Fujifilm X-M5 appears in new leaks and teaser – what to expect from the budget X100VI alternative

The beginner-friendly camera appears to be close to a surprise return

News By Mark Wilson published 8 October 2024

Compact cameras are very much back – and if you're in the market for a retro-leaning model that has interchangeable lenses and won't break the bank, Fujifilm's rumored X-M5 could soon be a tempting new option.

The first whispers about the surprise launch of an X-M5 – tipped to be a successor to the X-M1 from way back in June 2013 – appeared back in July. And now some new images shared by Fuji Rumors, plus a teaser from Fujifilm itself on Instagram, have given us a clearer idea of what to expect from the APS-C camera.

In short, the X-M5 looks like a cheaper, viewfinder-less alternative to the existing Fujifilm X-E4, which means it could also be an affordable option for those who don't like the price or fixed lens of the popular Fujifilm X1000VI (which is still back-ordered).

The side-by-side image comparison from Fuji Rumors shows that the X-M5 will likely be similar in size to the original X-M1 (which measured 117 x 67 x 39 mm). For comparison, that would make it smaller in all directions than the X100VI (128 x 74.8 x 55.3 mm) and the travel-friendly Fujifilm X-T50 (123.8mm x 84mm x 48.8mm).

Fujifilm's own teaser post ahead of its latest X Summit event, which kicks off on October 14, shows a mysterious camera slipping into the back pocket of some jeans. You'll presumably need to pair the camera with a pancake lens like the XF18mm f/2 R to manage that, unless you're a fan of clown trousers.

Meanwhile, an earlier leaked image on October 6, also from Fuji Rumors, showed that the rumored X-M5's top plate could have a dedicated Film Simulation dial, like the X-T50. That feature divides opinion a little, with beginners appreciating the quick shortcuts to Fuji's digital recreations of old film stock, and more advanced users seeing it as a waste of a dial.

Still, both camps would certainly appreciate some upgraded autofocus, which is apparently also en route for the X-M5, according to Fuji Rumors. Fujifilm has come under fire recently for its misfiring autofocus system, but the company has promised a range of firmware fixes for that – and we could get our first glimpse of what's coming at the X Summit on October 14.

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