Has Fujifilm Lost The Plot?

I'm speaking to this from a hobbyist point of view, but for me, the at stuff is pretty overblown. Is it as good as the new Nikon's? No, but it is still really good. I don't use the subject detection stuff anyways because I love shooting in the regular single point and moving it around as I need. The bigger issue I have that I hope Fujifilm remembers the x-pro users because I really love the x-pro 2 and 3 but that smaller battery is a bummer after using the new batteries. Great video Pete. Always love hearing your thoughts. Hope you have a great week

Absolutely should wait to implement new updates in software for anything. Heck, I still haven't updated to the latest update on my X-T3! LOL! Several of the later updates had no effect on my use anyway. But, engineering should be done in house first over a long enough period of time to give an bugs a chance to show up and be fixed. I have a feeling your thoughts about where time and resources have gone recently may be part of the answer. The X100 series V and VI have been the golden children receiving a lion's share of the attention I think. Question: Do you know anything about this NAB event happening at the Javits Center? I registered just in case I can get there. But, just wondered if it's worthwhile. Have a great week Pete!

HOW TO DOWNGRAID my XH2s to ollder version when the AF works good? Can you and Cris can make on video about this steps?

A little late, but good nonetheless, that we finally see some traction in this matter. Complaints about the AF started around April and users were heavily dismissed for it as "not knowing how to set up the camera". The same goes for Edvard, who was actually the first to really show the issues months ago. And again, he got dismissed for it because of "clickbait" and "using it wrong". When AF-C means using it wrong these days, Fujifilm should probably remove this mode completely.

I just moved to Fuji Systems last month, and I am not satisfied with the autofocus performance. Having said that, the price point is the same as the Sony A series. Yes, Fuji has nice color science, but it's useless without good autofocus. I just realized that no matter how great your color output is, if the autofocus is poor, it’s essentially useless. Color can be fixed and color graded, but blurry images and videos due to autofocus issues are hard to correct in post-processing. Fix it, Fuji!

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Pete. I have been using Fujifilm from 2014. After the X-T3 I bought the Sony A7 IV for work because I was loosing several images because the bad AF. This year I bought the X-T5 because I missed the colors. But seriously, I'll keep shooting with the A7 IV until I see the continuous AF is sticky enough. Sometimes you have the green mark on the eye, but then you see the photos in your computer and the focus was not on the eye!

Because then the lenses will be $1000 plus more expensive like Sony, Nikon and Canon lenses.

I think trying to take any credit to yourself of Chris for Fujifilm taking note of AF concerns with their brand is pretty egotistical. How about we credit the actual YTer that was the catalyst for all this AF stuff to begin with? The timeline goes;

- FIVE MONTHS AGO, Eduard proves AF is broken on 6.00 (several videos to prove this fact follow).

- Fanbois proclaim Eduard doesn't know how to use AF, 'settings' etc.

- After a few weeks and more and more reports coming in to support Eduard's findings, 3 months ago Fujifilm USA (Victor Ha) announces a fix is coming in June to address these concerns (on a live broadcast with Adorama).

- Once Fujifilm acknowledge an issue exists and improvements can be made, the fanbois retreat or change their tune entirely.

- Fujifilm patch a single AF issue with 6.01, but a lot still needs to be done.

- Eduard continues pointing out SPECIFICALLY AND TECHNICALLY the faults that remain (and downgrading to 1.03 highlights how bad the kaizen f/w has been for Fujifilm).

- Now everyone is siding with Eduard and joining on the AF talks, be it weeks to months after the real problems started to be talked about.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Chris and you are talking about it, but credit where credit's due man... no one seems to want to give this man the respect or credit he deserves, and if Fujifilm genuinely improve AF it is off the back of Eduard..

As someone who was in the market to buy a 1:1 macro, I cannot understand how the xf80mm f2.8 is more expensive than the Nikon 105 Z by a couple hundred Canadian dollars. I’ve also experienced the af issues, and the macro situation plus the slow autofocus has me switching to the Zf.

Let's assess Fuji
Lots of camera releases that seems to be limited in quantity creating artificial scarcity thus driving scalp and used market prices higher on older bodies

Untested firmware releases breaking what essentially works

Focus on high-end camera bodies first instead of issuing a mass fix or at least cooking the firmware

Quality issues in sub 1600$ cameras like the xt50

We still see lots of bugs like random freezes and hicks

Fuji Service in my region is awful with very very expensive repair quotes ( example my mic 3.5mm jack broke so I sent my camera for a quote to Fujifilm Budapest Hungary, after a good 2 weeks wait time they told me I must send them the camera and paying for shipping which is fine and standard protocol, finally I was told that I must replace the whole main board and that it would cost 763€ plus shipping, I decided to just get a new body at that price and asked for the camera back).

Better offerings are out there with much more value just like Panasonic s5ii which seems to have better autofocus and video features.

It's painful for me to leave Fuji now since I have lots of lenses in the XF mount eco system, but lately I'm really tempted to go back to Panasonic or jump ship to Sony.

Fuji if you ever read this, just go back to the good ol days when you had software that actually added value to the camera and extract or bog down current working features.

The X-S10 was my first camera ever, I upgraded to the X-H2 a couple of months in, and sold it again after only 3 months for a Z8.
I mainly shoot birds/wildlife, and the X-H2 is unable to reliably focus on subjects as easy as a perched bird. Considering the prices of these cameras, the AF has been a joke even long before these software updates. They keep showing the amazing subject detection, and how the box is pretty much always where it needs to be, but they never show that most images are still out of focus, even if the box confirms focus. For one software update, they had a demo of a boxing match or something, showing the live view, but never showing the final images, that's borderline deception, in my opinion.

I agree wth you! Especiaally on the lenses. The lenses am really interested are arr three or more years old. They don't all fully resolve 40MP. Thee 16-50 f2 s a prime example. I could go on but.....

Thank you for posting! Does the AF improve in the GFX series?

Just dumped XH2, XH2S and GFX50Sii and moved to Nikon ZF and Z8. Nice trusting the cameras to capture the image in focus! GFX was overpriced and underperformed. Truly disappointed. Hope they get focused on focus!

I am a bird and wildlife photographer, and the AF-C troubles are real. Thanks to you and Chris for trying to get Fuji’s attention.

My fingers are crossed, Pete. I hope Fujifilm gets it right this time. My patience is a bit thin as I've had some trouble with the XH2S and the 200 f/2 lens when photographing fast moving sports action.

Fujifilm is focusing on medium format to compete with full frame cameras and neglecting crop sensor ones.

I made a video on my channel on this topic a couple of weeks ago. We share the same concerns... We'll see what happens in the next few months, this is a crucial time for Fuji

Lack of product and auto focus is a killer for sure Nikon Zf was what I shifted to

I have both the X-H2S and several other APSC Fujis, as well as GFX, and using them… GFX cameras are just more reliable, less firmware fuss… I get the feeling that Fuji has teams distinctly working on these products, and the GFX team is just better! The X-E4, and X-T3 are the best of my apsc cameras, if I had the X-T4, that would prolly be it… but as long as Fuji keeps futzing the H2S firmware, that camera is a bit of a mixed bag for me

If they just have realiable af like firsts firmware when come out and all newest features in lastest firmware actually is good enough, no need say improving af more😅

That vertical bar behind you "coming out of your head" is a weird production mistake for a portrait photographer to make.

Pete i just sold the majority of my fuji gear after over 5 years with the brand.

The autofocus and firmware issues are absolutely big issues.

You add on supply chain issues: people still waiting since FEBRUARY for a camera they pre-ordered and its just another empty promise at this point.

I've lost mostly all my confidence with them as a consumer. They've broken the trust / relationship i (and many others) had with the brand.

what about going all in on gfx for studio pro work?

I totally agree with you Pete, it feels insulting when we have invested and upgraded through the years only to be treated as if you no longer deserve to be seen as a “Good Customer” ! I Started with the XE1, XE2, XT1, XT2, XH1, XT3 and now XT5, along with a bucket load of the lenses!

Hi Pete, I use Nikon and xt5 for my professional work.
Honestly, never had an issue with my XT5, I’m a single point shooter and it does not bother me having amazing autofocus for my work.
I actually find an amazing autofocus frustrating for my work, because if there is a group of people , it’s just keeps hunting to people expect the one I want. So for me I do not rely on amazing autofocus, single point for me all the way, I like to be in charge on my focus point and not letting the camera dictate.
I have 2x XT5 and 2x Nikon Z6 MK1, and instead investing in the technology I have invested in glass, strobes etc

That was timid

There have been some very obvious issues for a long time now.
For example, turn your shutter AF off, set your release priority to focus, select a subject detection mode (animal and bird works for me), point your camera at the subject and half press your shutter button. The camera will recognise it and give you a green box without actually focusing the lens. Press the shutter fully and it will take a picture.
To me, this shows there is a clear disconnect between the subject detection and focusing system. This is one situation where it is easy to recreate but it happens the whole time where the green box is saying it’s in focus but it isn’t.
This has worked on an XT5 and XH2S for me and Fujifilm were able to recreate it and have said they will fix it but that was nearly 3 months ago now.
I hope Monday will bring some good news but they basically need to fix the autofocus, solve the shortage issues and also update a lot of the lenses because I don’t think all the lenses on the 40mp optimised list actually resolve enough detail for that sensor (interested to see what they say about the new 16-55 and the 40mp sensor)

yes

Well Fuji has come forward saying they are focusing on this so it looks like they are listening (though admittedly after a lot of noise). Let' see what happens next Monday Oct 14.

You are not wrong, I have a XT5, and I lost the AF with the last update, for that reason I bought a Sony A6700, and my Fuji are collecting dust waitting for a fix new update, I will waitting until decemeber, after that, I will sell it if not fix update arrive.

Hi Pete. First of all, I appreciate your straight forward honesty and opinion. I have been fully vested in the X and GFX line for about 6-7 years. Like yourself, I have two studio locations in Upstate NY. Until recently, Ive been extreemly happy with my bodies and even though slow performers, the GFX line. Until...I picked up a Nikon Z Body. It really affirmed the idea that Fuji needs to really concentrate on functionality over form and appeal. Suffer by comparison, possibly but I find muself leaning on the Z mounts more every day. To be honest, The colors produced in the Fuji bodies are the only thing keeping them off marketplace. Most troubling is Ive read Fuji is contemplating new bodies with 1" sensors. I think they need to take a scalpul to what they already have and skip the meat cleaver of new bodies.

I really feel that the problem is, Fuji is making a lot of money from sales, and it's only when people buy their products and then realise the advertising and promises don't deliver, that they go on to sell their products on. Fuji already made their money, and continue to make money with their X100 line and I'm sure the new hobbyish reboot. They aren't yet facing any monetary consequences for their poor firmware.

I don’t understand the need for AI eye tracking auto-focus for portraits. I manually focused for years with a Hasselblad, then switched to a Canon 5DMK4. I always used a single focus point and put it on the subjects eye, sometimes with back button. On commercial jobs I always tethered with an assistant on the computer checking focus. The AI face/eye tracking seems more useful for sports, birds, or wildlife.

Great session. I agree that FUJI needs to step up and fix this AF Issue. We will keep our eyes and ears open. Thanks

Great points Pete. Fuji definitely gives me that emotional attachment that no other brand in my experience has offered. I hope they fix what they need to in order to take that experience to the next level.

You make a good point about Fujifilm creating an emotional connection to the product. I think they’re trying to be the “Apple of cameras” long term so it makes sense why they’re beginning to focus more on new users and hobbyists right now

Fuji is WAY ahead of the competition, and has seriously lost absolutely NOTHING.

I shoot Canon as well….. but no question I prefer Fuji hardware interface and features. But the only reason I use Canon is the tracking otherwise Fuji all the way. So even if they can’t make big improvements I’m still keeping my Fuji kit….tracking is not everything but Fuji has everything else for what I need.

The autofocus problems are just symptoms of a deeper issue: Whoever is now in charge of Fuji no longer understands what made Fuji so popular in the first place. It wasn't marketing. It was word-of-mount promotion by delighted Fuji users. The current Fuji management doesn't get that and is squandering much of the goodwill they once had. One clear symptom of this is the way that new film simulations are no longer made available for older cameras. It would be easy to do, they did it in the past, and along with all the other kaizen love for older models it created a level of customer loyalty and word-of-mouth promotion that no amount of advertising dollars could ever buy. In the past, Fuji photographers felt that Fuji "got" them, cared about what they cared about, and delivered it. That has changed.

Pete- about 6-7 years ago I got into Fuji gear. At that time they were known for their quick attention to firmware upgrades even for cameras not recently released, except for the XF-10. Now it's not only lack of firmware upgrades for recent cameras but not listening to their fan base very much. The X100 series which is very popular as you well know, many customers will die on their waiting list. People are getting slammed on used gear prices also. The X-E4, (discont'd I know) is a sought after camera and prices for used are stupid high... X-E5 maybe??? Older Fuji's like the X-70 are in demand (1000.00) on ebay and an X-pro fans are waiting also. The list goes on! So Fuji comes out with the M5 and a color wheel dial camera, WTH? Was that in demand that? Their fans requests are falling on deaf ears IMHO! On a positive note, my XT-4 is rocking with some excellent Sigma glass! I hope Fuji listens up and rights the ship. Thanks Pete for your videos!!

This focusing fiasco reminds me of canon 1Dmark3 fiasco when it first released. Canon ended up fixing mirror assembly under warranty to " fix the issues" ... It never really worked . 1dmark4 fixed everything. I went thru that fiasco and it was absolutely not fun.... This is a luckily a pure firmware issue so there's still hope heheheh

Pete, would there be any reason why Fuji would not be able to port over the Auto-focus - C algorithms to the X-T5 if the two cameras are using the same processor or logic system in both models?

(I am not sure of the processor in the higher end camera, but if that works, why not port the logic over to the X-T5?)
🧐

My struggles with the xh2s autofocus....man. that camera was phenomenal until it wasn't. I shoot pro wrestling in lower light and it was a monster until it just stopped focusing the first time. My hit rate plummeted.

I've been a loyal Canon user since 2010 and have always been happy with the performance of their cameras. However, as I get older, I've started to find Canon gear a bit too heavy for travel. That's when I decided to give Fujifilm a try, especially since their cameras are more compact and lightweight. I recently purchased the X-T5 with the XF 50-150mm f/2.8 lens, but unfortunately, I’ve been really disappointed with the continuous autofocus performance. It misses the target far too often. Fuji executives, please address this focus issue quickly—your customers are starting to lose patience!