From the #1 complainer about Fuji AF...

I don't want to take away from too much time where I can be out using the XH2s but as a guy with likely a hundred or two posts about just how much I was always displeased with Fuji's AF I've come to proclaim that after years, I'm now hanging up that hat.  Is it a Sony A1? Nope.  But I don't need it to be.  For me it's now good enough.  All I wanted was a camera I could take out in the yard and take pictures of my kid and get a respectable keeper rate of in focus photos.  This delivers and then some.  I'm not going to upload 30 pictures in the interest of Jerry's blood pressure but instead here are just three.  Every other shot in the middle of a burst in what was specifically a torture test.  Kids especially were just a flat out failure on even the XT4 with eye detect AF.  So here's my pretty quick four year old, running straight at me with her hair bouncing in front of her face with a pretty busy background.  I also don't care about how good the AF is at F11.  I want to be able to use every stop of my lens.  So I tested at f1.4.  Anyway, 28 shots starting from a distance away that I wouldn't actually ever take a photo at and ending with her within a foot of me.  It missed two.  Are the other 26 perfect at 200% and got the eye and not the eyelash?  No idea.  What I do know is they are good enough to share with my family or print to put on my desk.  Even the two misses were kind of close and most importantly it didn't just completely get lost through a third of the set like my XT4 very well might have.

This camera is expensive and doesn't improve on any aspect of photo quality over my XT4, except they are actually in focus so for me it's worth it.  For those wondering just how much better it is then previous Fuji cameras, it's like it was made by a different company.  24 hours deep with this in my hand I'm completely smitten.

Happy girl and focus is spot on

Mine still awaits the 150-600 before it can do anything meaningful

All's good so far

Maybe body needs a L Bracket or battery grip to give that pinky some rest

TFS

Ha! An actually useful, no-nonsense user review, thanks 

Your post just makes me want an XT-5 with stacked sensor haha but I think it's unlikely.

Fuji Maine wrote:

I don't want to take away from too much time where I can be out using the XH2s but as a guy with likely a hundred or two posts about just how much I was always displeased with Fuji's AF I've come to proclaim that after years, I'm now hanging up that hat. Is it a Sony A1? Nope. But I don't need it to be. For me it's now good enough. All I wanted was a camera I could take out in the yard and take pictures of my kid and get a respectable keeper rate of in focus photos. This delivers and then some. I'm not going to upload 30 pictures in the interest of Jerry's blood pressure but instead here are just three.

My cardiologist thanks you for that… and so do I.  But, you’ve been a tough critic, and there’s nothing wrong with that.  Seeing your positive report adds even more credibility to the very positive posts and articles I’ve read about the X-H2S up to this point.  The difficulty I’ve had with using the X-H1 for BIF and other such demanding photography left me with very high expectations (and hopes) for their next gen replacement.  It’s still a bit early in the game, but everything I’ve read and heard so far has been very encouraging, and your own experience carries a lot of weight given the difficulty you’ve experienced in the past (and you’re not alone in that).

Every other shot in the middle of a burst in what was specifically a torture test. Kids especially were just a flat out failure on even the XT4 with eye detect AF. So here's my pretty quick four year old, running straight at me with her hair bouncing in front of her face with a pretty busy background. I also don't care about how good the AF is at F11. I want to be able to use every stop of my lens. So I tested at f1.4. Anyway, 28 shots starting from a distance away that I wouldn't actually ever take a photo at and ending with her within a foot of me. It missed two. Are the other 26 perfect at 200% and got the eye and not the eyelash? No idea. What I do know is they are good enough to share with my family or print to put on my desk. Even the two misses were kind of close and most importantly it didn't just completely get lost through a third of the set like my XT4 very well might have.

This camera is expensive and doesn't improve on any aspect of photo quality over my XT4, except they are actually in focus so for me it's worth it. For those wondering just how much better it is then previous Fuji cameras, it's like it was made by a different company. 24 hours deep with this in my hand I'm completely smitten.

Some really delightful shots here.  Thanks for sharing, and it just makes me that much more anxious to get that camera in my hands.  And, BTW, what a cutie!

Aside from the wifi issues I’m having, I have to echo this post. This is a world ahead of the XP3. Outstanding body so far.

Fuji Maine wrote:

Jerry you're going to love it. As you know I was a big XH1 fan and this is definitely a worthy successor. The control layout took me a few minutes to get the hang of but I just mapped out my most common shooting scenarios for photo and video and although it's early I think I'm actually faster with this new body. This is the one we've been waiting for.

Well, that’s some high praise and makes me even a bit more excited about getting one in my hands.  I’ve struggled a bit with BIF, but I think the recognition firmware in the camera puts this into a whole different class, based not only on early reviews but the comments I’ve seeing across the board in the forum.

Please keep sharing your work, and I’ll do my best to stop drooling while I’m waiting to acquire a copy.  Enjoy!

Hooray! Any thoughts on video yet?

I don’t think the H2S is the one for me, for a variety of reasons but I’m at least feeling that I won’t be mad for waiting for the X-T5.

A situation like you demonstrated here is challenging for the X-T4 for sure but I get enough keepers in such scenarios that I’m not mad. But if the X-T5 can appreciably improve that, then I’ll be very happy.

There are also really good practical reviews now of production cameras coming from various YouTubers that are longtime Fuji shooters and are in a place to make useful remarks, like Reggie B and Hybrid Shooter. All very promising…

Totally feel you on the "I just want to take in-focus photos of my kids" front. Excited for my camera tomorrow.

Add me to the list of people happy with the new camera. It is a real game-changer and makes me feel like I've unlocked Fujifilm's cheat code for AF. It isn't perfect, but it is close. That has me so happy, as I know that future bodies will also have great AF. I think we can finally put aside all the gripes about falling behind the competition.

Enjoy your new camera!

Samuraidog wrote:

I think we can finally put aside all the gripes about falling behind the competition.

Oh, give us a minute 😀

jnesselrode wrote:

Samuraidog wrote:

I think we can finally put aside all the gripes about falling behind the competition.

Oh, give us a minute 😀

I should have specified that I only use it for stills, so there is still room for complaints on the video (or so I've heard).

Fuji Maine wrote:

I don't want to take away from too much time where I can be out using the XH2s but as a guy with likely a hundred or two posts about just how much I was always displeased with Fuji's AF I've come to proclaim that after years, I'm now hanging up that hat.

...

This camera is expensive and doesn't improve on any aspect of photo quality over my XT4, except they are actually in focus so for me it's worth it. For those wondering just how much better it is then previous Fuji cameras, it's like it was made by a different company. 24 hours deep with this in my hand I'm completely smitten

Not often was I that impressed by a user review.

Many thanks for sharing.

What a cute girl, btw.

X-T4 owner speaking. No serious complaints about its AF but I do seldom need to track fast moving subjects. IBIS was the big thing for my needs. Happy that I upgraded from the X-T20. Anyway, now even more curious about the X-T5.

Kind regards,

Martin