X-A · 2018 · discontinued
Fujifilm X-A5 review
Launch price 499 USD · 24.2 MP Bayer sensor · 4K 15p video
Also written XA5 or X A5.
First X-A with phase-detection AF and 4K/15p; no viewfinder.
Verdict
First X-A body to add phase-detection AF (91 points) with face/eye detection and 4K video (capped at 15 fps), built around a 24.2 MP Bayer sensor. No viewfinder, no IBIS, 6 fps burst. Discontinued, but the cheapest Fuji with phase-detect AF and a 450-shot battery.
Beginners on the tightest budget who want phase-detect AF and 4K in a Fuji body.
In detail
I have been meaning to write this post for a while. Photographers tend to pick up the X-A5 for a Bayer sensor (unusual for Fuji) and the price point it launched at. Released in 2018 at 499 USD, the body is no longer in production. It sits in the X-A line, Fuji's entry-level line aimed at first-time Fuji buyers. Sounds good? It was the cheapest Fuji with phase-detect AF when it launched, and you can still find them cheap used.
Out-of-camera JPEGs are a real reason to pick this over the competition. At 24.2 MP, native ISO runs ISO 200 to 12800, plenty for low light with the faster XF primes, the files give you enough room to crop without falling apart. Face and eye detection is on board and works well for portraits and street. Burst at 6 fps is conservative, this is a camera aimed at slower, more deliberate work.
Video specs are more than capable for short-form and travel work. 4K tops out at 15p, which is essentially a 4K stills grab. For real video work you will want 1080p, which is solid.
Build is the entry-level Fuji recipe, lighter and more plasticky than the flagship bodies, and without weather sealing. There is no in-body stabilization, so for low light or long lenses you will lean on stabilized XF glass. At 361g it is light enough to live in a small sling bag without becoming a chore.
Battery life is 450 shots per charge by CIPA, which translates to a full day of mixed shooting if you are not chimping the LCD constantly. There is a single SD UHS-I card slot, which is fine for most people but worth knowing if you shoot events that demand redundancy. Bottom line: the used market is where this camera makes the most sense now that it is discontinued, and you can find them in good shape for a fraction of the launch price.
Pros and cons
What we like
- First X-A with phase-detect AF
- Cheapest Fuji with face/eye AF
- 450-shot CIPA battery
- 4K video (capped at 15 fps)
The headline win is being the first X-A with phase-detect AF, the cheapest Fuji with face/eye AF when new. Film simulation count is 6, the older but still solid lineup. The 450-shot CIPA battery is a quiet strength, real all-day shooting in a body this cheap. On the video side, 4K 15p is more than enough for most hybrid shooters, and the Fuji film simulations translate to video just as well.
Trade-offs
- 4K capped at 15 fps, no log
- No viewfinder, no IBIS
The honest trade-off is 4K capped at 15 fps with no log. No in-body stabilization means a stabilized zoom or a faster shutter in low light. The XC 15-45mm and XC 50-230mm kit zooms have OIS; the fast primes people buy next do not, so shutter speed is your only lever once the light drops. Burst rate is conservative, fine for portraits, street, and landscape but rules out serious sports work. Single card slot is the kind of spec that does not matter until the day it does.
Who is this for
Beginners on the tightest budget who want phase-detect AF and 4K in a Fuji body. Travel videographers and YouTubers running a one-person crew can absolutely get by with this body. Light enough that it makes a great second body or a daily-carry option, and a particularly strong pick on a budget for first-time Fuji buyers.
X-A5 release date and lifecycle
Announcement and on-sale months are from Fujifilm’s launch announcements. Launch price is MSRP at release, not a used-market price.
Full specifications
| Release year | 2018 |
|---|---|
| Launch price | 499 USD |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Megapixels | 24.2 MP |
| Sensor generation | Bayer |
| Processor | EXR Processor II |
| ISO range | 200–12800 |
| AF points | 91 |
| Subject detection | face-eye |
| Burst (fps) | 6 |
| Max video | 4K 15p |
| Codec | H.264 |
| Log profile | No |
| Stabilization | None |
| Viewfinder | None |
| LCD | 3" flip touch |
| Weather sealed | No |
| Weight | 361g |
| Card slots | 1 |
| Card types | SD UHS-I |
| Battery | NP-W126S |
| Battery life (CIPA) | 450 shots |
| Film sims | 6 |
Highlighted rows are class-leading within the current Fujifilm APS-C lineup.
Film simulations (6)
- PROVIA
- Velvia
- ASTIA
- Classic Chrome
- PRO Neg. Std
- Monochrome
Compared with
Fujifilm X-A5 vs siblings
How the X-A5 stacks up against the closest siblings in the current Fujifilm lineup.
Fujifilm X-A5 vs X-A1
The Fujifilm X-A5 and Fujifilm X-A1 are both Fujifilm X-A bodies. The X-A5 is the newer of the two, arriving in 2018. At launch the X-A5 was 499 USD and the X-A1 599 USD, making the X-A5 the more affordable of the two.
Where to buy
The link below runs an Amazon search for this camera rather than pointing at one listing, because stock and sellers move around. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases — at no extra cost to you.
See it in the wild
Owner impressions and real-world photos from the Fuji community.
