Fujifilm X-E5

Highly recommended – Compact and high quality with superior handling

The X-E series has traditionally offered a cheap and stylish entry-point to Fujifilm’s mirrorless range, but the X-E5 cranks things up a notch. It has the price tag to match, too, but I think the improvements to design, build quality and features are well worth the extra outlay. This is a very capable mid-range shooter with particular appeal to stills photographers, and its small size and low weight (when paired with an appropriate lens) make it a great all-day walkaround camera.

The Fujifilm X-E5 becomes one of the most attractive mid-range mirrorless cameras around in terms of both style and specs, essentially repackaging the X-T50 into a body that mimics the enormously popular X100. Indeed that might be all you need to know: it’s an X100 with the chance to swap lenses. Fit the new 23 f2.8 lens and many won’t be able to tell the difference. Fit the 27 2.8 pancake and you have a custom X100 with slightly tighter coverage. Switch these out for an ultra wide or telephoto and you can do things the X100 can only dream of. For most people it’ll be the more sensible choice. But like many things in life it’s not quite that simple. The X100 VI has a number of benefits, including a brighter f2 aperture if you’re matching the lens size, an optical viewfinder, more detailed electronic viewfinder and screen, built-in flash, ND filter, faster mechanical bursts and a leaf shutter that’s not only quieter but can sync a flash up to 1/4000. It can also be made weather-proof and some of us actually enjoy the restriction of a fixed lens. But I suspect a camera with much the same looks as an X100 and the flexibility of an interchangeable lens mount will outweigh any downsides for most people. Bottom line? The X-E5 is likely to be another big hit for Fujifilm and relieve some of the strain from the X100 VI queues. Best get your order in sooner than later.

The X-E5 is an excellent option if you want rangefinder styling, but other cameras offer more substance.