Fujifilm X‑T5 vs Nikon Zf: A Few Days comparison.

I've spent a couple of days recently wandering through the woods with a Fujifilm X‑T5 on loan, trying to get a proper feel for it in the places I actually shoot. 

There's something interesting about picking up a new camera when you already have one you trust — you immediately notice the small things. The quirks, the comforts, the little irritations that never show up in a spec sheet.

After a bit of time with the Fujifilm X‑T5, I've got a clearer picture of how it sits alongside my Nikon Zf.

What I liked about the Fujifilm X‑T5

The first thing I noticed was just how easy it is to carry. It's light, compact, and doesn't feel like a burden on longer walks. Using one of our QR leather camera neck straps its easy to see how you can carry this little powerhouse for hours without feeling it. 

Fuji cameras have this way of encouraging you to slow down and look, and the Fujifilm X‑T5 fits right into that pace. The controls feel friendly and familiar, and the camera never gets in the way of simply wandering and composing.

The rear screen deserves a mention. Fuji's tilting mechanism is brilliant — horizontal, upright, quick, and completely intuitive. When you're crouched down trying to frame something between branches or over moss, that screen makes life genuinely easier. The Nikon Zf's fully articulating screen works fine, but it's not as fluid or natural for that kind of low-angle shooting in the field.

One thing I didn't expect to like as much as I did: the white autofocus box. I'm colour blind, which means I lose the AF square on the Nikon constantly — it just vanishes into the scene. On the X‑T5, the bright white box stands out every time. It's such a small detail, but it made focusing feel more confident and a lot less frustrating.

Where it fell short for me

There's no getting around it though — the X‑T5 doesn't feel as solid as the Zf. The Fuji is nicely built, no complaints there, but the Nikon has this density and weight that makes it feel like a proper object. The Fuji feels like a camera. The Nikon feels like something you'll still be reaching for in ten years.

The shutter button was another sticking point. It felt 'mushy' to me, with a vague half-press that never quite settles. Maybe it was the copy I had which has no doubt had some use, but the Nikon Zf's shutter in comparison is crisp and defined — satisfying in a way that matters when you're shooting slowly and deliberately. That tactile feedback becomes part of the experience, and the Fuji just doesn't have the same feel.

And then there are the files. The 40MP sensor is impressive, but the RAWs don't have the same depth or flexibility as Nikon's full-frame files. The Nikon Zf gives me smoother tones, cleaner shadows, and a more natural starting point in Lightroom. The Fuji files are good — genuinely good — but the Nikon files feel more like home.

Final thoughts

The Fujifilm X‑T5 is a lovely camera and I really wanted to like it. It has well thought out ergonomics (better than the Nikon), a fantastic rear screen (better than the Nikon), and the autofocus was better than I'd been led to believe from online reviews — but when it comes to build quality, shutter feel, and the character of the RAW files, the Nikon Zf is still the one I trust.

For now at least.

If you're shooting with either of these cameras, it's worth pairing them with a strap that matches the quality of the kit. Take a look at our handmade leather camera straps — built for real-world shooting, and made to last.