There have been a lot of vocal complaints recently about Fujifilm’s autofocus. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen people online call it “garbage” or “bad” or some other negative term. Every once in awhile a person will comment on Fuji X Weekly with a similar sentiment; however, it’s vocalized a lot less here than elsewhere, it seems. This is a controversy that I’ve tried to steer clear of—people have strong opinions about this topic, and I believe that my take is not going to be well received by those with the strong opinions. But I feel someone needs to say something, so I will.
First, let’s begin with this important perspective: no camera is perfect. Each and every model, no matter the manufacturer, has advantages and disadvantages. No Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, etc., etc., will ever be perfect, because each and every person has different wants and needs. Someone will desire a camera that’s especially compact, while someone else will want one with a large grip. The first person would likely greatly dislike a Canon EOS R1, and the second person would likely greatly dislike a Nikon Zfc; however, the first person might like the Zfc and the second person might like the R1. The first person might like a Ricoh GR III significantly more than the Zfc, and the second person might like a Fujifilm GFX100 II a little more than the R1. For the first person, the GR III might be the most perfect camera currently available, while for the second person, the GFX100 II might be. Now realize that there are 10,000 or more various takes on what is or isn’t the “best” camera, and those opinions are likely fluid and evolving.
Second, let’s not forget that photography has been around for a very long time. It didn’t begin two, five, or ten years ago. People have been capturing amazing photographs for well over 100 years. If you were to grab a Fujifilm X-T5, jump into a DeLorean, and travel back in time just 20 years, you’d blow away the photographers of that time with what would seem like to them impossible camera technology. Yet the photographs captured today are no more impressive than than they were then. Camera gear has advanced tremendously over the last two decades, but the great photographs from today are no more great than they were 30, 40, 50, etc., etc., years ago.
If you disagree with the complaints, a common rebuttal that people will make regarding this topic is that “you must only photograph things that don’t move.” Interestingly, if you Google search photos of the Olympic games from the ’60’s or ’70’s, you can find some really amazing sports images captured well before autofocus was even invented. You can do the same with wildlife photography. They did this on equipment that was far less advanced and sophisticated than what exists today. If they could do it with the gear they had, why can’t you with the gear that you have? (Hint: it’s not the gear, and never has been).
Third, Fujifilm’s autofocus should not be expected to have the same level of performance as pretty much any other camera maker. Both Canon and Nikon’s first autofocus SLRs were released in 1986. Konica made the very first autofocus camera back in the 1970’s, and Minolta made the first “good” autofocus camera in 1985 (Sony cameras trace their heritage to both Konica and Minolta). Fujifilm has been making autofocus cameras for a much shorter time; Fujifilm also has had less R&D money to spend in-general than the Canikony brands. Anyone who expects that Fujifilm’s autofocus would be at the same level as those brands (who had a big head start and more money to spend) hasn’t put much thought into this. Even so, Fujifilm isn’t all that far behind Sony and Canon, and is arguably on par with Nikon. I have a Canon EOS 5DS R, Sony A7 IV, and Nikon Zfc (and have owned other cameras from those brands in the past), and I haven’t personally noticed any difference in autofocus performance between any of those cameras in my photography.
Fujifilm’s autofocus is very good—fantastic, actually. However, Sony and Canon (and arguably Nikon) have a bit more fantastic autofocus system than Fujifilm (as you’d expect). I really don’t understand the complaints about Fujifilm’s autofocus. It is like complaining that a Corvette isn’t a Maserati, and calling the Corvette garbage because it isn’t more like a Maserati. If you want a Maserati, buy a Maserati! Otherwise, appreciate that you have a Corvette.
The fact is that autofocus is a crutch, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. A lot of tech is a crutch, which can make things easier for you—they can oftentimes be quite helpful. I almost always use crutches of some sort in my photography, and I suspect that most other people do as well. But like any crutch, you don’t need it, or, at the least, you can learn how to make it work for you. Someone told me a long time ago that either you control your camera or your camera controls you. That has to be much more true today than when it was told to me. Whatever subject that you are photographing, people have been capturing amazing pictures in that genre for longer than you’ve been alive and with gear much less advanced and “capable” than yours. If they could do it, so can you. Your gear is only a liability if you allow it be—if it is a liability to you, you have the power to not allow it (control your camera vs it controlling you). The gear has never been the issue, but it’s a lot easier to blame the gear than to look inward. It’s important to remember that whatever you are photographing, there are people in that same genre using Fujifilm gear with much success. The gear isn’t a problem for them, so why is it for you?
Which brings us to your choice. If you own a Fujifilm camera and are dissatisfied with the autofocus, you have three options: 1) figure out how to make it work for you (you absolutely have the power to do this), 2) find a different camera that has better autofocus (a more sophisticated crutch), or 3) do neither, and just complain about it and be miserable. I can’t think of any other options, so those are your choices.
The complaints about Fujifilm’s autofocus have really only been over the last couple of years. Yes, there have been discussions about it since the original X100 back in 2011; however, I’ve seen a sharp increase in the complaints over just the last couple of years, and especially over the last year. I believe what accounts for this is people coming to Fujifilm from Canikony brands (especially Canon and Sony), and being dissatisfied with the autofocus of Fujifilm compared to the cameras that they previously had (my question is: why did they leave their previous brand if it was so good??). Fujifilm’s autofocus is not quite as advanced as Sony’s or Canon’s, but that should be expected (as was already outlined), and it doesn’t mean that Fujifilm’s is garbage or bad, only that the photographer needs to rely just a bit more on their own personal skills to compensate for the slightly diminished crutch.
It is true that I’m neither a sports nor wildlife photographer—I’ve dabbled in both at times, but those are not my main photographic interests by any stretch. I do have kids, and have captured a ton of successful pictures of them, as well as many other moving subjects. I don’t personally have any issues with Fujifilm’s autofocus—not even on the older models, which have far less sophisticated autofocus capabilities than the latest fifth-generation cameras. With that said, your photographic wants and needs might be different than mine, which brings us right back to the start: no camera is perfect, and each has advantages and disadvantages. If you don’t feel that a certain one is “right” for you, you have a lot of options. If you feel like the camera is controlling you (and not the other way around), I wholeheartedly believe that you have it within you to take control of your photography.
Well said! For those nay-sayers who believe one cannot use Fuji gear for bird or wildlife photography, I simply refer them to posts on Facebook and Instagram by Robert Ho. Check out his work. He’s a professor of dentistry in San Francisco and a talented wildlife photographer. He never complains about his Fuji and his results speak for themselves. Astounding.
I totally agree also you have the option of using manual focus.
Thanks! Pre-focused manual focus is faster than the fastest autofocus system.
There are definitely many. Look up David Lloyd, he shoots Fujifilm.
Yep Ritchie ! Indeed pre-focused manual focus cannot be beaten with good photographer experience. I’ve got first hand experience with my mentor! And see all the beautiful sport images produced prior AF time. The JO opening in Paris just gave us a nice worldwide retrospective…
A lot of these skills and approaches are either forgotten from lack of use or (more likely) never taught in the first place, which is too bad.
I never had any problems with the auto focus. But you have to use the right setup. Maybe others a better, but it has been ages since I used my Nikon so I cannot really compare.
I’ve never had any issues, personally, other than in low-light on the old models.
I wonder which AF mode mean these guys – single point, zone or wide/tracking? Usually I use single point and never have an any problems with it.
I think it’s AF-C wide/tracking with burst. Otherwise, I think the complaint is the firmware bug that has already been fixed. AF-S and anticipating the decisive moment works really well.
Absolutely spot on. There is nothing wrong with the autofocus on any of the Fuji cameras. The early models had slower autofocus than the later ones but that was never a big deal.
Most every photographer I knew pre-digital shot fully manual, including using manual focusing. Shooting fast moving objects was easy, just needed to pre focus for the correct distance and use a fast shutter speed. That was what photography was all about, deciding for yourself what settings to use. The modern cameras are more or less point and shoot… there is no real skill involved, the computer inside the camera does all of the work. The modern photographer just pushes a button and gets a perfectly exposed, perfectly focused shot. I think all the additional technology built into modern cameras has made us very lazy and taken away a lot of the pleasure and challenges of photography.
I can’t agree more with you. Absolutely right.
We are getting more and more lazy. And AI will not help in that respect!
When I’m “teaching” photography, when going to the fundamentals (we have only 3 variables to take care about), every time it is the most difficult part to get through.
A few years ago, I’ve been quite shocked to see pros turned to button pushers during big sport events.
Thanks to direct image transmission, the images ‘taken’ were immediately post-edited remotely so to be asap published on the website…
The photographer had nothing much to say…
Finally a smart robot could do the job…
So yeah, quite sad…
I remember a well know and highly popular photographer (who is essentially a household name), just a handful of years back discovered that you can take the camera out of Auto (as in, full-auto) and get even better results. He has come a long ways since, and I think that same journey needs to spread across much of photography.
Pre-focused manual focus with a little anticipation and timing works wonderfully well. Nowadays, I think photography has too often evolved into “burst mode and be there”….
That’s an excellent article Ritchie and I concur with you 1000% !
I remember back in 1985 and around when Minolta released indeed the first good AF system. A breakthrough. But at the time considered by many pros (mainly in USA, why ? I’m wondering ??? 😉 Exactly the same remarks / debats over last decades around FF and Fujifilm APS-C) has being complety crap and for consummer usage.
Not good for pro usage!
Even Nikon was extra slow in getting into AF (see the first adaptations of their lenses to AF). Canon was not into it too, but get moving much quicker (hence putting pressure on Nikon). Nikon at the time was very conservative at the time starting many times that pros were not using AF which could not be trusted!
In retrospect, I’m still joking about that and now all those people who complained about Fujifilm APS-C choice and now AF again…
And I’m always puzzled by all those people coming and going out of a system. Going to Nikon to Canon then to Sony, then to Fuji and back to Sony, etc…
Even for a professional (which I would need first the up most stability and reliability over lastest non-proven tech) those constant change must cost a hell. And the profession due to the harsh current conditions is shrinking… So I’m wondering as on the order part of the spectrum, I see professionals using ‘old’ gear with great success…
So definitely as you or my professional mentor (40 years as portrait photographer for a big international institution) said: you need to control your camera, not the other way around. And my mentor was quicker in getting in focus and get the perfect shoot done than his Nikon D3S and his AFS 24-70/2.8 (which both at the time and still are very great and efficient tools)…
I’m still in haw of what he was capable of doing and achieve in simply a couple of seconds.
Of course 40 years of experience and daily shooting…
Coming for my part from Nikon (F6, D3S), when I switched to Fujifilm (at the time the X-T1), AF was NOT the Holy Graal spec I migrated for…
And on my Nikon I was always by default shooting in AF-C mode thanks to it’s great AF system.
On my Fujis I reverted to AF-S.
My photography was not requiring more.
I would say that AF-C wise, Fujifilm reach and get more reliable than my F6 or D3S when the X-T4 came out.
I choose Fujifilm for many many other reasons, especially its reduced size while keeping great image quality, colour science and film simulation with recipes, perfect jpg engine (better than Nikon which was the best one the time) and thus SOOC capacity along great lens designs.
On a sport Fujifilm event a few weeks ago, I brought my X-T5 (just a day after the “AF big bug” resolution), well the camera and the lens I picked up behaved adequatly. The percentage of good and in perfect focus images I’ve got out my several image bursts was more depending on the settings I’ve set and how I was able to following the moving subjects!
From this interesting shooting experience I’ve learned to tune further and better my X-T5 to cope with some of its limitations and more see that I needed much more practice in this type of photography which is not my core ones!
Every system as it’s strength and shortcomings. You cannot have it all (or they would be only one brand left).
So if one is not happy with AF on a Fujifilm (and I’ve seen great sport & wildlife images produced with a Fujifilm not even a H2S) or menus gir exemple go and pick a Sony or a Canon or a Nikon and stop complaining!
Thought that doesn’t spare Fujifilm to continue to evolve and do better. Far from it!
But we can see in only 10 years the big evolution Fujifilm was capable of!
Of course competition and market shares help steer this.
But like SOOC over Raw or FF over APS-C, I’m really really fed up of those debates in the social media !
BUT as a IT guys, I must say that I agree with several tests done by pros in the fields :
Fujifilm MUST expend its firmware team staffing and invest more money and time in testing.
It isxa cost, yes, but a it will give huge benefits at the end.
Lately we can see firmware releases (at last coming back, hurray) but that are buggy AF wise with added features that are culpriting the original code.
Previous or even original firmware (like on the H2S) are doing better in AF than the latest ones!
A big shame as on the release of the H2S, it was a last nearly on par with the competition.
So in that respect Fujifilm should be and must be in the future much more careful in its non-regressive testing / code evolution + quality control in the specific matter.
Kaizen updates are really a trademark of the brand since the original X100 (and a very big reason I move to Fuji too), it would be a shame to break that momentum in rushing / not investing in human ressources + time to perfect their firmwares as they use to do 5 years ago.
It’s a simple management decision and cost issues behind and they are not the only ones at the moment having the same troubles, cf. the worldwide huge crash produced by CrowdStrike in the Windows corporate world.
On hardware level we can see the troublesime severe issues Boeing is into, etc…
I think if Fujifilm were to invest more into R&D, and especially the team that creates the firmware, they could do even more amazing things. It seems like they do a lot with a little, but that they’re now stretched perhaps too thin. A little investment now could pay off big later. That’s my opinion. I appreciate the thoughtful comment!
Agreed, I feel too as being a IT professional, they are now stretching too thin indeed.
Fujis camera always shared common code within each generation.
Now the latest generation is pretty much more complex and it’s coding might be with such a small team difficult, one would say challenging, to maintain efficiently.
A lot of bashing was done during the ‘long’ wait for the bug resolution.
Knowing how it is, I preferred they took time to do the checks+ testing, than rushing again.
And we got Reala earlier ‘thanks’ to it…
A real improvement in that matter to be done.
And like you if the team was bigger, they could better listen to all the user feedback and implement it when possible. It could be just amazing/ Incredible + an even bigger asset vs other the brands!
I’m really wondering why they are not doing it having the possibility.
Costs vs the potentiel results + huge community benefit and fidelity is a no brainer here knowing the shrinking market…
Yes, exactly. Thanks for the input!
You forgot to mention that full-frame Canikony cameras and lenses cost 3-4x as much as their Fuji X equivalent.
Indeed. That’s a very real difference along their size and weight (which also explains the price as the glass being put into them into thtm is not cheep – also why I migrated to Fujifilm both for cost and size 😉).
But more so AF performance wise for Fujis it is extra lens design dependant! You have to take in account:
1) If it is Linear Motor (LM) or not
2) The motor / ring magnet and technology used (like for Nikon with AF coming from AF-C to AF-S and subsequent evolution, the AF performance is realy extra different + it’s précision, well known subject for all Nikon F mount user, and there sevearl decades to separate the initial AF lens to latest ones !).
For example do recall the XF90/2 first real portrait/sport Tele lens attempt from Fujifilm at the time. To boost AF of the lens they put 4 magnets / LM.
At the time this Jens was called to have a ‘brute force AF’.
Now with newer lens design + tech evolution + experience only 2 or even 1 would be needed.
See for the exemple what the XF150-600 is capable of.
3) the size and weight of the inner focus lens group that needs to be moved. This totally lens design dependant and how fast (aperture wise) the lens is.
Bigger the moving group, slower AF wise the lens is (unless of the brute force concept 😉).
Here also Fujifilm made significant lens design improvements and evolution over the last years.
4) As the lens system is only by wire, you need to take in account both the firmware levels of the camera and the lens used!
All in all, this is quite a lot of variables to take into account for doing valid testing. And it is therefore quite difficult to assess correctly (at least from social media perspective) the real foundation of many “tests” being done so far outside from real and long Fujifilm (pro) users, like some reported lately by FujiRumours like Andrea Cimini, who did test old and newer versions of the firmware of the H2S for exemple (that’s the kind of test I can trust).
You really need to pounder and take a step back. Overall and good to AF performance is now a full combination of :
1) camera firmware level and AF algorithms used (+ AI or not)
2) camera and sensor processing power.
3) lens design with the underlying techs used to built it.
4) lens firmware level.
There’s a lot of factors for sure. The specific lens choice (and whether or not it has updated firmware) does indeed play a role in autofocus performance. Good points!
A lot of times Fujifilm cameras are compared directly to (more expensive) full-frame models, which is a testament to just how good they are in general.
I switched from Canon to Fujifilm six years ago. I’ve had the X-T’s from X-T1 to X-T5. I’ve never complained about the AF. Works fine for me.
I think a lot of people probably have a similar experience. Those that complain about it, despite being a smaller crowd, are just a lot louder than those who have no issues. Thanks for the input!
I also wonder if a high percentage of the AF and other bashing isn’t just online forum readers and bloggers rehashing others’ comments as a way of sounding and feeling knowledgeable and filfilling their urge to contribute to a forum — I suppose I’m sort of doing the same except I’m not trying to sound knowledgeable by bashing any brands! I have used Nikon as well as Fujifilm for sport and preferred N for balance and grip with big lenses and F for lighter portability and take everywhere ease. I.e. each was excellent for slightly different circs. Horses for courses and strokes for folks.
This! A lot of it is Echo Chamber mentality in forums. It happens in Leica threads too.. someone gets a Q2 or Q3 then come along to complain about how bad it’s autofocus is for the price tag, then in the next breath asks which M model to get first. Words have lost their meaning too, for example ‘unusable’ just means awful now, there is no context or any definition of a use case for the images.
There’s a lot of toxicity in camera forums, unfortunately.
One person says it loudly and confidently (and often rudely) enough, and others soon join in. My guess is if you were to go back at the historical archive of their comments about various gear, you’d find a long line of complaints about many different things.
It’s not about the x-t line, all of the major complaints are based on the x-h2s, the “flagship” with stacked sensor that costs the same $$ as an a7Iv. This alll is quoting fuji’s own site, not my opinion. So when you announce something like this and the early firmware is 85-90% of the big brands sony/canon/nikon in autofocus and attract videographers, but new firmware updates make the autofocus worse, that is the problem. 90% of the issues are with video, where fuji is trying to enter, as IMHO fuji has really good colors, almost perfect luts and amazing audio out of camera(love my x-t3 for this, on video), I have also the a7Iv with the tamron trinity (yes it’s newer, but rented out an x-t5 and it can’t keep up at all with the Sony, but the Sony lacks soul, it’s just a tool that does the job). So în terms of price the tamron 2.8 lenses are cheaper than anything fuji offers, in terms of price, and on Sony they are almost like native (they lack aperture rings so yeah). Again a fuji x-h2s (stacked sensor) meant to be a beast (was with early firmware) now it’s as good as an x-t4 with fmw 7…at the same price as an a7Iv… This is the complaint(or at least this is what I see all over the internets). Sorry for the long ramble.
I’ve seen it said about pretty much every Fujifilm camera (or Fujifilm cameras in general oftentimes), and not just the X-H2s; however, I can definitely see the X-H2s as being ground-zero (makes sense to me).
What I would say is this: if people were able to make amazing video content before autofocus (and some definitely did), and if they were able to do it also with what now would be antiquated autofocus, how come they cannot with the X-H2s? Well they can, as illustrated here:
I think that a discussion of firmware is worthwhile. My opinion is that the current firmware team is too small and stretched too thin, and that Fujifilm needs to hire a few more people for that team. Some of their recent problems are directly related to this.
As far as the comparison, the Sony A7 IV doesn’t have a stacked sensor. The Olympus OM-1 II, Nikon Z6 III and Canon R1 do. Those are probably a little more close for comparisons. The X-H2 (not the “s” version) is more comparable to the A7 IV, in my opinion.
All true, fuji did a mistake by pushing the x-h2s for youtubers, as they are a one man show so autofocus or small aperture to have all in focus is needed. I was comparing only price wise the two cameras, you are right the ones you said are more in line with a stacked sensor. Then again I don’t see the need for it if the focus doesn’t match up,I think this is the basis of them youtubers and IMHO I agree with them, the camera is marketed at high speed autofocus and it was very good with the first firmware. The tick tock came, brought more ppl in that are used to Sony, Canon or nikon to the fuji systems and they expect it to comply with the marketing adds… There is no perfect camera to please all. But I think fuji is trying more the leica route, but that is a different ball park quality wise and not talk price (IMHO).
People have been creating amazing videos for YouTube for a long time… Omar did several on his X-T20… so it’s definitely far, far from impossible. I think 1) some people have expectations that are extremely high, and sometimes unrealistically high, 2) some people need the gear to make up for their own lack of ability (or maybe laziness), and 3) some people are going to complain no matter what. I think that accounts for the vast majority of the negativity right there. But, for sure, there is some room for improvements, especially with regards to firmware updates… the team is stretched a little too thin, imho.
Regarding Fujifilm’s comments about being more like Leica… I think their point was more in-line with Leica’s brand value, and brand value should be understood in not overproducing gear which then has to be later discounted steeply to clear inventory. Overproduced gear reduces its value not just for Fujifilm, but also their customers. If Fujifilm has to discount a $1,500 camera to $1,000, not only is that a loss for Fujifilm, but now those who purchased the $1,500 cannot resell it for a reasonable amount. The brand value diminished significantly. Fujifilm wants to do better at avoiding that, more similarly to Leica. That’s how I read it anyway. It all makes sense if you look at it through the prism of the Lean business strategy.
I guess Fujifilm needs to change their advertising to, “What do you expect from us? We’re new.”
I had 3 X-T4s and each one would catch me out doing just simple focusing tasks. Drove me to drink because it slowed me down double checking my shots. Never happened with any other Fujifilm. I even drowned my old X-T2 and it still outperformed my X-T4 autofocus. Hell my bulky GFX50 S ll was more accurate just being contrast detect. I sold my X-T4s and ended up with the X-T5 hoping they fixed the issues. Thankfully it’s been way beyond my expectations. Flawless.
I have two X-T4’s (well, one’s my wife’s…) and never had any personal issues with the AF. I don’t notice any significant differences between the X-T4 and my X-T5. But that’s just my personal experience with the AF.
I think the first part of your comment was in response to my point about all of Fujifilm’s major competitors having a big head-start and more R&D dollars for autofocus development. Those are true things. I’m not suggesting that Fujifilm do anything different, only that people keep their expectations realistic in light of the facts. That’s all.
Good that you put some perspective on this issue, Ritchie. YouTube is now full of people complaining about the AF problems; lots of folks just aping each other, I guess. Also, for some mysterious reason, lots of people like to whine and whinge; actually, they seem to revel in it and jump on any opportunity to bash other people/companies/products.
Then again, I do believe that Fuji made some mistakes in their last one or two firmware updates, and AF performance has indeed become worse. This will especially apply to shooting video and shooting in CF mode. I only shoot stills, but for the moment I shoot only in single focus mode and avoid continuous AF as well as eye detection (the infamous “false positive” issue). I’m just a humble amateur and I can afford to miss an occasional shot here and there; it’s no biggie for me and overall I’m still very happy with my XT5 in terms of handling/colors/raw files and the “overall experience”, which makes me want to take my camera everywhere. If I were shooting hybrid on a professional level, I’d probably use at least one other system, though; you can’t afford to “miss the kiss at the wedding”, so to speak.
Fully agree with you that all cameras have their pros and cons and the consumer just has to balance those and then decide whether to use the system or not. But at least, I would assume that Fuji will address the AF performance in the near future and at the very least bring it back to the level that it was before the updates. That should not be too hard. Also, in view of the many complaints all over the internet (whether perceived, copied or real), I think it would have been stronger if Fuji would respond to the complaints by announcing an AF update, preferably with some timeline attached. This cloak of silence will hurt the brand if they’re not careful. The consumer is always right (even if he isn’t – which happens :)).
I think Fujifilm’s firmware team is currently too small and stretched too thin, and that’s why they have had some firmware issues lately. They should, in my opinion, hire a few more people for that team. That would make a big difference, and would be a worthwhile investment for them.
Fujifilm auto focus for video is so bad I really tired of using it.
I think there a lot of variables at play. Skill, subject, lens, camera and settings. I don’t mind this, as I am not pro and constraints help me be creative and think.
Shooting my small kids is the most difficult for the AF for me, I tend to use AF-C with a moderate burst (5fps), zone focus and eye AF. Single point tends to not acquire fast enough to recompose and capture the ‘moment’ (sure that is my skill though)
Closer portraits with movement definitely more challenging:
23mm LM f1.4, no particular issues.
35mm F1.4 slow, but no particular issues.
56mm F1.2 (old), very slow, but no particular issues. Missed focus generally due to erratic movement of kids.
(swapping to the new 56mm F1.2 WR.
Almost nothing in focus, camera was pausing between shots and then completely out of focus.
Turns out the new 56mm WR does not like shutter priority on FOCUS, with it on RELEASE I get more shots and mostly in focus (though still some on eyebrows for static subjects).
I also realised I had all my custom settings with different AF-C settings. Anyone seen a good guide/test with new FW and AF-C settings? I suspect these things are dramatically affecting performance.
I don’t use burst mode or AF-C… and I often have the Clarity pause. I think learning on manual cameras was good training 🤣
Jokes aside, the lens can make a difference. I do own the new 56mm f/1.2 and have not experienced any focus issues on my X-T5, X-T50 or X-T4. Maybe it’s the firmware?
Interesting. But the firmware of the new XF 56 1.2 WR is only updated to version 1.01 and it’s a minor bug (timer shooting).
But as wrote many times FujiRumors, not all is realy communicated when dealing with even more minor bugs which can be resolved and incorporated in an update. Likewise in IT with minor adjustments between versions (here lens and cameras). That’s part of the part of the routine maintenance.
Hence I wonder… As wrote many factors are involved and the human one can be quite significant. Nevertheless interesting feedback, make me want to test back this lens on my X-T5 as like Ritchie I’m so far did not experienced such behaviour.
I have had a umber of Nikon and Fujifilm cameras, and I would say that both brands’ success with autofocus is all over the park. Of the few Nikons I still own, the D500 has such fabulous and fast autofocus that I would not consider replacing it with anything other than a Nikon D850, which is just as good but much bigger. My Df, on the other hand, has slow, accurate autofocus that cannot see in even moderately dim light. The Fujifilm X-H2s I had for a while (great camera but I did not like the PSAM set-up) had fabulous autofocus, very quick and accurate, with terrific face/eye recognition. My new X100vi is somewhat disappointing in both speed and subject recognition, though; it seems no better than the X100f it replaced.
In fact, I have sold half of my autofocus lenses, both Nikon and Fuji, and replaced them with smaller, lighter, and in many cases better manual focus lenses. Most of the new lenses are Voigtlanders, but with a few Laowas and some of the cheaper Chinese brands as well. I started taking photographs about fifty years ago, so switching back to manual focus is no problem for me, and I have kept enough autofocus lenses to use when appropriate.
So if you see an old gray-haired gent slowly setting up a shot with a Fuji Xpro-2 or a GFX50r with a sixties-looking adapted manual lens on it, it might be me. Or someone like me.
Nice Larry!
I’m using myself quite a number of manual Chinese lenses + Voigtlanders dedicated ones (the f0.9 in particular) on X system. While on my GFX 50R I’m beginning to use the TT Artisan 90/1.25 along with an Nikon F mount adapter my old Nikkor Ais lenses.
So definitely pleased to see other ‘slowing down’ too on purpose.
Enjoy your setup 👌👍
Wow, this article frankly sucks and ignores an actual issue. I just recently learned of this autofocus issue myself and it turns out Fuji added in “AI” to help with autofocus. Except for most cameras it’s worse than whatever the old system was and using older firmware actually fixes the issue. That’s why people have been complaining about it so much more in the past year.
On the other hand, the X-T5 based on preliminary tests seems to have improved, so it’s a case by case basis.
There’s a couple basic comparison videos of the older pre-AI firmware vs the latest firmware of simply walking around in frame, left or right, front to back, indoors, outdoors, backlit, and the new firmware is obviously worse. Fuji shouldn’t have shipped the autofocus AI in this state because it’s not working well.
Maybe next time you notice a trend of complaints you should look into it at all instead of blaming people for updating their camera with bad firmware by saying they should use manual focus instead. Again, I only learned of this issue when I looked up what the new firmware was for my camera. It’s a genuine issue Fuji needs to fix.
I think a real issue is that the firmware team at Fujifilm is too small and stretched too thin. I’ve been saying that for a little awhile now. I think some of their recent firmware woes are fruits of this. They need to hire a few more people for that team, in my opinion. Maybe using AI for AF and AWB was intended to compensate for the overtasked employees, I’m not sure. Whatever the case, they should expand that team, and maybe they’re in the process of that right now, who knows?
I’ve not experienced any autofocus issues myself. Personally, I think the complaints are largely overstated and can easily be worked around with a little skill/effort. I mean, you yourself admit that you didn’t even notice any issues until someone told you about them, so obviously it doesn’t effect your photography in any meaningful way. I think that goes to show just how much it’s been blown out of proportion.
I agree with your points. I typically just manual focus and occasionally press the af on if I need to quickly go from near to far or vice versa, then back to manual to fine tune my focus. To be a bit of a devil’s advocate here, it seems the current af issue is that, after the previous update, the 5th gen cameras, when using face/eye detection, will indicate the eye is “locked on” with the green confirmation box but actually be focused somewhere else in the frame. Even though I don’t use this at all, I can see why it would be very frustrating (even a deal-breaker, perhaps, to those who do use it. Regarding the most recent update that is supposed to fix this, some say it is better, some say no change, and some say it’s worsening. I think that is the reason for all the current “hate” posts about Fuji autofocus and not the general Fuji is slower and not as accurate as brand xyz.
I use face/eye detection regularly, and haven’t noticed this in my photography even once. There was a bad firmware (that’s since been updated), but I never used that bad firmware. It’s always a good idea to wait to update the firmware in case there are issues. I think people are looking really hard for problems, because it gets views on YT and such.
Yep, for sure. The X-H2s I lauded for great auto focus was from over a year ago, no firmware updates at all, when its autofocus was terrific. I did not sell it for performance reasons, but just because I didn’t like the lack of dials. I have not updated the X-T5 I replaced it with because I value its autofocus ability more than the addition of one Ace Reala film simulation. I have learned from decades of computer software updates and more recent Fujifilm and Nikon firmware updates to leave them alone until the bugs have been fixed.
It’s always a good idea to wait to update the firmware. I’m never in a hurry, and often my cameras are pretty far out of date. If it ain’t broken for me, there’s no reason to “fix” it with a new firmware.
Coming from several years with Sony, in part fatigued by way too many AF settings and flavours, I actually found Fujifilm’s relatively simpler AF settings both refreshing and far more enjoyable and also intuitive to use. Fujifilm’s AF works perfectly fine and nobody “needs” the feature-chasing over engineering of recent Sony model, that like every type of over engineering just ends up removing almost all pleasure from the hobby or craft, far too preoccupied with a neverending list of settings that can and will still “fail” on occasion, rather than on the “true” important aspects of photography. In a similar vein, who on earth needs to shoot photos at 120 fps, or even just 30 fps? Where’s the technique in that? I’m already annoyed by culling hundreds of photos when I shoot BIF at 8 or 10 fps! Or endless specialized AI subjects recognitions? If you can’t take a good photo of a bird without your camera “knowing” it’s a bird, where’s your skill as a professional or your enjoyment as an hobbyist? Amazing photographers always captured excellent photos without all this dry technology mostly for its own sake (and sales’) that makes us more engineers than artists or craftspeople. Much more humbly, I captured excellent BIF with an A7R2/3 and now with Fujifilm gear. Technique and patience. I think Fujifilm are just more focused on what I consider the true most valuable aspects of photography, including a good user interface and cameras that are a true pleasure to use, not a chore.
I’ve been accused on a couple of my pictures of using burst mode to get the shot when, in fact, it was single shot and maybe even with Clarity… just good timing—you know, the whole decisive moment thing. That used to be taught, but nowadays I think it’s more like “burst mode and be there”…. 🤣 Obviously if it gets the job done, there’s nothing wrong with it, but I definitely feel bad for the person who has to cull through all of those photos. Yikes! Technique and patience can benefit one greatly.
Interesting feedback photo24, especially coming from Sony where Fujifilm is mostly compared too.
Indeed Ritchie “burst mode and be there”, that’s well put.
I’ve got the case of too many pictures when letting go the burst mode. Not very worth it and very time consuming to sort out.
Technic and patience do benefit a lot my “little Padawan” 😉
Hello,
I am proud owner of a XH2S.
I use it to shoot basketball (my children). Before this I used a XPRO2 for this purpose.
As my children grow up, the pace of the game becomes increasingly fast. The XH2S allows me to take photos that I couldn’t have taken with the XPRO2. Among the features that have most impressed me with this camera is its ability to convincingly use lenses not intended for sports photography, such as the XF56 1.2 or the XF35 1.4.
The AF on the newer models is pretty darn fantastic. A lot of what has been said, in my opinion, has been way overblown.
Agreed 👍
And glad you like your setup with your H2S Xavier. Quite none “mainstream” with all the current flow. Nice too read.
Hello Horus, Ritchie,
I consider the XH2S to be a powerful “tool.” It is very different from the other cameras I have, like the XPRO2 or the X100S. It is more similar to a Canon. I used Canon equipment for 10 years before switching to Fujifilm: 30D, 5D2, and 5D3 with fixed focal lengths like the 85F1.2 or the 135F2. I did a lot of studio work with models. I was part of a photography club.
I understand that some people might say, “That’s not real photography,” when using a camera with such subject tracking and burst capabilities. I thought the same for a long time…
I’ve had the XH2S for a year and a half now, and here’s how I use it and what I can say about it:
• I’ve rediscovered certain lenses. The XF35 1.4, with its first-generation motor, can be used in bursts at 15 frames per second with about 40% of the shots being unusable. That’s a lot, but with the XPRO2, it’s almost 80% unusable at 8 frames per second. The same goes for the XF56F1.2. This surprised me.
• I now mainly use it with the XF50-140 F2.8 at 25 frames per second for basketball games. I get about 15% unusable shots. If I increase the burst rate, the percentage of unusable shots also increases. I found this to be a good compromise for me. I set the white balance with an Expodisc before the games and have created a simple “recipe” that works well for me. I use auto ISO up to 12800, F2.8, and 1/350 seconds in JPEG. I end up with nearly 4000 photos per game! Well, it’s far from studio photography where you take your time to carefully compose your shot before pressing the shutter! Then, I use Narrative Select to do the sorting for me with their AI algorithm. Finally, I use Lightroom just to crop and straighten the photos. I have a LoupeDeck Live to make the operations easier.
• The autofocus tracking system is impressive. Once focus is locked on a player, the system maintains focus on the player’s eyes. The player can turn around or have other players come in between, and the system continues to track the player. It’s formidable!
• There is very little to no rolling shutter effect with the electronic shutter. As a result, I take almost all my photos without using the mechanical shutter.
• There is no longer any blackout between images, which is incredibly comfortable. It’s so seamless that I had to add a shutter sound because it’s hard to know if you’re actually taking photos or not.
• I still have 6 custom modes that I can set up for flash photography (studio), family photos, possibly video, or experimenting with different “recipes.”
• The viewfinder is very comfortable and pleasant to use.
The only “negative” point of this camera: the photographic pleasure.
I still get a lot of enjoyment from using the XPRO2. Once configured, I only need to worry about the shutter speed and aperture (most of the time I use auto ISO). For me, the XH2S is primarily a “tool.”
I would love for Fujifilm to make a flagship model like the X-H2s but with the retro dials like the X-T5. I don’t know that they will, but it would definitely pair the “photographic pleasure” with the premium capabilities. Thanks for the input!
Hello Ritchie,
I agree with you, we need a flagship with the XH2S performance and the “classic” style from Fujifilm. I would love a XPRO4.
I also want a new very small camera (XM5 ?) for street and photowalk.
An especially small street photography camera would be epic right now.
Thanks for the feedback Xavier. Very interesting as many many complaint a LOT on H2S firmware from 3.0 to the lastest correction 7.0 and just below. And s it was mainly around video and when in AF-C with or without face / AI recognition.
As code is then shared with the rest of the 5th Generation…
Interesting feedback also with the 50-140 which I’m using by default for all my sort event coverage when not taking a fixed lens like the 90.
But your level of keeper is basically the same as me 😉 And with the X-T2, then X-T4 and now X-T5 on my karate events I did also done thousands of shots!
Painfull to sort store and sort them. Even being only JPEGs…
I’m happy that on sorting them I’ve got 30 to 40% workable ones (apart from miss focus, a lot can be just ok focus wise but out of frame or miss framed, etc).
I’ve with film and portraiture been acustomed since a very long time to be more than very happy that on 36 roll, I’ve got 1 to 3 perfect or good pictures. Going to sport mode having 30% is a good day…
Even my mentor never understood how one of his colleagues could come back from a shooting session it’s hundreds or thousands of shots even if it was more than possible with a Nikon D3S as time…
I’ve the same concerns…
It is like the SONY robot seen at Photokina in 2018, doing automatic shots.
I can understand from professional point of view, and on film era they where the added motor, since the Nikon F2 for exemple, but you need be extra fast too on changing rolls.
What the point finally ?
BUT, on last Fujifilm sport event, I’ve seen that my X-T5 can be overwhelmed.
With 40MP and highest speed rate and my SD cards + buffer size, it’s too much. Next time I’ll decrease the capture size.
Will be much better for every thing.
Keep us posted with your test of your H2S with latest / post bug correction.
Happy shooting!
Cheers.
Very interesting feedback and experience Xavier. Thank you.
Indeed a tool, but it appears for you a good one 👍 Which fits the purpose of having it. I’m happy for you.
And yes when the H2S came along with it’s hew algorithms, it gave a second birth to first gen lens especially the mitic 35/1.4 (I’m sure Fujifilm developers made a special case / coding for this particular iens which is still on the catalog).
From the % you described, and the sake of this post, comparison and what we can found on social media, may I inquire which firmware version are you with your X-H2S?
Hello Horus,
When I tested my 35 F1.4 the firmware was 3.0.
I update my camera every time a new firmware is released.
Now, I am using the latest one the 7.0. I haven’t used this firmware for basketball games yet.
The last one I used was 6.0, and the AF performance was slightly better with the 50-140 than with version 5.0.
“All I want is the perfect camera” – Some guy from Canadia
🤣 🤣 🤣
imagine if those peoples decided to stage a boycott on the subsequent X-Summit event
The only thing anyone would even notice is that there’d be a little less negativity in the forums and comments sections immediately following the event. Would be kind of nice, I think.
I hate to say this but this article comes across as apologetic for the brand.
There’s no two ways around it- latest Nikon, Canon and for a while Sony are doing this better. But part of the critique is the problem that Fuji has made AF worse in many cases than “version 1” of the firmware for a range of their cameras.
This is actually quite well illustrated on at least two videos on YouTube including a pro guy that loves the Fuji color but had to get a Canon to feel confident to do his pro work (and he said he would be willing to go back to Fuji if they fix this).
It’s this AF performance regression what leaves many scratching their head- the hardware seems capable but later firmware upgrades made it worse. To me this points to a problem with QA.
As for some other points made in the article-
1- AF is a clutch/you can make images with MF/photographyy has a long history with worse AF and worse images -> that was then, this is now. And if there’s competitors doing this better this is truly an irrelevant argument.
2- “no camera is perfect”- 500% true- but when it comes AF, latest Nikon gen, CAnon and Sony for a while simply do better AF, and we are talking about AF.
3- First hot of a car with X-M1 – hardly a pressing hard AF situation. Yes, you can capture a sports shot like that with a Pentax Q. Does that mean it’s the ideal tool for that?
4- “People shouldn’t expect Fuji to be on the same level of AF as …” – why exactly? I mean, theres’ competition, Fuji isn’t alone in a vacuum. And then I just re-iterate the point below
5- The main issue seems to be that Fuji made AF at least for video worse than earlier firmware versions/shipping firmware for a set of their latest cameras. This one is quite frankly inexcusable.
For the record, I am shooting often now with my X-T50 and for stills (I don’t care much about video so I don’t do video), seems ok and improved in face/eye detect Than the X-E4. But I can empathize with those that bought a working decent AF camera and now it’s worse with the firmware upgrades.
Blaming the user here is imho, putting head in sand. Sure, you can try and do work around. The more work around the more opportunities for errors particularly – quite critical if you earn a living out of this.
Sure, you don’t need AF nor a lot of the latest niceties to do photography. You also don’t need a Fuji camera to do photography.
I don’t have any problems or issues with the AF on my Fujifilm cameras, and haven’t noticed any problems with the firmware (other than the buggy one that I never updated to and Fujifilm fixed… it’s always a good idea to wait to update the firmware, no matter the brand). I think the YT videos (which I haven’t personally seen) are likely making a mountain out of a molehill. For every “pro” that supposedly leaves Fujifilm due to AF, I can probably point to 10 or more pros who are currently using Fujifilm and have no issues with the AF. So what of it? You either make it work for you, or find something else that works for you, or do nothing and complain about it. Those are literally the options.
To your points:
1) If people “then” could do it with much lesser gear, there should be no excuse “now” with much superior gear. The gear was never the issue, nor will it ever be; however, it is much easier to blame the gear than to look inward. Blaming the gear is an easy scapegoat, but it prevents one from growing and becoming better.
2) The Canikony brands have been making AF for much longer (Canon and Nikon since in the mid-1980’s, Sony since the 1970’s through their predecessors) so they had a big head start, and have bigger R&D budgets for decades to improve it. It should be obvious to everyone that Canikony brands are above the competition regarding this… it would quite shocking if they weren’t. However, it shouldn’t matter, because all gear from all brands today are simply incredible, and if one can’t do something with their gear, it’s not the gear itself.
3) I don’t get your point here. The X-M1 has “awful” AF compared to the latest generation Fujifilm models, yet it has never stopped me personally. The X-T5 is worlds better than the X-M1, but I could get the same shots with the X-M1 as I can the X-T5, because the gear doesn’t matter. I prefer the X-T5 because it has more JPEG options and isn’t PASM, but the X-M1 is still a good little camera, even in 2024.
4) I answered this in #2 above. Anyone who expects Fujifilm to have equal AF performance to Canikony brands have not put much thought into it.
5) I haven’t experienced this personally. I use Fujifilm cameras more than most—lots of clicks on the shutters—so I don’t know what to tell you. Maybe my settings are a bit different, or my use cases aren’t the same; however, I can point to pros creating amazing content in sports and wildlife and cinematography where supposedly Fujifilm “sucks” and they’re doing great with it. It’s only a problem if you let it be, and I think it says more about the photographer than the gear. You say that blaming the user is putting my head in the sand, but I say that blaming the gear is a cheap and easy scapegoat that prevents the person from growing and creating whatever it is that they want to create. It’s never been the gear, and it never will be the gear, and the truth. The truth hurts sometimes, I get it, but there is no room for growth without it. I want to encourage people to look inward instead of at their gear, and know that they have it within themselves to be successful no matter their gear, with a little work and effort. You have it within you. The AF of any brand shouldn’t be the difference, or at least it doesn’t have to be if you don’t let it.
Having gotten into the Fujifilm’s sytem ever since the XT3 had 3 of them used it for years. They xt4 came out (skipped it) when the XT5 came out, looked like the perfect camera, awesome in all ways. I got 2 of them as soon as they came out. I have been using them heavy for my work (use the 23, 35 and 50 f2 lenese). I do both photography and filming. I never had any issues with anything until the update Ver 3.01 that said “2. AF performance is improved as follows”.
This update made everything worse. Both AF and tracking with pictures and videos got bad, Face detect couldn’t hold on to faces. With all the f2 lenses. I had a long email and phone call with a head of fujfilm rep (UAE). He gave me the following reasons.
1. I am using slow and older lenses (which by the way worked perfectly before the update)
2. I have to update the firmware for the lenses
3. I need to buy the newer lenses (linier motor lenses)
4. When i told him the AF/Tracking has gone worse even compared to the XT3 he literally mentioned “XT5 af was never marketed as being better its actually not” i was shocked and he kept denying the fact that the firmware crippled the camera’s AF. Im sure they have a copy with the firmware to test it out.
I was so upset, having invested in the latest gear from a brand such as Fujifilm could be a mistake. Soon i started seeing everyone on youtube making videos and complain about the AF getting worse. Apparently it also affected the XH2S.
Going forward a few days Fujifilm US Manager Victor Ha publicly accepted the issue and said a fix was in the works and coming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwh1VZXNKvw (Link)
The Fix was version 4:00 and version 7:00 for the XH. Released end month. Quickly and carelessly without any tests. The AF/Tracking issues in video mode still remained. After complaining to Fujifilm support they again denied there was any issue and issue is with the camera. Everyone’s camera? Many Fuji users tested again and showed the issues with videos on youtube. Someone on reddit even went further as to crack how to reverse back the firmware. Fuji xt5 and xH2s owners did the test comparing both previous and new firmware only to confirm that the firmware has crippled the AF on both xT5 and xh2s.
Worse is fujifilm is still sleeping on this. Nothing from fujifilm yet. People are either selling off the fuji gear moving or going back to the previous firmware that worked. They need to fix this issue with a firmware that is tested with all lenses (new and old) works like how it used to. They could even bring back the Af from the earlier firmware wich worked flawlessly.
I use Fujifilm cameras, including the X-T5, quite extensively. I have not noticed any issues, and have not had any problems that affected my photos/videos. I have no idea what to tell you. I think a lot of it is overblown, and stories of people “leaving Fujifilm” greatly exaggerated. Mostly a lot of online hysteria by chronic complainers and trolls—don’t believe everything that you read on the internet. Yeah, there was that one bad firmware… I always make it a policy to not update the firmware right away (wait a week or two), so I never used it myself. The AF on my X-T5 works quite well today, as it did when it was brand-new. I would recommend speaking with a Fuji tech rep (and with a good attitude)… I’m sure they can help you get the most out of the AF on your camera, and they’d be happy to do it.
Even worse it you can test this your self. Fujfilm Xt3 has better Af/Tracking than the xt5! Where xt5 struggles the xt3 can detact and track the face!
I have zero issues with the AF on my Fujifilm X-T5. I find it to be marginally improved over my X-T4, which is also excellent. I have an X-T30 (and many other Fujifilm cameras), and have no issues with any of them (other than in low-light on the older models, such as my X-Pro1, X-M1, and X-T1). I think the whole “issue” has been greatly overblown on the internet.
Hi, i have a x-s20 and was very satisfied with the AF when I bought the camera. After the lastest firmware updates it got bad. The AF-C with eyeAF tracking which i used a lot shooting my kids on sport events produces a lot of out of focus images. I checked the RAW files (they also contain the AF target infos) with a website (https://www.solentsystems.com/) where you can visualize the AF spot. Interestingly the AF system found the eye/face but then misplaces the focus on shoulder or the ear.
The problem is: When shooting, the system shows you a green box for eye/face detected , but you get a false positiv: The focus on the final image is somewhere else.
I do not say that this happens all the time, but A LOT MORE OFTEN then before. The trust (which was there before!!!) in my camera is gone.
I have other X-Trans V models—but not the X-S20 specifically—and I have not noticed any AF issues personally. Somewhere within the menu there’s an option called Focus/Release Priority. You’ll want that set to Focus and not Release. I’m not sure if that’s the issue or not, but it sounds like it could potentially be.