I'm kicking around the idea of getting the XE5 as something different from my main Sony kit to use as an EDC fun camera. Right now I'm using the Nikon Zr with a few good recipes, but sometimes I want a EVF. Plus it's a fair bit larger in size since I need to use the smallrig handgrip with the arca base. Though I would so the same with the XE5, but the Zed R is still larger haha. And I may wind up selling the Zr as it's really clunky in use.
Anyway, the XE5 has all the preset sims on the dial, can they be adjusted in any way? Like can I tweak the Classic Chrome dial position to have the Vibrant Arizona settings or does that have to live on one of the FS dial settings or custom banks? I've searched Fuji's manual and from what I see you can only tweak Acros by adding yellow, red or green. Just want to confirm. I ran two systems back in the day with the a7r2 and the XT2 before going all Sony with the 3rd gen a7's to now with the a7v/a7rv.
I was on the same boat. Was initially considering an X100VI, but seeing as how they're still overpriced, went with an X-E5 + 23mm combo.
From what I've found you have two options when it comes to customization:
1. Global IQ/color settings, which will affect ALL sims. You can modify everything related to color and it will affect every preset simulation on the dial equally, so it acts like a "global recipe" in a way. So for example any grain, clarity, chrome, tone curve, etc. changes you set will apply to the Reala Ace, Classic Chrome, Astia, Velvia, etc. slots in the film sim dial equally.
2. And this is the one you probably want: three FS positions on the dial, which allow you to store custom recipes that are specific to each. For example, you could have all your global settings as you prefer, then use FS1 with a film sim of your choice, like Classic Chrome, apply grain, clarity, color, etc. as desired. Those changes will get saved only to FS1 and will also override any global ones. You can do the same with FS2 and FS3 and have three separate totally custom sims/recipes in addition to the other preset ones.
Does the X-E5 treat FS1-FS3 as full custom modes, ie remembering your aspect ratio, metering mode, etc like the X100VI, X-T5, et al do? That change with the latest gen, forcing a film sim to be a full blown C1 type mode, really killed the utility of having multiple custom sims on the camera.
n8rv wrote:
The FS1-3 modes in the X-E5 are separate from the C1-7 modes.
FS modes only affect film sim and color settings. C modes affect everything.
For anyone serious about film sims, this makes the X-E5 a top consideration. No other Fuji did it that well since the X100V. Shame you're limited to 3, but a "standard" color, "standard" mono, and "fun" sim are all you need anyways.
FWIW I haven't tried this yet to confirm, but I assume you could also "cheat" the C modes to have seven additional film sims. But there's no dedicated C mode dial, so you'd have to dive into the menus for that. Could probably map that to another button, wheel or rocker though. (?)
RoamingScott wrote:
Of course, but those become way more than film sims. Anyone who changes even aspect ratio often will quickly hate bouncing between them.
Yeah it's more trouble than it's worth to me, but for anyone who really needs extra simulation storage above all else, I suppose they have that option to exploit.
I'm a creature of habit, so I'm content with cycling through my top 3 in FS1-3.
Thanks for the info. Nothing is a dealbreaker for me, just getting facts straight. It would have been nice if Fuji allowed everything to be customized and it would certainly be possible via FW updates. But it is what it is. The XE5 is still looking like a winner for my EDC cam and something new to tinker with over the summer haha. I looked hard at the x100's, but as much as I like the 35mm focal length, I'll eventually want something wider or with more reach.
@joychris@
I purchased an XT5 about 9 months ago and love it. As I was going to Thailand for 2 months this year I wanted a 2nd body and bought an XE5 a few months ago as an EDC because of the smaller size
Now into the trip for 5 weeks with about 4,,500 photos taken by both cameras. Bottom line I an selling the XE5 when I get home and buying a 2nd XT5 with a low shutter count as my 2nd body.
The lack of certain features, the AF Joystick, ISO dial with lock, twin card slots for immediate backup, and a battery that only gets half as many shots, plus the lesser quality of things like the EVF, to me means the XE5 is a no go and makes it harder to get the shot with the same speed as it’s slightly bigger brother. My 2 Voight X mount pancakes are easier to MF with the 50% higher res EVF for sure.
Got my Xt5 brand new for only $50 more than the XE5, to me I would pay $300 more, it’s that much of an easier to use camera. PS left my Sony A7CR and lenses at home, the XT5 is that good.
SpecFoto wrote:
@joychris@@
I purchased an XT5 about 9 months ago and love it. As I was going to Thailand for 2 months this year I wanted a 2nd body and bought an XE5 a few months ago as an EDC because of the smaller size
Now into the trip for 5 weeks with about 4,,500 photos taken by both cameras. Bottom line I an selling the XE5 when I get home and buying a 2nd XT5 with a low shutter count as my 2nd body.
The lack of certain features, the AF Joystick, ISO dial with lock, twin card slots for immediate backup, and a battery that only gets half as many shots, plus the lesser quality of things like the EVF, to me means the XE5 is a no go and makes it harder to get the shot with the same speed as it’s slightly bigger brother. My 2 Voight X mount pancakes are easier to MF with the 50% higher res EVF for sure.
Got my Xt5 brand new for only $50 more than the XE5, to me I would pay $300 more, it’s that much of an easier to use camera. PS left my Sony A7CR and lenses at home, the XT5 is that good.
gdanmitchell wrote:
The XE5 has some virtues… and a few gimmicks. But the XT5 is a better value on a feature basis and not much larger.
Yep, but the difference in shape is what makes the XT5 'large' and keeps the XE5 'small.'
I have the XE5 but I'm selling it, since I don't see the point of having Fuji APSc when I already have MFT and FF. I do like the film simulations and especially bracketing them, but in reality I never end up printing those versions and just start from scratch in Lightroom anyway from the RAW file.
johnvanr wrote:
Yep, but the difference in shape is what makes the XT5 'large' and keeps the XE5 'small.'
I have the XE5 but I'm selling it, since I don't see the point of having Fuji APSc when I already have MFT and FF. I do like the film simulations and especially bracketing them, but in reality I never end up printing those versions and just start from scratch in Lightroom anyway from the RAW file.
I brought 2 PD Sling bags with me to Thailand, a 6L and a 3L to carry the 6 primes, 2 bodies and a Sigma 18-50 f2.8 zoom. Mostly try to use the 3L sling daily with either body and 3 of the primes (4 primes with the 2 Voigt pancakes). Only if I mount the Sigma 18-50 on the XT5 does it not fit in the 3L sling, but that is due to the zoom and its longer length. XE5 with my zoom is a tight fit. Either body fits with the same lens group, including the zoom, in the 6L, which is still a small bag.
I have OM MFT and Sony FF too, but for me, it is them that will be reduced in scope. I really like the Fuji XT5 body, layout and controls, it is the best layout of the 3 each OM and Sony bodies I own. And the WR, IQ, aperture rings and small size of the 4 Fujicrons puts my smaller Olympus/OM primes to shame.
SpecFoto wrote:
I brought 2 PD Sling bags with me to Thailand, a 6L and a 3L to carry the 6 primes, 2 bodies and a Sigma 18-50 f2.8 zoom. Mostly try to use the 3L sling daily with either body and 3 of the primes (4 primes with the 2 Voigt pancakes). Only if I mount the Sigma 18-50 on the XT5 does it not fit in the 3L sling, but that is due to the zoom and its longer length. XE5 with zoom is a tight fit.
I have OM MFT and Sony FF too, but for me, it is them that will be reduced in scope. I really like the Fuji XT5 body, layout and controls, it is the best layout of the 3 each OM and Sony bodies I own. And the WR, IQ, aperture rings and small size of the 4 Fujicrons puts my smaller Olympus/OM primes to shame. ...Show more →
Interesting. In my case, I’m much happier shooting with my OM-1 than I’m with any Fuji X I’ve ever used. Beyond 20mp resolution is largely a non-issue to me for general shooting.
SpecFoto wrote:
@joychris@@
I purchased an XT5 about 9 months ago and love it. As I was going to Thailand for 2 months this year I wanted a 2nd body and bought an XE5 a few months ago as an EDC because of the smaller size
Now into the trip for 5 weeks with about 4,,500 photos taken by both cameras. Bottom line I an selling the XE5 when I get home and buying a 2nd XT5 with a low shutter count as my 2nd body.
The lack of certain features, the AF Joystick, ISO dial with lock, twin card slots for immediate backup, and a battery that only gets half as many shots, plus the lesser quality of things like the EVF, to me means the XE5 is a no go and makes it harder to get the shot with the same speed as it’s slightly bigger brother. My 2 Voight X mount pancakes are easier to MF with the 50% higher res EVF for sure.
Got my Xt5 brand new for only $50 more than the XE5, to me I would pay $300 more, it’s that much of an easier to use camera. PS left my Sony A7CR and lenses at home, the XT5 is that good.
I appreciate that perspective. But the XT5 is basically a lesser version of my a7V and a7rV with worse AF that lacks the 4-way tilt screen - so I have the larger battery, better EVF, dual cards, hump in the middle camera covered for professional work and high IQ travel photos and video. I like the rangefinder style for casual shooting having previously owned the a7cII and now the Nikon Zr. If the Zr had a corner EVF and a mechanical shutter I probably wouldn’t be side eyeing something else because the recipe scene is pretty good in Nikon land. I’m actually considering the XM5 to go even smaller, but I like having IBIS so I’m leaning XE5.
I think you'll love the X-E5. There are people who cannot grasp why a camera that loses out on specs can be the preferable choice for anyone. For me, I know exactly why I love my X-E5 as soon as I pick it up. My X-T3 is a great workhorse, just like I'm sure the X-T5 would be. As is my A7cII and A7rIII.
The X-E5 is the camera I tell my other cameras not to worry about, if you know what I mean.
joychris wrote:
I appreciate that perspective. But the XT5 is basically a lesser version of my a7V and a7rV with worse AF that lacks the 4-way tilt screen - so I have the larger battery, better EVF, dual cards, hump in the middle camera covered for professional work and high IQ travel photos and video. I like the rangefinder style for casual shooting having previously owned the a7cII and now the Nikon Zr. If the Zr had a corner EVF and a mechanical shutter I probably wouldn’t be side eyeing something else because the recipe scene is pretty good in Nikon land. I’m actually considering the XM5 to go even smaller, but I like having IBIS so I’m leaning XE5.
And I appreciate your perspective. The IBIS on the XE5 is good and the rangefinder style has its appeal. Before I replace my XE5, I will wait to see what the X Pro 4 brings, as I like the rangefinder style too. It is rumored to have an 1/8,000 mech shutter, a bigger joystick, full size battery, best IBIS yet, twin card slots and hopeful the 3.69 MD OLED EVF from the XT5. If it lacks these improvements then I am fine with a 2nd XT5 body.
Far as the Sony AF, I do not have an A7RV, but do have an A7RIV and A7CR. My XT5 AF is very good, I use CAF or SAF with a single point and if needed move it with the good sized joystick and quickly regain BBF (AF-On) as the 2 are right next to each other. My hit ratio is over 95% in focus, very close to my A7CR (97% +) with its more advanced focus system. But it needs it as there is no joystick I am mostly shooting street scenes and portraits, no BIF or fast action, as that is what I wanted the Fuji system for, so my XT5 AF is more than good enough for me. The XE5 has in comparison a tiny joystick, slightly misplaced and the AF On button is a stretch up and again very tiny. Many time I would miss focus because of the difficulty of dealing with such small buttons placed so far apart. Regarding video, I don't use it, so the 3 way tilt screen is perfect, again for me, to each their own.
And I appreciate your perspective. The IBIS on the XE5 is good and the rangefinder style has its appeal. Before I replace my XE5, I will wait to see what the X Pro 4 brings, as I like the rangefinder style too. It is rumored to have an 1/8,000 mech shutter, a bigger joystick, full size battery, best IBIS yet, twin card slots and hopeful the 3.69 MD OLED EVF from the XT5. If it lacks these improvements then I am fine with a 2nd XT5 body.
Far as the Sony AF, I do not have an A7RV, but do have an A7RIV and A7CR. My XT5 AF is very good, I use CAF or SAF with a single point and if needed move it with the good sized joystick and quickly regain BBF (AF-On) as the 2 are right next to each other. My hit ratio is over 95% in focus, very close to my A7CR (97% +) with its more advanced focus system. But it needs it as there is no joystick I am mostly shooting street scenes and portraits, no BIF or fast action, as that is what I wanted the Fuji system for, so my XT5 AF is more than good enough for me. The XE5 has in comparison a tiny joystick, slightly misplaced and the AF On button is a stretch up and again very tiny. Many time I would miss focus because of the difficulty of dealing with such small buttons placed so far apart. Regarding video, I don't use it, so the 3 way tilt screen is perfect, again for me, to each their own....Show more →
I don't use BBAF because its a clunky and outdated method of focusing on Sony's AI bodies, and most of the time I don't even use the joystick - I take advantage of the AI capabilities. I use the expand flexible box with lock on activated by a back button stab to engage tracking on whatever I put the focus box on. I also have tap to track on the LCD. Point, hit the button or tap the screen, and fire away at will. It tracks everything until you disengage or plant the focus box on something else and hit the button again. It's really amazing. Accuracy is almost perfect, and more importantly in video the tracking is just unbeatable. It's so sticky, makes it painless to chase a small child or kingfishers zooming around. I've owned the R5II and rented a XH2s to see if the other's are close - they aren't. Neither is my Nikon.
But that's ok since I already have those bases covered.
The XPro4 rumors have been around for years, and given Fuji's current prices it'll probably be well over $2000 and hard to find since they don't have the foresight to slow production of the other 428 bodies they sell in order to ramp up production of anything before releasing creating artificial shortages. I may have exaggerated the number of X Mount bodies by 5 or 6 though !
The XE5 seems to fit the bill nicely. Again appreciate the time.