Since I Recently Wrote About My Micro 4/3 Kit, I Thought I Would Also Write About My Fujifilm Kit

This represents my current Fujifilm kit.  From left to right, X-H2S, 23mm f/2 lens, X-T5 with the 16-55mm f/2.8 lens attached, 1.4X tele-converter, 150-600mm lens f/5.6-8 lens, 10-24mm f/4 II lens
and the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens. This combination gives me quite a bit of versatility as well as the
ability to handle just about any photographic situation I may encounter.  (click to enlarge)

Last week I wrote about my OM/Olympus Micro4/3 kit and how I use variations of it when going out to photograph, i.e., different combinations of lenses for different subject matter. You can read that post here.  So as to not slight Fujifilm users and fans, I thought I would also highlight my Fujifilm kit.  I don't want anyone to think I like one more than the other.  Both are excellent 'picture taking' tools and systems, but they are different.

First, just to reiterate what I've written before, my Fujifilm X-T5 still is my all time favorite digital camera.  Although I could niggle about some minor things I wish Fujifilm could do or change, obviously, none are deal breakers for me.  As I said, niggles.  Just about everything about the X-T5 just works for me.  Nothing about the camera gets in my way when photographing.  It is a pleasure to use.  But I have another issue with Fujifilm that prevents it from being named "my favorite camera system" which is different from favorite camera.  Hold that thought.

Recently, I wrote a column outlining how a combination of engineering, haptics, buttons, dials, menus and features from both the X-T5 and OM-1 would comprise my ideal camera.  If you are interested, you can read that post here.  Both cameras are excellent in and of themselves, but no camera can be all things to all people (even though the ‘influencers’ would have you believe their latest review says so).  A combination of these two cameras would be about as perfect as I could want. (Note: perfect for me doesn't mean perfect for you as you may practice completely different types of photography than I and your personal preferences may be completely different as well.  Never let someone tell you that a certain camera is perfect.  It may be for them but not for you.)

For this kit, I chose the camera bodies and lenses shown above for very specific reasons.  I mostly photograph landscapes, nature, travel, Americana and urban scenes the vast majority of the time but also the occasional family event and sometimes birds & wildlife.  I purchased the X-T5 primarily because of its 40mp sensor.  I enjoy being able to punch in to see fine detail as well as crop heavily if needed (I don't need 40mp but I wanted 40mp).  I chose the X-H2S because it is fast and has a moderate pixel count primarily for my birds and wildlife photography.  

When considering lenses, as a mainstay, I wanted a high quality lens in the moderate wide angle to short telephoto range to act as my go-to lens.  The Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8 is that lens and is almost always on the X-T5.  It is an excellent performer and I have produced many excellent images with that lens.

If I were going out to do some serious photography but didn't anticipate photographing birds
or wildlife, this is the kit I would pack with me. This combination covers 10mm (15mm in 35mm terms) to 300mm (450mm in 35mm terms).  But there is a small gap in coverage between 55-70mm.
(click to enlarge)

If I wanted to carry even a smaller kit and didn't anticipate needing a focal length longer than 55mm
(84mm in 35mm terms), I would go out with just these two lenses.  These cover a focal length from
10mm (15mm in 35mm terms) to said 55mm (84mm in 35mm terms.) (click to enlarge)

My second most used lens would be the 10-24mm f/4 II WR lens.  Again, a 'good' performer, I'll call it, (the edges and corners are good but they could be better at the very wide focal lengths) that is not too large or heavy that I always take with me.  I wish it were a bit better but to get better performance, one has to buy the 8-16mm f/2.8 lens which is large, heavy and expensive—about twice the cost.  After the 10-24mm lens, the 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens is used a bit less than it.  I've found it is an excellent lens.

Now, I do like the challenge of photographing birds, birds-in-flight and wildlife on occasion.  It is one of the hardest genre's of photography I've practiced.  I don't do it often but a couple of my best photographer friends have photographed birds for decades and got me interested.  A time or two each year we have traveled to wildlife refuges together to primarily photograph migrating snow geese, tundra swans, raptors, song birds, wading birds, ducks, etc. and have been doing so for about twenty years.  As I said, I don't do it often, but when I do, I want to be successful.  The Fujifilm X-H2S fills the role of a very fast camera with excellent autofocus and does well with birds and wildlife.  Couple the Fujifilm 150-600mm f/5.6-8 lens to the X-H2S and the pair make a competent combination.  The X-H2S also serves as a backup camera body to the X-T5.  

But all is not perfect in Fujiland.  Here's the rub.  Here is why I can't name my Fujifilm kit as my favorite camera system.  When comparing the available lenses with first class image quality for my OM Micro4/3 system to the top notch lenses available for my Fujifilm system, the latter just doesn't have as good of a selection, in my opinion.  There are gaps that I wish were filled.  This especially holds true when using the lenses on the 40mp X-T5 (or the X-H2).  There are lenses that I wish were on Fujifilm's official list as capable of resolving all 40mp but are not there.  In case you aren't aware, Fujifilm posted a list of their lenses that can '...get the maximum benefit.." from the 40.2mp sensor.  Here is their official list:

• Fujinon XF 16mm f/2.8 R WR
• Fujinon XF 18mm f/1.4 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 23mm f/1.4 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 23mm f/2 R WR
• Fujinon XF27mmF2.8 R WR
• Fujinon XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 R WR
• Fujinon XF 50mm f/1.0 R WR
• Fujinon XF 50mm f/2 R WR
• Fujinon XF 56mm f/1.2 R WR
• Fujinon XF 80mm f/2.8 R LM OIS Macro
• Fujinon XF 90mm f/2 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 200mm f/2 R LM OIS WR
• Fujinon XF 8-16mm f/2.8 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR
• Fujinon XF 18-120mm f/4 LM PZ WR
• Fujinon XF 50-140mm f/2.8 R LM OIS WR
• Fujinon XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 R LM OIS WR
• Fujinon XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
• Fujinon XF 150-600mm f/5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

Curiously, Fujifilm sells X-T5 and X-H2 kits with lenses that they themselves say can't take advantage of all 40mp in those cameras!  For example, the 16-80mm f/4 lens.  Go figure?

In my case, I use the 16-55mm f/2.8 lens extensively.  It 'lives' on my X-T5.  I wish it had more reach (such as 24-120mm in 35mm terms) while keeping the f/2.8 aperture across all focal lengths.  The 16-80mm f/4 lens has the reach I desire, but it is not on Fujifilm's list of being able to take full advantage of the new 40mp sensor.  But it could work just fine with the X-H2S as that camera is only 26mp.  I could live with trading f/2.8 for f/4 if the lens would be optimized with my X-T5.  The compromise for me is that I live with the gap between the 55mm and 70mm focal lengths.  So far, this has worked okay for me.  I have used 55mm and then cropped in slightly.  With 40mp, cropping a bit is fine.

The lens I wish Fujifilm made would be the equivalent of my Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO lens.  If Fujifilm made a 16-135mm f/4 Red Badge WR lens that a) was sharp all across the frame at all focal lengths and b), would be able to take full advantage of the new 40mp sensor, I would buy one in minute.  I wouldn't think twice.  But they don't.  They make (it may no longer be made, I don't know) an 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 lens but I don't have much confidence in its ability to achieve excellent image quality.  I've read and directly have heard that it isn't as good as it should be.  Also, 18mm is just not wide enough.  I find I use the 16mm focal length quite a bit.  Additionally, it is not on the list above.  

Other than the dearth of lenses to suit my needs (I know what you are thinking: this pompous idiot wants Fujifilm to make things just for HIS needs! What a jerk!) as well as I suspect many others' needs, I have no issue with anything about the Fujifilm system.  The AF issue that I wrote about extensively in 2022 is not present on my two cameras, the speed and accuracy of the subject tracking meets my needs and all of the Fujifilm gear I own is solidly built to last.  My Fujifilm gear is, in fact, my normal go-to system .  It is the system I almost always pick up and grab as I go out the door when I specifically go out to do some serious photography.

All of this talk is well and good.  I'm being nitpicky, I think.  I'm really not complaining (too much) about my Fujifilm gear.  How could I?  I love using it.

When it comes to gear, I enjoy using more than one system just like guitarists enjoy using more than one guitar.  Different cameras with different capabilities with different features for different types of photography.  In the end, I think it is all good and we all are the beneficiaries of these technological times.

A Final note on the Fujifilm autofocus inconsistency issue: 

I'm still being asked regularly if Fujifilm cameras are still suffering from the autofocus inconsistency issue I extensively wrote about last year. My short answer is, "I don't know."  I don't know because after extensive testing, I'm not having any AF inconsistency issues with either my X-H2S nor my X-T5.  They are focusing accurately and consistently accurately.  I have no way of knowing if others are having issues with these two cameras except the occasional email or comment I receive from those who say they do.  

From everything I've seen and read, I've come to the conclusion that the AF inconsistency issue must be limited to only a portion of Fujifilm cameras as I am not seeing it talked or written about by the many, many professional, enthusiast, YouTube or bloggers who use Fujifilm cameras.  I would think if the issue was widespread, there would be a huge uproar on those platforms.

One last comment about this issue.  Fujifilm issued a firmware update for several cameras, including the X-T4 I had owned and which suffered from the AF issue just before the X-H2S was introduced in mid-2022.  Although nothing was mentioned in that particular firmware update about any aspect affecting AF, after updating my camera, that firmware update seemed to fix much of the issue in my camera.  The AF inconsistency issue, although seemingly not completely solved, seemed greatly reduced.  However, after sending my X-T4 to Fujifilm for a complete check-up, clean, lube and adjust, I sold it to fund the purchase of the X-H2S.  They pronounced that the camera completely met factory specs.  I couldn't have sold it in good conscience if there was something wrong with it.  So, I no longer have that camera to check as well.

If you are interested in reading just about everything I wrote about this issue, you can find those posts in chronological order here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

Join me over at my website, https://www.dennismook.com.  

Thanks for looking. Enjoy!  

Dennis A. Mook  

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