Fujifilm's next X Summit aligns perfectly with leaked X-E5 launch date as rumours of IBIS for compact APS-C camera surface
Fujifilm has officially announced that it will host another X Summit event on June 12, with "exciting product announcements" lined up for the presentation. The X Summit will start at 5 AM EDT (9 AM UTC), and although Fujifilm has obviously declined to reveal much more than a date and a time, all signs point to this X Summit being the launch of the Fujifilm X-E5.
Fujifilm X-E5 IBIS rumours
We recently reported on a leak that all but confirmed that the Fujifilm X-E5 would feature the same sensor and processor combination as the venerable Fujifilm X100VI (curr. $2,348.99 on Amazon), and we speculated that the inclusion of the same sensor and processing hardware would likely mean that the X-E5 would also launch with IBIS, just like the X100VI. Now, Fuji Rumors has shared a leak, with 99% confidence, that the X-E5 will feature in-body image stabilisation. In all likelihood, this IBIS will be the same as the 6-stop, 5-axis stabilisation present in the X100VI, which would make it a significantly more versatile and powerful camera, especially for handheld video and low-light photography.
However, the inclusion of IBIS isn't without its drawbacks. The two main issues with IBIS is that it may drive up cost and it could result in a slightly larger camera than would have otherwise been the case. As for price, the X100VI saw a $200 price bump over its predecessor, and the upgrades from the X100V to the X100VI were similar to those expected from the X-E4 to the X-E5, so it's almost a given that the X-E5 will be a more expensive camera than the X-E4. What may be more concerning is that Fujifilm may make sacrifices in other areas in order to at least somewhat reel in the price of the X-E5, meaning there may be an even more minimalist control scheme or perhaps a less robust design.
While IBIS would be a significant update for the X-E5, it's a long-overdue upgrade for Fujifilm, since much of the compact APS-C competition — the Sony A6700 and Ricoh GR III, for example — have already had IBIS for a while. Even Fujifilm's flagship APS-C camera series, the X-T line, has had IBIS since the X-T4. That said, the Fujifilm X-E4 launched with an MSRP of just $849.95, putting it decidedly in the entry-level class. Adding IBIS would likely, as it has with the X-T50, push the X-E5 into the mid-range price point and well over the $1,000 mark.
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