Our honest thoughts on the Fujifilm X-M5 camera

As a nostalgic person, I've always loved flipping through physical photo albums. While the practice is rare these days, photos of my childhood always pull at my heartstrings, and despite having an iPhone since I was a teenager, I've never felt the same feeling while flipping through my camera roll. 

I've written extensively about Fujifilm's cameras and how they celebrate nostalgia. Whether it's their instant film or their digital cameras, they have a way of helping capture a moment differently from any phone I've used. So, when I was offered the opportunity to try their latest camera, the Fujifilm X-M5, I jumped at the chance.

However, like all my camera reviews, I write from the perspective of a total novice. While the Fujifilm X-M5 is more of an 'everyday camera' than their last model, the X100VI, it still comes with a range of amazing features. However, a lot of them were beyond my understanding.

But this didn't mean I didn't love using the camera!

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Fujifilm X-M5 – Mirrorless Camera

Buy it for $1399

What's new with the Fujifilm X-M5?

There's been a real resurgence of the 'digital camera' in the last 12 months. Many content creators are forgoing their phones or big, bulky DSLRs for the compact cameras that were popular in the early 2000s. Since Gen Z missed out on the intrigue of the simple digital camera, they're ready to give it a whirl now.

The X-M5 plays right into this resurgence, having been described by Fujifilm as a "compact, user-friendly camera, designed for aspiring travel photographers and content creators looking to up their game".

The camera also has filming features, with the 9:16 vertical filming mode feeling particularly modern. It also has three internal microphones to give you crystal-clear audio, meaning you don't have to record audio separately when you're shooting video.

While I used the camera mostly for still photography, I must admit it was really handy to practice shooting video in the 9:16 mode, with a feature that allows you to frame your video vertically on screen. If I was creating content for phone use on a daily basis, this is something I'd want to have.

The future is AI

We hear it all the time, but what does it mean for creativity? The Fujifilm X-M5 features a built-in AI-driven subject detection autofocus. This isn't new, having been featured on their Fujifilm X100VI and X-T50 models, but with the latest-generation image processor, it still felt very flash (pun intended). I used this the most when photographing fireworks (with varying success), but I'll touch on that later.

Classic Fujifilm elements

Given my brain skews creative more so than technological, I'll always be most impressed by Fujifilm's ability to synthesise its long history of camera creation into its newest products. I'm speaking, of course, about the Film Simulation dial – the camera's major selling point for a nostalgic rookie like myself.

The visual aesthetic of your pictures can be changed with the Film Simulation dial, which has 20 modes that capture 90 years of Fujifilm manufacturing. You can get information on each simulation by flicking to the one of your choice, then hitting the Q button on the right side of the top of the camera.

I found I photographed mostly in Provia Standard and Velvia Vivid. The former gives neutral colour reproduction, while the latter evokes brighter colours. I'd switch between them depending on the subject, but since I took a lot of photos of the beaches around Sydney, I preferred the more vibrant options to really show off the blues in the sky and the ocean, and the details in the rippling water and clouds.

Something different

One thing I really loved about the camera was how user-friendly it was. I don't know how to take a good photo of a sunset on a phone, or how to change exposure and consider lighting. This camera does it all for you.

The Fujifilm had a mode for shooting sunsets, and the same list offered options for taking photos in a range of circumstances. While there was the traditional 'portrait' and 'landscape', there was also 'snow', and my new favourite – an option to photograph fireworks.

These options on the camera were what really converted me to a massive fan, and made me consider buying one for myself. As I was lending the camera over New Year, I was able to practice photographing fireworks from my balcony. There's a stark improvement between my 9pm and 12am sessions, which shows the camera is very intuitive and easy to use.

However, it almost felt like I wasn't doing the features justice with my blurry images. For that reason, I'd suggest buying the camera if you're likely to have the time to dedicate to learning how best to use it.

So, should you buy it?

I wouldn't hesitate to tell a photography fiend to buy this camera, but it is a big investment if you're not creating content regularly. However, if a new year has brought a desire for a new hobby, the Fujifilm X-M5 camera will do most of the legwork for you, and make you feel like a pro photographer with almost every shot.

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