It has been a few years since I bought a new camera body. There have been a few that I considered picking up out of pure interest - X100V & X-Pro 3 are always tempting me - but I haven’t felt compelled to upgrade. This feeling is in large part because while gear does matter, I firmly believe that it doesn’t usually matter all that much when balanced against foundational skills. I think of it like buying a new stove in the hope of becoming a better chef. While the stove may offer new features, if you are a good cook you will remain a good cook. Stoves, like cameras, are tools to create and they generally improve incrementally.

For example, the Fuji X-T3 that I have is still more than adequate to get me through trips to Alaska, Europe, and all over the continental US. It has rarely failed me. Like the X-T1 before it, I am sure that it will continue to see use. They both are fantastic tools to create wonderful photos. But, there does come a time when the simple interest in new kit is met with a really compelling cost/benefit analysis. Enter the X-T5.

I won’t bore you with all of the specs, you can see them here, but suffice it to say that when the opportunity to upgrade from a 26mp to 40mp sensor with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) arose, I jumped at the opportunity. That’s not to say that extra megapixels are critical, they are not, but as I have been printing more often, the extra real estate does come in handy.

What has become incredibly useful, however, has been IBIS. The ability to stabilize older lenses like the 35mm f/1.4 and shoot in ultra-low light without compromising ISO performance has re-invigorated that lens…and the 35mm f/1.4 doesn’t even benefit from all of the features! Hand-holding the 100-400mm in similar conditions has also seen similar benefits. I am so excited to see what new and interesting conditions I can play in and that is what it is all about.

Ultimately, I skipped over the X-T4 because I didn’t see enough value in the cost analysis. This camera, however, allows me to take the skills that I have honed over the past decade(s) and tightens up it’s performance to match my artistic vision more effectively. Let’s play.