Introducing the Fujifilm X-M5, the Fuji XF 16-55 f2.8 MK II and XF500mm F5.6
Fujifilm is giving us three new products in one go today: naturally, we are taking a look at all three new products for you: Fujifilm X-M5, Fujifilm XF 16-55 f2.8 R LM WR II and the XF 500mm F5.6 R LM OIS WR.
All about the Fujifilm X-M5
Body of the Fujifilm X-M5
If you compare the X-M5 with the X-T30II, you will notice that the camera is even more compact and lighter. Although the weight saving of 23g is not so significant and is most likely due to the omitted viewfinder, the camera is almost 136g lighter than the X-S20. With a width of 11.19cm and a height of 6.6cm, it is a real pocket rocket like the Ricoh GR III, but with the option of using different lenses.
The body is available in black and silver. In addition, the camera offers a rotatable touch display, which can also be rotated into the vlogging perspective.
What the X-M5 has also inherited from the X-T30II is the smaller NP-W126S battery.
Sensor of the Fujifilm X-M5
As with the X-T30 II and the X-S20, the 26 megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 has also found its way into the X-M5. But instead of - as with the X-T30II - with the new processor, the X Processor 5, the camera offers 20 film simulations. As usual with Fujifilm, the sensor is not equipped with IBIS and only has electronic stabilization.
Fujifilm X-M5 Housing
- 26 megapixel
- fast autofocus
- Lightweight + compact camera
- Open Gate Video possible
Video functions of the Fuji X-M5
The X-M5 can be described as a compact vlogging camera from Fujifilm. With the microphone, the camera offers the setting options for microphone priority and can therefore use the directional characteristic of the microphone. However, the microphone and its functions have also been further improved. It now has a wind filter and noise reduction.
But that's not all: like Lumix, Fujifilm also offers Open Gate on many of its cameras, including the X-M5. This means: Full resolution of 6.2K at 30p with 4:2:2 10 bit. This is remarkable because the camera has a UHS-I memory card slot instead of a UHS-II, as is the case with most other Fujifilm cameras.
The new feature, 9:16 Short Movie Mode, is a nice touch, but perhaps not quite a clever solution. This function offers portrait format recording in 9:16 in Full HD, which is then read out horizontally. These video recordings can be recorded in 15s, 30s, 60s or unlimited. At this point, however, we ask ourselves why an image from the Open Gate is not used here. This would allow the material to be recorded in high-resolution 4k, which could then be reduced to 1080p social media material with less loss.
The electronic image stabilization of the camera is equipped with a larger digital crop, which corresponds to 1.32x here and not 1.1x, as with the X-S20.
To ensure that the data can be transferred quickly, the USB port offers a connection to the Xapp, which means that the larger data can be transferred faster. The new bit rates also come into play here, which now enable particularly low bit rates from 200Mbps down to 8Mbps, with 25Mbps and 8Mbps being new.
Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8 R LM WR IINew Lens for Fujifilm X
The new Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8 R LM WR II is by and large lighter and more compact than its predecessor. However, this is really worth mentioning, as the weight difference of 245g is really significant.
Also newly introduced is the Fujifilm XF 500mm F5.6, which will probably make wildlife photographers prick up their ears, as a 500mm APS-C corresponds to (approx.) 800mm Lens, which costs a good €20,000 in full-frame format. It is also only half the size of the full-frame equivalent and weighs only half as much. Unfortunately, we can't say anything about the sharpness and image quality at the moment, as we weren't able to test the Lens in advance.
Fujifilm XF 16-55mm f2.8 R LM WR II
- Continuous aperture of f2.8
- Smaller and lighter than MK I
Fujifilm XF 500mm f5.6 R LM OIS WR
- Compact super telephoto fixed focal length
- Aperture of f5.6
- approx. 800mm calculated on full format
Conclusion
We are always very happy about new products from Fujifilm, which is why these new products are a real highlight. The 500mm in particular is a welcome addition to Fujifilm's lens line-up. Fujifilm has recognized the trend towards compact cameras and is launching yet another camera on the market with the X-M5, with which it is making the market more attractive, especially in the entry-level segment.
