Hi all, I'm kind of new to the Fuji system (just got my gear a couple days ago) and it's been somewhat frustrating to say the least. Focusing seems fine when shooting wide, but as soon as I add any zoom, the camera has no idea how to focus on anything. This is with objects well beyond the minimum focus distance of 35cm. Triggering AF either does nothing (grey box) or occasionally attempts to focus but fails (red ! box). Adding MF does almost nothing either, the display shows focus distance adjustments but no actual focus changes are happening.Do I just have a lemon? I've brought it to the Osaka Fuji service center and they couldn't find any obvious issues with it. They acknowledged the MF issue but brushed it off and told me to just use AF (like wth!?). But testing it side by side with my old FZ1000, the Lumix barely breaks a sweat in similar or even worse lighting conditions. I'm starting to feel some buyers remorse though I really wanted to love this system after all I've heard about it from friends.TLDR; I'd like to know if it's normal for the X-T3 and 16-80F4 combination to have difficulty focusing when zoomed? Also, is it normal for the camera display to stutter when triggering AF despite already being in Boost Mode? Finally, is it normal for the fly-by-wire MF to "lock up" and simply fail to make any changes? Thanks!

I have had a similar experience with my X-T200 + XF 55-200mm. Although I think the object is far enough from me to allow AF, it is just not far enough. Try to move back a little bit and see whether the distance is the cause of the problem.

enzohagz wrote:Hi all, I'm kind of new to the Fuji system (just got my gear a couple days ago) and it's been somewhat frustrating to say the least. Focusing seems fine when shooting wide, but as soon as I add any zoom, the camera has no idea how to focus on anything. This is with objects well beyond the minimum focus distance of 35cm. Triggering AF either does nothing (grey box) or occasionally attempts to focus but fails (red ! box). Adding MF does almost nothing either, the display shows focus distance adjustments but no actual focus changes are happening.Do I just have a lemon? I've brought it to the Osaka Fuji service center and they couldn't find any obvious issues with it. They acknowledged the MF issue but brushed it off and told me to just use AF (like wth!?). But testing it side by side with my old FZ1000, the Lumix barely breaks a sweat in similar or even worse lighting conditions. I'm starting to feel some buyers remorse though I really wanted to love this system after all I've heard about it from friends.TLDR; I'd like to know if it's normal for the X-T3 and 16-80F4 combination to have difficulty focusing when zoomed? Also, is it normal for the camera display to stutter when triggering AF despite already being in Boost Mode? Finally, is it normal for the fly-by-wire MF to "lock up" and simply fail to make any changes? Thanks!I have been using this combo for more than a year now and it works flawlessly, focusing fast both in SAF and CAF. If there isn’t a faulty body or lens, I think there might be an issue with your settings... Do you want to show us your settings? Maybe you need to check lens and mount contacts are clean? Is firmware updated in both body and lens?By the way I keep boost mode always on, use SAF most of the time, and face/eye while shooting people. I usually shoot in aperture priority and leave OIS active.

mxk7 wrote:I have had a similar experience with my X-T200 + XF 55-200mm. Although I think the object is far enough from me to allow AF, it is just not far enough. Try to move back a little bit and see whether the distance is the cause of the problem.Indeed in some cases it can be remedied as such. However, I am able to reliably find zoom ranges which completely lock up the AF ability of the lens. Typically, this seems to be the 50-60mm range. I'm assuming it has something to do with the complexity of the optics.The most common case is when I focus on an distant object (5m) away at full zoom (80mm). I can then pull back to around 55mm which puts it out focus due to the characteristics of the lens. The real problem is when I now try to focus on a closer object (1m). There seem to be a lot of cases where it gets trapped in a configuration where AF simply locks up and the lens can no longer find a way to focus at any distance. I must admit I've never experienced this kind of behavior before. I've heard a lot of comments about this lens, but I did not expect it to be this strange.

Yannis1976 wrote:I have been using this combo for more than a year now and it works flawlessly, focusing fast both in SAF and CAF. If there isn’t a faulty body or lens, I think there might be an issue with your settings... Do you want to show us your settings? Maybe you need to check lens and mount contacts are clean? Is firmware updated in both body and lens?By the way I keep boost mode always on, use SAF most of the time, and face/eye while shooting people. I usually shoot in aperture priority and leave OIS active.Lens and mount are both pristine as I bought them both new. The body itself was back-ordered.Body FW was immediately updated upon initial setup to v4.10. Lens arrived stock with FW v1.04. I realize there is an updated FW for the lens (v1.05), however the changes seem to affect OIS in video.Most of my other settings are stock and I shoot mostly in Aperture priority mode with the lens wide open at f4.0 in order to properly diagnose the focusing issue. Face detect is currently OFF since I'm testing the point-focus ability first before I move on to something more complicated. Focusing mode is set to AF-S, SAF is ON, and OIS is set to Continuous. I tried to keep the settings as simple as possible to properly debug the issue.Do you think FW v1.05 would change the focusing behavior?Trying to get as many opinions or solutions as possible before I decide to visit the Fuji Plaza again.

Check the screws on the lens mount plate on the camera. I had a couple of screws come loose which caused intermittent problems (usualy and 'F0' error, but also inability to focus). Is the camera set to 'Release' or 'Focus' priority. If in release, change to Focus and see if that helps. Here is a link to good explanation of the Fuji-X focus system:https://youtu.be/fEwx1tdCzyk?t=2

BillCPA wrote:Check the screws on the lens mount plate on the camera. I had a couple of screws come loose which caused intermittent problems (usualy and 'F0' error, but also inability to focus). Is the camera set to 'Release' or 'Focus' priority. If in release, change to Focus and see if that helps. Here is a link to good explanation of the Fuji-X focus system:https://youtu.be/fEwx1tdCzyk?t=2Thanks for the tip. Screws seemed fine on both the mount plate and lens. Also, I'm testing using a back button mapped to AF-ON, not the shutter, so priority shouldn't come into play. Although, I had already set it to 'Focus' priority after I noticed the focusing issues.Regarding focus modes explained in the video, I think I'm aware of the differences having come from a EOS 60D long ago, and an FZ1000 more recently. It's the main reason why I'm confused about the poor performance of the X-T3 and this XF lens. Having come from purely contrast-detect AF systems, I had expected a bit more from modern phase-detect AF system. Same reason why I tested only using single point AF since it's the best measure I have found of testing AF performance and the mode I tend to use a lot.Was I wrong to assume that phase-detect AF on the Fuji system would be better? Granted, Lumix's DFD AF is pretty impressive, I don't think an old FZ1000 should be running circles around a modern combination that costs twice as much. But it seems to be, even in low-light where the PD system was supposed to be superior.

enzohagz wrote:Yannis1976 wrote:I have been using this combo for more than a year now and it works flawlessly, focusing fast both in SAF and CAF. If there isn’t a faulty body or lens, I think there might be an issue with your settings... Do you want to show us your settings? Maybe you need to check lens and mount contacts are clean? Is firmware updated in both body and lens?By the way I keep boost mode always on, use SAF most of the time, and face/eye while shooting people. I usually shoot in aperture priority and leave OIS active.Lens and mount are both pristine as I bought them both new. The body itself was back-ordered.Body FW was immediately updated upon initial setup to v4.10. Lens arrived stock with FW v1.04. I realize there is an updated FW for the lens (v1.05), however the changes seem to affect OIS in video.Most of my other settings are stock and I shoot mostly in Aperture priority mode with the lens wide open at f4.0 in order to properly diagnose the focusing issue. Face detect is currently OFF since I'm testing the point-focus ability first before I move on to something more complicated. Focusing mode is set to AF-S, SAF is ON, and OIS is set to Continuous. I tried to keep the settings as simple as possible to properly debug the issue.nothing strange here... How big is your focus box in SAF? Maybe too small?Do you think FW v1.05 would change the focusing behavior?I believe you should upgrade. Sometimes new firmware corrects things we don’t know or erases settings back to original. In case you don’t have anything to lose apart from your time.Trying to get as many opinions or solutions as possible before I decide to visit the Fuji Plaza again.

enzohagz wrote:BillCPA wrote:Check the screws on the lens mount plate on the camera. I had a couple of screws come loose which caused intermittent problems (usualy and 'F0' error, but also inability to focus). Is the camera set to 'Release' or 'Focus' priority. If in release, change to Focus and see if that helps. Here is a link to good explanation of the Fuji-X focus system:https://youtu.be/fEwx1tdCzyk?t=2Thanks for the tip. Screws seemed fine on both the mount plate and lens. Also, I'm testing using a back button mapped to AF-ON, not the shutter, so priority shouldn't come into play. Although, I had already set it to 'Focus' priority after I noticed the focusing issues.Have you triednotusing BBF?

Erik Baumgartner wrote:Have you triednotusing BBF?Yep, tried that too but typically end up wasting shots on blurry images when I accidentally press too far. BBF and half-press should initiate the same software operation anyway, unless Fuji is doing something unnecessarily different.

Yannis1976 wrote:nothing strange here... How big is your focus box in SAF? Maybe too small?I actually use AF-All and set it to the largest box in single point, before it transitions into area focus.I believe you should upgrade. Sometimes new firmware corrects things we don’t know or erases settings back to original. In case you don’t have anything to lose apart from your time.Will give it a shot as soon as I can find a spare SD card I can format for the process.

enzohagz wrote:BBF and half-press should initiate the same software operation anyway, unless Fuji is doing something unnecessarily different.Unfortunately, I wouldn`t be too surprised by the latter, through the years reading reports where shutter button half-press focusing was having issues (misfocused shots), but back-button focusing was seemingly spot on each and every time... :/

enzohagz wrote:Hi all, I'm kind of new to the Fuji system (just got my gear a couple days ago)Hi EnzoJust to be sure - since you are new to the Fujifilm system - can you really exclude an operating error?I have an X-T20 with 2.5 years experience - really no problems with AF whatsoever. Never had any. I do not own the XF 16-80.BR,Martin

So, I've been fiddling around with a lens a bit and have found a rather strange workaround.The problem seems to be that at certain focus+zoom adjustments can lead the lens to a sort of local maxima configuration. When this happens, the AF algorithm locks up and no matter how many times I activate AF it doesn't know which way to focus. Focusing with MF is also useless here since the fly-by-wire algorithm can't seem to reliably control all the lens groups to simulate fine focus adjustments.The kludgy solution: 1) Activate AF even if it fails, 2) Trigger MF and just push focus towards infinity, 3) Trigger AF again. Somehow, this "resets" the lens to a configuration where it can find its way to the proper focal plane.If I stick to a single focal length, the problem doesn't seem to pop up again. It's only when I combine a focal length adjustment and a focus point adjustment where it seems to occur.

enzohagz wrote:So, I've been fiddling around with a lens a bit and have found a rather strange workaround.The problem seems to be that at certain focus+zoom adjustments can lead the lens to a sort of local maxima configuration. When this happens, the AF algorithm locks up and no matter how many times I activate AF it doesn't know which way to focus. Focusing with MF is also useless here since the fly-by-wire algorithm can't seem to reliably control all the lens groups to simulate fine focus adjustments.The kludgy solution: 1) Activate AF even if it fails, 2) Trigger MF and just push focus towards infinity, 3) Trigger AF again. Somehow, this "resets" the lens to a configuration where it can find its way to the proper focal plane.If I stick to a single focal length, the problem doesn't seem to pop up again. It's only when I combine a focal length adjustment and a focus point adjustment where it seems to occur.did you update the lens firmware?

enzohagz wrote:So, I've been fiddling around with a lens a bit and have found a rather strange workaround.The problem seems to be that at certain focus+zoom adjustments can lead the lens to a sort of local maxima configuration. When this happens, the AF algorithm locks up and no matter how many times I activate AF it doesn't know which way to focus. Focusing with MF is also useless here since the fly-by-wire algorithm can't seem to reliably control all the lens groups to simulate fine focus adjustments.The kludgy solution: 1) Activate AF even if it fails, 2) Trigger MF and just push focus towards infinity, 3) Trigger AF again. Somehow, this "resets" the lens to a configuration where it can find its way to the proper focal plane.If I stick to a single focal length, the problem doesn't seem to pop up again. It's only when I combine a focal length adjustment and a focus point adjustment where it seems to occur.Just return the lens - and possibly camera, too, if you bought them together, as it could be a problem on either side for as much as we know.This is not how X-T3 + XF 16-80mm f/4 should work (I have the same combo myself, too), and you should not be required to use any weird and cumbersome workarounds for what should be a normal, out-of-the-box camera + lens operation, without any issues like you have.

enzohagz wrote:Hi all, I'm kind of new to the Fuji system (just got my gear a couple days ago) and it's been somewhat frustrating to say the least. Focusing seems fine when shooting wide, but as soon as I add any zoom, the camera has no idea how to focus on anything. This is with objects well beyond the minimum focus distance of 35cm. Triggering AF either does nothing (grey box) or occasionally attempts to focus but fails (red ! box). Adding MF does almost nothing either, the display shows focus distance adjustments but no actual focus changes are happening.Do I just have a lemon? I've brought it to the Osaka Fuji service center and they couldn't find any obvious issues with it. They acknowledged the MF issue but brushed it off and told me to just use AF (like wth!?). But testing it side by side with my old FZ1000, the Lumix barely breaks a sweat in similar or even worse lighting conditions. I'm starting to feel some buyers remorse though I really wanted to love this system after all I've heard about it from friends.TLDR; I'd like to know if it's normal for the X-T3 and 16-80F4 combination to have difficulty focusing when zoomed? Also, is it normal for the camera display to stutter when triggering AF despite already being in Boost Mode? Finally, is it normal for the fly-by-wire MF to "lock up" and simply fail to make any changes? Thanks!Frankly, I find it pretty unbelievable that Osaka Fuji service center "couldn't find any obvious issues with it", but at the same time "they acknowledged the MF issue but brushed it off and told me to just use AF" - what the... indeed.Just return it, both camera and lens (if bought together), as you have malfunctioning gear on your hands, being acknowledged by the service center as well (no matter if they find the issue "obvious" or not, lol) - you should cut no slack for a new camera and lens combo where manual focus does not work straight-out-of-the-box (and worse, you have issues with auto-focus, too, no matter service center didn`t confirm that).If possible, you may go back to your camera dealer and see if another lens behaves better on that camera, or vice-versa - try another camera with that same lens. Eventually, just replace both for a new combo... possibly (but not necessarily) from a different dealer as well.

boogisha wrote:enzohagz wrote:So, I've been fiddling around with a lens a bit and have found a rather strange workaround.The problem seems to be that at certain focus+zoom adjustments can lead the lens to a sort of local maxima configuration. When this happens, the AF algorithm locks up and no matter how many times I activate AF it doesn't know which way to focus. Focusing with MF is also useless here since the fly-by-wire algorithm can't seem to reliably control all the lens groups to simulate fine focus adjustments.The kludgy solution: 1) Activate AF even if it fails, 2) Trigger MF and just push focus towards infinity, 3) Trigger AF again. Somehow, this "resets" the lens to a configuration where it can find its way to the proper focal plane.If I stick to a single focal length, the problem doesn't seem to pop up again. It's only when I combine a focal length adjustment and a focus point adjustment where it seems to occur.Just return the lens - and possibly camera, too, if you bought them together, as it could be a problem on either side for as much as we know.This is not how X-T3 + XF 16-80mm f/4 should work (I have the same combo myself, too), and you should not be required to use any weird and cumbersome workarounds for what should be a normal, out-of-the-box camera + lens operation, without any issues like youYes, if nothing else worked. Agree.

Yannis1976 wrote:did you update the lens firmware?Yep, both body and lens are on latest FW. No noticeable change.

boogisha wrote:Frankly, I find it pretty unbelievable that Osaka Fuji service center "couldn't find any obvious issues with it", but at the same time "they acknowledged the MF issue but brushed it off and told me to just use AF" - what the... indeed.Just return it, both camera and lens (if bought together), as you have malfunctioning gear on your hands, being acknowledged by the service center as well (no matter if they find the issue "obvious" or not, lol) - you should cut no slack for a new camera and lens combo where manual focus does not work straight-out-of-the-box (and worse, you have issues with auto-focus, too, no matter service center didn`t confirm that).If possible, you may go back to your camera dealer and see if another lens behaves better on that camera, or vice-versa - try another camera with that same lens. Eventually, just replace both for a new combo... possibly (but not necessarily) from a different dealer as well.Will pay them another visit next weekend. Returns are tricky here in Japan, but aftermarket service is usually top notch. I've already registered the warranty with them during the first visit, so I should have a year of free service. Thanks to the whole global situation, the service staff seem to have a lot of free time these days.I suspect its either a calibration error, or some of the lens/motor elements are just ever so slightly misaligned causing the occasional lockup when it doesn't have enough momentum to move past it.