Fujifilm XF10 vs Nikon Z5

The Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in July 2018 and July 2020. The XF10 is a fixed lens compact, while the Z5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (XF10) and a full frame (Z5) sensor. The Fujifilm has a resolution of 24 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 24.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Fujifilm XF10		Nikon Z5
Fixed lens compact camera		Mirrorless system camera
28mm f/2.8-16		Nikon Z mount lenses
24 MP, APS-C Sensor		24.2 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/15p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 200-12,800 (100 - 51,200)		ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 102,400)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.2 LCD, 1040k dots
Fixed touchscreen		Tilting touchscreen
6 shutter flaps per second		4.5 shutter flaps per second
no shake reduction		In-body stabilization
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
330 shots per battery charge		470 shots per battery charge
113 x 64 x 41 mm, 279 g		134 x 101 x 67 mm, 675 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The XF10 can be obtained in two different colors (black, gold), while the Z5 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon Z5 is considerably larger (87 percent) than the Fujifilm XF10. It is noteworthy in this context that the Z5 is splash and dust-proof, while the XF10 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the XF10 has a lens built in, whereas the Z5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

Concerning battery life, the XF10 gets 330 shots out of its NP-95 battery, while the Z5 can take 470 images on a single charge of its EN-EL15c power pack. The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras 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 XF10	113 mm	64 mm	41 mm	279 g	330	n	Jul 2018	499
2.		Nikon Z5	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	470	Y	Jul 2020	1,399
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	206 g	235	n	Jan 2017	529
4.		Canon M100	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	302 g	295	n	Aug 2017	499
5.		Canon SX730	110 mm	64 mm	40 mm	300 g	250	n	Apr 2017	399
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	135 mm	93 mm	64 mm	607 g	500	Y	Feb 2020	1,699
7.		Fujifilm X-A7	119 mm	68 mm	41 mm	320 g	440	n	Sep 2019	499
8.		Fujifilm X-T100	121 mm	83 mm	47 mm	448 g	430	n	May 2018	599
9.		Fujifilm X100F	127 mm	75 mm	52 mm	469 g	390	n	Jan 2017	1,299
10.		Fujifilm X70	113 mm	64 mm	44 mm	340 g	330	n	Jan 2016	799
11.		Nikon Z7 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	420	Y	Oct 2020	2,999
12.		Nikon Z6 II	134 mm	101 mm	70 mm	705 g	410	Y	Oct 2020	1,999
13.		Nikon Z6	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	310	Y	Aug 2018	1,999
14.		Nikon D7500	136 mm	104 mm	73 mm	720 g	950	Y	Apr 2017	1,299
15.		Panasonic TZ95	112 mm	69 mm	42 mm	327 g	380	n	Feb 2019	449
16.		Panasonic FT7	117 mm	76 mm	37 mm	319 g	300	Y	May 2018	449
17.		Panasonic TZ90	112 mm	67 mm	41 mm	322 g	380	n	Apr 2017	449
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The XF10 was launched at a lower price than the Z5, despite having a lens built in. 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

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels 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 tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Fujifilm XF10 features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon Z5 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the Z5 is 133 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 24.2MP, the Z5 offers a higher resolution than the XF10 (24MP), but the Z5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.95μm versus 3.92μm for the XF10) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the Z5 is a much more recent model (by 2 years) than the XF10, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The Fujifilm XF10 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 200 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 100-51200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon Z5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-102400.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Fujifilm XF10	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..	..
2.		Nikon Z5	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.9	12.5	522	65
4.		Canon M100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.5	12.9	1272	78
5.		Canon SX730	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	APS-C	26.0	6240	4160	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
7.		Fujifilm X-A7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
8.		Fujifilm X-T100	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	4K/15p	..	..	..	..
9.		Fujifilm X100F	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
10.		Fujifilm X70	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
11.		Nikon Z7 II	Full Frame	45.4	8256	5504	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
12.		Nikon Z6 II	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
13.		Nikon Z6	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	25.3	14.3	3299	95
14.		Nikon D7500	APS-C	20.7	5568	3712	4K/30p	24.3	14.0	1483	86
15.		Panasonic TZ95	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
16.		Panasonic FT7	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
17.		Panasonic TZ90	1/2.3	20.2	5184	3888	4K/30p	19.1	10.6	106	36

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the Z5 provides a faster frame rate than the XF10. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Fujifilm is limited to 4K/15p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the Z5 has an electronic viewfinder (3690k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the XF10 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Fujifilm XF10 and Nikon Z5 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 XF10	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
2.		Nikon Z5	3690	n	3.2	1040	tilting	Y	1/8000s	4.5	n	Y
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	8.2	Y	Y
4.		Canon M100	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	6.1	Y	n
5.		Canon SX730	none	n	3.0	922	tilting	n	1/3200s	5.9	Y	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	3690	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	15.0	n	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-A7	none	n	3.5	2760	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
8.		Fujifilm X-T100	2360	n	3.0	1040	full-flex	Y	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
9.		Fujifilm X100F	2360	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
10.		Fujifilm X70	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	8.0	Y	n
11.		Nikon Z7 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
12.		Nikon Z6 II	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	14.0	n	Y
13.		Nikon Z6	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
14.		Nikon D7500	optical	Y	3.2	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	8.0	Y	n
15.		Panasonic TZ95	2330	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
16.		Panasonic FT7	1170	n	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/1300s	10.0	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic TZ90	1166	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The XF10 has one, while the Z5 does not. While the built-in flash of the XF10 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the XF10 and the Z5 write their files to SDXC cards. The Z5 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the XF10 only has one slot. The Z5 supports UHS-II cards (on both slots), while the XF10 can use UHS-I cards.

Connectivity 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 XF10 and Nikon Z5 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 XF10	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
2.		Nikon Z5	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
4.		Canon M100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
5.		Canon SX730	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
7.		Fujifilm X-A7	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
8.		Fujifilm X-T100	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
9.		Fujifilm X100F	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Fujifilm X70	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
11.		Nikon Z7 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
12.		Nikon Z6 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
13.		Nikon Z6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
14.		Nikon D7500	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
15.		Panasonic TZ95	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	Y
16.		Panasonic FT7	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
17.		Panasonic TZ90	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the Z5 has a hotshoe, which makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun. The XF10 does not feature such an accessory-socket.

Both the XF10 and the Z5 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The XF10 replaced the earlier Fujifilm X70, while the Z5 does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Fujifilm and Nikon websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Fujifilm XF10:

• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (6 vs 4.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Ready to shoot: Has a lens built-in, whereas the Z5 requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x64mm vs 134x101mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the Z5).
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in July 2018).

Advantages of the Nikon Z5:

• Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
• Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
• More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/30p versus 4K/15p).
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Takes interchangeable lenses and can thus be used with specialty optics.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (470 versus 330) out of a single battery charge.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.2 vs 2.0).
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the XF10 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Z5 is the clear winner of the contest (19 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Fujifilm XF10 and the Nikon Z5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Prime Lens Compact Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the XF10 and the Z5 in practical situations. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Fujifilm XF10	..	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jul 2018	499
2.		Nikon Z5	4/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jul 2020	1,399
3.		Canon G9 X Mark II	4/5	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529
4.		Canon M100	3/5	+	..	4/5	3.5/5	Aug 2017	499
5.		Canon SX730	..	+	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	399
6.		Fujifilm X-T4	5/5	+ +	..	5/5	5/5	Feb 2020	1,699
7.		Fujifilm X-A7	3/5	..	81/100	4/5	3.5/5	Sep 2019	499
8.		Fujifilm X-T100	4/5	+	79/100	4/5	4.5/5	May 2018	599
9.		Fujifilm X100F	5/5	+	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	1,299
10.		Fujifilm X70	4.5/5	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2016	799
11.		Nikon Z7 II	4.5/5	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	2,999
12.		Nikon Z6 II	4.5/5	..	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2020	1,999
13.		Nikon Z6	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	1,999
14.		Nikon D7500	4.5/5	+ +	86/100	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2017	1,299
15.		Panasonic TZ95	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	..	Feb 2019	449
16.		Panasonic FT7	..	+	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	May 2018	449
17.		Panasonic TZ90	..	+ +	..	4/5	4/5	Apr 2017	449
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, 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 comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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Specifications: Fujifilm XF10 vs Nikon Z5

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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