Even
as
it
keeps
working
to
catch
up
with
demand
for
the
massively
popular
X100VI,
Fujifilm
has
been
on
a
steady
cadence
of
releasing
new
cameras.
The
X-T50
was
announced
in
May,
and
it
was
the
first
to
feature
a
physical
dial
for
switching
between
the
company’s
signature
film
simulations.
That
dial
is
carrying
forward
to
the
new,
budget-tier
X-M5
that
Fujifilm
is
announcing
today.
The
X-M5
is
priced
at
$799.95
and
is
an
affordable
gateway
into
the
company’s
interchangeable
lens
mirrorless
camera
lineup..
Fujifilm
is
positioning
it
as
a
lightweight
camera
ideal
for
everyday
shooting
and
“emerging
content
creators”
who
want
to
vlog
with
it
—
despite
a
lack
of
in-body
image
stabilization
(IBIS).
At
13
ounces
(355
grams),
the
X-M5
is
the
lightest
body
in
Fujifilm’s
current
X-Series
family.
It
comes
in
silver
or
black,
but
the
black
version
won’t
be
shipping
until
April.
The
silver
will
be
in
stores
next
month.
The
X-M5
is
the
second
camera
to
have
a
dedicated
dial
for
Fujifilm’s
film
simulations.Image:
Fujifilm
Fujifilm
is
pushing
the
message
that
for
as
good
as
our
smartphone
cameras
might
be,
the
X-M5
has
a
far
larger
sensor
that’s
capable
of
capturing
more.
At
the
top
left
of
the
camera
is
the
film
simulation
dial,
which
offers
quick
access
to
eight
film
simulations
and
three
custom
slots
where
you
can
assign
another
favorite
from
the
20
built-in
options.
The
X-M5
also
has
a
PASM-style
mode
dial,
a
fully
articulating
rear
LCD
(though
there’s
no
EVF),
and
the
microphone
input
is
in
a
unique
spot
on
the
back
of
the
camera
near
the
hotshoe.
But
even
if
you
don’t
have
an
external
mic,
the
X-M5
is
Fujifilm’s
first
camera
to
include
a
three-mic
system.
“You
can
choose
from
four
microphone
directivity
options:
surround,
front,
back,
or
front
and
back,
depending
on
the
situation,”
the
company’s
press
release
says.
To
help
with
clearer
audio,
the
camera
is
also
capable
of
cutting
out
steady-state
noises
like
air
conditioning
or
other
constant
hums.
The
X-M5
has
a
fully
articulating
rear
display.Image:
Fujifilm
The
X-M5
includes
Fujifilm’s
tried
and
true
26.1-megapixel
CMOS
sensor
and
the
company’s
current-generation
X-Processor
5.
Fujifilm
can’t
seem
to
escape
criticism
of
its
system’s
continuous
autofocus
performance,
and
so
the
company
is
rolling
out
a
newly-enhanced
predictive
autofocus
algorithm
that
it
believes
should
rectify
the
inconsistent
hit
rate
that
some
customers
have
experienced
with
its
recent
cameras.
For
video,
the
camera
can
capture
6.2K/30P
4:2:2
10-bit
video,
and
in
this
era
of
vertical
social
media
content,
it’s
also
got
a
9:16
“Short
Movie
Mode”
that
caps
out
at
full
HD
resolution.
There
are
several
tradeoffs
that
Fujifilm
had
to
make
to
hit
the
X-M5’s
price.
The
rear
LCD
has
an
unremarkable
resolution
of
1.04
million
dots.
(By
comparison,
the
X-S20
has
a
1.84-million
dot
LCD.)
The
camera
also
uses
Fujifilm’s
older
and
smaller-capacity
battery,
so
if
you’re
out
for
a
long
day
of
vlogging,
it’ll
be
wise
to
carry
a
spare.
And
the
SD
card
slot
is
still
UHS-I.
That
shouldn’t
be
a
huge
issue
for
the
target
market
here,
but
it’s
worth
mentioning.
The
new
16-55
f/2.8
II,
seen
here
on
an
X-T5,
is
significantly
smaller
and
lighter
than
the
original.Image:
Fujifilm
In
addition
to
its
latest
body,
Fujifilm
is
also
announcing
the
second
version
of
its
very
impressive
XF16-55
f/2.8
lens.
The
new
glass
is
significantly
smaller
and
lighter
than
the
original,
which
has
grown
to
be
perhaps
my
favorite
lens
in
Fujifilm’s
arsenal.
But
it
can
definitely
get
heavy
at
times
—
especially
on
my
X-H2
—
so
I’m
looking
forward
to
seeing
what
a
difference
the
downsizing
has
made.
Fujfilm
says
the
new
model
is
even
sharper
and
better
at
resolving
the
40-megapixel
sensor
found
in
the
X-T5,
X-H2,
and
X-T50.
It
costs
the
same
$1,199.95
as
before
and
will
be
available
in
December.
You’d
never
catch
me
using
a
lens
this
expensive
in
a
situation
like
what’s
depicted
here.
That
rock
looks
slippery!
But
much
respect
to
this
man.Image:
Fujifilm
If
you
need
even
more
reach,
there’s
also
a
new
500mm
f/5.6
OIS
WR
lens
that’s
designed
for
outdoor
shooting.
(Think
wildlife,
sports,
birds,
and
so
on.)
It
comes
at
a
hefty
$2,999.95
and
will
be
available
in
December.
(Originally posted by Chris Welch)
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