratio. The camera body only weighs 557g (1.23lb), making it lightweight and easy to carry around. The X-T5 has dedicated dials for shutter speed, ISO, and exposure compensation, as well as a pair of command dials. The higher pixel count increases the number of phase detection pixels, which improves AF-S focusing accuracy on subjects including landscapes and portraits. The camera also incorporates an improved AF prediction algorithm, newly developed for the X-H2S, enabling stable focusing even when using AF-C.

The X-T5 has a two-way tilting rear screen mechanism that works well for composing off-axis shots in both landscape and portrait orientations. It is narrower than the X-T4 by 5.1mm and shorter by 1.8mm, bringing it closer to the size of the original X-T1 and film cameras it aped. The grip has been redesigned for better handling. The camera uses the same processor as the latest X-H cameras but must be making some performance compromises for the sake of a compact body with a smaller internal cooling system. Vlogging be damned, Fujifilm made other conscious decisions to cater to photographers who favor traditional street-style cameras of older X-T models.

The new model is 30 grams lighter than the X-T4 and nearly the same dimensions as the original X-T1 but still thicker, which reverses Fujifilm’s trend of slowly growing these cameras over time. While it looks like its predecessors, it continues with classic looks/dedicated dials approach that many X-series photographers have come to love. With all those advanced features inside the well-loved X-T style, it looks like quite a promising camera.

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a mirrorless camera that features a 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR BSI sensor, which provides unrivaled image quality in a timeless, classic, and beloved camera body. The camera has an ISO range of 125-12,800 (exp 64-51,200) and shutter speeds of 1/180000-30secs (electronic). It also has a five-axis in-body image stabilization system that provides up to 7.0 stops of compensation and a 3.69 million dot EVF with an 0.8x magnification ratio. The X-T5 handles much like its predecessors, favoring manual dials in sensible positions to help you take full control of your image-making.

The Fujifilm X-T5 can shoot video at 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 6.2K/30P or 4K/60p webcam mode. It has a dual UHS card slot for up to two SD cards and weighs only 476g (body only). The camera has a micro HDMI port and a 3.5mm microphone jack. The X-T series has always been more about the photography experience than bleeding-edge technology, but the Fujifilm X-T5 certainly isn't found wanting when it comes to features.

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The Fujifilm X-T5's image quality is nigh-on identical to that of the X-H2, which means it's among the best you can find on an APS-C sensor camera. However, its high resolution isn't completely without compromise as the size of those files and the absence of a CFexpress card slot mean that the X-T5's buffer is limited for raw burst shooting. Still, it offers continuous shooting at up to15fps with limited buffer capacity.

The Fujifilm X-T5 is lightweight yet high-performance with weather-sealed points for high levels of dust and moisture resistance. It can operate in temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F). Thanks to the reduced power consumption of the X-Processor 5, battery life for still images has been significantly increased from approximately 600 to740 frames compared to the previous model.

To upgrade or not to upgrade? That is the question!

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a significant upgrade from the X-T2, especially in the autofocus department. The X-T5's sensor provides 16.2MP more than the X-T2's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. I could print my images larger or crop more freely. However, keep in mind that maximum sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size, and sensor technology also affect the final resolution of the captured image.

Staying with the Fujifilm X-T series and keeping my Fujifilm X-T2 as a second camera with mostly the same ergonomics is also an option. If I upgrade to the Fujifilm X-H series, it will give me a path to go to Fujifilm's next-generation camera if and when you need speed. I did own the X-H2 but sold it when we needed the money to pay the bills after the pandemic had eaten into our savings. I will look at the X-H series in another post soon.

So, to upgrade or not to upgrade? Well, as mentioned, Fujifilm also have the X-H series so I need to comapre the X-T2 (and later models) the those cameras.

Note:

The latest firmware version for the Fujifilm X-T5 is version 1.03 as of February 16th, 2023. To update your firmware version on your camera body, check out Fujifilm site here for detailed instructions.