I’m a Nikon fanboy, however this tiny Fujifilm is the newbie digital camera I’d advocate for content material creators in 2026

I lately obtained to deal with a complete bunch of cameras at The Photography & Video Show, and regardless of the entire producers’ newest and biggest wears vying for my consideration, I saved coming again to the common-or-garden Fujifilm X-M5. There was a time once I was contemplating choosing one up, however I’ve since come to the conclusion that it’s not the digital camera for me. However, that’s to not say I’m telling you to go it by. Far from it.

You see, I’ve lengthy bemoaned the trade’s pivot away from newbie cameras. You’ve obtained the wonderful Canon EOS R100 (thank goodness) and the getting older Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV, and that’s about it. Fujifilm by no means changed the X-T200 and Nikon hasn’t bothered bringing out a mirrorless successor to the D3500.

This technically makes Fujifilm’s entry-level providing the X-T30 III, however I nonetheless desire the X-M5. So, what’s it about this little digital camera that I like a lot? Well, it’s tiny, it’s effectively priced, you possibly can change the lenses, and it’s highly effective as all heck. It’s so effectively priced, the truth is, that it tends to be cheaper than the X-T30 III and it’s so small, it’ll give the Fujifilm X100VI a run for its money (with a sensible lens attached of course).

“Meh, who cares about video?” I hear you say? The next generation of photographers, brought up on a diet of Netflix and TikTok. They’re much more likely to think of themselves as content creators as opposed to pure photographers and in that respect the X-M5 is quite simply unprecedented in its delicate blend of affordability, size, and power.

And believe me when I say there’s enough power in this little ‘bod’ to take you right to the top. One of my favorite Instagrammers of late is Casey Herzog (@herzawg). An unimaginable journey photographer and content material creator (429K followers and counting) who typically makes use of a Fujifilm X-M5, with a Pikachu determine within the hotshoe (I digress…). My level is, this is among the least expensive cameras available on the market, but it surely’s obtained the specs that can allow you to develop as a photographer and videographer. It packs Fujifilm’s newest X-Trans sensor and may seize 10-bit 4:2:2 6.2K 30p open-gate video and 4K / 60p (cropped).

And in fact, it comes with 20 of Fujifilm’s built-in Film Simulations, so you possibly can seize lovely JPEGs straight from the digital camera. No enhancing required. Not solely is that this a boon for newbies – enhancing is simply an added complication if you begin out – however capturing JPEGs straight out of the digital camera is a good way to be taught your craft, as a result of it’s important to be disciplined. You need to get it proper in digital camera.