Why I left Fujifilm
Why I Left Fujifilm
For 2 years, my Fujifilm camera was glued to my hand—a trusted companion for my everyday carry and countless shoots. The classic design, tactile dials, and legendary colors inspired me every time I pressed the shutter. Fujifilm wasn’t just a tool; it was a love letter to photography. And to be completely real, if I hadn't found Fujifilm cameras I would probably have stepped away from photography all together. They really can be that inspiring.
Love stories don’t always last….. Small issues, like autofocus struggling, certain mixed and low light images being too muddy to edit and slower than normal processing times with the raw files, began to pile up. At first, I brushed them off, loyal to a brand that had given me so much. But over time, those small cracks widened, forcing me to ask: Is Fujifilm still right for me?
This was a tough question. Fujifilm shaped my vision as a photographer, but my evolving needs demanded tools that could keep up. In this post, I’ll share why I chose to move on—not out of bitterness, mostly ;) but to find tools that match my growth.
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My Journey with Fujifilm
When I first switched from Canon to Fujifilm, it felt like stepping into a whole new world. The compact, retro-inspired design of the X-series line of cameras made photography fun! I carried my X-T4 and eventually X-T5 everywhere, never leaving home without it. I fell in love with the very visual and tactile dials. These dials, along with each lens having an aperture ring, helped me truly understand how shutter speed, ISO, and aperture worked together—or not. ;) I can’t say enough about how much this improved my photography and my grasp of the technical side of cameras. And those legendary Fujifilm film simulations are no joke—my images had never looked so good.
For 2 years, these features made Fujifilm my go-to system. I used it for everything: client shoots, personal projects, and my everyday carry. I even found myself evangelizing the brand to friends, convinced they’d appreciate the simplicity and joy it brought to photography. As much as I appreciated my Fujifilm X-T5, it wasn’t long before I started noticing where it seemed to fall short in certain parts of my professional work.
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The Challenges I Faced
While my Fujifilm X-T5 excelled in many areas, some limitations began to stand out, especially during professional shoots. Autofocus performance was a recurring frustration. Many times, it would focus on the background behind the subject, even though I was given a green box on my subject. Funnily enough, my X-T4, before I sold it to purchase the X-T5, actually had a better autofocus hit rate in my experience. As a photographer who loves capturing action, I’ve found myself missing incredible moments at fast-paced events like running races and lively parties. It’s tough when the camera can’t keep up with the excitement!
There was another challenge with the file handling. The amazing film simulations from Fujifilm come with a price tag: the RAW files. Working with RAF files felt like a small bottleneck in my editing process. Even though I was using the latest version of Lightroom, the processing times were far longer than with other RAW files from other cameras. I started to wonder if the extra effort was worth the legendary colors.
The final straw, I am goin to keep this short and sweet. My sister was taking photos of my father talking to his grandaughter. Minor note my sister is also a photographer and very familiar with the fuji xt5. Both subjects sitting and mostly still. My Father passed away a few months later and these are some of the last photos I have of him. The majority of the photos are focused on the back ground, not my father.
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The Decision to Move On
Deciding to leave Fujifilm was not easy. I had invested time, money, and creativity into the system. More than that, Fujifilm felt like part of my identity as a photographer. But the limitations I faced began to overshadow the joy I once felt while using the cameras. Missing critical moments, like the photos of my father and niece, drove home the reality that my gear needed to meet higher standards.
I started exploring other systems with a fresh perspective, focusing on tools that could adapt to my growing needs. Autofocus reliability became a top priority, alongside a smoother editing workflow. I wanted a camera system that wouldn’t just complement my work but also keep up with the spontaneity and emotion I aim to capture.
The switch wasn’t about abandoning Fujifilm—it was about aligning my tools with my goals. I still admire the brand for its artistry and philosophy, but for my professional and personal evolution, it was time to move forward. For now...