Pairing the digital innovation of FUJIFILM's Film Simulation modes with a physical, on-camera dial, the X-E5 provides an ergonomic way to customize the look and feel of images as they are captured. Located next to the viewfinder, the dial's selected setting is visible through a circular window on the X-E5's aluminum top plate. It features a selection of FUJIFILM's preset Film Simulation modes and three user-assignable modes that allow creators to customize and save their own recipes for fast recall in the field. The X-E5 includes 20 unique Film Simulation modes, including PROVIA/Standard, Velvia/Vivid, ASTIA/Soft, Classic Chrome, REALA ACE, PRO Neg. Hi, PRO Neg. Std, Classic Neg., Nostalgic Neg., ETERNA Cinema, ETERNA BLEACH BYPASS, ACROS, ACROS + Ye Filter, ACROS + R Filter, ACROS + G Filter, Black & White, Black & White + Ye Filter, Black & White + R Filter, Black & White + G Filter, and Sepia.

For media playback, preview, and menu navigation, the X-E5 features a 3" touchscreen LCD with three-axis tilting and 1.04m-dot resolution. Offset to the left side of its aluminum top plate is the X-E5's rangefinder-style OLED viewfinder. With a 2.36m-dot resolution, .62x magnification, and 100% coverage area, the EVF provides an accurate preview of the camera's capturing area. Emulating a viewfinder from an analog SLR, the EVF can be switched into Classic Display mode, which creates a clean visual interface with only the exposure information remaining. Both the touchscreen LCD and the EVF offer three Surround View modes that dictate whether the outside edge of a frame is outlined, semi-transparent, or fully blacked-out when shooting in aspect ratios other than 3:2.

With its aluminum top plate, improved grip, and timeless rangefinder design, the X-E5 is as aesthetically pleasing as it is sturdy. The analog-style controls provide the user with a tactile experience inspired by film cameras, allowing immediate access to core functions without the need to navigate the digital menu. For added convenience, the shutter speed dial not only includes a multitude of preset speeds, but also an "A" setting for aperture priority, and a "P" setting for program mode. The X-E5 also sports two user-assignable function buttons, a dedicated Bluetooth button, an exposure compensation dial, and a four-position lever for switching between teleconverter modes.