Something happened to me just a few days before Christmas.

I was preparing dinner when I accidentally cut the tendon of my thumb.

Fast-forward to today: I’m deep into rehabilitation. My thumb bends maybe 20% at best, and there’s still a real risk of damaging the tendon again if I push it too hard.

So I have to be careful. Very careful.

And I have to be careful, as I’m about to embark on a journey to the other side of the planet—with two small kids, a couple of bags, and the cheapest economy seats money can buy 😉.

As you can imagine, while packing I inevitably started thinking about camera gear. But given the circumstances, the conclusion was immediate and unavoidable:

This trip demands the most minimalist setup possible.

I can’t easily switch lenses.
I can’t strain my thumb by handling heavy gear.
And I definitely can’t afford to be clumsy.

So the rule was simple: as little and as light as possible.

First decision: X-E5 or X-T5?

Well, the answer is obvious ;).

And lenses?

By now you probably know that my go-to travel lens is the Fujinon XF18-135mm.

• I’ve Traveled the World with Fujifilm’s ‘Worst’ Lens and I Loved it – The Only Flaw, and the One (Fujifilm-Teased) Lens That Could Replace It

But realistically, for the next few weeks I can truly rely on just one hand. That makes the XF18-135mm far less practical than usual.

So what should I bring instead?

Without hesitation, the Fujinon XF27mmF2.8 R WR makes the cut. It will almost certainly become my most used lens on this trip.

However, while going through my options, I realized something else:
I really miss having a small, compact lens on the wide end—something for landscapes and broader scenes without adding bulk.

And for the first time, I genuinely regret having sold one specific lens.

If I still owned it, it would be absolutely perfect for this journey:
the Samyang MF 12mmF2.

Yes, I could bring the XF10-24mmF4. But that would break my “as light as possible” rule, and paired with the X-E5 it doesn’t balance particularly well either.

I know exactly why I sold the Samyang. Optically, it was a stunning lens for the price, and some of my favorite images ever were taken with it. But the color rendering was never quite what I’m used to—and what I love—about Fujinon XF lenses.

Still, right now, I regret that decision.

Yes, I’d have to put a bit more effort into color work in post. But it would absolutely be worth it.

So what’s coming with me?

• Fujifilm X-E5
• XF27mmF2.8 R WR as my main lens
• XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR tucked into the backpack for night shooting
• no tripod sadly – I own the two travel tripods you see listed here

I guess for this time I’ll go with a more X100-alike experience: ultra compact X-E5 with XF27mm and that’s it.

Anyway, this whole process got me thinking.

Is there a particular lens in the Fujifilm X system that you regret selling?

If so, feel free to share it in the comments.

And I hope your next trip isn’t too far away—or that you’re already right in the middle of an amazing one

My Travel Setup

• X-E5
  BHphoto / Amazon (black body/kit – silver body/kit) / Adorama / Moment / Nuzira / BestBuy / Focuscamera
• XF27mmF2.8 R WR
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama / Focuscamera / Moment / Nuzira / BestBuy
• XF23mmF1.4 R LM WR
  BHphoto / Amazon / Adorama / Focuscamera / Moment / Nuzira / BestBuy

Fujifilm has published the financial results for the third quarter of the 2025 fiscal year (the fiscal year 2025 ends in March 31, 2026).

It’s a very positive financial result for the imaging division, with the professional imaging generating in every quarter more revenue in 2025 than it did in the quarters of 2024.

Overall

In the nine months of the fiscal year ending March 2026, revenue increased by 4.4% year-over-year to JPY2,429.7 billion, driven by strong sales in the Healthcare, Electronics, and Imaging businesses, which offset the negative impact of exchange rates. Operating income increased by 11.3% year-over-year to JPY248.5 billion, despite impacts of U.S. tariff policy and rising raw material costs, supported by higher gross profit associated with revenue growth. Net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings increased by 6.5% year-over-year to JPY193.4 billion.

Reflecting the strong performance of the Electronics and Imaging businesses, the company has revised its full-year consolidated forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026 upward, increasing operating income by JPY4.0 billion, and net income attributable to FUJIFILM Holdings by JPY2.5 billion.

[CEO Teiichi Goto says] ““We will maintain this strong growth momentum and aim to achieve record high revenue and profits for the full fiscal year ending March 2026”

• Strong demand for instant photo systems and digital cameras drove revenue by 14.6% year-over-year to JPY194.2 billion, and operating income increased by 12.9% year-over-year to JPY55.1 billion.
• In the Consumer Imaging business, consistent demand for instax^™ instant photo systems contributed to higher revenue.
• In the Professional Imaging business, revenue growth was supported by the strong performance of the X Series and GFX Series cameras.

Factors affecting revenue

• Consumer Imaging
  + Strong sales of instax instant photo systems
  • Strong sales of mini12, mini Evo, etc. as well as new mini41
  • Strong sales of instax WIDE 400 and instax WIDE Evo
  + Increase in supply due to enhancements in instax film production facilities
• Professional Imaging
  ＋ Strong sales of FUJIFILM X and GFX series digital cameras
  • Strong sales of new products GFX100RF, X half, X-E5 and X-T30 III

Imaging Summary

The Imaging segment, consolidated revenue amounted to ¥485.7 billion (up 13.8% year-over-year).
Operating income amounted to ¥135.5 billion (up 17.8% year-over-year).

The consumer imaging business posted higher revenue, as sales of the instax instant photo systems continued to expand, surpassing cumulative sales of 100 million units. A wide variety of models popular among a broad range of users continue to have a solid growth in sales, including the mainstay models instax mini 12 and instax mini Evo, along with models launched last fiscal year, such as instax WIDE 400, instax Link 3 and instax WIDE Evo. We are also continuing to acquire new users by launching the entry-level instax mini 41 with a classic design in April 2025, and instax mini LiPlay+, which comes with an advanced version of a feature that combines sound and still images in November 2025. Additionally, in December 2025, we announced our plan to expand the production facilities of instax films to meet growing global demand. We will continue to expand the world of instax, enabling people to enjoy instant photo printing and further enhancing the value and joy of photography.

In the professional imaging business, expanded sales of digital cameras contributed to higher revenue. In addition to solid sales of models launched in the previous fiscal year, the growth was driven by new products, such as FUJIFILM GFX100RF, FUJIFILM X-HF1 (“X half”) and FUJIFILM X-E5. In October 2025, we launched the FUJIFILM GFX ETERNA 55 cinema camera, and in November 2025, the FUJIFILM X-T30 III mirrorless digital camera. We will continue to provide attractive products for digital camera users and the film industry by expanding our range of offerings, from the outstanding image quality with large format sensors in the GFX series and the best balance of image quality and size in the X series, to such new concept cameras as the FUJIFILM GFX100RF and X half.