Xt-5 Autofocus issues

[cyns]

Body: XT-5

Lenses: Fuji XF 16-80 f/4, Fuji XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7, VILTROX 23mm f/1.4

Has anyone had this issue or know how to troubleshoot and narrow down what the issue might be? I'm still trying to figure out a pattern but I bought a brand new XC50-230 and when I put it on the camera and took a picture it came out totally blurry. In the view finder and on the screen, it looked totally in focus. This happens with every picture. I switched to other lenses and pictures came out fine. But then a couple days later, both my other lenses experienced the same issue. Today, I went to send sample shots with details to and snapped a couple photos with the camera and the phone as a remote. The pictures taken with the camera are blurry, the pictures taken with the phone as a remote are clear. Same setup, same focal point (see attached photos)

 

https://imgtr.ee/image/Taken-with-App.IMSzdh

https://imgtr.ee/image/Taken-with-Camera.IMSr7b

[Greybeard]

Can you share the original files - straight out of camera so that we can see the settings?

[cyns]

Yes! Here are two of them. Let me know if there's a way to share the settings easily -- this is my first time on a forum.

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Edited June 8, 2024 by cyns

[bergat]

I think you have not disabled the toutch focus

[George_P]

While @Greybeard is busy doing something else, I looked at the photos but I  don’t know what is going on. You have shutter speed set to 1/30 s so there could be camera shake induced by pressing the shutter as opposed to using the remote shutter (if the camera is on a stative or resting on a table you could use the 2s Self-Timer to avoid that)… but that shot doesn’t look as a shaky picture to me, it looks really like an out of focus picture. Just to make sure, excuse me if this is an unappropriate question, do you first half-press the shutter to let the camera acquire focus (the focus point turns green) and then continue pressing to take the shot ? Also, did you set Focus Priority or Release Priority mode ? Sorry if I asked stupid questions but some people are new to photography and almost no-one reads the manuals. 

Edited June 10, 2024 by George_P
typo

[George_P]

And yes, what @bergat said, if you have the touch screen focus active and you touch it with your nose for instance, you change the focus point to elsewhere. 

[Greybeard]

You have had some good suggestions but we would probably have a better idea from looking at the original files.

Sharing the images directly to the forum in the way you have done removes a lot of the settings.

You have to use something like DropBox or WeTransfer (both of which have minimal free accounts).

[cyns]

Hi all,

I really appreciate everyone's input so far and your patience with my slow responses. @George_P No stupid questions here! I am totally new to Fuji and basically new. I didn't realize camera's had gotten so advanced and powerful in the 15 years I wasn't shooting. I've been having fun growing with this camera in the last year.

On 6/10/2024 at 3:34 AM, George_P said:

do you first half-press the shutter to let the camera acquire focus (the focus point turns green) and then continue pressing to take the shot ?

Yes, I half press until the focus point turns green and then take the shot.

On 6/10/2024 at 3:34 AM, George_P said:

did you set Focus Priority or Release Priority mode ?

At this point I've tried both settings and keep getting the same issue. I originally had it on Focus Priority Mode.

@bergat Touch focus was definitely on at the time -- it has been since I've had the camera and it hasn't been an issue. Do you know if people have had it become an issue? I tested a couple shots with it on and off and everything is still out of focus!😭

I uploaded the first photo I took with this issue. It was the first time I put the XC50-230mmF4.5-6.7 lens on so I chalked it up to maybe some settings issues but since then it's happened with every lens. I uploaded additional photos taken with a tripod. The touch screen

 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xv592pintt0xv7mqt6eph/DSCF7362.JPG?rlkey=jlok2eyhz795g29vijl29x8zk&st=3k5bat3z&dl=0

Edited June 11, 2024 by cyns

[Greybeard]

That is baffling - I'm assuming you get the same problem with different lenses?

Focus Priority release wouldn't help but you already said you tried with Focus Priority focus.

You seem to have animal subject detection turned on - but again that shouldn't make any difference - the camera is reporting that its trying to focus on the blurred figure just right of centre.

What do you see on the screen or through the viewfinder - did the image look sharp in the image you put on Dropbox?

All I can suggest is to completely reset all settings and try again with the 16-80 lens (you can back the settings up using the XApp or the Fujifilm X Acquire software if you don't want to lose them) - check if the subject appears sharp in the viewfinder.

Turn off the touch screen (just in case - but I doubt it will make any difference because the camera was trying to focus on the figure in your posted sample).

[jerryy]

Does this: https://www.fujirumors.com/lastest-firmware-introduces-autofocus-bug-to-fujifilm-x-t5-x-h2-and-x-h2s-annoying-but-easily-fixable/

have anything to do with what you are getting?

Fujirumors says a fix should be coming in the July -August time period.

[Greybeard]

1 hour ago, jerryy said:

Does this: https://www.fujirumors.com/lastest-firmware-introduces-autofocus-bug-to-fujifilm-x-t5-x-h2-and-x-h2s-annoying-but-easily-fixable/

have anything to do with what you are getting?

Fujirumors says a fix should be coming in the July -August time period.

Jerryy - I think that issue is different.

I've taken a lot of time looking into the subject detection problems related to that bug and its always the case that the camera focuses on something different - it doesn't create a completely blurred image like the most recent image from the OP

[George_P]

I also think the issue is different. I have the X-T5 at V3.01 and the 50-230 at V1.10. I have not used that lens in a long time so I tried it (in CAF) but it worked normally. It focused on the eye that either I chose or the eye the camera chose automatically (when I activated that function). I had my son wave his hand in front of him but still my camera had no problem to focus on the eye just like the green quadrangle was indicating. This was just a brief test now in the evening (inside, so btw definitely no ideal lighting conditions) but I could not even reproduce the V3.01 bug that has been complained about. 

@cyns had said that he used a tripod, so for entirety I would like to mention, what we all know, that it is recommended to switch OIS and/or IBIS off while on a tripod (this lens has OIS too besides the IBIS of the X-T5) but I doubt that has anything to do with the problem when I look at that image and he surely took also shots hanheld. So baffling, yes it is. Could it be a faulty IBIS ? Maybe try to shut it off and see what happens ? I don’t think so. 

Edited June 13, 2024 by George_P

[jerryy]

In the original message, @cyns mentions that the shots are in focus when using the phone app as a remote. If this is still happening and if using a wired remote also gets in-focus images, there may be a problem with the top plate controller board messing up the half press to focus, full press to image sequence.

Can you try back button focusing and see if that makes a difference?

https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/exposure-center/back-button-focusing-all-you-need-to-know/

 

[cyns]

Hi 

On 6/11/2024 at 11:39 PM, Greybeard said:

What do you see on the screen or through the viewfinder - did the image look sharp in the image you put on Dropbox?

 

@GreybeardWhen I look through the screen or viewfinder, the focus area appears clear and sharp. I took ~20 photos on vacation and when I finally looked back at them later I realized they were all blurry. Such a bummer. Sometimes, I notice that when I hit the shutter I can see the focus area blur and the screen goes black before going back to live view. I will see if I can get that on recording. 

22 hours ago, jerryy said:

Can you try back button focusing and see if that makes a difference?

 

@jerryyI followed the tutorial and the live view appears to be doing exactly what back focusing is intended for. Half pressing the shutter doesn't do anything. When I push the AF-ON button, the area in the green box becomes clear. I snap the photo -- it's blurry! AHHH!

@George_P I will turn it off in some test shots tonight. Hope this gives us some more clarity.

I bought my camera last April -- so we are just past the warranty. Does anyone have recommendations on what to do next? I've been emailing with Fuji but get a response every ~3-5 days. I'm so bummed because I have another trip in July and I feel like this issue might not be resolved by then.

 

[George_P]

This is really bad luck, sorry to read this. In my country the warranty period is two years. Talk to Fuji, have it repaired. I hope you can resolve this for a reasonable price. 

[cyns]

Thank you @George_P I'm sending it in for repair tomorrow. Fingers crossed it's a cheap repair!

[bergat]

I think  the solution is a good setting. When you use the toutch it is possible that with the nose you move the focus point.

[Nialler]

Maybe I'm late to this, but the second photo seems to have pretty good focus on the chair back which is at the far end of the table. It appears to me that the AF has gone walkies and selected another object for its focus. 

 

I don't think that the camera is faulty. The latest firmware may be the cure. I know that I've had to keep a close eye on where the camera has been focusing.

Edited June 27, 2024 by Nialler

[BobJ]

In the first photo the camera has focused on the nearest leaf. In the second it has focused somewhere on the background. This sort of random behaviour is definitely not a normal characteristic of the x-t5. When you take the first half pressure on the shutter  button, assuming you are set for single focus, you should see a green square in the viewfinder which indicates where the focus will be. Set the focus area to single point and try another test. Personally I never use the touch screen for the reasons that others have written here.

[TOPSHELFJUNIOR]

Whew, nobody mentioned the 27mm 2.8 ! Thank God !