X-E5 x Simon Zimmermann
FUJIFILM X-E5: Street Snaps in Lisbon
Lisbon – a city that has so much to offer. Its narrow streets, warm light, colourful tiles and vibrant life on every corner. I wanted to capture all of this in just one weekend without being weighed down by heavy camera equipment. I chose the FUJIFILM X-E5, and this decision proved to be exactly the right one. The small, compact camera helped me document all the vibes of Lisbon in breathtaking quality, all without standing out in the crowd.
Compact but powerful
The first thing you notice when you pick up the X-E5 is its size. With a minimalist body that’s barely larger than the palm of your hand, it’s the perfect companion for urban exploration. Especially in a city like Lisbon, where the streets are often narrow and crowded, I really appreciate having a camera that doesn’t draw attention to itself. While large, professional cameras tend to attract attention, the X-E5 stays in the background, allowing me to capture the atmosphere of the city without drawing attention to myself.
The X-E5’s performance has more than impressed me. It may be small, but its image quality is on par with larger models. The colours are vibrant, the details are razor sharp and, with the help of IBIS, even low-light shots are no problem. Especially in the evening hours, when the sun slowly sets and the cityscape is bathed in warm light, I could rely completely on the camera without having to worry about the quality of my shots.
The advantages of ‘film simulations’
Since I work almost exclusively with JPEGs, I was thrilled by how quickly you can switch between the different film simulations. It all depends on the situation. For me, this was one of the greatest strengths of the X-E5, especially for quick shots where I didn’t have time to experiment with image editing afterwards.
During my tour of Lisbon, I was able to experiment with the various film simulations. As so often, CLASSIC Neg. and CLASSIC CHROME were my favourites. I found the CLASSIC CHROME simulation ideal, especially in the late afternoon hours when the ‘golden hour’ began and the city was bathed in a warm atmosphere.
The best thing about it was that I could get started right away. The X-E5 allowed me to work directly in the film simulations without any complicated settings. This meant I could achieve exactly the look I had in mind in no time at all – a real time saver, especially on a short weekend trip.
Flexibility despite a prime lens
Another advantage of the X-E5 that I particularly appreciated in a city like Lisbon is the internal crop. For space reasons and to remain mobile, I only had a prime lens with me – the FUJINON XF23mmF2 R WR, which is a great all-rounder and also compact and lightweight. But sometimes, in the winding streets or when looking at distant architecture, I found myself lacking focal length.
However, thanks to the camera’s internal crop, I was able to quickly switch to a narrower field of view. This meant that I could cover a wide range of subjects with a single lens. Crop mode changes the image field as if you were using a zoom lens, but without actually changing lenses – a quick, effective trick that helped me capture spontaneous moments that I might otherwise have missed.
Speed and inconspicuousness
Lisbon thrives on spontaneous moments. The conversation between two locals on a bench at sunrise, the lady on her way home with her umbrella, or the colourful group at the kiosk that attracts a crowd at the end of the day. With the FUJIFILM X-E5, I was able to capture all these scenes in a fraction of a second. The camera is extremely quick to use, and the autofocus is fast and reliable, even in low light. This meant I was always able to get the right shot, even in the fast-paced moments of city life.
Another advantage of the X-E5 is its inconspicuousness. In a city like Lisbon, where life takes place on the streets and you always find yourself surrounded by people and movement, it’s an advantage not to stand out. The X-E5 fits easily into a bag and is capable of delivering first-class photos. This allowed me to stroll through the narrow streets of Alfama without feeling like a tourist carrying a huge camera. I was able to concentrate fully on observing and capturing the city without attracting any attention.
Colours and contrasts
Lisbon is a city that thrives on colour – the blue azulejos on the walls, the bright yellow of the trams, the warm red of the roofs. The FUJIFILM X-E5 was able to capture these colours perfectly without distorting them. The photos taken there perfectly convey the atmosphere of the city with their intense yet natural colours. The interplay of light and shadow in the cityscape was particularly impressive. Whether in bright daylight, the shadows of the alleys or the soft light of sunset that bathed the streets in a picturesque glow, the X-E5 captured it all with ease.
Conclusion: A perfect compact camera for on the go
The FUJIFILM X-E5 proved to be the perfect camera for my street photography in Lisbon. It is fast, flexible and delivers impressive image quality in every situation. The film simulations, internal crop and uncomplicated handling in particular enabled me to take spontaneous yet expressive photos without bulky and heavy equipment. Its compact size and unobtrusive design allowed me to experience the city from the perspective of a participant in the flow – without feeling like a photographer. For a whole weekend, the FUJIFILM X-E5 gave me the freedom to capture Lisbon in all its beauty and focus on what really matters: the atmosphere and the people of this wonderful city.
