Fujifilm X-M5, XF 16-55mm f/2.8 and XF500mm f/5.6 Mini Review Roundup

The Fujifilm X-M5, Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR II and the Fujinon XF 500mm f/5.6 R LM OIS WR started shipping, so I thought it’s time for a little review roundup.

Pre-Orders

Video Reviews

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Shipping Started for Fujifilm X-M5, XF16-55mmF2.8 and XF500mmF5.6 – In Stock Check

The latest gear launched by Fujifilm has started shipping.

Some of it can also be found in stock already, although in limited numbers.

The first to be in stock is the Fujinon XF500mmF5.6, which is available at Amazon here, BHphoto here and Adorama here.

So far no stock for the Fujifilm X-M5 and Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 II.

In Stock Check

Fujifilm X-M5 Reviews: “Autofocus is Way Better than What YouTube Has Been Talking About”

Petapixel reviewed the Fujifilm X-M5. Regarding Autofocus they say:

  • comparing to Canon EOS R10, because that’s one of their favorite cameras as far as autofocus on APS-C goes at the same price
  • not quite the same hit rate of the Canon, but actually surprisingly close
  • in this price range there is nothing out there that gives you 10 bit, Log recording with 6.2K open gate
  • pre-production X-M5 had issue with focusing on the background. Production sample is much better but it can still be an issue
  • overheating: impressing performance for such a small camera body. And you can even use the Fan accessory for even better performance. Extremely impressive
  • probably the most capable video camera at that price

More reviews below.

AF Better than What YouTube is Talking About?

The first of Pav SZ looks actually very good in terms of Autofocus.

You can see the X-M5 keeps tracking the subject even when other people enter the frame. It had a few occasions in which the person turned around and it focused on the shoulder instead of the back of the head.

But as we reported and you can see here, also the Sony A1II (which costs $6,500) exhibits the same uncertainty every now and then. So if a $6,500 Sony camera can mistake a shoulder for an eye, then also the $800 X-M5 should be allowed to do that rarely.

Godwin Isaac (video below), was a bit worried about the X-M5 autofocus, given all the autofocus sh*tstorm YouTube is throwing on Fujifilm autofocus. But he says “autofocus is way better than what YouTube is talking about“.

So why is that? Why are so many people happy with the autofocus?

Pav SZ says that if you use it in real life shooting conditions, it will work just fine. But if you set it up for failure in rather tricky and unrealistic test conditions, it might struggle more than in real life use. So that’s his theory.

I Remain Utterly Disappointed ;)

My position remains unchanged: even in the most ridiculous never to happen absurd and unrealistic test conditions, I want Fujifilm cameras to never fail once. I will always be utterly disappointed if in a nonsense test Fujifilm cameras hunt for a fraction of a second. ;)

Of course I am exaggerating. But the truth is I believe there is still room for improvement, and Fujifilm has to work on it. And I am not kidding here: it’s paramount that they keep working on it. Clean up your code, get the algorithm right. And we have actually shared an article which shows in which areas Fujifilm needs to improve (and can improve, since they got it right with other cameras already):

Even more reviews below.

Video Reviews

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Fujifilm X-M5 Review: Autofocus is A Great Surprise – PhotoTrend

One of the most prestigious French photography websites, PhotoTrend, has now published its Fujifilm X-M5 review.

I will only highlight what they said about its autofocus.

And yes, they do talk very good about it.

And yes, there are people who told you the X-M5 autofocus is total garbage.

And yes, they based their judgments on 1.5 seconds of video extrapolated from hours of launch video.

And yes, that’s not really a smart way to judge the autofocus.

Why?

Well, look at the Sony A1II.

There have been lots of A1II launch videos, and when I looked at the one of Tony Northrup, I saw the Sony A1II occasionally focusing on hats and shoulders rather than faces and eyes as you can see in this screenshot and this screenshot – video here.

Now I could extract those few seconds of video and go out and claim the Sony A1II struggles to track eyes. But I won’t do that, because it would not be fair towards the Sony A1 II.

It’s better to wait for full reviews with production cameras. And today we have one, from Phototrend. You can trust them or not.

My personal position is: I am curious about what reviewers say, but I will wait for my X-T5 AF boost firmware to make final judgements.

With that said, here is what Phototrend says about the Fujifilm X-M5 autofocus.

Thanks to the X-Processor 5, the Fujifilm X-M5 benefits from the latest autofocus improvements. And we might as well say it: the latter bluffed us several times.

From a technical point of view, the body has an AI-doped hybrid AF, with 425 AF points (and 117 selectable positions). But above all, it takes advantage of the intelligent detection / tracking modes of the subject, already present on the other boxes in the range.

And in the field, the detection and monitoring of the subject are very effective. Humans or animals: the eye is detected instantly, even when the subject occupies only a small place in the frame. A point that portraitists (and lovers of wildlife photography) should appreciate.

In addition, the box always offers modes dedicated to birds and vehicles (trains, cars, planes, motorcycles). Enough to seduce fans from all walks of life. Especially since the detection is extremely effective.

In plain language: the autofocus of the X-M5 is very efficient. In general, the development is carried out without delay. Pumping phenomena are very rare, even in (very) low light. Caution, however, with certain zooms or fixed focal lengths (especially a little old), whose AF motorization can sometimes be less fast.

Finally, note that the number of “false positives” is particularly low. Fujifilm would therefore have corrected the few small problems suffered by the X-S20.

You can read the full review in original French language at phototrend.

The Curious Case of Fujifilm X-M5 in Japan: Only Two Languages Built-in and Extra Cost for Additional Languages

To our fellow FR-readers following us from Japan and who purchased the Fujifilm X-M5 there, here is something you have to know.

Fujifilm has disclosed that all Fujifilm X-M5 shipped within Japan will only have two languages built-in: English and Japanese.

And what if you live in Japan but you’d like to have all the menu items of the camera in your native language?

Well, Fujifilm offers a payed “Language Addition Service” that will cost you $35. You can only add one language.

In order to do that, you have to send (or bring) your camera to the Fujifilm Repair Service Center in Toyko or Osaka, pay 5,500 Yen, and then you’ll get it back with the language you asked to be added.

Don’t ask me why it’s like this. It’s the first time I hear about it and I find it makes no sense at all.

The mirrorless digital camera “FUJIFILM X-M5” being released in Japan will only have “Japanese and English” built-in language settings.
Therefore, in consideration of the convenience of foreign customers living in Japan and tourists staying long-term, we will start a “language addition service” from November 28th. By using this service, you can add one language of your choice. Please check here for details of this service and how to apply.

Full Details

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Fujifilm X-M5 Autofocus Test Tidbits

It’s still not easy to find proper autofocus test regarding the Fujifilm X-M5.

So all we have for now are little tidbits here and there, mainly coming from Asian countries, which are traditionally the main market for the X-M (or perviously the X-A) line.

I will share two videos below.

The first is (I think) a Chinese video. Click the play button below to start the video right at the AF section. Here is what we can notice and what the guy said:

  • lens used: Fujinon XF 33mmF1.4
  • cat tracking seems to work fine also when the cat moves in a busy space and behind some obstacles
  • the guy runs towards the camera and says (if the translation is accurate), that the accuracy is 80-90%, with most of the images out of focus only when the subject was very close to the camera
  • it seems that the entire episode is filmed on X-M5

The second video comes from Brazil. I share it because the reviewer covers half of his face with the hand, but the X-M5 does not get distracted and keeps focus on the eye. In fact, you can see the eye box jump to the left eye as soon as the right eye is covered by the hand. So at least this issue seems to be solved.

In a third video below we see the AF tracking in video, which does not look very convincing. Or, as the autor of the video, Matt, said: “Personally think [autofocus] it’s not as bad as some people were worried about, but definitely still not perfect.”

First conclusion: it’s better in tracking cats than humans :)

Of course I am kidding. We really do not have many elements in our hands to make a proper judgement. But the Fujifilm X-M5 should ship in about 10 days (November 21 according to stores), so I guess soon enough we will have a much better understanding of its AF performance.

And maybe we will get the promised autofocus firmware update before that, so that we can judge the new AF on our own 5th generation cameras.

Why We Still Need the Fujifilm X-E5 (Despite X-M5)

After comparing the X-M5 size to the X-E4, some have argued that the X-M5 renders a potential Fujifilm X-E5 redundant.

Why would Fujifilm offer two rangefinder-style cameras that are nearly identical?

I can see their point to some extent. The X-M5 shares the same rangefinder design, is slightly smaller, packs the powerful 5th-gen processor, and is more affordable.

While the X-M5 could certainly pose a challenge to the X-E5 in terms of sales, there are several reasons why the future X-E5 could still be a more attractive option over the X-M5.

For example:

  • the Fujifilm X-E5 will have an EVF

For me, the EVF alone is already a strong reason to choose the Fujifilm X-E5 over the X-M5.

But let’s consider what else Fujifilm could do to further distinguish the X-E5 from the X-M5. Keep in mind, this is purely speculative, not based on any rumors.

If Fujifilm were to implement all of the features mentioned above on the X-E5, we’d be looking at the closest thing to perfection in the X series lineup. ;)

And even if not all of the mentioned features are included, there would still be a strong need for the Fujifilm X-E5, and fortunately for us, it’s set to arrive in 2025.

Feel free to let us know in the comments what you’d like to get on the X-E5 in terms of hardware features.

Fujifilm X-M5 Owner’s Manual Available

The Fujifilm X-M5 owner’s manual is now available. You can access it in html here or PDF here.

The Fujiiflm X-M5 is coming with quite some new stuff never available on any other Fujifilm camera before.

Fujifilm X-M5: “Whatever Fujifilm Did, Autofocus is as Good as on my Sony” – Dangerous Overpromise?

A couple of weeks have now passed since the announcement of the Fujifilm X-M5.

And so far the big controversy has not yet received a final answer: how good is the autofocus on the Fujifilm X-M5?

Now a new Fujifilm X-M5 hands-on review has been published by PavSZ (see above).

In his video, he says the X-M5 autofocus is much better than the one on the Fujifilm X-S20.

And when asked about it in the comments to his video, he says multiple times that he shoots also Sony cameras, and that the X-M5 is just as good as Sony in terms of autofocus.

The problem?

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