The Fujifilm X-M5 is an extremely compact mirrorless camera, ideal for travel or street photography. Its small and discreet size makes it highly portable, fitting easily into any bag or even a large jacket pocket. In use, it does take a little getting used to, especially if you have larger hands. In such cases, your palm might accidentally activate the touch shutter or cover some of the buttons on the right-hand side of the body. Likewise, the position of the command dial on the front grip can easily be accidentally pushed with your index finger.
However, like all such things, once you get used to the layout and the positioning of your hand, it becomes slightly more comfortable, although I would say I was never 100% satisfied with the size, as it did feel just a little too compact.
As you start to use the camera more, you begin to appreciate its functions and features. First of all, starting out in auto mode, the auto exposure and AF do a superb job of quickly capturing the subjects in the frame. As you progress with the camera and shift between aperture priority and shutter priority, the ability to quickly adjust the settings using the front command dial is really helpful, although you need to be delicate with your movements as it is rather sensitive.
The command dial quickly becomes one of the highlight features of the X-M5. When you select one of the exposure modes, you can use it to quickly flick through the different values to increase or decrease the capture or shutter speed by a stop or two. A quick push of the dial brings up an on-screen display showing that it’s switching from exposure mode adjustment to ISO adjustment. Again, you can compensate for sensitivity as needed. This feature is something I really like, and when connected to a flash system, it provides great flexibility, especially for indoor shooting where ISO adjustments are essential to balance exposure.
Out and about, another push of that command dial gives you quick access to the film simulation modes, with a preview of each film stock as you rotate the dial. At first, it can feel a little confusing, but soon you get into the swing of things. For instance, when shooting landscapes, you can quickly adjust the aperture and then apply a film simulation while previewing the effects on the screen. It all becomes very intuitive.
Because this is one of Fujifilm’s entry-level cameras, despite its relatively high price tag, Fujifilm has done a great job of creating a fast-access layout at the back. The articulated screen is fully touch-sensitive, so if you don’t mind constantly tapping the screen and potentially setting off the shutter, it can be a real asset. It allows you to set the focus point before taking a picture or quickly navigate a few settings.
If you prefer a more analogue approach, the small focus stick lets you quickly navigate between focus points on the back screen. As soon as you touch the stick, the focus points are activated, and you can move them as needed. What I really liked is that you can then use one of the dials to increase or decrease the AF point size, which can help boost accuracy when focusing on a subject.
Switching between metering settings, such as from evaluative to spot metering, is also quick and intuitive, and the Q button on the top provides easy access to menu items. For me, one of the highlights of this small camera is the film simulation mode dial on the top, which enables you to quickly flip through each film stock. These simulations apply to JPEG images rather than RAW files, but they offer a creative look and feel. Having this dedicated dial is a great asset for anyone who enjoys the analogue shooting experience on a digital camera.
Overall, out in the field, the X-M5 is a great-feeling camera, though perhaps a little too small for my hands. However, if your hands are smaller, this would be an excellent camera, especially if you’re just starting out or teaching photography and want to get serious about learning. It’s a fully featured camera capable of producing absolutely beautiful, creative images.
That brings me to image quality. I only had the camera for a week to test, and during that time, it was often snowing or raining heavily. However, on a few bright days, I ventured into the forest to capture some pictures. Here, I was really impressed with the AF speed, which was sharp and fast, locking onto subjects quickly. I only had the small 15-45mm lens, which didn’t provide a huge range, but using the APS-C crop factor gave me a standard 24-70mm zoom equivalent.
This made it a great all-rounder, whether taking pictures of Christmas lights in the city or landscapes in the countryside. What stood out in both bright and low-light conditions was the clarity of the images the X-M5 was able to capture. On a bright sunny day, despite the high contrast created by the sun, the vibrancy of the colours was exquisite. The colour gradation in the sky was beautifully detailed, showcasing the strengths of Fujifilm cameras.
Looking at finer details, the small camera, despite its size, was able to pick out intricate textures, and the sharpness of the kit lens was superb. However, what really stood out for me was the film simulation mode. Being able to switch from one film stock to another while shooting, and even compare them side-by-side with actual 35mm Fujichrome Velvia 100 shots, was fascinating. Even without a direct comparison, having these simulations in digital form, alongside other classic Fujifilm stocks, is a great addition. It’s especially enjoyable if you’re looking to create your own style in photography.
Ultimately, what Fujifilm does with their cameras is create something slightly different from the mainstream. They have a very traditional, analogue feel, and by including their beautiful Fujichrome and 35mm negative and slide equivalents, they offer photographers another dimension to express and explore their creativity. This is something I truly appreciate.
