Mirrorless cameras are awesome, if not a little bit expensive. They also tend towards more features, modes and lenses than a lot of us care to deal with and learn. Fujifilm looks to correct that with the new Fujifilm X-A5, a new budget mirrorless camera that successfully combines the build and optical power of a mirrorless camera, with the ease and straightforward simplicity of a mirrorless camera. Underneath the retro design, it comes with a powerful 24.2MP APS-C sensor, and pairs it with a new processor that can work 50% faster than previous models.
Thanks to that processor, it’s got all the features and speed you would expect from a camera of its class – if not more. You can record video in UHD 4k, which is damn impressive for a camera of this size. And you can shoot bursts of still images at 15 fps. Shutter speed goes up to 1/32,000 of a second. ISO sensitivity goes up to 12,800, which is helpful for low-light shooting, and there’s a built-in manual pop-up flash on the left side of the camera.
There’s a whole host of cool software features and modes, too. Portrait Enhancer mode helps render skin tones that are smooth and attractive, while Multi Focus Mode performs automatic focus stacking with 4K images, and adjusts the depth of field for the best results. Quiet Venue mode disables the sound of the shutter and controls, so the camera makes as little noise as possible. Built-in filters include soft focus, low-key, HDR art, fog removal, and toy camera, while film simulation filters designed to replicate the look of film prints, including Velvia, classic chrome, and sepia tones. You can also choose the regular scene modes like portrait and sports. Don’t forget Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity, and the flip-out LCD screen to get the best shot.
And you can still switch out the lens; the kit includes a 15-45mm f/3.5-5.6. Fujifilm seems to have done a great job giving us a mirrorless camera with the ease and price of a point-and-shoot, and we’re excited to give it a shot.