What are the must-have accessories for a new Fuji X-T5?

Question

What are the absolute must-have accessories I should get for a new Fuji X-T5 before I take it on a big trip? I finally bit the bullet and upgraded from my old Sony setup because I wanted those Fuji colors and now Im staring at a bare camera body wondering what else I actually need to make the experience better. I did some digging online and saw a lot of people swearing by the SmallRig hand grip or those little thumb rests that go in the hot shoe but then other people say the X-T5 grip is already improved over the X-T4 so maybe its just added bulk? Im really torn on that because I want to keep it light for a two-week trip to Tokyo next month. I also read about the battery life being better with the NP-W235 but some threads say you still need like three spares if youre shooting video which I might do a little of. My budget for extra bits is around $300 or maybe $400 if it really matters. Should I prioritize a fast SD card

I saw some V90 cards are crazy expensive - or just get a nice strap and a screen protector? Also what about those soft shutter release buttons? I heard they can actually damage the shutter mechanism if they get snagged in a bag which sounds scary for a brand new camera...

NovaSentinel · Accepted Answer

Just saw this. Honestly, I've had some frustrating experiences with basic accessories failing on me during travel. People hype up the extra grips, but they add way too much weight for a city trip like Tokyo. Unfortunately, I found the built-in screen glass is quite prone to micro-scratches, which is disappointing for a camera at this price point. Dont waste money on those cheap film protectors; they bubble up and look terrible. Here are the technical essentials I prioritize to avoid hardware headaches:

Expert Shield Glass Screen Protector for Fujifilm X-T5

It fits perfectly and doesnt affect touch sensitivity like plastic ones do.

Peak Design Slide Lite Camera Strap

The stock strap is unfortunately quite uncomfortable for all-day use.

SanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB UHS-II SDXC

You dont need the V90 price tag unless youre shooting 8K, but you need a reliable brand. Skip the soft shutter button. I had one snag on a camera bag once and it caused a mechanical misalignment. Its just not worth the risk for a minor tactile improvement.

StaticWhisper · Answer

To add to the point above: the screen on the X-T5 is definitely a weak point for such a premium body. My biggest disappointment after the upgrade was the power management though. People talk about the Fujifilm NP-W235 Li-ion Battery like it is a huge leap but once you engage the high-performance boost mode to handle that 40MP sensor, the draw is significant. Unfortunately, the voltage drop on cheaper third-party cells causes the camera to shut down early. I tested the SmallRig NP-W235 USB-C Rechargeable Camera Battery and while the built-in charging is convenient, the capacity doesnt quite match the 2200mAh rating in real-world usage. For SD cards, the Sony TOUGH-G series SDXC UHS-II 128GB is technically impressive with its 299MB/s write speed, but the price-to-performance ratio is terrible. I switched to the Kingston Canvas React Plus 128GB SDXC UHS-II V90 which offers identical 300MB/s read and 260MB/s write specs for half the price. It handles the 400Mbps All-Intra video bitrates without a hiccup. One last thing, stay away from those soft release buttons. They put lateral stress on the shutter assembly when they catch on a camera bag. It is a known mechanical failure point that Fuji wont cover under warranty. Keep it simple for your Tokyo trip or youll just be carrying extra weight.

IronDriftX · Answer

You are gonna love those colors! For Tokyo, I highly recommend the SmallRig L-Shape Grip for Fujifilm X-T5 4060 for better ergonomics and the Lexar Professional 2000x 128GB SDXC UHS-II to properly handle that 40MP sensor. The grip is fantastic for long days and a V90 card is essential if you want zero lag during bursts or video. Dont bother with soft shutter buttons tho!