How to Access the Highest ISO Settings on the Fujifilm X-T5

The Fujifilm X-T5 has an ISO range from 64 to 51,200. But it’s not necessarily self-evident how to access all of it.

The dial only goes up to ISO 12800. And if you’re using Auto ISO, it will only go to a maximum of ISO 12800 (and maybe lower, if you’re using either the Auto1 or Auto2 presets in their default configurations).

But the X-T5’s ISO range goes higher than, including ISO 25600 and 51200. Those higher values are in the extended range, so image quality will suffer (more on that below). But there might be situations where you want to access them (after all, the camera wouldn’t have them otherwise, right?)

So how do you access the extended ISO on the Fujifilm X-T5? That wasn’t immediately clear to me, and I had to go hunting for the answer. So I’m posting the solution here in case it helps someone else out.

Step 1: Set the ISO Sensitivity Dial to C

The sensitivity dial is to the left of the viewfinder as you’re shooting. There’s a close-up of it at the top of this post.

You’ll see values like 125, 800, 3200, and so on. And there’s an orange A for Auto.

This dial needs to be set to C to access the extended ISO range.

1. Press the button in the center of the dial to unlock it.
2. Rotate the dial so that the C is pointing to the little marker on the top of the camera.
3. Lock the dial by pressing the button again in the center of the dial.
   

Step 2: Use the Front Command Dial to Change the ISO

To change the ISO now, you use the front command dial. That’s on the front of the camera immediately in front of the shutter and power switch. When you’re holding the camera to shoot, it falls naturally where your right forefinger sits.

Now, when you rotate that, it will change the ISO setting. In addition to the specific values, you can also cycle through the presets Auto1, Auto2, and Auto3.

Things Worth Knowing

You can adjust the settings in the Auto ISO presets, but even those won’t let you set an upper limit above ISO 12800.

Why Not Just Use High ISO All the Time?

So if a higher ISO lets you use a higher shutter speed and/or higher aperture, why not just use that all the time?

It’s because there’s always a compromise, and in this case, higher sensitivity comes at the cost of image quality. And that becomes especially pronounced once you start getting into the extended ISO range.

The three most noticeable aspects are:

• Image noise. Or “mottling,” as Fujifilm calls it. This is the digital equivalent of larger film grain when shooting with film.
• Lower dynamic range. The higher you go in ISO sensitivity, the lower the dynamic range. That means that the sensor isn’t capturing details in shadows and highlights as well, so you can end up with a blocky, blotchy image in those areas.
• Shifting colors. Color fidelity suffers, so you might see color shifts or washed-out colors.
  

Fujifilm warns:

High values can be used to reduce blur when lighting is poor, while lower values allow slower shutter speeds or wider apertures in bright light; note, however, that mottling may appear in pictures taken at high sensitivities.

That, of course, doesn’t mean you should never use them. Sometimes it makes the difference between getting the shot and not getting the shot. But it’s worth knowing that the image quality will suffer.

Related

I’ve also posted, separately, some Fujifilm X-T5 high ISO sample images.

Price & Availability of the Fujifilm X-T5

The Fujifilm X-T5 was released in November 2022 and comes in all-black or black with silver trim (which is the version I’ve been shooting with and used in the product shots above).

It’s sold in these configurations:

• Body only (MSRP $1699)
• Bundled with an 18-55mm ƒ/2.8-4 zoom lens (MSRP $2099)
• Bundled with a 16-80mm ƒ/4 zoom lens (MSRP $2199)

Check the current price and availability at:

• B&H Photo