Fujifilm Firmware Update and Autofocus - Better or worse??
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- Опубліковано 28 кві 2024
- These are just some initial thoughts on the latest Firmware update for the X-T5 (3.01). If you want my general opinion on Fujifilm autofocus, go to 07:04 in the video. Don't forget to subscribe to the channel!
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Here are some initial thoughts on the latest firmware update for the Fujifilm X-T5 (3.01). I did a quick autofocus test and give you my opinion on whether or not there is an improvement. Did you update your camera and have you seen an improvement?
Nice insights, Pete! Good stuff to know. Really like how you put this together 🙌
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙏
Thanks for the video👍 The lenses defo make a difference my 90mm f2 is very fast with its linear motors. I think I have noticed an improvement on my slower 56mm 1.2 WR since the firmware upgrade, I shot stills at an event at the weekend and to me it seemed more confident at acquiring focus on people’s eyes. I used zone + eye detect. 👍 only time will tell though. Ant
Thanks, Ant. Yes, I feel the same way. Looks like it's stickier. Just did a portrait shoot and AF-C with a wide zone and face/eye detect did a great job.
I am a very amateur shooter, but I've taken lot of shots of table tennis players (indoor) with XT5 and 56mm 1.2WR (the new one), all hand-held at 1/640. I was too far away to use the 33m 1.4 and too near to use the 90mm f2 - both of these would have been great, I know. But the 56, supposedly a duffer for fast action autofocus, produced very good results, probably better than the 50mm f2, my old faithful. The test is to get the player's face in focus, as well as his bat and the ball (very fast!) For tracking my TT players: AFC: ZONE, medium focus area; pre-focus on; CUSTOM set-up: TS 4 (LOCKED ON); STS 2 (accel/decel); ZAS Auto; Face, not Eye.
Good to hear. I find that using (and tweaking) the AF C custom settings can make a world of difference.
great review. thank you. I appreciate you using a real life example - at least that´s my "real life", too - kids. Sometimes I am not sure, when reading reviews like "what is good for x or y" which category "kids" belong to: event/wedding? sports? - my kids are younger, the youngest just learned walking and it brings my X-T5 AF (these days often with the (older) 16 mm f1.4) to its limits (limiting at 1/250 s). In all fairness, I cannot agree more to your comment on older models, I recently upgraded (pre updates for both) from a X-T3 and that was quite a jump ahead (from very often frustrated to pretty satisfied). And, over the weekend I took both, the updated X-T5 (16 mm f1.4) and the X-E3 (new 23 mm f1.4) and I had so many fails on the X-E3 while the X-T5 was doing okay. The AF of X-E3 (face/eye detection on) got confused by so many things and was often little too slow for my 1 year oldest first steps; I missed 80+%. For my documentary style photography I am looking for a decent low light / available light performance and kids-type movement AF.
Now, the new FW update: honestly, I am not sure. Really not sure. There is a difference, but not (yet) a huge improvement. Still, the camera´s AF gets confused by things (soft toys or other toys) etc., jumps around etc. Is it confused even more now? On the other hand I wondered if it´s a bit better in low light (in the house, late afternoon when lights gets lower)
I am really getting a little frustrated - while being a huge Fuji fan for years I find myself in Sony forums looking for a7 (c ii or even cr or cr v). I am a non-pro, but I do not want to miss great memories and still be able to shot at home even when the light is not great in winter/spring... I also do not want to spend hours in trying to correct in post or even reject too many shots... Still hoping for better, but I might add a more reliable system to my setup (cannot imagine to leave Fuji, love the usability, size and the look of the images; will never forget the moment when I opened my first raws coming from Canon 10+ years back)
Thanks for this vid in any case!
I understand your frustration completely! I just did a portrait shoot with my XT5 and it was solid throughout, so I think there is a slight improvement in the stickiness. But Fuji AF still is gonna lag behind Canon and Sony, no doubt about it. It's a trade off for sure, but I took my R5 for a weekend family trip and I missed the XT5 the entire time because of film sims and user experience.
I just sold all my Fuji gear and bought A7iV with couple small f1.8 primes and man autofocus just works! Image is too sharp so I have to set to minus clarity slider ;) - but auto white balance is average and eye autofocus catches eye from shorter distances than Fuji but almost never misses.
Thanks for this video. I bought an X-T2 in my frist trip to Japan last month, coming from an X-T5 I was surprised to seen quite a decent performance with the AF.
Surely its not at the level of other brands but surely its not super dismal.
I still hope Fuji keeps releasing firmware updates to improve AF in their X-Mount cameras and not needing to wait for a next stacked sensor camera (X-H3s?) to finally be on parity with the other brands.
Agreed. They really need to get it up to par with the others at this point.
Good update. Like you said, incremental improvements are still improvements.
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
I used to shoot Fuji with a XH1, XT5, XH2S - and as much as I loved them all, the autofocus, or lack of, drove me nuts. Even with Fuji lenses, it was almost a 50/50 thing to get focus - you would auto-focus - the square would go green to signify focus lock - you'd take the picture - and on checking it would be soft. I moved to a Sony A7rV nearly a year ago now - and haven't looked back since. Now the Sony isn't 100% perfect - and even with Sony lenses I still get the odd shot that's soft - but it is the odd shot - not 50% like with the Fuji. I absolutely loved Fuji, but it'll need a quantum leap in their auto-focus technology before I would consider returning to them.
yeah I completely understand. I've had good luck w my XT5 and af, but it's definitely not at the level of my Canon.
I shoot with canon and fuji and i am going to a 'photography war zone' where accuracy and speed are some criteria for survival, i wouls pick the likes of sony and canon. That said, if you have to start your photogrpahy journey more than 20 yrs ago, you'd come to appreciate that the AF tech has improved a ton. A lot if newbies to photography these days wants instant gratification and convenience and they love to spent time at home complaining about the 10 out of focus imgaes out of 50 insteas of going out there honing their craft. Are recent fuji af at par with sony and canon? Hell no. But are they better than say sony A7 or canon DSLR 5D classic or olympus EM1 back then? Hell yes!!
Hello Pete, question about the focusing that you used when shooting your kids running towards you, you mentioned that you set it to AF-C, were you using single point, wide, etc.? Thank you.
I was using tracking with face/eye detect.
Informative video. Ty! Why not use the Canon R5 for all your portrait work? Is there an advantage with the Xt5?
Thanks! I use the Fuji because I prefer the color science and user experience. For portrait photography, the AF is plenty fast and never gives me issues. The Canon is great of course but not my preferred choice.
If you think that maybe, just maybe, it might be better now! It isn't.
😂😂😂 this is fair. I did use it for a portrait session this afternoon, however, and the AF-C is noticeably stickier when using eye tracking. Lots of crisp images!
Is it worse though?
Yes, i just ruin my session today
It was previously clearly better before this firmware
I started shooting with the Canon DSLR rebel, 5DMKII and 3, before i moved to the original sony A7 and to the A7III. I tried the xT3 and really didn't ike the autofocus and stuck with the Sony, Tried the XT5 when it was released and returned it and upgraded my A7III to the A7rV. Then this year a friend asked me to try his GFX100S with the 45-100LM lens and oh my goodness, the image quality, the colour and the files from the GFX for studio work or outdoor portraits, simply unbeatable and i was sold, my sony wasnt touched for 3 months. Is the GFX perfect, no, is the autofocus better on the Sony A7RV yes, but the image quality, the dynamic range, the skin tonality, you cannot beat Fuji. If you know how to focus, even prefocus and anticipate, i think you can make great images with the GFX and the T5.
Now i sold my Sony and got XT5 as a carry around for travel and for shoots where i dont want to lug my GFX, is it perfect no. But lets look at what people were using in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's. i am astounded on how people buy on autofocus for a camera, isnt the art of photography and image quality just important. Why spend hours on editing, when you can get files that are ready to go from a Fuji.
Love it! GFX is in my future. Gotta save my pennies!
Using my XT4 with the Fuji 70-300 for summer bird photos in my back yard, Focus at AF-C, Zone. Great photos in landscape position. Turn camera to Portrait , shutter button at the bottom, great photos. Turn the camera 180 degrees, photo button at 12 o'clock, lens will not focus , at all, AF-C Zone or Spot setting. Ideas ?
I think the focusing system is tied to the orientation of the camera. My suggestion is don't turn it 180 degrees 😆
Hi Pete. Thanks for another honest opinion. Here are my findings, for what its worth: I dont shoot continuos. My subjects are fairly stagnent, especially in studio. On my XT5 with the viltrox 75mm 1.2, wide open, when im underexposed, the hit rate is pretty decent. Contrast detection comes into play. When im 2.8 or better, using eye AF, it jumps from eye to eye. It didnt do that before the firmware upgrade. As I commented in your last video, I still think contrast detection is still the deciding factor. Phase detection need much improvement. Overall, I really feel that Fujifilms efforts go a long way with me. Its part of the growing of the ecosystem. The bouncing from eye to eye was pretty frustrating. I did end up picking up my GFX to finish the session. In summary: I will deal with the growing pains in exchange for the color science. See you on X Brother...
Take it off eye priority auto and assign a button to switch the eye it is prioritizing.
Hey Rich, as someone mentioned, you need to map eye priority to a custom button instead of letting the camera decide. This is how I do it and it works so much better.
@@PeteCocoPhoto I'll give it a shot. Thank you
The key for me on lenses that don’t have linear motors, is to use the limit focus. I suggest about 6.5 to infinity.
Focus limit is a good idea
+1 - do you know if one can assign a button to turn it on/off quickly? That would be pretty keen -
@@matt88169
I would suggest putting it on your “my menu,” I get there quickly in and out when I need it or not!
@@matt88169 not sure off the top of my head, but it's worth checking through the menu
In my opinion the 2 best fuji lenses in terms of AF, the 16-55 (2linear motors) and the 50-140 (3linear motors) the 90mm f.2 should be even faster with 4 motors.
16-55 rocks IMO
Thanks Pete for the video. I'm a Fujifilm X-H2 user. Can I ask what AF settings you used for your test? You mention in the video that you normally use tracking, but I'm not sure if that's what you used.
Most of my shots are in Continuous + Tracking + Subject Detection OFF because I don't trust it enough. When I need to photograph people who are moving too fast for me to place the tracking square on their faces, I shoot Continuous + Zone + Face Detection and hope for the best. I think my Fuji finds faces easier with Zone than with Tracking.
I only use subject detection in studio portraits. When the subject is reasonably static, the whole face is facing the camera and the lighting is good I use Single (yes, Single) + Wide + Eye Detection. This combination gives me the highest rate of sharp photos. I still take a few shots just in case!
I have high hopes for this new update. I don't need my Fuji to focus on people's faces when they're running at full speed towards the camera. I'd be happy if, when I take a picture of two people, I get a green square on one of their faces and don't find out later that the camera's focus was on the wall behind them 🙂 .
Sure, sorry I forgot to mention this. I shot in AF-C using tracking and face/eye detect.
I am a casual user, I have an XS20 & use the the XF70-300 and Xf 23 F2 lense which produces sharp images & is compact. Overall both of these lenses autofocus performs well for me. The thing i found the most problematic was using Bird tracking, for birds in flight against 'busy' backgrounds on the 70-300, the camera likes to focus on the trees in the background, instead of the birds quite a lot 😂
I tried bird tracking a while back with some tamron and sigma lenses and had similar mixed results lol
After the firmware update 6.00 was put on my H2S, I've found that the autofocus was not as good as previously, especially for bird detection with the new 150-600mm : the H2S struggles a lot more and often misses focus.
This is not good. It doesn't seem like Fuji has acknowledged anything is wrong with the firmware. I haven't heard anything at least.
Great review, thank you! Until a fews days ago I owned a X-T4 but I sold that camera and I am considering to switch to the X-H2S instead of the X-T5. What basically held me back of switching until now was the lack of classic dials which the X-T5 does have, but the X-H2S doesn't have. However the X-H2S seems to be much better regarding autofocus than the X-T5 although still not as good as Sony or Canon. Since Nikon proved in the Nikon Zf that it is possible to have both classic dials and a PASM dial I hope that Fujifilm will change the user interface of a future X-H3, so that classic dials and perhaps a PASM dial will be available; do you think it is likely that Fujifilm will switch to a hybrid setup such as the Nikon Zf has, or do you think it is not likely that Fujifilm would switch over?
I don't think so. The modern design is here to stay I would imagine. You always have the X-T6 to look forward to though! Thanks for watching!
I had xh2s and it’s a great camera for videography sports / wildlife but autofocus is still behind Sony so if this is very important to you I would probably wait for x-t6
If AF is important to you, just avoid Fujifilm. Im thinking about selling Fuji and move on to Sony or Canon. Thats going to solve, 100% for sure, my AF problems. Why do i need images out of Focus that i cannot use?
Can we find which are the best Fuji lenses for auto focusing ?
LM lenses are always better of course. The best I have tried is the 16-55mm.
I've got a couple of red badge zooms and some newer primes. The 33mm in my experience was the faster focussing lens in my kit.
Best Fuji lenses for auto focusing are A7IV + sigma 24-70. Never miss a shot for SURE. Just tired of Fuji AF, insane in 2024...
June 27 2024. New firmware update for Fujifilm...
I think my X-H2 and 100-400 combo c-autofocus got worse after this 4.00 update. Misses targets completely, even in high contrast scenarios. Anyone experienced anything similar?
Terrible, I am sorry to hear it! So many people are telling me similar stories. This is not acceptable in 2024.
Xh2s 6.0 is going to give me problems with my clients... Im near to be done with Fuji. Reeeeally near. Its unacceptable and unprofessional in 2024... Camera cost me money + more money lose due to AF issues..
I have been shooting for more than a year my kids at basketball (mainly indoors) and soccer (outdoors) and I have not had any single problem with tracking autofocus (X-T5 user). With 'tailored' AF settings (speed, tracking...), of course. When I lose focus, in the 99% of cases, is because in sport teams, all team mates are dressed the same. and if someone pass through, there is high chance the camera will focus the new kid in front + dressed in same colors. But 0 problem overall. When I see people complaining about AF I don't know if they need 100.0% accuracy, if all are shooting squirrels on caffeine, or what, because I don't see any major problem myself at a normal (but action) situation. Professional photographers doing wildlife and sports photography 20 years ago (with more iconic pictures that those shot today) didn't complaint about AF with poor-technology cameras. So I thing this is just a UA-cam/GASism side of reality.
Yeah I tend to agree with you. I think much of it is user error as well, plus Fuji users love to hate on their own brand lol. I also shoot with an R5 so I can tell you that the AF performance is much better in Canon, which is part of the issue too as people compare the two systems (something I think is fine to do btw)
@@PeteCocoPhoto I’m sure Canon or Sony is much better (I believe the reviews, even if I don’t consider this as relevant). And I would say that for serious professional wildlife or sports, Fuji can struggle a bit. And video AF I know is no way near Sony. But for average professional use, enthusiast/amateurs in photography, current AF capabilities are great! The gap from this to perfection won’t make us better photographers. Cheers Pete (this sort of tandem with Pal2tech on reviewing the firmware update is a luxury for Fuji fans).
From my interactions just on this thread as well - people don’t know how the fuji system works vs how they expect it to work, and then their expectations are still unrealistic- even the nikon Z9 has a fair amount of focusing quirks - and so do sony and canon - their promoters are just less discerning
Somehow i feel like you are not convinced at all that there's obvious diff. So perhaps, it is not significant improvement? I am planning to get an x-t5 anyway, so i guess i wi see it for myself. I am sure it is way much better than my current X-T2.
After using it for a few weeks it definitely has a better hit rate but no, it was not a huge difference
"Hi there! I'm looking for a film recipe for Fujifilm cameras that would be suitable for portrait photography. I would appreciate any recommendations and advice from experienced users!"
Well quite a few can suit portraits. I like provia when I want skin tones to be natural but also love Acros, eternal cinema, classic chrome, and pro neg sims. The new Reala is really nice too
I dont know about the XT5 but the XH2/XH2s in continuous afc will never focus on the eye with this firmware.
Yeah seems like that's the case. Hope they fix it asap!
…so it got worse, not better? I made the update on the XH2s, not yet on the XH2. I am doing a photoshoot soon and appreciate your answer, then I might put a hold on the update on the XH2. Thank you!🙏
@@sigurdrille9693 The consensus seems to be don't update the XH2/s. People are having issues. On the 5 it was fine
@@PeteCocoPhoto thank you for the fast reply🙏
Just a quick update… my photoshoot is over, I used the Viltrox 27 f1.2 on the XH2s with the new firmware, had no issues there, focus was good. I could not say it was better, but it was not worse than before. In my experience, the XH2s is always better in autofocus than the XH2.. I used the Viltrox 75 f1.2 on the XH2 with the old firmware. Focus was as it used to be (as expected), some good, some out of focus as always.
Very challenging light situation during the shoot.
I couldn't understand why this update made my focusing much worse - until I checked and found out that my 16-80 lens needed a firmware update also, to not be screwed up by the camera update. All is well again. And perhaps a little better in low light.
Good to hear!
New subscriber
Thank you!
Yep x-h2s firmware 6.0 says a lot about fujifilm...
Was it that bad? Did they correct it?
To be fair it says that they are always trying to improve their product for their customers.......for free.
@@bigd7696yes they try but why they are releasing half baked products?
my 50mm f1 seems to be really soft compared to other lenses
Mine is excellent even at f/1 although it really pops around f/2.
@@PeteCocoPhoto try the 90 f2
What happened with the Nikon ZF? Do you still use it?
I only had it on loan from B&H. Didn't buy one but I might get another to do more testing. I prefer the Fuji colors
I'm watching at the 2:20 mark, before I go any further, 1/125 shutter speed is not fast enough for testing autofocus performance with kids running at you.
At 2:20 my shutter speed is 1/2500 sec...
Ah that makes sense
no stand for the xt-4....
sorry I don't understand
@@PeteCocoPhoto SORRY KEYBOARD error. I mean , no hope for the Xt-4 as far as firmware goes.
@@ricferr6945 Ah got it. Yeah I was disappointed that there was nothing there for the 4 but that doesn't mean they won't update it. we will see
You used the XF50mmF1 as a firmware upgrade focus test?? That's a lot of glass to move around. And yes it has a DC motor (not linear) because it has a lot of glass to move around. This is not a lens that is designed for for fast pace in mind. I don't know, but the focus group may not even be able to move fast enough for the shown pace? This is more of lens stress test than a firmware focus test! If you want to test this lens, sure, but as an extra, or curiosity. The main event should have been a more conventional lens. (No, not the XF56F1.2 either!) You have the XF16-55F2.8, that would have been more informative. Are you trolling for comments, and I fell for it?? Also, from other comments, you had the settings in AF-C. But it would be good to state that you also had the AF-C settings at fastest tracking sensitivity and fastest speed tracking sensitivity. I find it bewildering when prominent UA-cam channels (or otherwise) test "tracking ability" but fail to refer to the AF-C settings. The default setting purposely has some inertia to moving, and limited speed, so that focus changes are smoother in general use scenarios.
I assure you I am no troll LOL. The lens worked fine. Since you have it all figured out, I am anticipating your AF test video that does it right. Cheers!
@@PeteCocoPhoto I would, but I don't have children or a dog. Hang on, I don't even have a channel! I'm a viewer commenting.
@@Paul_Rohde haha fair enough. But as you can see, it's so much easier to tell someone how they did it wrong from the comfort of your couch. For us smaller channels this is a hobby so I gotta squeeze a video in between the dog, kids, and jobs.
Felt the same as soon as I heard he did the test with the 50 f1. One of the slowest lenses for the x mount.
XH2/XH2s: kickboxing tournament,~5000 shots, 18/33/90/16-55mm lens and Viltrox 75/1.2. No improvements. Placebo effect…
Waiting for the next update in summer. Probably then it’s time to leave. No other company has such issues (okay, perhaps Leica….).
Ah sorry to hear this. Have you messed with the AF C custom settings? I found that this helps a lot
Make sure your using single point continuous with camera set to performance boost mode also your focus box must be set to large instead of a small box and I’ve had zero focus issues
@@Snapit551 Right, this is what I do as well. Even with face/eye detect, the camera still looks inside the "Zone" you've chosen instead of the entire frame
Its 2024 and we are still talking about Fujifilm and auto focus......
Hahaha the struggle is real! But yeah, it's ridiculous already.
New AF is the worst than ever on xt5
I heard they are releasing another update
Bollox 😂
I agree your comment is bollox LOL