2024 is almost over. This year's buzzwords have been announced, but I was surprised that "the 2024 problem" was not selected for some reason. This word refers to the fact that the Work Style Reform Bill has limited drivers' overtime work hours to 960 hours per year. This means that the driving distance per person will be reduced, and more manpower will be required.
There is a limit to what one person can do alone. I felt like I had been told that, so I decided to take a chance and try out the method. The person I chose to talk to was Mr. Naito, the photographer in charge of the photography for this series. As we were talking, he told me that there was a new camera from Fujifilm that looked like a good choice. That was the entry-level mirrorless digital camera called the X-M5.
When I took the camera out of the box and held it in my hand, I was surprised at how small and light it was. Without a lens, it weighed about 355g with the battery and memory card inserted. This is apparently the lightest of the X series. It is small, measuring 111.9 (width) x 66.6 (height) x 38 (depth) mm, and can easily fit in an outerwear pocket.
This is because this camera is the successor to the "X-M1" released in 2013. It inherits the small and lightweight concept of the "XM" series, which is making a comeback after 11 years, and is designed to omit an electronic viewfinder (EVF), in-body image stabilization, and built-in flash. In pursuit of good images without interfering with the basic posture, the image sensor is the APS-C size "X-Tans CMOS 4" with approximately 26.1 million effective pixels, and the image processing engine is the latest "X-Processor 5". The design is brisk and mobile, and in a good way, it is somewhat reminiscent of a light car.
The overall look is classical, with a comfortable design that satisfies the desire to own it. The shutter button and other buttons are located on the top right, while the left side features a Fujifilm-like film simulation. Meanwhile, the back is simple, with a vari-angle touch panel monitor and focus lever, making it extremely easy to use.
When it's time to take a photo, you can leave it all to the camera, as it is equipped with the latest subject detection AF. You can also touch the rear panel to adjust the focus and take the photo. Another attractive feature is the film simulation function, which is typical of Fujifilm, which has been cultivated through its experience with film. You can choose from 20 types, such as ``PROVIA/Standard,'' ``Classic Chrome,'' ``Classic Negative,'' and ``ACROS,'' and you can easily change the setting. You can get into the RAW development or enjoy the characteristics of film to the fullest. This is what makes Fujifilm cameras so great.
It may be a coincidence, but for some reason, I've seen Fujifilm digital cameras a lot recently. They come in a variety of sizes, from mid-range to small, and although they all have different textures, they produce great photos. I've always wanted to know the secret behind this. So I asked Naito to bring his camera with him on his business trip to the US and take some photos. These are the photos I'm going to post. The dark areas are not lost, and I honestly think they're great.
The lenses that were given to me were the zoom kit lens "FUJINON Lens XC15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ" and the prime pancake lens "FUJINON Lens XF27mmF2.8 R WR." The latter in particular is attractive for its size, which seems to fit perfectly with this camera.
By the way, the video performance of this camera is also quite good. It supports 4:2:2 10-bit video recording at a maximum frame rate of 6.2K, 29.97p, which is more than enough for an entry-level model. With that in mind, it has both a headphone jack and a microphone jack. There are also three built-in microphones, with four different directional patterns to choose from. In keeping with the modern era, there is also a 1080p vertical video shooting mode called "9:16 short video mode" for short videos, which is a very comprehensive feature.
One of the weaknesses is the lack of in-body image stabilization, but you can turn on the digital image stabilization to get a good amount of stability. For those who want to take vlogs, adding a gimbal should make it even more comfortable.
There's no viewfinder or built-in flash! Some people may want to point out, but even the well-known Ricoh GR3, which is hard to buy, doesn't have one. And the good thing about this camera is the simple concept of deliberately eliminating these features. Instead, it's as easy to handle as a compact camera, can be carried anywhere, you can change lenses, and you can even take videos. And you can put your own intentions into the photos more than with a smartphone. For those who want to start taking photos, those who want a sub-camera, or those who are tired of carrying around a heavy single-lens camera, this may be the best camera. Of course, people who go abroad like Naito-san or those who just had a child won't let it go.
That's right, Naito-san told me, "It's great, I want it now," but since you told me about it, I hope you'll buy it and use it to the fullest.
