Fuji Autofocusing issues?

doobs

All-Pro
Location
Williamsburg, VA
Name
Chris
There is an extensive discussion going on over on dpreview about Fuji autofocusing issues.

I didn't pay any attention to it, but one of the participants provided this link:

Fujifilm Users—There Is An Issue That Results In AF Inconsistencies Of Which You Need To Be Aware

I read through the discussion and the two follow on articles and it got me to worrying, is this for real?

So I set up a tripod and grabbed my X-T2 and tried it with all my lenses. Yikes, I'm seeing the same result at focal lengths < 50mm.

Trying again with the X-Pro2 and if anything it's more pronounced.

Just for fun I tried the X100f and it's the least affected.

Has anyone experienced this in the "real world"?

This has me very concerned and honestly might go a long way to explaining the focusing inconsistency that I thought was my doing.

Please weigh in.

Thanks
 
Funny you should say that! I have always felt that my technique left something to be desired, previously with X-T1, latterly with X-T3, and XF18-55mm lens. Some of my photos are beautifully sharp, others less so. I have tried OIS on and off, but reached no conclusion! And at 82 years of age, I don't really expect to be able to hold my camera as steady as most of the younger members of this forum do! Perhaps it isn't me after all. So, what do we do Chris?
 
I've been part of that discussion and have found this AF "anomaly" time and time again on X-T3, X-T4, X-T5, X-E4, X-H2, and even my X-S20 using W/A lenses.
The AF issue is there and easy to see for yourself IF you have an open mind and follow the method described in the discussion.
There is a "work-around" but the main point of discussion is that we should not have to accept this AF issue on what Fuji refers to as "flagship" cameras.
What really needs is for those who cannot accept this poor AF performance is to contact Fuji Tech and voice their disapproval. Hopefully they will come up with a fix.
If you don't care about this issue, then there is no need to discuss it. :coffee-79:
 
I've been part of that discussion and have found this AF "anomaly" time and time again on X-T3, X-T4, X-T5, X-E4, X-H2, and even my X-S20 using W/A lenses.
The AF issue is there and easy to see for yourself IF you have an open mind and follow the method described in the discussion.
There is a "work-around" but the main point of discussion is that we should not have to accept this AF issue on what Fuji refers to as "flagship" cameras.
What really needs is for those who cannot accept this poor AF performance is to contact Fuji Tech and voice their disapproval. Hopefully they will come up with a fix.
If you don't care about this issue, then there is no need to discuss it. :coffee-79:
What is your "work-around" Andy?
 
With any lenses wider than, let's say 35mm and f-stop @ f4 and smaller (larger number), simply use BBF with shutter AF-S OFF, and distance scale set to PIXEL. Using BB, focus on subject and note distance on scale. If reasonably correct, then press shutter. Image should be in sharp focus. Many times the distance scale will display a totally erroneous distance (you can verify this by re-pressing BB several times).
Or, simply us BB with MF and dial in correct focus with peaking.
Works for me! 😉
 
I have seen this effect many, many times here and on MU-43.com.

I always attributed it to either soft lenses, copy variation, or slight user error.

It's always awful when this sort of thing happens (like the E-M1 MkI faults, self-oiling sensor on the D800, and other manufacturing defects).

It can, and does, periodically happen to most manufacturers at some point. I feel sorry for them all when it does.

Fortunately, this appears to be a firmware problem, so should be able to be rectified by a firmware update, unless it is caused by both f/w and h/w.

I wish Fuji all the best with addressing this.
 
For example, I placed a subject at exactly 10 ft. from my camera (mounted on a tripod). With repeated exposures the autofocus varied from 6 ft. to about 11ft. (according to the scale on the LCD). Very few actually landed right at 10 ft. This occurred when using focal lengths of 35mm, 23mm and 16mm with the 16-55mm f/2.8 lens. Also, this variation in autofocusing occurred both at f/2.8 and f/8. When using the 10-24mm lens on the same subject at 10 ft., at 14mm and 10mm, the focus would vary from 5 ft. to infinity. Yes infinity when the subject was only 10 ft. away! Again, this occurred both at f/4 and f/8.

This is from the site Doobs linked to. I tried repeating this with a 16mm 1.4 on a X-T3. Maybe I'm just lucky, but focus hit on the same spot every time. This experiment is easy to perform with the 16mm 1.4 as it has the clutch mechanism to go from auto to manual focus. I can pull the clutch to manual and the lens automatically focuses to the distance it is set manually. Push it back to auto and half press the shutter to focus on the test object/distance. Having shot with Fuji since 2014, starting with a X-E1. I have never experienced this phenomenon with the autofocus. I have had less than desirable AF performance, but not any anomalies.
 
This is from the site Doobs linked to. I tried repeating this with a 16mm 1.4 on a X-T3. Maybe I'm just lucky, but focus hit on the same spot every time. This experiment is easy to perform with the 16mm 1.4 as it has the clutch mechanism to go from auto to manual focus. I can pull the clutch to manual and the lens automatically focuses to the distance it is set manually. Push it back to auto and half press the shutter to focus on the test object/distance. Having shot with Fuji since 2014, starting with a X-E1. I have never experienced this phenomenon with the autofocus. I have had less than desirable AF performance, but not any anomalies.
Forget the focus clutch! That is not part of the issue. Set your lens to f8, enable the distance scale in your VF/LCD and set DOF Scale to "pixel", choose AF-S then half-press shutter and see what the distance scale shows; repeat, repeat, repeat. You WILL see the distance indicator vary substantially from actual subject distance. I've done this so many times it isn't funny, especially when I've tried to focus on a subject about 30~50ft away. When the distance scale is way off so will the critical focus be in your image.
Many, many others have discovered the same issue when duplicated correctly. Fuji AF just plain sux under these conditions!

Previously posted...
"I've been part of that discussion and have found this AF "anomaly" time and time again on X-T3, X-T4, X-T5, X-E4, X-H2, and even my X-S20 using W/A lenses.
The AF issue is there and easy to see for yourself IF you have an open mind and follow the method described in the discussion."

😉
 
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Forget the focus clutch! That is not part of the issue.
You may not understand what I used the focus clutch for. Which was to quickly shift the focus of the lens to a different distance. Then quickly push it in to re engage autofocus. Then half press the shutter to autofocus on the test subject/set distance. I was not testing the focus clutch. Or the manual focus. I was repeating the autofocus test trying to duplicate the stated issue. I was unable to duplicate the issue. Nor have I had this issue from any combination of gear I've ever worked with.


Previously posted...
"I've been part of that discussion and have found this AF "anomaly" time and time again on X-T3, X-T4, X-T5, X-E4, X-H2, and even my X-S20 using W/A lenses.
The AF issue is there and easy to see for yourself IF you have an open mind and follow the method described in the discussion."

😉
This makes it sound like the issue is being induced by the user. If there are steps which have to be followed to get the issue to happen, it's not a problem with the gear 😉
 
You may not understand what I used the focus clutch for. Which was to quickly shift the focus of the lens to a different distance. Then quickly push it in to re engage autofocus. Then half press the shutter to autofocus on the test subject/set distance. I was not testing the focus clutch. Or the manual focus. I was repeating the autofocus test trying to duplicate the stated issue. I was unable to duplicate the issue. Nor have I had this issue from any combination of gear I've ever worked with.



This makes it sound like the issue is being induced by the user. If there are steps which have to be followed to get the issue to happen, it's not a problem with the gear 😉
There again, you did not follow the method spoken of that shows the AF issue.🙄

Actually I found this AF focusing error by accident and didn't realize this was happening until web threads "enlightened" me. Several of the images I took while on a hike in the desert were somewhat OOF. Camera was set for AF-S and using the XF 16-80 f5.6~f8 most of the time. After getting home and reviewing/processing the images, I noticed the subjects I was focusing on were "a bit "fuzzy" in several images. Now I know why, and I was not "inducing" anything but simply using my gear in a normal manner. Seems to me like you may be speaking like one of the "hard-heads" that either don't understand or cannot be made to. 😉
 
Seems to me like you may be speaking like one of the "hard-heads" that either don't understand or cannot be made to. 😉
If you can't have this discussion without resorting to childish name calling, stop participating.

I tried to repeat the issue and was not able to. Nor have I experienced it shooting weddings, events, landscapes, portraits, action, street, and so on. Using fuji gear since the beginning of 2014. Cameras across all brands miss focus sometimes.
 
You apparently didn’t take the hint earlier. Lose the attitude. If you can’t discuss this like an adult. Then don’t participate. Last warning.

The very large majority of Fuji users are not experiencing this problem. If they were, you wouldn’t have to hunt around the net for something to support it. The issue would be talked about literally everywhere that Fuji gear is discussed. And by every reviewer on YouTube.
 
For everyone else following this thread. I’ve been told twice that I’m not following the method to cause the issue. I will say once again that if you have to follow a specific method to cause an issue. It is a user induced issue. If there is a true issue with the gear, said issue will happen on its own.
 
Come on, folks!

This is becoming like the "discussions" where some E-M1 MkI owners dismissed the documented problems with that body. Some were fortunate enough not to have any problems. I had the strap lug rear wheel problem. My brother had two different bodies with the strap lug problem, and the third eventually developed the bad rear wheel problem.

However, some people had neither problem, and some went into vociferous denial mode about both (DPReview ... ).

No need for any of that behaviour. Please.
 
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You apparently didn’t take the hint earlier. Lose the attitude. If you can’t discuss this like an adult. Then don’t participate. Last warning.

The very large majority of Fuji users are not experiencing this problem. If they were, you wouldn’t have to hunt around the net for something to support it. The issue would be talked about literally everywhere that Fuji gear is discussed. And by every reviewer on YouTube.
Actually, Bobby T, it pretty much has been discussed on many places. All it takes is a search. The believable YouTube reviewers have mentioned issues with Fuji AF performance. Pal2tech is one that comes to mind. The ones that don't bad mouth gear for fear of losing funding and kickbacks are not believable IMO and just in it for the clicks ($).
I might add that Fuji Tech has been made aware of it and have duplicated the issue. Hopefully they will correct it so that the very large majority won't have to deal with it if it ever becomes evident to them.
BTW- didn't mean to ruffle any feathers here. I'm just trying to spread the word so that others are aware and maybe, just maybe, more will contact Fuji concerning it. :2thumbs:
 
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Precisely these AF issues were what made me say "hasta la vista" Fujifilm.

I had a Fujifilm X-T3 and several lenses, but the one that drove me crazy was the 16-55/2.8, it was really bad at all apertures.

I use my brother's camera from time to time (Fujifilm X100T) and it is not affected by these issues.

When I was looking for answers to my problem I found some forum threads about it, and even some videos in Spanish.
 
I can easily reproduce the issue on my Fuji X100V. At f/8 focus is all over the place and that confirmed my suspicion that AF at f/8 is less accurate than I'd like. The issue is much less prominent at f/5.6 and virtually absent at f/4 and larger. I now keep the aperture at f/4.5 or larger and when I want f/5.6 or f/8 for depth-of-field, I switch to manual focus with peaking.
 
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