Why I Sold All My Fuji Gear

[@WesKriesel]

If you are new here, two years ago I went all in on Fuji because the Fuji X-H2s release was incredibly powerful and persuasive! Now, with the AF issues, I'm left looking for other options. What's your take on Fuji?

[@stkuj]

Sold all my Fuji gear over 4 years ago. (Guess I foresaw the future LOL). Still like not love Fuji. Might dip my toes back in with the new X-M5. I'm all-in with Sony FF now, might also dip my toes with Nikon too.

[@43rdMusic]

I regret investing into the Fujifilm system 2 years ago. I collected a lot of gear like you and now I’m selling them and moving off to Canon. Good riddance.

[@MOTOJendays]

Went from H2s to Z8. I loved everything about my Fuji except it couldn’t have reliable af no matter what I did.

[@rbos6001]

Waiting to see if the november fix helps. I like editing the Fuji files more especially in portraits. With the Canon R8 I need to adapt the white balance a lot with Fuji not so much. Let alone how much post processing I needed to get the look I want from Sony. Nikon en Panasonic are nice but the lower models I dont believe have better autofocus then the latest Fujifilms.

[@tshiring7]

Now its time to hop on Lumix system.

[@BartRos1980]

I moved from Sony to Fuji GFX, Xpro 3 and XHS2 2,5 years ago. All I had was endless autofocus issues. Even in tripod and with ibis off. Like I was shooting in a Hurricane. It wasted entire projects for me. Lost clients. No solution online, no help on fuji forums, no real help from Fuji itself. Terrible pro service. Fuji also the only brand I had broken lenses with. Malfunctioning bodies. The AF is a firmware issue. Someone in the know told me. Now silently fixed via firmware. But I moved on to Nikon Z, great bodies, great colors, good AF and amazing pro services.

[@WesKriesel]

@@BartRos1980 wow! Such a struggle! It shouldn’t be like that!

[@amermeleitor]

There are reasons why Canon, Nikon and Sony are the brands most used for professionals. Reliability and service are the most important ones.

[@BryanSolidusFury]

".....now silently fixed via firmware......" didn't they announce the update publicly during their x-summit? how loud do you want it to be?

[@jessejayphotography]

My XF 150-600 just broke 2 days ago. I've only had it for 5 months. It made a 1/2 second buzzing noise when turning the camera on and then error on camera to turn it off and back on again. The AF motors just gave up and slide freely in the lens when its on. I sent to fuji under warranty. Hopefully they will give me a 100% working refurbished lens. Kinda disappointing from a "red badge lens" from them.

[@Slave-Of-Christ]

I sold all my Fuji stuff, too. They have a lot going for them, but you gotta get the fundamentals right, man. Tired of waiting. BTW, the teasing did nothing but tick me off. If you aren't going to reveal what you switched to, share that earlier in the video. That's actually not very nice.

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment. My apologies for withholding info! I was trying to save that for another video - I replaced the X-H2s with the Sony FX30,

[@hunterhart1]

I stand by you on your decision. I was canon to sony to fuji for years and now back to sony but I kept my X100V because I do love their cameras but not for my use case.

[@WesKriesel]

Right! It's all about the use case. I need something that can stick the focus in video mode, especially because I'm a one person filming myself.

[@koryhawes2548]

I recently sold all my fuji camera gear too. Got a good deal on a z8 and 400 4.5. It is night and day for autofocus. Sad that so many people are switching, but fuji had plenty of time to improve.

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yeah, that Z8 AF is seriously impressive. Fuji has its magic, but when you need reliable tracking, those performance differences really start to matter. 🎥

[@choiman012]

Woahh interesting! I can't wait to see what you switched to.

[@WesKriesel]

Spoiler alert: Sony FX30.

[@M461Cfs]

I shoot Sony fx30 Sony a7iii and a fujixt2. I love just liking to shoot photos with any gear

[@WesKriesel]

One of my favorite Fuji cameras was the Fuji X-T1. Really great camera.

[@amermeleitor]

Sometimes a big change helps to keep us creative and awake. It open possibilities.

[@WesKriesel]

I love that!

[@E3Zombie]

Can understand as a hybrid shooter why you switched but as a mostly stills guy I’m super happy with my XH2.

[@WesKriesel]

That's fabulous. Glad that your setup is working well!

[@YouSnoozeYouNooze]

i almost got rid of my X-h2 but going to firmware 2.01 made it okay for slow subjects. looking at Canon full frame in the future

[@WesKriesel]

Canon is very reliable! Just not as inspiring, for me personally.

[@amermeleitor]

I hope your new system is Nikon. That way you could try the Boryoza adapter to use Fuji X lenses on Nikon Z bodies, well at least with the lenses you kept

[@WesKriesel]

Thank you for watching him for the comment. I wasn’t aware of that adapter. I sold all my Fuji lenses except the 23mm F/2 and went with Sony for a hybrid setup.

[@jim-t4q]

You know, I bought a Canon 100-500mm and a Tiffen digital filter to put on the end of it, took it out and it couldn't focus properly at all! So I took the filter off and it focused fine. I've since learned that it's well worth it to purchase high quality filters as they can interfere with your lens's ability to focus. Now I don't use them at all unless I think there's a risk to the front element.

[@WesKriesel]

Good tip about filter quality! Sometimes no filter is the best filter for sharp focus. 📸

[@TwoTimesRmedia]

It's very frustrating I get it. Features hold a bit more value than the AF now a days. I like my Panasonic and my sony cameras but, I miss using my X-H2s. I'm holding my breath that they will fix it in the next firmware update . I need to make a video as to why I can sell my X-H2s yet.

[@WesKriesel]

@@TwoTimesRmedia fingers crossed for you. I’m hoping they fix it!

[@kendrasananikone]

fuji's been good to me cuz i don't use it for professional work loll my sony a7siii has been my workhorse for the past 4 years and its AF has never failed me 😅

[@WesKriesel]

I'm starting to use the Sony FX30 for KZbin content. We'll see how it goes! Everyone says I'll love it.

[@kendrasananikone]

@@WesKriesel i think you will too! haha

[@limagepicture9023]

Hi, I feel sorry for you because camera bodies are expensive and not having a reliable autofocus is indeed a good reason to part with your equipment. Personally, I have been with Sony since 2018 and the purchase of my Sony A9 which will soon reach a million shots. Today, it is still a very reliable camera that I often use for social reporting in photo or video either with my GM 35mm F1.4 or with my Sony G 20-70mm F4. Now that I have gotten used to less bulky and silent equipment in FF, I think I will not go back. Good luck with your research.

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for sharing your experience with Sony! The A9 is indeed impressive to hit nearly a million shots. You make great points about the benefits of mirrorless - the size and silent shooting are definitely key features I'm considering. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your specific lens setup too 📸

[@DigiDriftZone]

Welcome to the club! I like their cameras as a shelf piece and the tactile feel of the dials, but they are so far behind the competition now. The autofocus is atrocious, the lenses are overpriced and subpar and can't resolve 40MP wide open, stepping focus/aperture, the f/2 primes have insane focus breathing, the dynamic range rivals an iPhone 15, the new X-Trans5 is even noisier in low light than the 6 year old X-Trans4 (which they are still using on new bodies!), the IBIS is unusable in video with heavy corner wobbles, weather sealing is questionable and non existent on many bodies, built in mics are rubbish and pick up focus noises, awful rolling shutter, big dynamic range drop in 6.2k. I sold my X-T3 and X-S20 and jumped all in with Sony full frame. I actually ended up saving money as X-mount lenses are so expensive!

[@WesKriesel]

@@DigiDriftZone it’s painful to hear! On the other hand, I always thought that the lenses were affordable coming from Canon RF!

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@WesKriesel Yeh, Canon is great but the size/price to performance is not as compelling on the lenses: exceptional, but very big/heavy/expensive. But the FE mount lenses are smaller/lighter and cheaper than comparable Fuji APS-C ones, it's crazy!

[@ChrisThe1]

show me a sony lens that resolves 40mp aps-c. there isn't one

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@ChrisThe1 correct, it’s all about full frame for that reason, because it’s easier to manufacture lenses that can resolve more resolution, they are better and cheaper. Not to mention often smaller and lighter for equivalents.

[@ChrisThe1]

@@DigiDriftZone i haven't used sony but compared to canon, fuji's lenses are much more compact. Also, gfx beats the crap out of any ff setup

[@jackrussel9991]

Nice and sad to hear this, but it's not possible to wait more and more for a FUJIFILM response on the AF. They need to fix this and to apologize with their user.

[@WesKriesel]

Let's see what happens in November!

[@theblackmanarmedwithacamera]

LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT A NEW LEICA TOY....BUT LOOKS LIKE YOU GOT ANOTHER FUJI... LIKE THE XPRO OR THE X100VI...BUT SPECIFICALLY THE XPRO2! THOSE BLACKS LOOK GREAT!!!!

[@WesKriesel]

You got it!

[@sdhute]

I’m guessing a Nikon ZF

[@WesKriesel]

Not quite - I actually went with Sony! The video autofocus reliability made it the right choice for my KZbin work. 🎥

[@sdhute]

@ I almost picked up a a6700 but going to wait for now. Currently using s5ii

[@praetorian3571]

Switching camera brands will not make you a better photographer or videographer, and every camera brand will have its own issues that you need to deal with.

[@WesKriesel]

Every system has tradeoffs - this switch was just about specific features I needed for my KZbin videos! 🎥

[@kicyiu]

Usually people buy Fuji because of the control dials, film simulations and all those feeling that make people what to go out and shoot. To me they are just gimmick created by KZbinrs. Fuji cameras are just another tools but unlike others brands they don’t work well out of the box and they are very unusable. They have the worse AF of the industry and just that ruin everything for me

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for your perspective. Every photographer has different needs - AF performance and out-of-box usability are definitely important factors when choosing gear. Hope you've found a system that works better for your shooting style.

[@mauibuilder1239]

I'm color blind....never leaving Fuji 😂 Straight outta camera!

[@WesKriesel]

Nice!

[@Teslien]

bro, you dont wear boots on hikes??? youre a mad man!

[@WesKriesel]

Yeah, it was a bit impromptu. I had my hiking boots in the Jeep, too! I just pulled over to explore a bit. Lesson learned!

[@dreamer_33]

If there would be only one camera brand, that would be really boring.

[@WesKriesel]

Good point!

[@nevvanclarke9225]

And in 6 months you'll regret it.

[@WesKriesel]

We will see! Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment.

[@PhillipRPeck]

The shutter sound of your new camera is way worse than Fuji ... 😅

[@WesKriesel]

@@PhillipRPeck ha ha! So true.

[@westdk6705]

J.U.D.A.S

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for watching! While I understand the strong feelings, I had to make the best choice for my professional needs. Hope you understand! 🙂

[@westdk6705]

@WesKriesel I understand you 🫡and good luck !!

[@geoffreymee7671]

That was a complete waste of space. No comment on why the move, nothing about the new system...nothing except a guy walking in the desert...I wont be back

[@WesKriesel]

bye

[@nevvanclarke9225]

LOL 😆 a KEH advertisement video Won't be subscribing lol 😮

[@WesKriesel]

Thanks for watching and for leaving a comment. I should have asked them to be a sponsor, I guess.

[@omarknowsphotos]

Am I the only guy not having autofocus issues on Fuji? 😭😭😭

[@tazsmith]

Yup

[@WesKriesel]

@@omarknowsphotos some commenters have suggested particular ways to set up the AF. Which I get. However, my issue is when what used to work for me, no longer works.

[@omarknowsphotos]

@@WesKriesel I avoided the firmware update that decimated it and am hoping the one in a few weeks sorts it out. I have other lines of beef with Fuji right now and if they continue to drop the ball...

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@omarknowsphotos I remember 6 years ago when Fuji promised they will fix the autofocus in firmware 3.0 on the X-T3, I stopped waiting a year ago and went Sony, no regrets :)

[@WesKriesel]

@@omarknowsphotos I pray that Fuji gets it sorted out!

[@ChrisThe1]

I think this notion of "fuji's autofocus isn't good" is a mark of a lack of skill. Yes they're behind the competition, but they're still better than old dslrs. Nobody had issues in those days.

[@jingiskahn3466]

And this is the kind of comment that makes the discussion more difficult. (Disclaimer: I use an XT-5). It generalizes that all users who have autofocus issues are the problem, implying it’s user error. I recently had a discussion with a friend about this. He says he has no issues with the focus on his XH-2. However, I complain about the imprecision of the focused images. We looked at his pictures. He hadn’t even noticed that they were slightly out of focus at the point where the focus was set. But that can also be explained. He runs around the city taking pictures of architecture and park benches. I take pictures of moving people (dance sports). If an image is out of focus, no one wants it. I have to admit that with my old XT-3, I got more shots in focus than with the XT-5. I’ve spent a lot of time understanding the autofocus behavior at different burst speeds to reduce the number of bad shots. I’ve optimized my workflow to shoot fewer bursts and instead better anticipate the right moment. The tracking of the XT-5 is superior to the XT-3, but the focusing accuracy leaves much to be desired.

[@ChrisThe1]

@@jingiskahn3466 that's odd. I have never noticed my images not being focused correctly (happens maybe 1/100, but i notice in the viewfinder while shooting). I also use an x-h2, and i do look closely

[@WesKriesel]

I don't think my skills got worse over time... same photographer, same techniques, but somehow the AF isn't what it used to be. Makes you wonder about those firmware updates 📸

[@WesKriesel]

This is such a thoughtful response. You're right - AF needs really depend on what you're shooting. Architecture vs fast-moving dancers are totally different scenarios. Really interesting observation about the XT-3 vs XT-5 focus accuracy too. Sometimes newer isn't always better for every use case 📸