Ive been refreshing B&H and Adorama like crazy because I really need a new setup for my Japan trip in three weeks and my old camera is basically dead. Im torn between the X-T5 and just getting a used X-T4 to save cash but I really want those megapixels for cropping. My budget is strictly $1700 for the body and the X-T5 is sitting right at $1699 everywhere which is making me so nervous. I saw some rumors about a discount but nothing is live yet. Should I just pull the trigger now or are there usually actual Black Friday drops on newer Fuji bodies? Or should I just go with the X-S20 and save the money for lenses?
In my experience watching Fuji cycles over the years, they rarely slash the price of a current flagship like the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera Body by more than a hundred bucks during Black Friday. Since you are three weeks out from a Japan trip, waiting for a massive drop might just stress you out for nothing. I have tried many setups, and usually, the deals are on lens bundles rather than just the body. If you are sticking to a strict $1700 limit, consider these points:
- Fujifilm usually keeps the Fujifilm X-T5 Mirrorless Camera Body right at that $1699 mark. If it drops, it is usually only to $1599, and those sell out instantly.
- The Fujifilm X-S20 Mirrorless Camera Body is actually a very smart play for a Japan trip. You lose the 40MP sensor, but the battery life is insane and you save enough to buy a nice prime lens for street photography.
- Check the Open Box sections on B&H or Adorama today. I have snagged gear before that was basically untouched and saved a couple hundred bucks which really helps the budget. I would definitely skip the Fujifilm X-T4 Mirrorless Camera Body now. The autofocus jump in the newer processors is huge and you want that for travel. If you dont see a price drop by this coming Monday, just pull the trigger. Having the camera in your hands to learn the dials before your flight is worth way more than potentially saving fifty bucks on a lucky refresh... honestly, your time is worth more than that.
