The long-awaited X-E5 is finally here — think X100VI vibes, but with the creative freedom of interchangeable lenses and far more horsepower than its predecessor. It’s still slim, refined, and loaded with analog-like controls, now sporting the same 40.2 MP sensor found in the X-T5 and X100VI.
Keep in mind this article is based on first impressions only; I had a pre-production unit for a limited time, not long enough for a full hands-on review. We’ll keep it light and fun.
On June 12th, 2025 the Fujifilm X-E5 finally launched, and I was so stoked to get my hands on this long-awaited gem. The original X-E4 was a crowd favorite for a reason, completely shaking up Fujifilm’s approach to compact cameras. It was lightweight, easy to grab, and incredibly flexible for varying subject matter, making it a go-to for street photographers and a dream upgrade for beginners coming from smartphones. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, Fujifilm discontinued it, leaving a noticeable gap in the lineup for over a year. Enter… the X-E5.
For context, I’m coming from the Fujifilm X100VI (not doing a full comparison here just yet, but if you want one, go show some love on the YouTube video). Right out of the box, the X-E5 gives off a similar vibe: a small-but-mighty camera that nails color, detail, and ease of use, all wrapped in Fujifilm’s signature film-meets-digital design language. It’s lightweight, it’s fun, and it feels like a serious upgrade from the X-E4. That’s a relief, considering the price bump (more on that later).
👉 40.2MP X-Trans 5 HR Sensor (same as the X100VI & X-T5)
👉 7-Stop IBIS for handheld sharpness
👉 Custom Film Sim Dial – create & save your own looks
👉 Aluminum top plate with throwback rangefinder feel
👉 AI-powered subject detection autofocus
👉 Optional 23mm f/2.8 pancake lens = true street setup
There's so much good about this camera, but a new nit picks that I had to get used to. Let's break it down:
A 40MP sensor in a body this small still blows my mind, even if it’s not exactly new. My Fujifilm X100VI offers the same resolution, and it even lets you flip on an in-camera teleconverter via the lever on the top right of the body. Up top there’s a newly designed film-simulation dial, so you can scroll through looks in seconds and crank out share-ready JPEGs.
The X-E5 gives you both Continuous IBIS (always active) and Shoot-Only IBIS (active only while you’re shooting). The system delivers up to seven stops of stabilization to tame camera shake, courtesy of an entirely redesigned algorithm, which is a very welcome upgrade.
Fujifilm has experimented with a few designs for its film-simulation dial, but this is the first time one has shown up on the X-E line. Because it’s a physical knob, you can tell which simulation is selected even when the camera’s off, and that setting is still there when you power back on. It’s a lifesaver when I’m bouncing between monochrome and color.
Fujifilm’s factory presets are fine, but I almost always build my own recipes to nail the exact vibe I’m after. On most bodies that means digging through menus, yet the X-E5’s updated dial lets me lock in a custom look almost instantly. You still get all of Fujifilm’s standard simulations, plus 3 empty slots on the dial where you can store your own recipes. A quick spin is all it takes to switch looks, and any tweaks you make stay put even after you shut the camera down.
Beyond the dial, the camera hides 7 more custom-recipe banks in the menu. Add those to the 3 on-dial slots and you’ve got 10 custom simulations ready to go — no more deep menu diving. Pretty awesome.
The power packed into this little body feels closer to the X-T5 than the X100VI thanks to in-body stabilization, an interchangeable-lens mount, and a sleek electronic viewfinder. You’re getting top-tier specs in something you can shoot one-handed. With seven stops of IBIS, I can drag the shutter for guerrilla-style street work and still walk away with crisp frames. The camera stays true to Fujifilm’s trademark simplicity while giving me the freedom to exercise greater creative settings.
Slip on a pancake lens, like the 23mm F/2.8, and the X-E5 turns into a true one-hand shooter that’s both light and grippy, yet aesthetic enough to appease the fashionistas. Subtle finger indents help the body feel more secure in the hands, which any run-and-gun photographer will love, yet it retains that refined rangefinder feel instead of a chunky DSLR.
Compared to the slim X-E4, the X-E5 looks and feels more grown-up. I could carry it down a boujee NYC street or work a wedding as a B-cam and still look legit. It never feels toy-like, and the build is polished enough to stand on its own without cages or add-ons.
In a way, it reminds me of a downsized GFX100RF: still super premium, but pocket-friendly.
The X-E5 is an interchangeable-lens camera that takes XF-mount glass, so you can swap focal lengths. For someone like me — constantly rigging cameras for my YouTube channel and running multiple bodies on SunnySixteen shoots —that level of flexibility is non-negotiable. I never have to worry about missing a shot because I’m locked into one focal length.
My X100VI, by comparison, is a fixed-lens body. I love its point-and-shoot simplicity, but sometimes I want a compact camera that still lets me change lenses if the moment demands it. The X-E5 delivers exactly that: a small, capable body with the freedom to mount whatever lens the scene calls for.
Fujifilm rolled out the 23mm F/2.8 alongside the X-E5; a delicious tiny pancake lens that practically disappears on the camera. Fujifilm built it for street shooters who love the point-and-shoot feel of a palm-sized setup, yet the X-E5’s sensor and specs are far too capable to stay married to one focal length. Luckily, you can swap to any of roughly 40+ other XF-mount lenses. That flexibility is a huge win for me.
It gives you a field of view closer to 35mm when speaking in full-frame terms, which is wide enough to capture the whole scenes but succinct enough keep focused on the subject where it matters (especially with its rock solid autofocus).
In fact, using this lens with the X-E5 makes it pretty much the same setup as the X100VI (though a slightly slower aperture at f/2.8 versus the X100VI’s f/2.0). It’s a sturdy lens that’s flat enough you barely notice it’s there. Although admittedly, the focus ring is super slim and a tad hard to adjust if you’ve got larger fingers, but not a deal breaker.
I spent a few days on the beach with Caleb and Niles, surfing California waves under gloomy skies with the kids, classic West Coast dad stuff. We fired off some selfies and pushed the X-E5’s portability in rougher conditions, and it held up flawlessly thanks to its weather-resistant sealing.
As you can see from the photos, the image quality is great:
If you need a camera that leans harder into video, the X-T5 is probably a better fit. The X-E5 is tuned for still shooters who care more about portrait and landscape work than rolling footage; it feels like a pocket-size cousin of the GFX100RF. By contrast, the X-T5 is larger, more rugged, and aimed squarely at working hybrid pros, with beefier weather sealing, greater batter life, and dual card slots instead of the single slot found on most X-Series bodies.
The X-E5 costs more than many fans expected from an X-E-series body. But once you account for its 7 stops of IBIS, a sensor nearly twice the resolution of the previous model, premium materials, an upgraded LCD with an electronic viewfinder, and the new film-simulation dial, the price lands squarely in line with the rest of the contemporary X lineup.
The honest reality is that camera prices keep climbing: demand remains high while parts are harder to source. That shortage is why the X100VI still sits on lengthy waitlists, because allocating units is a supply-chain maze.
And given that the X-E5 packs near-flagship specs into a body with the size and vibe of the iconic X100VI — it could well become Fujifilm’s next cult favorite. Time will tell.
Moment has opened up pre-orders for the Fujifilm X-E5 and are expecting to begin shipping on August 28th. Of course, it’s based on the availability of units Fujifilm is able to produce and supply. International customers may want to loot at pre-ordering the camera with their local camera stores as our pre-orders are only for US customers.
As always, feel free to reach out to hello@shopmoment.com and a Gear Guide will happily answer any questions you have!
