Video

I don't have the viltrox but do have the other lenses (possibly for not much longer). I can tell you now that the XF50-140 is excellent, both in terms of IQ and performance. It is almost parfocal in its response in both stills and video, whereas the Sigma is not. The 50-100 is only good when staying at the predetermined range, if you nudge the zoom ring it likes a good second or two to settle before AF can work properly again. However (like my video above shows), if staying at a fixed zoom range than the AF performance is not far behind a LM lens, which is impressive. For me, I will likely sell the 50-140, not because it is not a great lens, but I cannot justify owning both and I find myself appreciating more the f1.8 of the Sigma as well as the overall rendering (it is sharp but with character). With the event work I do, I can be ok with maxing out at 100mm (there is not a huge difference from 100 to 140), and some of the environments can be poor for lighting and collecting 12800 ISO with f2.8! So that additional fast aperture of the Sigma 50-100 I just find really more useful, both in terms of keeping a lid on ISO as well as subject isolation. For me the Sigma wins. If I have time I will perhaps do a video, but that would be my summary.

@@SummersSnaps Thanks for the detailed response. Good info. If you like the Sigma 50-100, the Viltrox 75 must be tempting since it’s focal length falls right in the middle of the Sigma with a faster aperture. I’m sure if I bought the Sigma, they would release a new mirrorless version.

@@judoubledb Tbh I am not seeing a lot that I like from the Viltrox 75, most images look flat and bland. I know... I'm in a minority here. If I owned it I'd prolly sing a different tune. It might be a lens I collect and replace both the 56 and 90 with, but I dunno... I get 'Sony vibes' from that lens and not in the good way... I think the Sigma CEO at one point said they would be doing a mirrorless version of at least the 18-35, but I think that its already happened and its become a full frame version (the 28-45/1.8). Most innovation seems to be on the full frame side of things. I can even imagine back room talks between Fuji and Sigma and that Fuji will be pissed if they ever actually release a 18-35/1.8 for X Mount... *takes tin foil hat off.

Yeh, it might be what I replace the XF56 and XF90 with, a kinda cheaper replacement than owning both. AF wise I already know it will be let down, it will likely sit somewhere between the two, more competent than the 56 but not as good as the 90. The 75 has stepping motors and whilst that can work good for small light lenses like the Fujicrons, lenses that have more glass and weight it's not the ideal solution. The problem is no third party is caring to put ANY other motor more competent into their lenses for the X system other than stepping, which means we rely purely on Fuji for LM type tech for lenses.

@SummersSnaps I have a feeling that just like viltrox stepped it up with the IQ starting with the 13mm f1.4 they will also start using linear motors in the future.

Thanks for watching.

Yeh I would agree with those observations. I too have the XF50-140, in many ways it is a good replacement for the need of an XF90. The crux of Fuji AF is the ability to keep up with subjects as they move from mid to near (MFD), like you said. I will try some more tests with different parameters and even different f/w (earlier f/w), to see if I can find a better hit rate.

BTW- you can program in a focus limit…I think I have three slots on my camera. I haven’t tried it myself, but probably forcing 3-6 feet at the minimum end would help speed things up. Focus limiting the 150-600mm solves a lot of problems and speeds things up when you don’t actually need the MFD. If you are really brave, you can set a min/max and really force the camera to live in a narrow range. Obviously, that can also mess you up! I use a limiter all the time on the 150-600, I recommend you try it on the 56. I love to get close but realistically it is rarely necessary to be closer than, say, 1 meter with the 56 (as with the 50-140).

I never owned the XT3 but I have seen quite a bit of evidence that the XT4 was worse and the XT3 does better. XH2S has some help with the upgraded tech and definitely finds faces in the dark much better than the XT4. Honestly it could be that you have quite a capable AF camera, not much different to the XH2S in many ways, improvements here stem more from fps and buffer etc. I still love my XH2S's tho, for what I do for work I really need that 6ms read out speed, where else am I going to find that at comparatively same prices?

Yeh I hear ya... other brands are beckoning me also...

Thank you. I feel for me the Sigma 50-100/1.8 might just be enough to replace both of them and free up some $$ that is otherwise tied up with these optics. What's a little disappointing is that surely there will not be a MkIII 56 with LM any time soon, and no other 3rd party gives better AF than stepping motors (which for such fast lenses is not up to par). So where do we get a really good AF 56 (85mm equivalent) for X Mount? :(

@@SummersSnaps sounds like a solid solution if hoarding ain’t your thing :), About 4-5 years ago I bought the sigma 18-35/1.8 via fringer 2 but I just couldn’t get reliable and consistent AF with the XT3s back then, so I had no choice but to sell it. I’m sure the tech had improved by now.

@@eliaspap8708 I do too have this lens, with the Fringer III I find the AF ok, decent enough to bring to work. In fact it too has replaced most of my needs for other glass.

@@SummersSnaps Hopefully Sigma will make a FUJI X mount version soon, I think they would sell tonnes if they did.

Stepping motor, for a large lens... it's not a good recipe for AF :(

@@SummersSnaps oh have U tried it ? Cos I've got very good results on xt3 with both the 75 and 27. Image quality and build quality is on par or better than Fuji glass.

@@SummersSnaps Tell that to Nikon - they stick steppers in their best, huge lenses too.

@@SummersSnaps The 75mm f1.2 AF is silent and fast, I was surprised at how good it was, leaves the grindy slow XF56mm for dead, if you get a chance you should try one.

@@matt88169 Yeh, it's honestly where they save some $$, skipping out on the AF motor stuff. They optically perform well but definitely could use more suitable AF gears. Look at Sigma's new 50/1.2 Art, no skimping on AF tech here.

Thanks leland xx

I forget to mention, that currently I'm in sandbox in dpreview forum (moderators are watching my every post before they accept to publish it 😂), so I can't promise You, that thread where I put link to Your video will be accepted by mods and eventually allowed to view for public.

@@fotokozlowski Ah, I had a wee look before and couldn't see it, that explains it. Naughty corner for you!

Yeah, this is how it ends, when You are writing the sad truth about Fujifilm on internet forum. You can prise "magic" of XF 35/1.4 as long as You like, but if You will criticize Fujifilm AF or firmware for couple of times, You end up with ban for repeating Your opinion 😂😂😂

@@fotokozlowski Sent you a Flickr email :)

That 50-100 review is forthcoming. My next video will be to discuss the 56RWR vs the 90/2, so stay tuned for that, but it could be the Sigma annihilates them both 😂 AF wise... I dunno.. I'm of a similar mind to Edvard, there is probably a hardware limit here, likely on the mount. For those staying with Fuji hoping for Canikony level AF I think that is wishful. It's probably healthier to just accept it for the level its at and be f/w cautious.

@@SummersSnaps Looking forward to that review, when it comes! You might have a point about the AF performance. I love my Fujis since I am a hobbyist, but as a pro I would totally go Canon or Nikon (love Canon bodies and Nikon glass so hard choices haha).

That's fair. I do believe that the next level of AF improvement will likely need to be hardware and mount based. In the same way the Canon RF mount has 4 additional contact points (all of which are centered around AF improvement), it is this kind of thing that will likely be necessary for Fuji to take their AF to the next level, otherwise I think we'll see a same ol' same AF performance for years to come. Of course such a hardware based change will cost Fuji dearly, they will need to revamp and upgrade their lenses to having this new tech, so yeh... if AF is super critical for your work then Fuji is not looking like a good choice in the interim.

Yes Fringer III adapter for this lens combo. Works very well (better than some of my native Fuji glass).

@@SummersSnaps Ok because I can see other autofocus problems wirh native lenses but with an adapter I would be eben more skeptical. Great to hear though that it works fine usually.

Yes, there are reports of a lot of false positives with these recent updates. Hang in there, hopefully a patch comes soon.

ClassicChrome

Lol

There's been some pretty big problems at camp Fuji within the last 6 weeks or so for sure. It's a little sad to think 5.03 might be as far as I can take these cameras :S The more concerning issue is Fuji allowing this problem to grow and gain as much traction as it has. They are a few days away from being a petapixel story, publicity I am sure they don't really need...

@@SummersSnaps yeah I'm a bit baffled by how they're letting this snowball into something bigger.

Yeh it is sad, make sure you hold back updating f/w for it for awhile is my advice.

@@SummersSnaps thank you! Will do.

Yeh, they really bust it bad :(

BTW, Eddy.. I wrote extensive review of Viltrox 13/1.4 with direct comparison to XF 16/1.4 including many sample images and .raf files available to download and play with. It's on Dpreview in Fujifilm section. I'm sure You will find it interesting, and it should help You decide what UWA lens to get into Your camera bag 👍

@@fotokozlowski Oh! Cool, will read. I actually found a steal of a deal on the XF14/2.8, I'm in love with it!

That's a pretty strange comment to post here under this particular topic matter. Are you sure your comment is in the right thread/video? This is not a video about AF.C vs AF.S pros and cons (which they both have). You can't do focus pulls in AF.S etc.

@@SummersSnaps Perhaps I should’ve stated that I don’t do video!

@@simon359 It's substantially worse in Stills as well, dropping from a 70%ish hit rate to 50% under AF.C (which is sometimes what you need to use for moving subjects on the z axis, AF.S whilst more accurate will result in a lot of fail shots in those situations).

@@SummersSnaps Yes, I guess it’s subject dependent, I just do regular street photography so I have no issues. I don’t do video and I don’t do sports, but people sometimes move or moving, so you have to be quick.

IIRC there was an issue specifically with 16-55, I think there was a specific f/w (maybe for the lens itself) to fix that one. Give a google and see what you can find. Sorry to hear this :(

Yeh maybes, I'm no YTer, I release like a video very sporadically (probably doesn't help).

@@SummersSnaps yeah I understand that yet, I've seen where the negative channels can grow really fast over positive ones . Regardless of posting. I too post pretty sporadically but, I'm not even speaking of my channel. Just sad how the negative can get praised over the positive. If you are positive you are a shill these days. I've also criticized the Fuji cameras on my channel for having AF issues but, I didn't stick to that topic only. I've shown you can work with the AF . I watched a video of a big Sony user and his camera lost focus, did it really matter ? Not really and I bet no one mentions it . I do think the AF needs to be fixed but again I know how to work with it. Been using fuji for 3 years many videos on my channel using the X-S10 with no issues and some I did. Those videos still did ok.

@@SummersSnaps my bad I'm very long winded . Trust me , I'm not a shill lol . I also shoot Sony, DJI, go pro and would love a Canon and Panasonic camera.

Fingers crossed the issue is really highlighted, the next week or so will be interesting.

@@SummersSnaps yeah I really hope they fix it soon

I was so hyped up for the “touch track” and updated it in a second😂

@@edvard2942 Yeh that was a big hook! Still think the red box was too much for the camera... hehe

@@SummersSnaps yes😂

I think when the boy stopped it was also on the cusp of hitting MFD (but yes I know what you mean). Really, this was not a video to say the AF is good, more of a case of 'look... it's not that bad at 5.03, they REALLY screwed it on 6.00'. I agree with so many of your points in your videos, I feel like the mount itself could be an issue for genuinely improving AF. If you look at the Canon RF mount vs EF contact points, there are 12 points vs 8, 4 of those additional contact points for RF glass are apparently purely AF based, hence why those adapting EF glass to RF cameras (via an adapter) suffer worse AF performance than those using dedicated RF glass. RF glass can simply take full advantage of the cameras AF system due to having all the contact points. Fuji need to revamp all their lenses again with a new mount and more contact points, do whatever is necessary to catch their AF up, otherwise I think it will be a case of same 'ol same and they will get left behind to their own detriment. People come to Fuji for the sims, but they leave due to their AF. They have very poor retention and that can harm long term.

@@SummersSnaps this was a great observation, i can't agree more..

Yeh I believe that is untrue. What they mean is they can't do it locally. It might have to be sent to them and then they send it to Japan. You could be without the camera awhile in that instance. But I have heard it can be done, it just sounds like Fuji Romania can't do it. Look, I work for a couple of camera brands out here and there is a lot of disconnect from the various offices in the west and to main hub in the East. Try going over Romania's head, try and speak to Fuji direct. Or wait... give it a few weeks more, hopefully a patch soon 🤞

@@SummersSnaps I'll wait for the moment as I got not gigs atm and was lucky a video gig fell through right after upgrading to 6.0, boy was I naive...

@@Tech_Stuff_and_Other_Stuff :(

There s a guy who did it on r/fujifilmx on the xt5

Agreed. This is what's annoying me most. If they'd just say "err.. we're having some technical difficulties, apologies, but please bare with us while we figure it out. We're aware and we're working on it" I'd still be annoyed but at least thered be some communication and I'd know it's being adressed

A new vid is up now :)

Personally I slightly preferred the KP, but marginally so. The K3III has a heavier baked in noise reduction, it actually cannot be successfully denoised with the latest Adobe Lightroom Enhance feature (like I can with other non Pentax files), this is quite annoying and you might have to invest in 3rd party denoise software like Topaz if wanting to squeeze the maximum IQ out of the files. But really the difference between the two cameras is splitting hairs. Depends on your approach I guess, some like to do minimal post processing so the baked in NR can come across as a good thing (from the K3III). I would not really say either are substantially worse or better for IQ, in the end they are both APS-C.

Just for the record, I am not wholly unsatisfied with the AF performance (at least on f/w 5.03). The aim of my video here was to be truthful and transparent about my process and what I find a necessary approach to getting critically in focus shots. For sure I would like to see AF improved.

I completely appreciated your honesty in the video, I never questioned that. Unfortunately my experience with the XT5 was completely negative and since I have the utmost respect for the money honestly earned with work I will never waste it again on such expensive but also so UNRELIABLE products as Fuji cameras regarding AF

@@Al60ish Mine its been worse than yours for sure. AF issues in video everywhere. How th f**k Blurryfilm takes everything in focus BUT not the couple? I mean, couple out of focus and everything focused in the background. 6.01 is out; doesnt fix anything so for me is time to move, im done with Blurryfilm.

it is now clear that Fuji engineers are NOT capable of providing an autofocus on par with their renowned cameras; it's time to complain or turn to other brands

@@Al60ish You mean Blurryfilm? Jokes apart (although the biggest joke is the Blurryfilm focus), agree 100%. I've been complaining for weeks. They say there hasnt been complainings and AF is okey. But for sure, at least make them know there is something wrong because if not, they are not knowing there is an huge AF problem. So yes, for me, time to move on. Thats what happens when a brand doesnt focus (haha) on their issues. Thinking about fx30, a6700... or canon or lumix or i dont know. But enough for me. Losing money and time...

Indeed, even AF.C and wide tracking without Face and Eye Detection is substantially more sticky and sturdy.

It can be at times.

I do sometimes, it depends on the camera. There's pros and cons to it. One of the cons I don't like is you lose a button that otherwise could be used for something else. I don't mind the XH2S's shutter button, its pretty spongy so holding AF with a half press on this camera feels doable. Other cameras the shutter is so sensitive that the gentlest touch fires the shot and indeed you'd need BBF to get around that. What is interesting about the update to AF (that was forthcoming but perhaps is now here with 6.00), was that it was supposed to boost 'only' BBF processes, so I'm not sure exactly what it was doing poorly with ES+BFF and what it is claiming to have fixed, and whether the AF improvement is seen from someone with my approach that uses AF.C and ES but focuses via the shutter button). I have not heard good things with 6.00 so will wait awhile longer before updating (I'm currently on 5.03).

Yes I have heard that is the case. Contact your local Fuji Customer Support, explain the issue, they'll either advise to wait (for a patch) or ask you to send the camera in so that they can roll the f/w back. The lesson here is never jump on f/w immediately, wait, watch and read for issues arising.

Didn't it. I'm staying put on f/w 5.03 😁

Yes. I can understand that sentiment. For me, AF is just one aspect of the camera. As I point out in this video, silent AF (ES mode) with zero banding under strong artificial light, at shutter speeds I need... stacked sensor technology has become critically important. After the XH2S, the next stacked sensor camera is twice the price! So then the question of VALUE comes to play. I get paid to work yes, but not enough to justify 2x fullframe stacked sensor cameras (and lenses, which on FF are often more expensive). Even owning 2x XH2S's is pushing it (I ran with a single XH2S and a cheaper non stacked sensor Fuji body for a couple of years but really it is painful to be limited to 1/50, 1/60 or at most 1/100 shutter speeds with these non stacked sensor cameras in these shooting conditions). If you don't need stacked sensor technology then I completely recommend looking elsewhere for cameras with better AF. But overall I still think the XH2S is a great all round camera with AF that gets me through the session albeit with a lot of frames and culling. I'm not sure I recommend Fuji but I kinda recommend the XH2S... IF the features and specs matter to you and you understand what it all means.

​@@SummersSnaps The Nikon Z8 is only $1000 more, and with it, you can adapt and use Sony (including third-party) lenses while maintaining the same AF performance.

​@@AndreiDimaReviews And this is where I think geography comes into play. Here in Australia, the cheapest price for a Z8 is a little over $6000AUD. The cheapest price for an XH2S is a little over $3000AUD. So the Z8 is like TWICE the price out here compared to the XH2S, hence you see the issue. As a working professional I genuinely need two bodies, not only for backup reasons but also for the ease of the shoot. The classic 24-70 (16-55) on one body and the 70-200 (50-140) ensures you're well covered and minimal lens swapping required. Two of the same body is also really welcome from an operational perspective as well as set up (copy settings from one body to another). So now price it all together, 2x Z8 bodies alone exceeds my entire Fuji 2x XH2S+lenses kit, and then also look at the market and how much you can get away with charging clients. I'm jealous that a Z8 for you costs only $1000 more, but it is never only $1000 more for an event pro, it's x2 of everything so now that $1000 more becomes $2000 more, and what are the equivalent lenses priced at? Their 70-200 is TWICE the price of the 50-140 and the same can be said for their 24-70. Believe me, I would LOVE to run with that set up, but it is simply BAD BUSINESS to make that kind of change or fund that initial investment. You'd be working a whole year to work off that debt... and for what? A bit better AF? You also lose some lovely Fuji colours (not a fan of Nikon portrait skin tones, landscape they do great though).

​@@SummersSnaps Z6iii should have semi-stacked sensor which might give speed advantage at reasonable price

Checking electronic shutter flash sync for z6iii - 1/60 vs 1/125 for XH2s, I'd guess the z6iii semi-stacked is in practice not as fast as the XH2s, maybe by a factor 2

Well... I have several lenses for this system and they do all perform different in terms of AF confidence. The XF50-140 for example is practically parfocal in it's performance. I can start a 'bride walking down the aisle' shot from f2.8 @ 140mm and continuous burst with Face/Eye detection in AF.C whilst simultaneously zooming out as she comes towards me (to keep similar framing), eventually ending up at f2.8 @ 50mm, and the lens does fairly well in this regard with a high keeper rate. Whereas the Fringer III adapter paired with the 50-100 Sigma Art hopelessly fails this task (as does the XF16-80/4 that I tested recently in store). Some lenses are definitely much better at certain AF tasks than others. It appears LM based lenses offer a significant advantage, but its not infallible. I have had moments with the 50-140 where the green box is clearly on the target but heavily out of focus. It can be frustrating at times.

@@SummersSnaps I'm gonna post a video in few hours , i put my hand nead my face, My XH2s shows green box on eye but fully focuses on my hand 3 inches in front of my face. If it does that Imagine how easly it focuses on the nose/eyebrows/hair etc.

@@SummersSnaps So I am 100% a lens couldn't be blamed for this behaviour. Where I can find you to send a short example video ?

The XT4 is the better camera. Slightly larger but offering dual slots, WR and IBIS. Worthy upgrades. In fact the XT5 isn't enough of an upgrade over the XT4. At the time I purchased the XT30II it was roughly (new) half the price of the XT4. It seemed like a miniature XT4. If I could have afforded two XT4's I would have, but I couldn't so the XT30II was the compromise. But for almost half the price it offers the same AF performance, the same IQ, same filmsims and it is smaller. Battery life wasn't too shabby either (because it lacks IBIS). Both are great cameras, if you can push for the XT4 I probably would in your position, its a more pro level camera. I've seen the XT30II used market increase recently, to matching or trumping the XT4, which makes no sense imo. But if you can get an XT30II for a good price that's a good deal too. Really it comes down to value and the prices you're seeing.

@@SummersSnaps wow, thanks for the thought out response