Fujifilm X-E5

This could be the best camera yet in the brand's X-E line

- Gareth Bevan

£1,299/$1,699 (body only)

When Fujifilm unveiled the X-E1 in 2012, it distilled the then-new X-Pro concept into a trim, rangefinder-style body that cost and weighed far less than the flagship X-Pro1, yet kept the same dial-driven shooting experience.

The X-E2 and X-E3 continued to shave more millimetres and buttons, but the X-E4 pushed minimalism to the limit, and its slim, grip-less body became both a selling point and a sore spot for street and travel shooters.

That polarising design, combined with pandemic-era supply woes, saw the X-E4 vanish from retailers after a short stint on store shelves. However, demand for the XE line was still there, though, with preowned prices soaring, so it was only a matter of time before Fujifilm revisited the concept.

After a four-year pause, the X-E5's arrival revives a series whose understated charm has consistently earned a devoted, if niche, following. But has Fujifilm finally found the perfect balance of a pocket-friendly form with the grip and control that XE fans crave?

Build and handling

Styling-wise, available in black or silver, the X-E5 isn't a huge departure from the previous XE line - although, thankfully, the new model ditches some of the worst of the X-E4 design choices. Picking up the camera, the hugely improved design is obvious. The X-E4 felt a little cheap and hollow, but the X-E5 is up there with the X-T5 and X-T50 in that it feels more premium and solid. This is reflected by the weight gain of the X-E5, with the new model weighing a still pocketable 445g versus 364g in the previous generation.