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| Better Days. (click to enlarge) Fujifilm X-T5; 70-300mm f/4-5.6 lens @ 222mm; 1/340th sec. @ f/8; ISO 1250 |
I continue to see YouTube videos and read blog posts by photographers who are still complaining about autofocus issues with their Fujifilm cameras—especially the X-T5, X-H2 and X-H2S—even after the latest firmware update! That shouldn’t be.
A few months ago Fujifilm issued a firmware update to improve AF and AF subject/face/eye detection but evidently created a problem with AF not actually focusing on a subject’s eye. Fujifilm then acknowledged the new problem and the last firmware update was supposed to fix all of the AF and AF subject/face/eye detection issues. At least that is what I understand.
However, some are now saying with each firmware update Fujifilm has issued to ‘fix’ the AF and AF/Subject Detection (mainly people’s faces/eyes) has gotten worse, not better. Some are proclaiming that the original firmware, v1.0, that was in the cameras when first released was much better than the latest ‘fix’ and wish there was a way to revert the AF system back to its beginnings. That wish is something I’ve never heard of before with any other camera manufacturer.
Sadly, I am now seeing on YouTube videos of photographers saying they are leaving the Fujifilm system and going to another brand. They are fed up. They have had enough. I’ve never seen that before either. I have consistently watched videos of photographers switching to Fujifilm. This can’t be good for Fujifilm.
But wait. There are tens and tens of thousands of Fujifilm camera users out there in the world. Maybe hundreds of thousands. I don’t know. Some seem to be having AF and AF subjection issues and others not. I just don’t have an answer as to why. A few variables that may partially explain why are a) some are practicing types of photography where AF and AF subject detection is not critical, b) some photographers’ tolerances for pin sharp focus differ (close enough is okay with them), c) some cameras actually are working better than others (sample variation) and d) there are scores of photographers who have issues but don’t make it known. There may be other variables as well.
I can’t provide a vast experiential opinion on these complaints because I’ve not had any AF issues with my X-T5. Of course, I rarely photograph people, faces, eyes, etc., so I can’t comment intelligently and meaningfully on those types of subject recognition challenges. For the kinds of photography I mostly practice and the techniques I use, my X-T5’s AF system works well. No complaints. (NOTE: I just returned from a five day road trip to attend a friend’s wedding and I ‘informally’ photographed a couple events with my X-T5 and had no issues with AF. That said, one cannot draw a learned opinion from a sample of one.)*
A major problem for Fujifilm, as I see it, is that these complaining photographers’ experiences and videos create doubt. Doubt about a camera’s abilities to achieve basic functions, such as focusing sharply on your subject’s eye, successfully, every time is a killer for business. For example, when I took out my Fujifilm gear after returning from my 23-day road trip in May and June, I started to wonder if my images would all be in sharp focus even though I haven’t experienced any problems? I shouldn’t even be thinking about that let alone wonder. I should not have to worry or be concerned and have 100% confidence in my Fujifilm gear’s accurate focusing ability. But the seed of doubt has been planted and I can’t help but scrutinize each of my images in Lightroom to ensure all are in pin sharp focus.
Fujifilm keeps introducing new cameras, which is good, but seemingly hasn’t solved the AF issues that have plagued their cameras for years. First, it was (and some say it still is) inaccurate autofocus with wide angle lenses stopped down, now the AF accuracy in subject detection mode. Why does Fujifilm seem (according to many pro and enthusiast photographers on YouTube) to struggle to give us gear that gives us sharp focus 100% of the time and why we have to settle for less than ‘state-of-the-art’ AF and subject detection? They have to know their AF system isn’t state-of-the-art. Don’t they?
I don’t get that business model. Do you?
Is it lack of engineering expertise? Is it lack of dedicating the resources to get the job done right? Is it a reduction in the overall percentage of available research & development resources? Is it their business model? Do the Fujifilm managers think that users are so enamored with and dedicated to the brand that they will continue to buy the cameras no matter what so they don’t worry about this issue?
That is strike one in my playbook.
Now, let’s add what the president of Fujifilm recently said about his philosophy of producing enough cameras and lenses to meet customer demand. Evidently, he prescribes to a philosophy of continual shortages so prices remain high! I say continual shortages as that is what we have seen and continue to see but he says supply and manufacturing is ‘normal.’ So shortages must be Fujifilm’s new normal. As a Fujifilm customer how do you like that business model?
He also says that if you ‘overproduce,’ that drives down prices. It can. I agree. But he compares Fujifilm to Leica in their high demand and long term high value. Fujifilm, in my opinion, shouldn’t be compared to Leica as Leica is a ‘boutique’ brand and I believe Fujifilm is a brand for all of us. We should all be able to afford a Fujifilm camera. Overproducing is one thing but meeting customer demand is another. Here is the Fuji Rumors article with an interview with the Fujifilm CEO. I found his comments disturbing.
Strike two against Fujifilm.
As much as I love my Fujifilm gear and the X-T5 remains my favorite digital camera (for the time being anyway), I remain frustrated. Nikon and OM Digital Systems don’t seem to have the autofocus issues that seem to plague Fujifilm. When I use my Z8 or my OM-1 I have no doubts or misgivings that the AF is super fast and accurate.
Hopefully, no strike three in the future...
…and, no, I’m not planning on selling my Fujifilm gear. As I said, for my types of photography, it works well. I am one of those who love the Fujifilm system so my criticisms are heartfelt.
*For a small gathering the evening before the wedding and the wedding itself, which was held in a stately old 'mansion'-type home (that can be rented for events), I made some casual photos for my friend. The evening before in the bride's home, I wandered about among the attendees with a 23mm f/2 lens attached to my X-T5. For the wedding I sat in the back row, set my X-T5 to silent mode, used the 16-55mm f/2.8 lens and held the camera over my head to make some informal photographs. ISOs ranged from 500-6400. I used both 'eye detect' and a single small AF spot to focus. After looking at my images in Lightroom Classic, I'm satisfied all worked well. (In the 1970s and 80s I used to photograph weddings as part-time work but I quickly learned my lesson! lol)
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Dennis A. Mook
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Well, i still have AF issues with the 10-24 (no subject recognition) and single center spot (a click before the smallest one) when stopped down more than f5.6.
ReplyDeleteThey did a good job on nearly fix the issue on the 23f1.4 WR LM but the 10-24 is still not reliable; i was able to reproduce the issue on 3 different X-T5 and 2 10-24 Mk1.
The hit rate is 60% OK, 35% slightly soft (even at f8) and 5% completely out of focus, like it focused ad MFD.
Bought a Sony A7RV + 20-70f4, and the hit rate was 100%, doing the same tests.
That's it.
Massinissa, thank you for your input. How do you have your AF configured? AF-S? AF-C? Manual focus with Back Button AF-S or AF-C? What are your results with apertures f/5.6 or faster? Also, are your issues with all focal lengths using the 10-24mm f/4? One last question. Which version of the 10-24mm f/4 lens? I found the using MF, & Back Button with AF-S or AF-C was more accurate as the lens focuses wide open rather than stopped down. ~Dennis
Delete10-24 Mk1 - focal length doesn't matter, even if sometimes, at 24mm is more reliable; notice that i'm using Fujifilm cameras since the X-T1 and used the X-T2 from day until the X-T5 was available on the market.
Deletewith the X-T2, i had some slightly out of focus pictures (same 10-24 unit), but checking my archive, it's like 0,001%.
Talking about the X-T5: AF-S gives the results i posted, with MF and back button focus (AF-S) the hit rate is higher like 70% OK, 27% slightly soft, 3% out of focus.
So yes MF+ back focus button can help but doesn't solve the randomness of having a perfect focus.
i can start a series of 10 pictures on the same subject and have 10/10 OK or the first 3-4 pictures soft and then 6 OK or 2 out of focus, 2 OK and then 2 slightly out of focus and then 6 OK.
OH, shutter button is always on Focus priority.
Starting in 2022 I wrote a number of posts about this very issue. You can read the third at this link (https://www.thewanderinglensman.com/2022/05/fujifilm-x-cameras-focus-inconsistency.html) and the first two articles are referenced in the first paragraph. If you haven’t read them, you might find them interesting. Also, After buying an X-H2s and X-T5, I tested them and wrote about those tests at this link (https://www.thewanderinglensman.com/2023/08/fujifilm-autofocus-accuracy-and.html).
DeleteOne additional link. After all of the AF inconsistency testing, I sent my X-T4 to Fujifilm US for a complete check, clean and assurance everything about the camera met factory specs. You can read the results of that adventure at this link (https://www.thewanderinglensman.com/2022/07/my-fujifilm-x-t4-is-back-from-fujifilm.html)
DeleteI already read all your very informative articles.
DeleteI too have been using Fuji X-series cameras for the past few years. I started with an X-T3 and recently traded it for an X-T5. My interests are street, travel, and people photography, for which I almost always use AF-S mode. The few OOF shots I got with my X-T3 I could attribute to user-error. The X-T5 is another matter. I've discovered that it will, on rare occasions, misfocus. This can happen even in AF-S mode, shooting a distant static subject on a bright sunny day, with the lens set to f/8. The lens (it doesn't matter which) will always front-focus rather than focus at infinity, so there's not enough depth-of-field to cover the miss.
DeleteThis phenomenon is so random that one shot of the same subject from the same position will be in perfect focus and the next not. Given that the vast majority of my shots are in focus and I no longer do many paid gigs, I have no plans to "dump" my Fujifilm equipment. The Fuji look is hard to replicate with other cameras; but would I recommend Fuji to anyone else? Probably not.
Gordon, thank you for your comment. You provide a corroborating experience to many others who have commented here or emailed me privately. I agree with you about not recommending Fujifilm cameras any longer. Fujifilm just either won’t address the issue or don’t have the expertise to fix it.
DeleteMay I inquire if you are the same Gordon Lewis whose former blog I used to regularly read and whose photograph was once featured for sale by my friend Mike Johnston? ~Dennis
Guilty as charged.
DeleteGordon I miss your blog and I greatly admire your photographic work. It is an honor to know that you are one of my readers. Thank you sir. ~Dennis
DeleteThank you. I discovered your blog only a few days ago and am enjoying your writing and photos as well. Like you, I am also favorably impressed with how well the Nikon Zf feels and performs. I have yet to buy one, but have a feeling that may soon change.
DeleteThank you for taking time to comment. I appreciate it. I’m still loving the Zf! ~Dennis
DeleteGood morning, my name is Fabio and I am an Italian amateur photographer. I wanted to know if anything has changed about the af s problem today? In fujifilm mirrorless italia I have heard many users still complaining about this problem. In your opinion will the situation finally be resolved on xt 6? How can we make ourselves "heard" by fujifilm if all the youtubers never talk about this af s failure? Thanks, have a nice day
ReplyDeleteFabio, thank you for writing and for your questions. I’m afraid I don’t have a good answer for you if Fujifilm has solved the issues with autofocus. I will say that I am not having any AF issues with my X-T5. It seems to focus accurately and consistently. That doesn’t mean others may be experiencing issues with other models. Additionally, I use mine for general photography and seldom use the subject detection feature. Recently, Fujifilm managers were reported to say that they are still not entirely happy with the AF performance and they are still actively working on it. That is a good sign. I have no information about an X-T6 or if its AF system will be improved even more. To be heard you, along with your friends who use Fujifilm cameras, must contact Fujifilm directly as well as contact your local Fujifilm representatives and constructively advise them of the issue, ~Dennis
Delete