I'm starting to get really stressed out about this trip I have coming up to Japan in January and I still havent pulled the trigger on a new camera. I really want an X-T5 or maybe the X-S20 for street stuff but the prices are just staying so high. My logic was that I should wait for the big holiday sales in a few weeks but then I read on one of those rumor sites that Fuji might skip the big discounts this year because the demand is already so high and they cant even keep stuff in stock anyway. But then I saw a post on reddit saying they usually do a rebate program starting mid-November so I dont know who to believe and I'm just spiraling a bit lol.
If I wait until late November and they dont go on sale then I'm worried they'll be sold out and I wont have it in time for my flight on the 10th. I have about $1500-1700 saved up and I really dont want to spend every penny on just the body if I can help it because I still need a decent lens for the trip. Does anyone who follows the market closer than me have a gut feeling about this? Like is it even worth waiting for a measly hundred bucks off if it means I might miss out on getting the body entirely before I leave? I'm checking B&H and Adorama like five times a day at this point...
fujis holiday promos are usually pretty consistent, but they mostly hit the older lenses or bodies that arent flying off shelves. Since the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body is still their top tier APS-C, i wouldnt bet on a massive price drop right now. If you want to keep the total under $1700, the Fujifilm X-S20 Mirrorless Digital Camera Body is technically a better value for your trip. It uses that same NP-W235 battery as the X-T5 which basically lasts forever compared to the older models. Pairing the S20 with something like the Fujifilm XF 23mm f/2 R WR Lens would be a killer setup for Japans narrow streets and keep you under budget. Stock is the real wildcard here tho. If you wait until black friday and it goes out of stock, youre basically stuck with whatever is left on the shelf. Id say buy it now and use the extra time to learn the film sims so you arent fumbling with settings in Tokyo... that extra practice is worth more than a $100 discount.
TLDR: Buy immediately to ensure stock for your January trip. Unfortunately, Fujifilms production is currently underwhelming and waiting for holiday sales is not recommended. I had issues with availability last year and it was not as good as expected. Purchase the Fujifilm X-S20 26.1MP Mirrorless Digital Camera now. Combining it with a Fujinon XF 23mm f2 R WR Wide Angle Lens keeps you within your $1700 budget while providing an excellent street setup.
Unfortunately, Fujifilm's production capacity has been disappointing lately. You likely won't see big discounts on the Fujifilm X-T5 40.2MP Mirrorless Camera or Fujifilm X-S20 26.1MP Mirrorless Camera.
- Backlogs are still a major issue.
- Retailers won't discount high-demand gear.
- Waiting risks shipping delays. Honestly, just buy it now. It sucks paying MSRP, but missing your trip is worse. Don't gamble on stock availability...
