Latest news with #Fuji
Tom's Guide
4 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I've been shooting Fuji for 10 years, including the X-E4 — here's why I won't be buying the Fujifilm X-E5
I got my first Fujifilm in 2015, a Finepix something-or-other bridge camera. It kinda sucked in retrospect, but it was my first 'real' camera and sparked my interest in the Japanese brand. Since then, I've had a short rollick in the bushes with Canon, before embarking upon an outright steamy love affair with Sony. Then, a few years back, disillusioned with how photography was making me feel, I chucked in my 'do-everything' Sony A7 III and downsized to the Fujifilm X-E4. And oh boy, was it the best camera I could've bought. While the A7 III left me uninspired, the X-E4 made photography enjoyable again; it rekindled a love for the hobby that no camera has since lived up to. Unfortunately, mine was an ex-demo and developed a sensor issue, so I swapped to an X-Pro 3, leaving the X-E4 as the one that got away. Since then, I've owned an X-T4 and now an X-T5. I've also tested virtually every recent Fuji launch, including the Fujifilm X100VI, X-H2/S, X-S20, and even the medium format Fujifilm GFX100S II and Fujifilm GFX100 II. Same price, more camera. If, like me, you feel the X-E5 is a little overpriced, consider the Fujifilm X-T5, current holder of the "best APS-C" award on our roundup of the best mirrorless cameras. I own the X-T5 and trust me, it's a beaut! None of them, not even the X-Pro 3, has the spirit of the X-E4. While I love my X-T5, I still long for how the X-E line made me feel. Which is why I was so excited about the launch of the X-E5 — Could this be an opportunity to return to the glory days? Unfortunately, I think not. While I appreciate Fuji developing the X-E line, I'm not sure this fifth iteration is for me. To me, something about the magic of those cameras now feels lost. Here's why. Simply put, I feel Fuji has thrown too much at this camera. Part of the joy of the X-E4 was how much of a stripped back experience it proved to be. Short on physical controls, the X-E4 was a challenging camera to use at times, or at least it was when accustomed to professional cameras and the safety net of multiple Fn buttons. That made the X-E4 fun; it was an escape. It didn't have IBIS, or even a grip — that made it lightweight and plucky. It was arguably under-specced, but with purpose. It was a minimalist, simple street camera. I'm not sure the same can be said for the X-E5. I'll be reviewing the camera myself very soon, so I'll save my proper verdict until then, but from everything I've seen so far, it looks like Fuji has thrown way too much at the camera, spoiling that Spartan ethos. X-Es are lightweight street cameras that are easy to hold and keep steady. This may be an unpopular opinion, but I don't feel they need IBIS, a needless sacrifice to size and weight. Don't get me wrong, I know the value of and appreciate IBIS. I rely on it constantly in product photography either in the studio or on location, where I often need to drop my shutter. How often do I rely on it when shooting street, though? Virtually never. When am I gonna be shooting a moving, bustling street at ⅕ sec? Of course, as with almost every camera these days, the X-E5 is designed to be vlogger friendly. Hence the IBIS and the flip up screen (in fairness, also a feature on the X-E4). But wait a minute — isn't the Fujifilm X-M5 a vlogging camera? And the Fujifilm X-S20? Why does a third of the Fuji lineup need to be vlogging oriented? I know, it's all a bit 'old man shakes fist at clouds', but if the X-E5 is all about street photography and the experience and purity of shooting, as Fuji makes out, what does vlogging have to do with anything? 'Vlogging' seems to be the most overstated use case plaguing mirrorless cameras these days — how many people do you know who actually vlog? Then there's the film sim dial — essentially Fuji's 'look busy' trademark these days. Slap a film sim dial on it and make out it's revolutionary. Yawn. Surprise, surprise, Fujifilm has fitted the X-E5 with the 40.2MP X-Trans CMOS 5 HR APS-C sensor found in the Fujifilm X-H2 and Fujifilm X-T5. Oh, and the Fujifilm X-T50. And the Fujifilm X100VI. Does everything need a 40.2MP sensor? It's becoming a little cookie-cutter — why not just buy an X-T5? It'll cost you more or less the same. Now I know Fuji always reuses its sensors — everything had 26MP for a good while — but it now has two main X-Trans CMOS 5 variants: the 40.2MP HR and 26MP HS. The company recently equipped the X-S20 with the older X-Trans 4 26MP sensor, and fitted the Fujifilm X-H2S with the 26MP HS variant of the X-Trans 5 — so why not the X-E5? It would give fans a little variation, rather than just essentially picking from five versions of the same camera, all merely wearing different jackets. Besides, I'd argue that 40.2MP is simply not necessary in a street camera like this, or the X100VI. Again, don't get me wrong, I own the X-T5 and I appreciate the high resolution sensor when shooting product photography for work. But the X-E line is not the X-T line. I feel you lose some of the X-E line's spirit by stepping up to 40.2MP. The X-E4 was just fine with 26MP, which suited the more casual, fun, non-pixel-peeping mentality of the camera, not to mention the nostalgic look of the images. What's more, having the extra resolution (and therefore the ability to crop more aggressively) simply encourages users to shoot first and crop later, instead of taking the extra time to consider and frame your photos properly to begin with. It's just another element that chips away at the spirit of the X-E range. Apart from all the aforementioned, I would've liked to see Fuji fit the upgraded NP-W235 battery from the X-T5, rather than keeping X-E4's weakling NP-W126S. Fuji put a protruding grip on X-E5 anyway, so I wish it'd found space to house the larger battery inside. This would give users longer on the street without having to carry and change batteries — a genuinely useful upgrade for the target demographic. Most importantly, I'd have liked to see much, much better displays. Given this camera is priced similarly to the X-T5, I expected similar specification displays, namely the X-T5's tilting 1.84M-dot rear display and 3.69M-dot EVF. The X-E5 makes do with a 2.36M-dot EVF, and a puny 1.04M-dot rear LCD, which is lower resolution even than the X-E4, so we're going backwards. In a $1,699 camera, this is frankly inexcusable. It'll sell anyway, regardless of price — and Fuji knows that. It can charge whatever it wants. And that brings me onto price. On what planet should an X-E camera cost $1,699? Body only! That's literally a two-fold increase in price over the $849 X-E4 and the same price as the X-T5. Ask Fuji, and you'll probably hear some measly excuse about tariffs. Ask me, and I'll be a little more cynical. If there's anywhere near as much hype around this camera as the X100VI, it'll sell anyway, regardless of price — and Fuji knows that. It can charge whatever it wants. There are a few saving graces. There was no way this camera wasn't getting the X-Processor 5, but it's a great addition. There are new autofocus modes, which may be helpful in capturing that fleeting decisive moment on the street. This processor also brings Fuji's latest noise processing, allowing you to shoot at higher ISO without destroying files, and decreased power consumption over the X-Processor 4. The front grip is a solid addition, too. Fuji removed the X-E3's front grip on the X-E4, and despite its small stature, this caused problems when shooting at odd angles, especially in portrait orientation. I and many other users fitted aftermarket grips to the X-E4, which will no longer be necessary. Similarly, the rear of the camera sees the return of a thumb rest, which was't present on the X-E4 (again, the X-E3 had one). One of the first mods I made to the X-E4 was fitting a rear rest that slid into the hot shoe, giving extra grip when shooting in portrait. It's good to see a solution baked in here. Controversial, maybe, given online discourse, but I'm a fan of the new OVF simulation viewfinder mode and pared-back display mode. Like many Fuji fans, I'm not at all convinced of the continuation of the X-Pro line, and I think these modes are Fuji's way of merging the X-E and X-Pro ranges. Regardless, these features fit the X-E's experience-first ethos. And admittedly, I am very excited about the new 23mm pancake lens. I liked the X-E4's 27mm pancake in theory — it was super small and portable, complementing the nature of the camera. I just never really got on with its field of view, equating to around 40mm in full frame terms, which is a bit nothingy. Slightly too wide for street or portraits, but not wide enough for properly expansive scenes, like architecture. I'm glad Fuji has decided on a camp this time and gone wide. I'll be reviewing the X-E5 very soon, and my verdict will primarily be on the basis of how it performs as a standalone camera, which I'm sure will be excellent. Make no mistake, I don't think the X-E5 looks like a bad camera. The point of this ramble is that the X-E line has sentimental significance for me, like many others, which at its core lay in how the camera made me feel. That, in turn, stemmed from how well the X-E cameras lived up to a specific ethos: minimalist, engaging, fun. Same price, more camera. If, like me, you feel the X-E5 is a little overpriced, consider the Fujifilm X-T5, current holder of the "best APS-C" award on our roundup of the best mirrorless cameras. I own the X-T5 and trust me, it's a beaut! With the X-E5, I feel Fuji has eroded that ethos. And the reason, I think, is a lack of conviction. Fujifilm has tried to please too many people with the X-E5, and in turn has made it simply a cookie-cutter rehash of cameras that already exist, only worse, and ludicrously expensive. The X-E cameras are not vlogging cameras, so why try and sell the X-E5 to vloggers? The X-E cameras are street cameras, so why give in to a load of spec-swinging forum-dwellers complaining online about not having IBIS? Why fit it with the exact same running gear as four other cameras when we could've had variation, not to mention purity of purpose? I just don't get it, and I certainly won't buy it at that price. What I might just do, though, is go and pick up a used X-E4 before they skyrocket in value (again).
Tom's Guide
a day ago
- Tom's Guide
I'm a photographer and the Fujifilm Instax mini 41 totally won me over — it also just fell to its lowest ever price
I'm a big fan of instant photography so I'm really lucky that I get to test the best instant cameras at Tom's Guide. These nifty devices come in all shapes and sizes, and the vast amount of choice can sometimes feel overwhelming. Should you buy an analog instant camera? Digital? A combination of both?! Fret not, I'm here to help. If you want a no-frills instant camera that takes great photos and looks just as good, then the Fujifilm Instax mini 41 should be right up your street — and it's currently down to its lowest ever price in the U.S. Right now, the Instax mini 41 is discounted by 23% at Amazon U.S., bringing it down to $99 from its retail price of $129. The Fujifilm Instax mini 41 is a delightful camera. It's extremely easy to use thanks to the straightforward control scheme, and in most conditions, it takes stunning photos on mini film. Its sleek and premium design and long battery life are the cherries on top of the cake. There's a lot to love about the Instax mini 41. Firstly, its compact design makes it travel-friendly. The camera weighs next to nothing at 12.16oz, so it's extremely easy to hold for long periods of time — or even slide into your pocket. It looks stunning too, sporting a mix of black and dark gray accents that give it a premium edge. With a straightforward control scheme, it's extremely easy to use, so anyone can use it — no prior knowledge of instant camera operation necessary! It's fitted with a retractable 60mm lens, which means it's neither too wide nor too telephoto, giving you a standard field of view, and it has two focus ranges: 0.3m-∞ for most shots, and 0.3-0.5m for close-up shots. Now that the technical stuff is out of the way, let's talk about the photos it takes. Fuji's color science is at full display here so color reproduction is faithful and accurate. You can see the sample gallery above. I love how much detail there is in every shot, especially in the second slide where I can clearly read most of the text in the photos. As its name suggests, the Instax mini 41 prints photos on mini format film, so they can be carried around in your wallet (very old school, I dig it) or pinned up on a corkboard. The Instax mini 41 lasts a long time too. It utilizes two AA batteries — and a pair of batteries yields 10 mini packs of 10 exposures each, so a total of 100 shots. This is fantastic as you don't need to worry about running out of charge unexpectedly while out and about. If you don't want to spend too much money but still want an instant camera that rarely disappoints, I'd highly recommend grabbing the 23% discount at Amazon U.S. I love the Instax mini 41 and was, in fact, very sad when I had to return the review unit. Don't forget to read my full Fujifilm Instax mini 41 review for all the details — I'm sure it will help you make the right decision. Happy snapping!
The Mainichi
2 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
News in Easy English: Syrian man in Osaka uses Arabic coffee to help his homeland
OSAKA -- A man from Syria has opened an online coffee store in Osaka. The store sells special Arabic coffee. This coffee has a different taste from Japanese coffee. It is mixed with a spice called cardamom and boiled. This gives the coffee a fresh smell and unique flavor. People drink it from small cups. The man's name is Baraa Fuji, and he is 31 years old. Fuji came from Damascus, Syria, and he moved to Japan in 2017. He studied in graduate school in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, then moved to Osaka for work. There was a war in Syria for 13 years. Fuji felt sad for the people there and wanted to do something to help. So he decided to open an online coffee store called "Qafua Shop." "Qafua" means coffee in Arabic. Fuji opened his store in March this year. Each time he sells coffee, he sends some money to help Syrian people. The money goes to a group that helps people who need medicine, food, and education after the war. Fuji lives in Osaka with his family. His wife Eman, 32, came to Japan while Fuji was studying. They now have two children, Adam who is 6 and Basema who is 4. Both children were born in Japan and started school here this spring. Last year, Fuji became a Japanese citizen. He chose the name Fuji from Mount Fuji. He said, "I want to live as a Japanese person, not as a foreigner." Last December, the war in his country finally ended, and the leaders changed. Fuji was very happy when he heard this good news. He said, "Many people in Syria are having a difficult life after the war. Syria needs help. I want to help them through coffee." (Japanese original by Rei Kubo, Osaka Photo and Video Department) Vocabulary Arabic: language and culture of Arab countries in the Middle East spice: something you put into food or drinks to make them taste better or different unique: special or different from others graduate school: special school you finish after university citizen: a person who officially belongs to a country and has that country's passport donate: give something (usually money) to help people who need it
Tom's Guide
4 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I think the new Fujifilm X-E5 is overrated — and I'm so glad I bought this camera instead
I'm no stranger to Fujifilm cameras. The Japanese giant has made some of the best mirrorless cameras and the best instant cameras I've had the pleasure of using and reviewing. Having tested cameras from the likes of Canon, Sony, Nikon and Panasonic, I keep coming back to Fujifilm. To me, Fuji cameras feel magical with film simulation recipes that are just way too delicious. So, of course, when Fujifilm announced the brand new X-E5, I was intrigued, and why wouldn't I be? It features a 40MP sensor, utilizes the X-Trans CMOS 5 processor, and has a film simulation dial... wait, that sounds an awful lot like the X-T50. And the X100VI. The Fujifilm X-T50 succeeds and improves on the X-T30 II, and it packs a punch with a huge 40.2MP sensor, excellent in-body image stabilization and reliable autofocus. It's also the first Fuji camera to sport a dedicated film simulation dial on its body for maximum (and easy-to-reach) creativity. As soon as the X-E5's product page went live, I quickly compared its specs against the X-T50 — a camera that had been sitting in my online cart for nearly a month. Nothing jumped at me (except for the price), and nothing made me go, "Okay, I'm waiting until August now." So what did I do? I paid for the X-T50 and within three days, it was in my hands. Do I regret it? No. Should you buy the X-T50 instead of the X-E5? That depends. Let me show you why I pulled the trigger when I should have done so a month ago. I have a soft spot for the Fujifilm X-T50: it's the first mirrorless camera I reviewed for Tom's Guide, and I immediately fell in love with its design. The charcoal gray colorway is stunning, and the metal alloy used in the construction of its top plate lends the X-T50 a premium edge. One of the X-E5's most significant selling points is its compact design, with a body measuring 4.9 x 2.8 x 1.5 inches. Even when combined with the new 23mm pancake lens, the size change is negligible, allowing you to slip the camera into your pocket and go about your day. However, it's not as if the X-T50 isn't portable either, measuring 4.8 x 3.3 x 1.9 inches. Its current kit lenses are bulkier than the pancake lens, but even then, a handbag is more than enough for transport. No, scratch that, I'm hanging the X-T50 around my neck because it's such a gorgeous camera — why wouldn't I want to show it off? It's not heavy either, weighing 15.5 ounces (0.2 ounces lighter than the X-E5, actually). When I tested the Fujifilm X-T50 back in May 2024, I took some lovely photos (if I can toot my own horn for a second, thank you), and you can scroll through the sample gallery above. The X-T50, like I mentioned up top, boasts a 40.2MP sensor with Fuji's latest X-Trans CMOS 5 processor, just like the X-E5. Having that many megapixels at your disposal gives you some room for tight crops. Both cameras' autofocus systems remain the same, too, utilizing 425 AF points to lock onto animals and humans. Fuji's color science is mindblowing, as always, and both cameras sport dedicated film simulation dials. You can quickly swap between recipes and assign custom ones too. The X-T50 is a year old — which isn't old at all, in camera terms — and I think it's severely underrated. I get the appeal of the X-E5. It's a shiny new thing that online forums have quickly dubbed the savior of the X-E lineup. But the X-T50 shouldn't be underestimated. I believe it's the camera for those who don't want to spend too much money but still achieve beautiful colors and be able to change lenses. Let's talk about the elephant in the room: the price difference between the Fujifilm X-E5 and the Fujifilm X-T50. The X-T50's body retails for $1,399 / £1,299, and if you're in the U.K., it's currently down to £1,039 at Amazon. On the other hand, the X-E5's body (currently available to pre-order) retails for $1,699 / £1,299. Both cameras are the same price in the U.K., but the X-E5 is pricier in the U.S. — and attaching the new 23mm pancake lens to the camera drives its price up by $200. Or you could get the X-T50 with a 15-45mm lens for $1,499 / £1,399, which isn't shabby at all. Specs-wise, the X-T50 one-ups the X-E5 in a few ways. Its 1.84 M-dot touchscreen is better than the X-E5's 1.04 M-dot one. It features a built-in flash for low-light shooting. It can shoot RAW video, which the X-E5 cannot. Both cameras' electronic shutters can shoot 20fps bursts. If you can afford it without thinking twice about the money leaving your account, I can't think of any reason to stop you from buying the X-E5. But personally, for me, the X-E5 didn't offer anything enticing enough to tempt me away from the X-T50. Sure, the flip-up screen for taking selfies is a thoughtful addition, but I'm not a chronic selfie-taker, so it's not useful enough for me. There's also a new front control lever to toggle the Surround View function, which I didn't use much even when testing the Fujifilm GFX100RF. It's simple, really: the X-E5 isn't the camera for me, but the X-T50 was always the camera for me, from the moment I first held it in my hands.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Mainichi
Syria-born Osaka man runs online Arabic coffee shop that helps homeland's post-war recovery
OSAKA -- Arabic coffee enjoyed in many Arab countries has flavors distinct from typical coffee consumed in Japan, and one Syrian-born man is operating a store from this west Japan city that allows people to enjoy the blends while contributing to help the people of his homeland. It is characterized in that finely ground coffee beans and cardamom spices are boiled and imbibed in a small cup about the size of a sake cup. According to 31-year-old Baraa Fuji, the fresh aroma and unique flavor are "a taste of hometown memories." After 13 years of civil war, the Assad dictatorship ruling over Syria came to an end last December. Seeing that recovery will take time, Fuji decided to work to support the country through that familiar taste. Syria's civil war was called the worst humanitarian crisis of this century. Beginning in March 2011 with the Arab Spring democratic uprisings in the Middle East, the Assad regime at the time thoroughly suppressed the civilian population by force. Later, the rise of extremist organizations and the interests of major powers led the conflict into a quagmire. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees agency, while there has been a movement to return to the country since the 2024 fall of the regime, about 4.5 million people remain in refuge outside its borders. Fuji, who was born in the Syrian capital of Damascus, first came to live in Japan in 2017. He entered grad school at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu, Oita Prefecture, to pursue an MBA. The opportunity to do so came when he applied for a program offered by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to accept Syrians who had been deprived of opportunities to study due to the war as international students. After graduating, he started working for a company in the city of Osaka that handles e-commerce for overseas markets. He became independent earlier this year, and is now engaged in digital marketing as a sole proprietor. While he was in graduate school, his wife Iman, 32, came over from Syria to join him, and their kids Adam, 6, and Basema, 4, were born in Japan. This spring, the boy and girl entered elementary school and kindergarten, respectively. Thinking, "I want to live as a Japanese person, not as a foreigner," Fuji acquired Japanese citizenship last November. The surname he adopted is taken from Mount Fuji, which he described as "the image of Japan that I have known for a long time." Syria had been under dictatorship for over half a century, led by two generations of oppressive rulers. Fuji said of the time he found out on Facebook that the regime had suddenly been toppled, "I was surprised because there had been a civil war for a long time. But I was happy anyway." Amid that, he opened the online store specializing in Syrian products called Qafua Shop this March. Qafua is Arabic for "coffee." And as the name implies, the store mainly handles Arabic coffee like those he used to drink daily in his hometown. Because the coffee beans are ground only after being ordered, the shop says its offerings are fresher than those sold in stores regularly. For every gram of coffee sold, one yen is donated to the Molham Volunteering Team, a humanitarian aid nongovernmental organization established by Syrians, and used to support medical care, daily life and education among other needs. Fuji expressed his hopes, saying, "Many have lost their livelihoods due to the civil war, and it is difficult to rebuild Syria alone. Through coffee, we can support the futures of people living in a faraway place." (Japanese original by Rei Kubo, Osaka Photo and Video Department)
