pw-pix

I use the Thinktank Retrospective bags with a similar lens complement and it too is mostly unpadded (padding in the dividers). I find it works well, and is of a similar design to the Domke.

Perhaps look for a secondhand XF 23mm F2 and a secondhand XF 56mm f1.2, use those for six months or so and see where you feel you are missing something. The 23mm (35mm equivalent) is a popular general purpose lens and can be used successfully for most general photography. The 56mm (85mm equivalent) is a popular short telephoto and portrait lens, giving shallow depth of field when used at wider apertures.

The user manual explains how to configure image review on the LCD screen. https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/menu_setup/screen_set-up/#image_disp

Image Quality, not Aspect Ratio

As noted above, if you are shooting jpg, some processing options cause longer processing and write times. Using any Clarity setting apart from zero is know to be a major culprit.

As above, the X-T5 firmware file appears as, File name: FWUP0030.DAT, and it shows as 106,802 KB on my windows PC.

Check that you have the latest lens firmware https://www.tamron.com/global/consumer/support/download/firmware/b061/fujifilm_x/

As a counterpoint, I've been using Samsung EVO series micro SD cards and adapters for about 5 years with no issues at all.

I'd be checking you have the latest firmware for the camera body, and latest software/firmware for the remote control. Check that wireless/bluetooth is enabled on the camera body. Check that the two items are connected by wireless/bluetooth. Work through these basic troubleshooting steps first.

No, it's inherent in rectilinear wide angle lenses. If you photographed a row of people across the frame, the ones towards the edges would like wider/fatter than those at the centre of the frame.

It's the edge distortion you get with wide angle lenses, the edges on all sides show this if you have things close to the edges. Things appear stretched/distorted when they are close to the edges of the frame.

I think they had to do something, because IOS18 had broken the file transfer functionality. It's a good bonus that they corrected other longer term issue too.

Change the Preview Pic Effect setting to off (spanner menu).

Point 2. Because the exposure is low without the flash firing, so it's being lifted a lot for the EVF preview, hence all that noise.

That looks more like an air bubble type thing where the glass is cemented to (or just in tight contact with) an internal baffle or trim.

Do you have a different lens to test on the modified X-T4 to see if it is the camera body causing the problem? Have you cleaned to lens and body contacts and retested the 18/1.4 and X-T4 combo? Have you checked to make sure there isn't some odd AF setting configured in the X-T4 body? Accidentally gone to a bracketing mode (perhaps AF or focus stacking)? What does the EXIF data show for the images where the problem occurs?

Since the bit with the filter threads (where the hood ataches) moves in and out when focusing, you probably need to turn the camera on and make the lens barrel extend (typically when focusing on something close), then try and unscrew it.

Are you using a film simulation? I've read that using any Clarity setting except 0 on a film simulation will cause delays in processing and writing the file to the card.

FujiRumors posted recently that the company have acknowledged issues with the firmware (AF in particular) and they are working on a new version. No more detail or likely release date though.

Issues like this are common, there is a lot of commentary on YouTube about it, as well as in forums. It's the latest firmware for the 40MP bodies. The superzoom lens will be making show up more than a faster (aperture) lens too.

I can say that with V4.0 firmware in my X-T5 I continue to randomly get photos where nothing is in focus, despite the green focus confirmation appearing. This occurs with single point and single AF selected. It happens with well regarded lenses such as the XF 18mm F1.4 and the Viltrox AF 13mm F1.4.

That looks like oil or some other smear/debris on the sensor.

The times this has happened to me, it has always been the XF 27/2.8 It's to do with the focus movement being impeded with that lens, for example, if it's pressed against glass or a wire mesh fence.

There are many youtube videos on this topic, demonstrating the problem in different situations.

Perhaps a factory reset, then set up the camera the way you like again.