| sent on September 07, 2025
Pros: Dimensions, build quality, AI, aesthetics, very comfortable film simulation ring
Cons: There is no optional digital viewfinder
Opinion: I state that I have been passionate about photography for 50 years, since I was 12, so I understand something about it. I have owned hundreds of cameras and I like to try them all so I change them often, in this period I am not particularly interested in the search for pixels but more in portability because I also think that the best camera is the one that is always with you. I bought this camera with some doubts due to the absence of the viewfinder but I found it splendid, compared to the fuji I had (almost all) there have been giant steps thanks to AI. I don't like automatisms that don't leave me in control because they have often disappointed me, moreover I'm of the film generation and I'm used to managing everything myself and I shoot to have the final photo as in the days of film, (also because I hate PP), I don't like to fight with systems that have a life of their own and don't do what I would like, this machine, on the other hand, in addition to having an excellent IQ, definitively conquered me one day when I suddenly found myself in a birthday party of a one-year-old nephew, indoors, with mixed lights, and a lot of aunts who snatched it from their hands, a real hut, and the car I just bought was set up for something else, so panicked at the crucial moment of the cake I put EVERYTHING on automatic and thought: let's see what happens. Well, I was stunned: perfect wb but above all AF and identification of the subject incredible: despite the mass of screaming aunts between the feet (to put it mildly) the camera seemed to know exactly what the subject was, it always focused perfectly on the child in all the shots despite passing from one aunt to another, it seemed that it knew perfectly which was the subject to follow, I attribute this ability to the use of AI because my other Fujis would never have been able to do it. All the shots came out perfect and everyone liked them, sent directly via app to those present, with the consequent rip-off that I have now been appointed official photographer of the baptism in church in two weeks. I also had at least 5 or 6 Sony level notes for excellent AF but it was me who had to tell him which was the subject to follow while this fuji figured it out on its own for the whole evening, I was stunned! Of course, the downside is that you feel useless and without merit, as if you had cheated. Later I wanted to change it with a Ricoh GR3x of which I am very happy even if the AF is mediocre but it has other remarkable merits and I always keep it in my pocket, but I was in love with this little monster Fuji and I couldn't resist, I just bought it again and I'll keep both: one for my pocket and one for my handbag. I got used to the absence of the viewfinder: just attribute the adjustment of the brightness of the display to the personal menus or to the fn keys, moreover since I use only fixed lenses I bought some optical viewfinders for photos on the beach under the strong sun. On the M5 I also have a folding lens hood for the display, bought in the Amazon for a few euros, which can be put on and taken off in a moment and works well, it has a simple elastic band to pass behind the display and when you don't use it it folds and you put it in your pocket. But let's say that by now cell phones are getting us used to it, it's no longer a drama. To conclude, the used car for street, family photos and portraits is highly recommended for me. |