CheckMag | Fujifilm X-M5 is the compact, beginner-friendly X-T30 replacement the overpriced X-T50 should have been
Fujifilm today announced its latest APS-C camera, the X-M5, and, while it may not be a compact, professional-grade weapon, the hardware and features indicate that the new camera is basically the perfect replacement for the budget-friendly Fujifilm X-T30 II. Earlier this year, the Fujifilm X-T50 launched as the direct replacement to the Fujifilm X-T30 II, along with an impressive spec bump to basically every aspect of the camera.
Unfortunately, with that spec bump, the X-T50 came with a massive $400 price increase over the X-T30 II, making it a tough sell for beginners and budget-conscious buyers that previously favoured the X-T30 II. Fujifilm also knew this, since it continued to produce and sell the X-T30 II well after the release of the X-T50 — although it seems to be out of stock just about everywhere at the time of writing, so maybe its time has come just in time for a worthy heir.
Some may decry the Fujifilm X-M5's lack of IBIS, EVF, and built-in flash, as well as its last-gen X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor as deal-breaking compromises, but it's feature set actually looks perfect for exactly the audience Fujifilm should be fighting for — the social-media-addicted smartphone photographer. Fujifilm X-M5 specifications and feature run-down:
- 26.1 MP X-Trans CMOS 4 BSI sensor.
- X-Processor 5.
- 355g weight.
- Predictive AI autofocus with subject recognition and focus tracking.
- Film simulation dial.
- 6.2k, 10-bit 4:2:2 video at 30 fps, 4k at 60 fps, 1080p at 240.
- Digital image stabilisation.
- Triple mic setup with various audio modes, including front and rear priority — a design for influencers.
From those specs, it's easy to see that the Fujifilm X-M5 is a perfectly capable camera, especially given its compact size, measuring in at just 112 × 67 × 38 mm. That makes the X-M5 6 mm narrower, 15 mm shorter, and 9 mm thinner than the X-T30 II, all while matching or beating it in every conceivable performance metric, lack of EVF aside. The Fujifilm X-M5 seems to be aimed primarily at younger audiences, who value posting on social media — a point further driven home by the camera's smartphone integrations. For those audiences, the X-M5 will undoubtedly offer a significant quality boost over smartphones for both photography and videography without sacrificing much in terms of convenience.
Not only is the X-M5 compact enough to slide into a small backpack or jacket pocket, it also syncs directly with smartphones for What's more, the X-M5 will also be sold in an $899 kit with the optically stabilised Fujifilm XC 15-45 mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens, essentially negating one of the compact camera's biggest weaknesses — that lack of IBIS — for a mere $100 extra. Even going the used route via sites like MBP and KEH, there are very few examples of similarly capable cameras that beat the X-M5 in price and feature set, with only the $1,098 Sony ZV-E10 II and the $1,096 Nikon Z fc coming even remotely close, and even those admittedly impressive cameras fall short in terms of tactility and video resolution and frame rates.
The beginner-friendly film simulation dial and plentiful, intuitive tactile controls combined with the Fujifilm X-App's various wired and wireless image transfer methods indicate that the X-M5's target audience isn't the professional photographer or advanced hobbyist looking for their next every-day-carry camera. Instead, it's for those looking for something with the convenience and affordability of a smartphone with the image quality and room for growth of a mirrorless camera. Since we already know that the X-S20 that lends most of its hardware to the X-M5 is a smashing hybrid camera, we can infer that the Fujifilm X-M5 will undoubtedly be a rousing success in its intended context.
