Fujifilm XT5 in 2024?

What's up, everybody? Welcome back to the channel! If you're new here, my name is Jeremy, and I'm glad to have you. If you're not new, welcome back! So, today's video is about my camera system for 2024. I made a video in the past about wondering if I should keep the X-Pro3 in 2024. I’ll try to link that here. Ultimately, I decided it was time for the X-Pro3 to go—not because of any fault of the camera, but because it was a great camera, and I loved using it. No complaints really. I liked the fact that it didn’t have a rear LCD, although that’s a deal-breaker for some people. My copy was pristine, so I decided to sell it while it was still in great condition before any potential issues, like LCD ribbon problems, could arise, and moved on to something else.

That "something else" is the Fuji X-T5, and this was a big decision for me. Honestly, it took me weeks to make up my mind. But I'm happy to say that I’m pretty content with my system now. I wasn’t in a rush, but wedding season has started for me here in East Tennessee, so I definitely wanted two of the same bodies with the same lens mount for redundancy. I like to run two cameras with different focal lengths, and this setup works perfectly for that.

Now, why the X-T5 over the X-H2? That was the biggest decision for me. It wasn’t about other Fuji cameras like the X-S10 or any of the lower-end models. I didn’t want a camera that was just cheaper for the sake of being cheaper. I wanted something that gave me all the features and performance of my X-H2S, but with more megapixels. I’ve realized that I like to crop images, not drastically, but if I see a shot I didn’t initially notice when I took it and I want to crop a little, I want that option.

On paper, the X-T5 and the X-H2 both have 40 megapixels, but it really comes down to buttons, ergonomics, and a few other smaller differences. I think the autofocus might be a bit better on the X-H2, but I can’t confirm that since I haven’t used it enough to say for sure. I haven’t had any issues with autofocus on my X-T5—it's been great. In fact, I’m using it right now for this video. This is my second camera. I won’t use much of this footage, but I’m testing it out to make sure everything’s working. I had some autofocus issues in the past due to forgetting to turn it on, but today, I’m using a Ninja recorder, so I can see myself and make sure I’m in focus.

The X-T5 is a 40-megapixel camera, and it’s tiny! It's so small and thin that I opted for the Arca Swiss plate with the additional front grip, which I love. I hate tripod plates that don’t work across all my gear, so I prefer to use an Arca Swiss plate on my grip or cage, so I can easily move between tripods, monopods, and handheld setups without worrying about having the right plate. It just works. With the grip on the X-T5, it feels fantastic in hand, and it's still small enough to fit in any bag I have, even alongside my Leica M10 Monochrome, without feeling like I’ve packed an entire kitchen.

Typically, my go-to camera lately has been my son's Ricoh GR2, which I've owned twice and absolutely love. But for my main work, I shoot primarily with my Leica 50mm lens as my rangefinder camera for black-and-white work. For the Fuji, I tend to use the 16mm (24mm equivalent) for wide shots or the 56mm f/1.2 Mark II, which is almost like using an 85mm equivalent, and I love that compression. The 56mm f/1.2 on the X-T5 sensor, with all that resolution, is gorgeous—I absolutely love that combo.

For me, it made sense to build a kit I could pack up in a backpack and carry all my cameras for both photo and video in one bag. I use a Pelican 1510 case (I think that's the model number, don’t quote me) and can fit both of these cameras, my lenses, adapters, cords, batteries, everything, all in one place. I couldn’t do that comfortably with any other system. I had the Canon R5, which I loved—I actually bought it twice, and it’s the only Canon camera I’ve really loved—but the glass is just too big for my liking. I know I’m not a small person, but I don’t want to carry around glass that takes up my entire bag just to have a few lenses. It’s not fun for me.

I love shooting film, as I’ve mentioned many times, and it’s very common for me to throw an additional film camera into my bag—whether it's the M7, the Nikon F3, or just a point-and-shoot like the XA. I don’t throw my Rolleiflex in there, though, that's just too big.

Part of the reason I went with the X-T5 instead of the X-H line is that I didn’t want the X-H series to become my primary photo camera. I wanted some separation between my video and photo gear. I wanted each body to have a clear purpose when I pick it up. And that intentionality has been working really well for me so far.

Also, not that it matters a lot, but I’ve met a lot of friends on Threads (which I’m really loving, by the way—if you don’t follow me there, come over and hang out!). It's been such a better experience for creatives than Instagram, which I still love, but in my opinion, it's falling behind Threads. A lot of my friends on Threads shoot the X-T5 and really enjoy it, so I took their advice (even though it wasn’t directly given, just from seeing their photos) and decided that the X-T5 would be the perfect camera for my weddings, personal projects, and professional work this year. I have a session this afternoon that I’ll be using it for.

In the worst case, I’ll use the X-H2 if I need to, but I prefer the X-H2 to be more of my photo camera and to be rigged out with a cage so it’s ready for video at any time. I’ve got a new ND filter on it from PolarPro with a built-in variable ND and polarizer, which I’m really liking. I usually run a mic on it too, so it's a bit bulkier and not as travel-friendly. The X-T5, on the other hand, is much smaller, and it can easily go in a bag or hang from my neck without feeling like I’m carrying around a ton of gear. I’m not a big strap guy, but I can swap the strap from my Leica onto the X-T5 in 60 seconds, and I’m good to go.

The size, the color (Fuji colors are unmatched), and the overall portability of the Fuji system just works for me. And honestly, the Fuji Film community is another big reason I love it. I had forgotten how much I enjoy being part of a creative community where people pour into each other both online and in real life. It's refreshing, especially in a world that can be so competitive. The Fuji community really has each other’s backs, and I get a genuine sense of support from them, which is something I don’t always feel with other brands—even though my Leica work often gets more likes, it doesn’t feel as personal.

So yeah, that’s where I’m at. If you shoot Fuji, let me know which model is your favorite and why. If you had to do it all over again, would you buy the same system? Did I make a mistake buying the X-T5 in 2024? I bought it used with one shutter count, but it’s still technically new to me, and I shoot with it every day. Let me know how you’ve set up your X-T5 and what you love about it.

Alright, I’ve got to edit this video while JPEGmini runs in the background, clearing some space on my external hard drive (because I’m clearly running out of storage). Thanks for hanging out, and I’ll see you in the next one!