Fujifilm X-A5 Comparison Review

The Fujifilm X-A5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that was officially introduced in January 2018 and is equipped with an APS-C sensor. It offers a resolution of 24 megapixel.

Is the Fujifilm X-A5 a good camera? The X-A5 has a Camera Elo of 2662. This rating puts the X-A5 among the top 40 percent of all mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the X-A5 ranks among the top 10 percent. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 4.5-star performance rating.

Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.

Body comparison with a credit card

The physical dimensions of the Fujifilm X-A5 relative to a credit card are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are presented. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Fujifilm X-A5 alongside a set of comparators. If you want to review a camera pair side-by-side, just select a right-side comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)		Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-A5	117 mm	68 mm	40 mm	361 g	450	n	Jan 2018	399
2.		Fujifilm X-T200	121 mm	84 mm	55 mm	370 g	270	n	Jan 2020	699
3.		Fujifilm X-T30	118 mm	83 mm	47 mm	383 g	380	n	Feb 2019	899
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	119 mm	68 mm	41 mm	320 g	440	n	Sep 2019	499
5.		Fujifilm X-T100	121 mm	83 mm	47 mm	448 g	430	n	May 2018	599
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	121 mm	74 mm	43 mm	337 g	350	n	Sep 2017	899
7.		Fujifilm X-T20	118 mm	83 mm	41 mm	383 g	350	n	Jan 2017	899
8.		Fujifilm X-A3	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	339 g	410	n	Aug 2016	399
9.		Fujifilm X-A10	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	331 g	410	n	Dec 2016	399
10.		Fujifilm X-A2	117 mm	67 mm	40 mm	350 g	410	n	Jan 2015	399
11.		Nikon D3500	124 mm	97 mm	70 mm	365 g	1550	n	Aug 2018	429
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Fujifilm X-A5 was launched in the US market at a price of $399. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

The Fujifilm X-A5 features an APS-C sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.5. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Fujifilm X-A5 among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.

For most cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports		DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm X-A5	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..		..
2.		Fujifilm X-T200	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
3.		Fujifilm X-T30	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
5.		Fujifilm X-T100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..		..
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
7.		Fujifilm X-T20	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..		..
8.		Fujifilm X-A3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..		..
9.		Fujifilm X-A10	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
10.		Fujifilm X-A2	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	..	..	..		..
11.		Nikon D3500	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..		..

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The X-A5 indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the X-A5 can use is 4K/15p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The adjacent tables list some of the other core features of the Fujifilm X-A5 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Fujifilm X-A5	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
2.		Fujifilm X-T200	2360	n	3.5	2780	swivel	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
3.		Fujifilm X-T30	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	none	n	3.5	2760	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
5.		Fujifilm X-T100	2360	n	3.0	1040	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	8.0	n	n
7.		Fujifilm X-T20	2360	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
8.		Fujifilm X-A3	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
9.		Fujifilm X-A10	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
10.		Fujifilm X-A2	none	n	3.0	920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6	Y	n
11.		Nikon D3500	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n

One convenient feature of the X-A5 is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.

Connection comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Fujifilm X-A5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Fujifilm X-A5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Fujifilm X-T200	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
3.		Fujifilm X-T30	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Fujifilm X-T100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-T20	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Fujifilm X-A3	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Fujifilm X-A10	-	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X-A2	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Nikon D3500	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	Y

It is notable that the X-A5 has a microphone port. Such an external microphone input can help to substantially improve the quality of audio recordings when a good external microphone is used.

Expert reviews

While the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it says nothing about, for example, the handling, responsiveness, and overall imaging quality of the X-A5 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased. This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]).

Review Scores

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)			Street Price
1.		Fujifilm X-A5	..	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Jan 2018	399
2.		Fujifilm X-T200	3.5/5	..	82/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2020	699
3.		Fujifilm X-T30	5/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2019	899
4.		Fujifilm X-A7	3/5	..	81/100	4/5	3.5/5	Sep 2019	499
5.		Fujifilm X-T100	4/5	+	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2018	599
6.		Fujifilm X-E3	4.5/5	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2017	899
7.		Fujifilm X-T20	5/5	+ +	82/100	5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	899
8.		Fujifilm X-A3	..	..	74/100	4.5/5	4/5	Aug 2016	399
9.		Fujifilm X-A10	..	..	..	4/5	4/5	Dec 2016	399
10.		Fujifilm X-A2	4/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2015	399
11.		Nikon D3500	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Aug 2018	429
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Camera to camera comparisons

If you would like to see a side-by-side review of this and another camera, just make your choice using the following search menu. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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