Fujifilm X-E5 Hands-On Review: Compact Powerhouse with Film Simulation Magic
The Fujifilm X-E5 is extremely popular both in Korea and overseas—so much that it’s even causing open-run situations. Despite its compact body and lightweight build, it packs Fujifilm’s latest image sensor and processor for strong photo and video output.
It shares the same sensor and processor as the Fuji X100VI and Fuji X-T50 II, so the overall image quality feels very similar. The biggest difference is simple: the X-E5 supports interchangeable lenses.
I tested the X-E5 through a 2-hour loan from “Digital Changsin,” an authorized Fujifilm dealer in the Namdaemun camera market. Here’s what stood out, from build quality and controls to film simulations, AF feel, and low-light performance.
Why the Fujifilm X-E5 Is So Popular
The Fujifilm X-E5 is incredibly popular both in Korea and internationally, so much so that it's causing open runs. Despite its small size and lightweight design, it houses Fujifilm's latest image sensor and processor, delivering excellent image and video quality.
Since it uses the same image sensor and processor as the Fuji X100VI and Fuji X-T50 II, it provides nearly identical photo and video results. The key difference is that the Fujifilm X-E5 offers interchangeable lenses.
Hands-On Experience at Namdaemun Camera Market
I had the opportunity to experience the Fujifilm X-E5 firsthand, thanks to a generous 2-hour loan from the owner of “Digital Changsin,” an authorized Fujifilm dealer in the Namdaemun camera market.
Size, Weight, and Premium Build
The camera’s dimensions are 124.9 × 72.9 × 39.1mm, and it weighs 445g. It’s 58g heavier than the Fuji X-T50 II due to the use of aluminum on the top and bottom. This gives it a premium feel—no “plastic” sensation—just a solid metal frame with a body that fits in your hand.
Controls and Rangefinder-Like Shutter Feel
There’s a lever on the front that looks like a timer lever, but it’s actually a function button. You can trigger up to five functions depending on how you flick or hold it.
Pressing the shutter button evokes the feel of a rangefinder film camera. The shutter sound and tactile response are very satisfying and genuinely “film-like.”
Instead of a dedicated mode dial, the aperture and shutter speed dials include an “A” position. This makes it easy to switch between shutter priority, aperture priority, and P mode by dial settings alone.
EVF and Shooting Display
The EVF is a 0.39-inch OLED with a resolution of 2.36 million dots. It’s lower than the X100VI on paper, but in real use it didn’t feel uncomfortable, and my eyes adjusted quickly.
Shooting information and the AF point are displayed at the bottom, which keeps the view clean.
180° Tilting Screen for Selfies and Self-Video
The Fujifilm X-E5 features a 180-degree tilting screen. I knew it had a 3-inch tilting touch TFT LCD, but I didn’t realize it tilted all the way up. It uses a mechanism similar to the Sony A6000 series, where the screen moves back and then up.
This type of tilt-up is slightly slower because you must pull it back before lifting, but the payoff is huge: it’s very useful for selfies and self-video recording.
Quick Access: The Q Button
There’s a Q button on the far right that gives quick access to key functions. It’s also customizable, so you can tailor it to your shooting style.
Film Simulation and Film Recipes
The biggest strength of Fujifilm cameras is film simulation. It’s not just a generic filter—Fujifilm’s color science is digitized so you can apply it like a film look, with differences in saturation, hue, shadows, and highlights.
The X-E5 even has a dedicated film simulation dial. Since you can’t fit all 21 simulations on a physical dial, about 11 are included, and the rest can be assigned to FS1–FS3 like function presets.
If you still don’t find the color you want, you can build your own look through “film recipes” using grain effect, color chrome effect, and tone curve controls. This makes shooting feel more intentional, and encourages you to focus on color and mood rather than heavy post-processing.
AF Speed and Practical Handling
Fujifilm AF is often described as slower than Canon or Sony, so it’s generally better for controlled subjects: daily life, landscapes, street, portraits, and casual video—rather than fast athletes or wildlife.
That said, it’s not “too slow.” Modern Canon and Sony bodies are simply extremely fast, so Fuji feels slower by comparison. In normal shooting, I didn’t feel stressed by AF performance.
I could adjust AF area size and position easily using the rear joystick. The wheel dial lets you change the AF area from pinpoint to wide coverage quickly. It can also capture a vertical area selection, similar to methods seen on Olympus cameras.
Face, head, and even torso recognition is supported, making it easier to keep focus on people in motion. When I tested it on a passerby, it accurately detected the head even with a hat on.
Recommended Lens: XF23mmF2.8 R WR
A small camera pairs best with a pancake prime lens, and 35mm-equivalent is an all-rounder focal length. The XF23mmF2.8 R WR is exactly that: compact, lightweight, with a smooth aperture feel.
XF23mmF2.8 R WR / f2.8
XF23mmF2.8 R WR / f16
Even though this is an APS-C camera, the out-of-focus rendering is pleasing. At f2.8, the bokeh shows a slight swirling character, which can look very “filmic” depending on the scene.
40.2MP High Resolution: Cropping and Digital Zoom Convenience
The photo size is 7728 × 5152 from a 40.2MP sensor. File size was around 23MB, which felt smaller than expected. The main benefit of high resolution is cropping flexibility—digital zoom becomes very practical.
I zoomed into the upper right corner, then the center, and the detail held up cleanly. You can even see Bukhan Mountain behind Bukak Mountain in the distance. There was haze that day due to moisture; on a drier day it would have looked even clearer.
High ISO Noise Performance and 5-Axis IBIS
In bright daylight, smartphone and camera results can look similar. The real difference shows indoors and at night. I shot indoors and zoomed into the mannequin.
ISO 6400
ISO 12800
Noise stayed very clean up to ISO 6400, and even ISO 12800 wasn’t as distracting as expected. For indoor and night shooting, this is a strong advantage.
1/3 second
The 5-axis IBIS is also impressive. With 40.2MP, stabilization needs to be strong, and the camera still held steady even at 1/3 second handheld.
Video Switching: No Dedicated Record Button
I’ll cover video in more detail later, but one thing surprised me: there’s no separate video button. To switch to video, you press the DRIVE/DELETE button, scroll down, and select video at the bottom.
It’s a bit inconvenient at first, but it aligns with the concept of this camera. It feels like a photo-first body that also happens to do video well.
Conclusion: A Daily Camera With Fuji Color and True Portability
The Fujifilm X-E5 is a daily camera that balances performance and portability. The best part of carrying it around was the color—film simulation first, film recipes second—followed by portability. It’s so small and light that it feels like a camera you can keep with you every day.
The design is also a big part of the attraction. The lack of a dedicated video button can be annoying, but I adapted quickly. Low-light performance, low noise, and strong stabilization were all satisfying.
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