For a better picture

EVER since mobile phone photography became ubiquitous, cameras face an uphill battle to stay relevant today.
But in my experience, no matter how many bells, whistles, and promises phone makers make, they will not be able to take a picture the way a camera with well-engineered lenses and larger sensor can.
But the fact remains that people today take pictures to get reactions, and a camera lacks the connectivity of a smartphone that is needed to post these pictures online.
To counter that, Fujifilm has come out with the mirrorless interchangeable lens Fujifilm X-A5, which is packed with connectivity options, is reasonably portable, takes excellent pictures, and has many options to get your picture to look the way you want it.
So armed with the X-A5 that comes with a kit XC 15-45mm F3.5-5.6 OIS PZ lens, I set out to test these features.
The Fujifilm X-A5 is compact. The main bulk resides in the lens which can be swapped out depending on the situation.
For example, if you want to take a picture of a distant object, you may need a long lens which is heavier and bulkier than a short one.
I walked around for hours with the camera hanging over my neck, and a messenger bag slung over my shoulder. The camera never felt as cumbersome as a DSLR would.
The lens that comes with this camera is relatively standard, but the kit lens is versatile, and can adapt to a variety of situations.
Based on my experience, it is especially suited for scenes and subjects that are between two to 10 metres away.
It also does well with selfies, but taking macro or close-ups of food or objects is a test of patience, and I often just resort to manual focusing.
I also find focusing to be a little slow for my liking, and it sometimes misses its mark.
Most of the best pictures I got were of subjects that were stationary, or slow moving.
I notice that the lens also struggles in low-light conditions. However, the built-in flash does an impressive job when I need it.
Overall, I was satisfied with the results I got.
One of the camera's best features is its ability to connect to my phone. Through an app, I can transfer photos from the camera to my phone via WiFi, and share it online or send it to the office. The process takes getting used to because it adds a few steps.
The pictures I got were good enough for print, and to be published online, and generally more than good enough for social media.
The Fujifilm X-A5 is simple to use, but its 215-page manual (including covers and few blank pages for notes) says otherwise.
The Advanced SR Auto mode (SR+) is the closest thing to a point-and-shoot mode on the camera. It works most of the time, but I often find myself going back to Shutter Priority AE or Program AE mode to get the picture that I want.
After a couple of days, I found the workflow that works best for me – mainly, the three dials on the camera, the two rings on the lens, and the quick menu to get the camera settings just right.
Diving into the labyrinth of the selection menu however, remains a daunting task.
There are too many options buried in layers of sub-menus, but I do not think you have to learn them all to get the best out of the camera.
The sooner you upload a picture, the sooner you can get those endorphin hits from likes and comments. An excellent-looking photo will earn you more reactions – and the X-A5 can give you that.
After 10 days of taking pictures with the Fujifilm X-A5, I am convinced that there is a place for a camera like this in the world today.
For photo enthusiasts, instead of buying the latest flagship phone that is only incrementally better than the one last year, get the X-A5 and see your photography skills improve.
The best picture taken using the Fujifilm X-A5 certainly beats the best picture taken with most top-of-the-line smartphones.
Sharing it may take an extra step, but it is worth it.
The X-A5 is currently available in two packages.
The early bird package includes the camera, the 15-45mm kit lens, two 32GB SD cards, a leather case and a leather strap, all for RM3,288.
The Selfie Portrait Package comes with the camera, the 15-45mm kit lens, and the XF23mm F2 R WR lens for RM3,998.