Fujifilm Unveils New Entry Level Mirrorless Cameras

2018.01.31

This morning, Fujifilm took the wraps of two new entry-level mirrorless cameras. The X-A5, available for the North American market, and the X-A20 launched in Asia. These similar cameras follow the previous X-A3 with very similar designs yet updated capabilities.

The Fujifilm X-A5 introduces a new 24 megapixels CMOS sensor with a 91-Point Phase-Detect AF system built right in. This sensor uses a traditional Bayer Color-Filter-Array and most likely an Anti-Alias Filter as well. It can stream 4K frames at 15 FPS for either Ultra HD video capture or 4K Burst shooting. This capabilities is extended to doing Focus Stacking during a burst. At full-resolution, the X-A5 can shoot up to 10 frames at 6 FPS, up to 20 at 3 FPS. This is reasonable for an entry-level mirrorless.

Ahead of most its competition though, the X-A5 offers dual control-dials. There is a 180° tilting 3" touchscreen with 1 megapixel on the back yet no viewfinder or provision to add one. Fujifilm equipped this camera with their usual features, including adjustable dynamic-range up to 400%, Film Simulation and Motion Panorama plus Time Lapse Video, also available in 4K, which makes its debut on this camera.

The X-A5 is the smallest and lightest Fujifilm mirrorless. It incorporates WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 LE.

The nearly identical-looking Fujifilm X-A20 is built around the older 16 megapixels APS-C CMOS sensor of the X-A3. This one too uses a standard Bayer Color-Filter Array and Anti-Alias Filter and does not offer built-in Phase-Detect, only a 49-Area Contrast-Detection AF system. Still, this is a sensor known to have a very good performance for its class.

Given its sensor, the X-A20 captures either Full 1080p HD video at 30 FPS or 720p HD video at 60 FPS. The sensor can still shoot at 6 FPS but its lower resolution allows it to keep shooting at 3 FPS indefinitely. While these cameras are equipped with a hybrid shutter that covers a 1/32000s to 30s range, the X-A20 also offers Bulb exposures up to one hour long. Battery-life is a little shorter on the X-A20 compared to the X-A5, at 410 vs 450 shots per-charge. These cameras charge over USB and use SDXC memory cards.

Both the X-A5 and X-A20 come with a new ultra-wide lens: The Fujinon XC 15-45mm F/3.5-6.6 OIS PZ. This extremely compact collapsible lens is the first Fujifilm Power Zoom lens. It covers a 15 to 45mm focal-range, equivalent to 23-68mm, making it the widest kit-lens available from any manufacturer. This lens has a short minimum focus-distance of 13cm which leaves 5cm working distance and gives it a 0.24X magnification.

The X-A5 is scheduled to be available by the end of next week for a retail price of $599 USD or $749 CAD including the lens which retails $299 USD or $379 CAD by itself, although the lens alone will only start selling in the middle of March.

• Digital Camera