Top vs bottom comparison....

Tom Schum wrote:

MarkWW wrote:

That's why it's so important to me to understand the limitations of the equipment I'm using, and why phase detect is an unacceptable compromise to me.

I have a first generation Fuji X-trans without phase autofocus pixels, an X-E1. My own opinion is that it is excellent. You can buy these cheap on eBay from owners who don't realize what a gem these cameras really are.

I also recently bought into the Fuji ecosystem. The X-E1 can be had for $200, though I got the X-Pro1 for maybe $350 if memory serves. I'm hoping it can somewhat replace the role my beloved Nikon D7000 filled - APSC, autofocus, highlights blow out gracefully, looking through glass to compose, good manual controls.

I have a first generation Sigma dp0q without phase autofocus pixels. My own opinion is that it is excellent.

I also have a second generation Sigma sd Quattro WITH phase autofocus pixels. I guess they need these to be able to autofocus their current Art lens line. Looks like we are stuck with those phase autofocus pixels. I can't see them in the photos (probably because I haven't looked closely enough) but the mere thought that the firmware is interpolating them out of the image leaves me cold.

The latest generations of Fuji have phase autofocus pixels (X-E2has some, X-E3 has many many many). And I haven't bothered to mention the rest of the manufacturers who are all using them.

Looks like the only way to get beyond this with current product offerings is to buy the GFX 50X, or other medium format cameras such as the Hasselblad. For the time being they do not yet have phase autofocus pixels. But unfortunately they are probably on the way even in this rarefied product space.

The Sony A7R doesn't have PD pixels, though my A7 does and I've never noticed it - but I don't shoot it in the same way I shot my other cameras - diving into menus to change settings & not seeing through glass causes me to shoot differently. It also does a great job choosing exposure & the color rendition & white balance choices are almost always great.

Though I feel like I'm along for the ride with the Sony rather than me controlling the camera, I'm guiding the camera, but it still has a mind of its own.

That's part of why I wanted to jump into the Fuji end of the pool - strong manual exposure controls & looking through glass will maybe bring me back to my roots.

The best course of action might be to bite the bullet and try to forget about the new stuff that is screwing up our photos (or at least our perception of them). We are buggy whip manufacturers in the age of the automobile.

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Tom Schum
Every day a new image.

Sometimes I just want a fast 50 and my K1000, that's where I started my photographic journey (not including various point & shoot cameras I had as a kid), and on some level, that's where I want to end up.