Touch AF on Fuji X-T20 / X-E3 & why Canon M5's is better

Want to improve your photography with my intense Zero to Hero workshop?
What about ad-free and early access to my content?
Or maybe this will get you: please help my family not starve!
Get all of these magical rewards by joining me on Patreon!

My vlogging kit:

See my other video for a deeper discussion on the differences between the Fuji x-t20 and the Fuji x-e3:

Want to help us? Become a Patron:

Follow Denae & Andrew on the socials:
Checkout our other channel, Build a Better Bike:

[grfaudio]

Andrew. Just wanted to say thank you. I recently was at a crossroads. I'm a semi-pro shooter. I have canon gear and was thinking about a move to fuji. I watched all of your videos and what I liked about them was the honesty. I borrowed an XT2 and 20 and although I loved the pictures they took, I decided it wasn't for me and bought an eos M5. You're videos really helped to show me what I needed to look at and it helped that you never bashed other companies. I still long to get a fuji, but it's for the fun and I didn't have the money to change it all right now. Thanks and all the best for the holidays.

[BobCalderon]

I completely agree with you on this topic. I used to have three Fujifilm cameras but now left with just the X100T. The addition of the Touch AF wanted me to get the X-E3 but ended up buying the Canon EOS M6 due to its improved AF and touchscreen. I also felt the same way that Fuji failed to implement the on the joystick which is very near the touchscreen and the swiping feature that gets in the way on auto-focusing.

[hawthornewipe]

I was so excited for that feature and oh man am I not disappointed. X-t20.

[danielcrotty]

While I did enjoy the touch feature when I tested the Canon M5, I prefer my joystick on the XT2. It doesn’t get my screen all dirty and it works quickly enough to get the action. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Maxxumless]

It doesn't work because that wasn't how it was designed to work. Use the joystick to change your focus point as Fuji intended. Works like a charm. The screen focus feature was intended for people that use the screen as the primary view finder, not the EVF.

[CaptainJCRage]

you did not mention how slow the focus point moves around the frame when using the touch af!! Night and day difference comparing to panasonic the fuji just isn't at that level when in comes to this feature.

[tobysolesbury]

The joystick is awesome! better than any touch screen when using view finder especially double click to recentre, touch focus great when using screen.

[flowermaze___]

always great and honest insight; and what i think holds most gravity is that you create beautiful photos and that is the whole point of camera / image things... to come full circle, you feel it, truly, and know what you talk about... and that is the soul ~ thank you man

[kearress]

Totally agree! Used it for 5 minutes and quickly switched back to the D pad...

[msandersen]

It’s not just me then... it is a strange implementation; better than not having it, but slow compared to simply pointing and dragging your finger to where you want it in absolute terms.. I wonder about their reasoning; maybe it’s a hardware limitation, with touch not being as responsive as a smartphone, maybe to save power. I have wanted to experiment with mirrorless in a good while, and was excited when the M5 originally came out, until I saw the price, and then looked at their native lens collection, or lack thereof, with their plastics feel and slow apertures. If I had to adapt my Canon lenses, there would have been almost zero point in using it over my 80D. I chose the Fuji X-T20 in spite of the X-Trans, not so much because of it, though various high-ISO tests by reviewers had me convinced it could work out. The xf 35 f1.4 has been wonderful, it is fun to experiment, with great results. Had Canon had quality-built fast primes, or credible Sigma equivalents, then I might have been sold on the M5, despite its clunky styling. Here’s hoping the next firmware upgrade improves on it, but in the meantime it is a welcome addition.

[matthewzagorski]

Dang double upload! Always get stoked when you have a new content up.

[IanInChengdu]

Bought XT20 this week updated the firmware. Wow the touch whilst using the EVF is just unusable. Whilst on LCD mode it’s super fast. Hope they can update this on a new firmware.

[jojoaausone]

Good point about the recessed AF-L button on Fujis. I put a dab of rubber cement on my X-Pro2's AF-L, so I can find it more easily. And, I would love to have touch AF, and the flip screen of the X-T2.

[vloguy]

Focus and recompose is still best..coz center AF is mostly cross types and focus better than the corner ones ...So still best in all.

[lakejindsay]

Why Panasonic, Canon, and Olympus can implement this crap flawlessly and Fuji and Sony can't is beside me. Sony makes smartphones!?!?

[mikewhiles]

As both a Canon m series and a Fuji user I have to agree Canon are really smart in what they offer and whilst the likes of Tony & Mrs Tony might ( don't mention Jpegs) bang on about the 'missing' 4 k ( who really cares) they do the best touch screen and the best constant AF in video. Only Canon & Fuji are actually making money from their sales. Suck it up Sony users....

[dennisj]

When I tried the e3 out I found it slower to use, I agree it seems to have been rushed to market. Imagine a 100f with lens mount and just an evf now I would buy that. As a fuji lover I think this is a bit of a miss, thank you for a great honest review.

[luvours]

Do you think the issue you described will be fixed by a firmware update in the future?

[thegreatvanziniphotos]

Yes. So far the touch screen has not been my friend. On the xt 20 & 100 the d pad has been my go to. Or manual with focus peaking. That has actually been quicker than any of the af choices.

[RandyPollock]

An honest question but is touch AF such a big deal? Maybe I'm so use to the D pad on cameras to just not care about commands on the LCD screen when actively shooting.