Should have bought a Sony A7S3 I think.....4K, low light & great AF..... .....or maybe the new A7c, but maybe it’s a tad too early for a verdict on that one.
Hey Thomas, I actually have a degree in audio, and I was looking through your gear list and saw that the Rode video mic x have a high pass switch (it should be the button in the middle). If you set the high pass filter to 150hz it should reduce the clipping. What you are doing when you engage the filter is cutting out everything below 150hz, and that should help with the wind noise and not stress the preamp in the camera as much. Hope this helps! And sorry if my english is unreadeble, cheers from sweden!
That recording issue is well strange. What I tend to do when filming broll on my X-T3 is: 1) Use the autofocus to acquire focus. 2) Use an assigned AF-hold button + hold it when panning. This even works when it is already recording. This way, I don't have to awkwardly flick to manual focus. I have tutorials on my channel if you need visual examples. Happy shooting ✌🏼
Hey Tom, Fuji doesn’t let you change autofocus modes during recording a video. I recommend using back button focusing in manual focus mode. I hope that’s helpful
weird cause on the xt-3 am always changing autofocus modes while shooting video...or else i would have sold this lol...i use to shoot like that for some time now
I don’t use my XT-4 for video but for photography I think it’s autofocus is amazing. I used it at a motorsport event recently and was amazed at how many “hits” I got where the focus was spot on. It’s performance was better than I expected.
I love my XT4, especially the old school dials arrangement, but confess I’ve yet to use it in anger for video. Fuji are well renown for listening to their customers and i’m sure they will be working hard to resolve any autofocus issues with their generous firmware updates. In all other aspects I’ve found it to be a superb camera.
If you shut off the face/eye detect and you have it in AF-S it will lock-on where you focused, but also afford you the ability to refocus on another subject with a half press of the shutter. Eliminating most of that back and forth hunting. The Face/Eye traking must be off though. Maybe that helps. ✌️
Thomas, so far you're the only one I know who said anything about this strange intermittent audio feedback interference. I spent countless hours trying to figure out what caused it, changed cables, mics, returned a mic because of it as I thought it was defective when in fact, and you just confirmed it: it comes from the X-T4 itself. That just released tension in my body ;) So thank you, and great work, as and per always. Cheers from LA.
You just made me realized after watching more than 100 reviews on the cameras on the market, that it is exactly what I need. Flip-out screen, dual sd card slot, 4K 60 fps. Way more important than full frame sensor. Thanks.
Thomas, try using the AF-L button to lock focus instead of switching to manual mode. You’ll see a cyan “AF-L” on the screen so you’ll know it’s switched on. Hope this helps.
Nice point haha. AF Lock is a kinda old school way for videographers to control the auto focus. By pressing AF-L button you tell the camera "stop hunting and lock the focus here." When you release AF-L button the camera starts focusing again. I believe people who uses those bulky video cameras are very familiar with this lol.
but nowadays autofocus from sony and canon is just too powerful and smart. basically fully automatic and doesn't require any intervention and people are spoiled. Fuji really needs to catch up on the autofocus.
Hi Tom, as some other viewers have suggested, set the camera to manual focus and you can still autofocus using the AF-on button on the back. This is how many videographers and still shooters operate anyway. As for the audio problem, well I hate to say this but using auto level recording control is for amateurs! But if you must record with auto level control then use a separate Zoom or Olympus dedicated audio recorder (mounted on the camera hot shoe for convenience). This will give the best sound quality anyway but a downside is that you will have to manually synchronise the audio with the video in post production (not that hard really).
I agree with this Thomas. I pretty much put up with it due to the absolute joy I have shooting with the X-T4 and the stills capabilities being stellar!
You’ve nailed it for the issues on this camera. I hope Fujifilm watches this video. I’m tired of hearing about their AF improvements which don’t deliver on the promise.
I think Fujifilm would do well to listen to your feedback. Your daily use of the video functionality of the XT4 highlighting areas needed addressing has real merit. Be great if a Firmware update could fix these issues.
I'm pretty sure, that even in manual focus, you can tap the back of the screen once (before you start recording) on the part of the scene you wish to focus on and it will lock focus on that area. That was definitely the case on the X-T3.
"This should be sold with a bow & arrow, because it loves to hunt" literally made me laugh out loud. Aside from the obvious skill in making both videos and photos, this is the sort of thing that keeps me watching every video of your channel. Including this one, even if I am not and never plan to become a solo video creator 😂
He's keyword stuffing. After a few days, the automatic closed captions will tag onto his video and pick up all these keywords - then the keywords rank him higher in searches. Old SEO technique. He has been doing this a lot the last few videos and Tom - if you read this, maybe dial it back a little as it's really not subtle. :-) - But then again, if it works for you... :-P
Thank you! I recently ordered a Sony a7C before discovering the XT4, and was kicking myself for potentially getting the wrong camera, but now I feel a little better! Will still try to get my hands on a XT4 to test out before deciding!
A little tip for your autofocus woes. I do feel your pain. Try this: set a custom button to quick access the focus range limiter. There are 3 options including a custom range. Set the custom one to be about arms length plus or minus a few cm. This will help with your vlogg…… solo video production. The other 2 will help out in landscape/close up situations. You basically reducing the target zone of the focus. Try that out and you’ll find a lot of that hunting stops. You’ll also find the 16-55 F2.8 does this much less. It’s might be a bit heavy for you.
Hi Thomas, I‘m just here to say that I enjoy your gear reviews. I don‘t think they‘ve gone wrong, as you say. I like the fact that it‘s not all positive and perfect, and you‘re not trying to sell me a product. When I watch a review, I want to hear opinions from someone who is financially and emotionally invested in the product. The world needs more honest reviews like this. Also, I enjoy the slow pace of your videos, even though it‘s not what most of the people are looking for on YT. Keep it up.
Don't have a fuji and have no intention of switching to fuji but i really enjoy this type of review compared to the ones heavily focused on technical aspects. Hearing about weird bugs found in the field is always fun.
Hey Thomas, as an X-T3 user, I suggest that you turn off all the filters for audio - wind filter, Mic Level Limiter and Low Cut filter. Since the wind noise is low frequency rumbles, I think one these filters might be causing the interference in the audio. Please check this out, hope this helps!
Auto audio level isn't a good thing for any situation. Even in this video there's a weird 'hisssss' sound which could easily be removed in the post. Anyway, this video was helpful in many other ways. Thanks.
Although your preference is auto-level for the mic, try switching to manual and lowering external level to -30db, then boost the audio on your external mic. I found the internal preamp on the X-T4 has noise/interference and this helps attenuate it.
I am a huge Fuji fan and love my X-T2. Considering upgrading to the X-T4, but this video is telling me that from a video perspective it's great except for autofocus and audio...pretty important attributes for a video camera. Makes me think more carefully about the upgrade. Great video...one of the best I've watched - to the point and informative!
Great testament to this X-T4, I should say, "another great testament to my favorite camera gear by Thomas!" most of which I bought (cough...) thanks to your videos!
Very well put, but re-think your approach towards audio. As said before, never use auto audio levels, and I'd even go as far as saying "use in-camera audio for reference only". A Zoom H1 is tiny and cheap, yet it will provide far better results (connect the mic and a Sennheiser H25 headphone to it) and syncing audio and video in post is a two-mouse-click-effort. Also use a low-cut filter on your recording device, be it the camera or external recorder. Even some microphones have that and it helps cut out those low frequencies generated by wind noise. By the way, the naming for the low-cut filter on Fujifilm cameras is WRONG, the mixed it up.
solution to audio problem............use a zoom f1 with shotgun mic kit. have the zoom f1 use auto levels, than just send a consistent level to the camera from the zoom f1 headphone port with camera set to manual
I'm thinking of switching, I'm sick of lugging around a DSLR with a back full of lenses. I kinda just want to go back to my roots and just take a small camera and take some pics
You made me laugh when you showed a clip of your camera and tripod toppling over and said you'd also dropped it onto granite then said "it can handle anything I throw at it". I had a giggle and thought don't you mean it can handle anything you throw it at? 😂
I did the odd switch from full frame to APS-C and this camera replaced my Sony A7iii. Honestly and honestly I love the Fuji. The X-T4 really made me love photography again and try and shoot with 3 or 4 times a week. I'm not much of a video creator but Sony's AF spoiled me completely. I love this camera though the good and the bad. Also it's good to know it tough, mines been in some nasty rain storms (I have a thing for thunderstorms) so I can vouch for its rain resistance at least.
I am seriously considering buying the Fujifilm X-T3 for its lightness for use on hikes glad to hear your positive views on both the X-T3 and X-T4 Thomas makes me more certain :)
Thomas, I feel your pain. AF has been Fuji’s Achilles heel. If they improved AF they could give Sony and Canon a run for their money. I’m confident AF improvements are coming soon from Fuji.
People have been saying that for 4-5 years now.. Just wait for the next firmware that will improve AF, yet it never really does. And the latest Fuji camera always has the "worlds fastest AF" according to Fuji, yet in practice it never actually does. I've owned Fuji cameras since the X-Pro1 was launched, and Fuji AF has always been lagging behind - always! Yes there has been minor improvements in firmware, but not to the degree that it catches up to competitors, and this is especially true for video.
Borge Indergaard the current iterations are pretty decent imo. No 100% but pretty good. I think with a new sensor and processor they could rework the AF. Fuji actually listens and I wouldn’t be surprised they are hard at work. Lenses are a different story.
Borge Indergaard agreed, the truth of the matter is that it has to do with Fuji’s sensor and processor, that sensor really needs to be updated. It’s a great camera, but for the price, their is no reason it should be falling behind the rest.
Hi Tom good meeting you a few weeks back btw. I've read through many of the comments , and I did not see anyone mention AF range limiter. Turn off face detection or it will be greyed out. AF range limiter just tells the camera focus between here and here. Works a treat and and I've tested wide open with my 35 1.4 and 56 1.2 😎👍
Excellent and honest review, very good approach. I wonder if you might know, how to turn on the option (in AF-S mode) to give you a green square when it is focused during recording video on XT4? Before the recording is it works, the focus square goes green when something is sharp, but this does not happen during recording (it only focuses, but does not give a green sign that it is focused) In the XT3 it is in the default settings, both video recording and photography. Thank you in advance.
As a fellow Solo Content Creator I thought I would jump in here and recommend the Back Button focus for the switch AF-C to AF-M problem but I see I'm not the only one! 😁
Thanks, Thomas, for sharing your thoughts . And since you're asking for our content preferences: At 1:19 in that viedo you are mounting something on you tripod, that looks a bit like a Linhof Technorama or something of that kind. Now, THAT would be certainly something to learn more about. Or maybe I'm just mistaken...
Fell down the rabbit hole of Fuji XT-4 reviews and I think this review was by far the best and most informative one. Subbed! I too am a "Solo Film Creator" that enjoys making cinematic travel logs. I love the capabilities and ergonomics of the XT-4 but the autofocus is figuratively the only thing stopping me right now from buying it.
I shoot Fuji, Tom both video (TH-cam) and photos, These are the best toys anyone can buy, but I feel you about the AF in video. Now, I shoot videos with the XT3 and a work around for the eye af is to shut it off, Just use face detection. If you need my settings in terms of af speed and tracking, let me know, tho I believe you played and understand all of them by now, Great video, very accurate and I appreciate your honesty and skill. Thank you.
For the audio, use Røde go. Never had that problem with clipping. Set the volume recording a bit down. I am using it all the way to -10-15 db. Yes its low, but then you dont get the clipping problem. Drag the volume up in edit. Problem solved.
Dude I feel for you, there isn't a perfect all round camera for every occasion. As a content creator myself, the G9 is what I went with and is great most of the time. A brilliant stills camera, video spec’s amazing but auto focus is unpredictable to say the least and low light performance isn’t good. I knew all this before I purchased so try to work around all of the drawbacks, which to be fair, aren’t many. I love Canon and Sony’s DPAF but we can’t have it all, I have Canon lenses and didn’t want to switch to another eco-system but have moved to micro 4/3. Tom I’ll be honest, if autofocus and audio issues bothers you, get a Sony A6400, great vlogging camera with a great deal of features for the video centric. I nearly bought one but the G9 ticked more boxes as I wanted to work with one camera for both video and stills. Love your videos, atb, Damian.
I'd probably go for a panasonic s5 instead of this. Autofocus isn't its strong suit either, but panasonic always delivers excellent video cameras and never seem to have weird quirks or glitchy issues like this camera. They're very reliable cameras.
Excellent review. I am still making videos with the XT4, and very happy with it. I also come from Canon. Just one thing if you don't mind, I find it difficult to understand that a film maker would rely on auto audio recording. Auto audio is like using auto focus all the time. Sound is as important as video in a film. Keep on enjoying the XT4! If you haven't upgraded. Many thanks for your honest review.
I haven't used the XT4, but used an XH1 before and moved back to Canon. I love the feel and ease of use of Canon camera :). Just starting making landscape photography video with the M50. Anyway, use what works best for you. Keep inspiring us!
Just tripped across your channel. Nice video, and you earned a subscriber. As a new XT4 owner (long time Fuji owner, though) I somewhat expected the audio issues that you described. I haven't done any video with mine yet, but I have on the XE3 and X100F. On-camera preamps are notorious for quality issues, and auto level is something that sounds good to the laypersons but IMHO as an electronics engineer and an AV geek -- NO NO NO. Lol. Separate audio recorder all day every day and manually set levels for -12dB or whatever you like to work with. Tascam DR-40X or Zoom H4n Pro or H6 [Edited to add: or Zoom's tiny F1]. For H6 [or F1], take your pick of capsule including the reasonably nice SSH-6 stereo shotgun. For solo work, the H6 [or F1] with the extension cable so that the recorder display can be with you in front of the camera is my vote. Otherwise, you'll be doing sound checks. These recorders are a little big to mount on camera, but a 2 connector setup for your tripod makes for a great configuration. Run audio from the line/mic out (may need an attenuator cable) and keep the camera input level as low as is useful for reference audio. Sync in post processing. Record with a safety channel, if your recorder is so featured.
Thank you for the honest review. So many reviewers glossed over the autofocus hunting on X-T3/4 (it’s ‘almost there’, they’d say!). I sold my X-T3 and bought the ‘overpriced, with out-of-date video specs’ EOS R. It’s 8-bit 4:2:0 (I know, the horror), but I can leave it unmanned on a tripod and trust the focus when it’s on a gimbal.
Awesome real world review I generally switch off when things get too technical so this was awesome. I shot my vlogs on an iPhone for ages I was generally happy then upped my game with the canon M50 I’m constantly impressed with the video from this wee camera audio is my next big work on. Thing about solo film making its not only an incredible creative outlet it’s a huge learning curve keeps the old brain cell twitching. As a Fuji fan the XT4 does look amazing and Fiji are so good at responding to user feed back. Cheers for the vid 📷❤️
Why don't you chose manual focus and then focus with tapping onto the touch screen?? (instead of first auto focusing and then switching to manual) And turn off the wind filter in camera!! :)
You should let Fuji know about the wind noise issue. They'll definitely fix it. It seems like to happen because Fuji trying to ignore the wind noise and extract "useful" sounds, thus bumping up the gain and causing clipping. It seems like an easy fix to me, just tell the system to take account of wind noise more and try to do less gain boosting. This should require you to speak louder over the wind, but I think that's expected by most people. That fix should require Fuji to tune only 1 parameter.
Have you tried turning the wind noise reduction off when you’re using the fluffy bunny on your mic? I wonder if it’s causing the issue. I haven’t come across it on my XT4 but now I’m curious
I got my a7siii a few days ago, and still grab my Fuji for my paid shoots FML! I just can’t explain why I love the xt4. Smh Fuji casts a spell on you lol
Great review, and fully agree. Regarding the Mic issue, tbh I wouldn't be putting it on auto anyway. I'd combine it with the new VideoMic NTG, it's intelligent enought to deal with clipping and such so you can just set the levels manually and leave them within camera.
Flippy screen... perfet! I just purchased a Sony A7II - so far, so good. This past weekend's trip to the Rockies gave me some pretty good images, however heavy smoke from nearby fires really prevented that super-sharp mountains-in-the-distance image. It did, however, give me a golden hour from 3-6 pm!
yeah man the thing about audio is also true with XT3 and there has been no firmware for 2 years. so I am not very hopeful. earlier fuji used to make HUGE leaps in firmware but now even they have slowed down
Seems like a great camera for a "solo film maker". Good thing I'm happy with my Nikon Z50 as a solo film maker, so that I don't have to buy a new camera 😁
EUREKA!! I just hiked the Pinhoti trail, and I could NOT for the life of me figure out that digital interference on my audio. Now I know. Thanks for the info. No longer in autoaudio. Great review!
Audio is really easy to bring back. Just record all your audio with -6/8/12 (dont know the Fuji) and put a limiter or compressor on your audio channels when editing. Best would be if auto levels worked ofcourse.
Philip Bloom has a good video on AF. You'll learn unfortunately the AF is largely different per lens. The 18-55, 23f2 and Viltrox 23f1.4 all work well. Audio will need to be manual on any camera I've ever used. You don't want it unnecessarily raising your noise floor.
Hello Thomas, regarding your audio issue with the rode micro, I think neither the x-t3 nor the x-t4 provide full 5v power through the jack for the micro to perform properly, making the noise floor extremely high and possibly introducing your strange interference noise. might be worth a try using a battery powered mic like the rode videomic pro. i understand the inconvenience though.
So it needs a "focus puller" (that's a job title in the movie industry). Joking aside, setting the camera to manual, focusing manually before pressing start, prevents most of your problems. Most of the takes are landscape at (almost) infinity. The shots you want to change focus from foreground to background or v.v. need your presence whatever mode you choose. Then there are the few takes that start with background and need to adjust as you step into frame. If you think along these lines, my opinion is you are dependent on AF only in 10% of takes.
For the manual audio input levels, there is an option to show the levels on screen (MIC LEVEL under WRENCH > SCREEN SETUP > DISP CUSTOM SETTING). That's a good way to monitor the levels. You need to turn off the LARGE INDICATOR MODE in order to see the option. Bummer you cant use more of the auto stuff. All cameras have their issues, I'd like to see what you could do with the Low Light Levels on a Sony A7SIII...or new Canon C70.
Cool tech review Mr H. In fact, I kind of fancy the way you do this - compared to a bunch of tech review TH-camr’s. The thing is that you have serious heavy in-field experience 👍
Auto audio settings will see a low wind noise as a signal that needs to be levelled out with your voice - so it's brining up the wind so that all the levels are even. It's kinda of similar to how a compressor works in a audio interface
"It should be sold with a bow and arrow"..........best quote of the day. Enjoyed the review Thomas, many thanks
yep had to stop the vid on that one loool
My husband was sitting nearby and laughed at that one too. 😁
Same with the GH5 auto focus.
Should have bought a Sony A7S3 I think.....4K, low light & great AF.....
.....or maybe the new A7c, but maybe it’s a tad too early for a verdict on that one.
....that audio digital noise isn’t nice.
Hey Thomas, I actually have a degree in audio, and I was looking through your gear list and saw that the Rode video mic x have a high pass switch (it should be the button in the middle). If you set the high pass filter to 150hz it should reduce the clipping. What you are doing when you engage the filter is cutting out everything below 150hz, and that should help with the wind noise and not stress the preamp in the camera as much. Hope this helps! And sorry if my english is unreadeble, cheers from sweden!
Perfectly readable and probably just helped lots of people. Might just have a look and see if you offer turtorials on TH-cam.
That's awesome thank you. I hope Tom sees this. No need to apologize for your English, you write better than most of my colleagues.
@@AccessiblePhotography sorry I don't but maybe I should 😊
Oooh, this could help a lot. I will have a look at my mic 👍
Ah, sorry. I just realised you said video mic X. I actually haven't have the X on this camera. I have so far only used the Rode Video Micro.
That recording issue is well strange. What I tend to do when filming broll on my X-T3 is: 1) Use the autofocus to acquire focus. 2) Use an assigned AF-hold button + hold it when panning. This even works when it is already recording. This way, I don't have to awkwardly flick to manual focus. I have tutorials on my channel if you need visual examples. Happy shooting ✌🏼
actually you can change the button from hold button to switch button! No need to hold anymore!
Hey Tom, Fuji doesn’t let you change autofocus modes during recording a video. I recommend using back button focusing in manual focus mode. I hope that’s helpful
Yep, this is a great solution for the unfortunate autofocus with this camera. If it had reliable autofocus it would be near perfect!
weird cause on the xt-3 am always changing autofocus modes while shooting video...or else i would have sold this lol...i use to shoot like that for some time now
@@rowbradley it will probably be updated very soon. Fuji has had huge changes in focusing abilities with software updates before.
@@WallSt101 Is the autofocus on 2022 still good?
I don’t use my XT-4 for video but for photography I think it’s autofocus is amazing. I used it at a motorsport event recently and was amazed at how many “hits” I got where the focus was spot on. It’s performance was better than I expected.
I love my XT4, especially the old school dials arrangement, but confess I’ve yet to use it in anger for video. Fuji are well renown for listening to their customers and i’m sure they will be working hard to resolve any autofocus issues with their generous firmware updates. In all other aspects I’ve found it to be a superb camera.
Thomas, you are actually one of the best camera reviewers I have heard. Thanks, the info you provided was really valuable to me.
If you shut off the face/eye detect and you have it in AF-S it will lock-on where you focused, but also afford you the ability to refocus on another subject with a half press of the shutter. Eliminating most of that back and forth hunting. The Face/Eye traking must be off though. Maybe that helps. ✌️
Thomas,
so far you're the only one I know who said anything about this strange intermittent audio feedback interference.
I spent countless hours trying to figure out what caused it, changed cables, mics, returned a mic because of it as I thought it was defective when in fact, and you just confirmed it:
it comes from the X-T4 itself.
That just released tension in my body ;)
So thank you, and great work, as and per always.
Cheers from LA.
You just made me realized after watching more than 100 reviews on the cameras on the market, that it is exactly what I need. Flip-out screen, dual sd card slot, 4K 60 fps. Way more important than full frame sensor. Thanks.
Thomas, try using the AF-L button to lock focus instead of switching to manual mode. You’ll see a cyan “AF-L” on the screen so you’ll know it’s switched on. Hope this helps.
Nice point haha. AF Lock is a kinda old school way for videographers to control the auto focus. By pressing AF-L button you tell the camera "stop hunting and lock the focus here." When you release AF-L button the camera starts focusing again. I believe people who uses those bulky video cameras are very familiar with this lol.
but nowadays autofocus from sony and canon is just too powerful and smart. basically fully automatic and doesn't require any intervention and people are spoiled. Fuji really needs to catch up on the autofocus.
Hi Tom, as some other viewers have suggested, set the camera to manual focus and you can still autofocus using the AF-on button on the back. This is how many videographers and still shooters operate anyway. As for the audio problem, well I hate to say this but using auto level recording control is for amateurs! But if you must record with auto level control then use a separate Zoom or Olympus dedicated audio recorder (mounted on the camera hot shoe for convenience). This will give the best sound quality anyway but a downside is that you will have to manually synchronise the audio with the video in post production (not that hard really).
The AF-On button does not work while you are recording.
Never record "auto audio levels" on anything. EVER.
Go home Glen, this is not a music related channel!
@@pastilance1 lol 😂
i am an audio guy.. aaaaand i approve this message 🤣🤣🤣
Name checks out.
Lmao didn't expect you here.
I've seen several XT4 reviews and yours is the best. You are the real deal. 👍
I agree with this Thomas. I pretty much put up with it due to the absolute joy I have shooting with the X-T4 and the stills capabilities being stellar!
"All I want is a camera that works" exactly!!!
You’ve nailed it for the issues on this camera. I hope Fujifilm watches this video. I’m tired of hearing about their AF improvements which don’t deliver on the promise.
I think Fujifilm would do well to listen to your feedback. Your daily use of the video functionality of the XT4 highlighting areas needed addressing has real merit. Be great if a Firmware update could fix these issues.
I'm pretty sure, that even in manual focus, you can tap the back of the screen once (before you start recording) on the part of the scene you wish to focus on and it will lock focus on that area. That was definitely the case on the X-T3.
"This should be sold with a bow & arrow, because it loves to hunt" literally made me laugh out loud. Aside from the obvious skill in making both videos and photos, this is the sort of thing that keeps me watching every video of your channel. Including this one, even if I am not and never plan to become a solo video creator 😂
I'm here because it's a new Thomas Heaton video.
I have been taking a drink every time Thomas said Solo Video Creator, now I think I need to stop...
After that many if you still can think this means he did not say that much 🤭😝
He's keyword stuffing. After a few days, the automatic closed captions will tag onto his video and pick up all these keywords - then the keywords rank him higher in searches. Old SEO technique. He has been doing this a lot the last few videos and Tom - if you read this, maybe dial it back a little as it's really not subtle. :-) - But then again, if it works for you... :-P
As a X-T4 owner, I approve of this video.
Thank you! I recently ordered a Sony a7C before discovering the XT4, and was kicking myself for potentially getting the wrong camera, but now I feel a little better! Will still try to get my hands on a XT4 to test out before deciding!
A little tip for your autofocus woes. I do feel your pain. Try this: set a custom button to quick access the focus range limiter. There are 3 options including a custom range.
Set the custom one to be about arms length plus or minus a few cm. This will help with your vlogg…… solo video production.
The other 2 will help out in landscape/close up situations. You basically reducing the target zone of the focus.
Try that out and you’ll find a lot of that hunting stops. You’ll also find the 16-55 F2.8 does this much less. It’s might be a bit heavy for you.
I'm so glad that you have gone back to the root of this channel its what I love about it ...
Hi Thomas, I‘m just here to say that I enjoy your gear reviews. I don‘t think they‘ve gone wrong, as you say. I like the fact that it‘s not all positive and perfect, and you‘re not trying to sell me a product. When I watch a review, I want to hear opinions from someone who is financially and emotionally invested in the product. The world needs more honest reviews like this. Also, I enjoy the slow pace of your videos, even though it‘s not what most of the people are looking for on YT. Keep it up.
Love Fujifilm. Love the XT-4. My dream camera. Thanks for the review 🤠.
Don't have a fuji and have no intention of switching to fuji but i really enjoy this type of review compared to the ones heavily focused on technical aspects. Hearing about weird bugs found in the field is always fun.
Hey Thomas, as an X-T3 user, I suggest that you turn off all the filters for audio - wind filter, Mic Level Limiter and Low Cut filter. Since the wind noise is low frequency rumbles, I think one these filters might be causing the interference in the audio. Please check this out, hope this helps!
Auto audio level isn't a good thing for any situation. Even in this video there's a weird 'hisssss' sound which could easily be removed in the post.
Anyway, this video was helpful in many other ways. Thanks.
I was so relieved you said “then you are definitely on the wrong video” lol!
Although your preference is auto-level for the mic, try switching to manual and lowering external level to -30db, then boost the audio on your external mic. I found the internal preamp on the X-T4 has noise/interference and this helps attenuate it.
Absolutely stunning video Thomas. Very inspiring as always.
These user experience reviews are so much better than those set up reviews
Thanks for sharing !!
Best review ever!! So refreshing to not have a million technical terms shoved into my ears 😂 Thanks so much!
I am a huge Fuji fan and love my X-T2. Considering upgrading to the X-T4, but this video is telling me that from a video perspective it's great except for autofocus and audio...pretty important attributes for a video camera. Makes me think more carefully about the upgrade. Great video...one of the best I've watched - to the point and informative!
Just discovered your channel (friend's recommendation). What a relief, no tech jargon and GREAT sound quality. You've got another subscriber. :)
Great testament to this X-T4, I should say, "another great testament to my favorite camera gear by Thomas!" most of which I bought (cough...) thanks to your videos!
Very well put, but re-think your approach towards audio. As said before, never use auto audio levels, and I'd even go as far as saying "use in-camera audio for reference only". A Zoom H1 is tiny and cheap, yet it will provide far better results (connect the mic and a Sennheiser H25 headphone to it) and syncing audio and video in post is a two-mouse-click-effort. Also use a low-cut filter on your recording device, be it the camera or external recorder. Even some microphones have that and it helps cut out those low frequencies generated by wind noise. By the way, the naming for the low-cut filter on Fujifilm cameras is WRONG, the mixed it up.
solution to audio problem............use a zoom f1 with shotgun mic kit. have the zoom f1 use auto levels, than just send a consistent level to the camera from the zoom f1 headphone port with camera set to manual
I'm thinking of switching, I'm sick of lugging around a DSLR with a back full of lenses. I kinda just want to go back to my roots and just take a small camera and take some pics
You made me laugh when you showed a clip of your camera and tripod toppling over and said you'd also dropped it onto granite then said "it can handle anything I throw at it". I had a giggle and thought don't you mean it can handle anything you throw it at? 😂
I don't get it.
@@Ijusthopeitsquick Ifearitstoofast
Hey Tom, you can still back button autofocus while in manual mode. But it only works before you start recording video.
Can only agree on all accounts. I’ve lost my mind at the XT4 autofocus more than once. It’s maddening.
I did the odd switch from full frame to APS-C and this camera replaced my Sony A7iii. Honestly and honestly I love the Fuji. The X-T4 really made me love photography again and try and shoot with 3 or 4 times a week. I'm not much of a video creator but Sony's AF spoiled me completely. I love this camera though the good and the bad. Also it's good to know it tough, mines been in some nasty rain storms (I have a thing for thunderstorms) so I can vouch for its rain resistance at least.
I am seriously considering buying the Fujifilm X-T3 for its lightness for use on hikes glad to hear your positive views on both the X-T3 and X-T4 Thomas makes me more certain :)
XT3 is awesome and a steal nowadays :)
Very impressive review, Thomas. I like your open, honest and succinct style of real-world uses.🙏
Thomas, I feel your pain. AF has been Fuji’s Achilles heel. If they improved AF they could give Sony and Canon a run for their money. I’m confident AF improvements are coming soon from Fuji.
People have been saying that for 4-5 years now.. Just wait for the next firmware that will improve AF, yet it never really does. And the latest Fuji camera always has the "worlds fastest AF" according to Fuji, yet in practice it never actually does. I've owned Fuji cameras since the X-Pro1 was launched, and Fuji AF has always been lagging behind - always! Yes there has been minor improvements in firmware, but not to the degree that it catches up to competitors, and this is especially true for video.
Borge Indergaard the current iterations are pretty decent imo. No 100% but pretty good. I think with a new sensor and processor they could rework the AF. Fuji actually listens and I wouldn’t be surprised they are hard at work. Lenses are a different story.
Borge Indergaard agreed, the truth of the matter is that it has to do with Fuji’s sensor and processor, that sensor really needs to be updated. It’s a great camera, but for the price, their is no reason it should be falling behind the rest.
Old Scribe look how far Nikon has come. Look at canons one year leap. Like I said it will probably take a new processor
Hi Tom good meeting you a few weeks back btw. I've read through many of the comments , and I did not see anyone mention AF range limiter. Turn off face detection or it will be greyed out. AF range limiter just tells the camera focus between here and here. Works a treat and and I've tested wide open with my 35 1.4 and 56 1.2 😎👍
Since I bought a fuji camera i found a great pleasure to make photography
Excellent and honest review, very good approach. I wonder if you might know, how to turn on the option (in AF-S mode) to give you a green square when it is focused during recording video on XT4? Before the recording is it works, the focus square goes green when something is sharp, but this does not happen during recording (it only focuses, but does not give a green sign that it is focused) In the XT3 it is in the default settings, both video recording and photography. Thank you in advance.
As a fellow Solo Content Creator I thought I would jump in here and recommend the Back Button focus for the switch AF-C to AF-M problem but I see I'm not the only one! 😁
Thanks, Thomas, for sharing your thoughts . And since you're asking for our content preferences: At 1:19 in that viedo you are mounting something on you tripod, that looks a bit like a Linhof Technorama or something of that kind. Now, THAT would be certainly something to learn more about. Or maybe I'm just mistaken...
Love the Chilean T-shirt
New subscriber from Chile 🇨🇱❤️, amazing videos!
Fell down the rabbit hole of Fuji XT-4 reviews and I think this review was by far the best and most informative one. Subbed!
I too am a "Solo Film Creator" that enjoys making cinematic travel logs. I love the capabilities and ergonomics of the XT-4 but the autofocus is figuratively the only thing stopping me right now from buying it.
I shoot Fuji, Tom both video (TH-cam) and photos, These are the best toys anyone can buy, but I feel you about the AF in video. Now, I shoot videos with the XT3 and a work around for the eye af is to shut it off, Just use face detection. If you need my settings in terms of af speed and tracking, let me know, tho I believe you played and understand all of them by now, Great video, very accurate and I appreciate your honesty and skill. Thank you.
For the audio, use Røde go. Never had that problem with clipping. Set the volume recording a bit down. I am using it all the way to -10-15 db. Yes its low, but then you dont get the clipping problem. Drag the volume up in edit. Problem solved.
Try to stay always in manual focus and press the af-l button 😉
Dude I feel for you, there isn't a perfect all round camera for every occasion. As a content creator myself, the G9 is what I went with and is great most of the time. A brilliant stills camera, video spec’s amazing but auto focus is unpredictable to say the least and low light performance isn’t good. I knew all this before I purchased so try to work around all of the drawbacks, which to be fair, aren’t many. I love Canon and Sony’s DPAF but we can’t have it all, I have Canon lenses and didn’t want to switch to another eco-system but have moved to micro 4/3. Tom I’ll be honest, if autofocus and audio issues bothers you, get a Sony A6400, great vlogging camera with a great deal of features for the video centric. I nearly bought one but the G9 ticked more boxes as I wanted to work with one camera for both video and stills. Love your videos, atb, Damian.
Very decent personal review, and entertaining! Almost made me run out and buy a Fuji, lol. Seriously, you made your points, good going.
Excellent review Thomas . I was having a hard time choosing a 'vlogging' camera. You have made the choice a lot easier for me . Thanks a lot .
I'd probably go for a panasonic s5 instead of this. Autofocus isn't its strong suit either, but panasonic always delivers excellent video cameras and never seem to have weird quirks or glitchy issues like this camera. They're very reliable cameras.
Excellent review. I am still making videos with the XT4, and very happy with it. I also come from Canon.
Just one thing if you don't mind, I find it difficult to understand that a film maker would rely on auto audio recording.
Auto audio is like using auto focus all the time. Sound is as important as video in a film.
Keep on enjoying the XT4! If you haven't upgraded.
Many thanks for your honest review.
I own the XT4.. it literally has the BEST AUTO FOCUS of any camera!!!!!!!
I haven't used the XT4, but used an XH1 before and moved back to Canon. I love the feel and ease of use of Canon camera :). Just starting making landscape photography video with the M50. Anyway, use what works best for you. Keep inspiring us!
You should use the back button focus when using manual focus instead of changing single to manual
Just tripped across your channel. Nice video, and you earned a subscriber. As a new XT4 owner (long time Fuji owner, though) I somewhat expected the audio issues that you described. I haven't done any video with mine yet, but I have on the XE3 and X100F. On-camera preamps are notorious for quality issues, and auto level is something that sounds good to the laypersons but IMHO as an electronics engineer and an AV geek -- NO NO NO. Lol. Separate audio recorder all day every day and manually set levels for -12dB or whatever you like to work with. Tascam DR-40X or Zoom H4n Pro or H6 [Edited to add: or Zoom's tiny F1]. For H6 [or F1], take your pick of capsule including the reasonably nice SSH-6 stereo shotgun. For solo work, the H6 [or F1] with the extension cable so that the recorder display can be with you in front of the camera is my vote. Otherwise, you'll be doing sound checks. These recorders are a little big to mount on camera, but a 2 connector setup for your tripod makes for a great configuration. Run audio from the line/mic out (may need an attenuator cable) and keep the camera input level as low as is useful for reference audio. Sync in post processing. Record with a safety channel, if your recorder is so featured.
Thank you for the honest review. So many reviewers glossed over the autofocus hunting on X-T3/4 (it’s ‘almost there’, they’d say!). I sold my X-T3 and bought the ‘overpriced, with out-of-date video specs’ EOS R. It’s 8-bit 4:2:0 (I know, the horror), but I can leave it unmanned on a tripod and trust the focus when it’s on a gimbal.
Awesome real world review I generally switch off when things get too technical so this was awesome. I shot my vlogs on an iPhone for ages I was generally happy then upped my game with the canon M50 I’m constantly impressed with the video from this wee camera audio is my next big work on. Thing about solo film making its not only an incredible creative outlet it’s a huge learning curve keeps the old brain cell twitching. As a Fuji fan the XT4 does look amazing and Fiji are so good at responding to user feed back. Cheers for the vid 📷❤️
Why don't you chose manual focus and then focus with tapping onto the touch screen?? (instead of first auto focusing and then switching to manual)
And turn off the wind filter in camera!! :)
You need to inform Fuji support of this bugs. Great review from a video point.
You should let Fuji know about the wind noise issue. They'll definitely fix it. It seems like to happen because Fuji trying to ignore the wind noise and extract "useful" sounds, thus bumping up the gain and causing clipping. It seems like an easy fix to me, just tell the system to take account of wind noise more and try to do less gain boosting. This should require you to speak louder over the wind, but I think that's expected by most people. That fix should require Fuji to tune only 1 parameter.
Have you tried turning the wind noise reduction off when you’re using the fluffy bunny on your mic? I wonder if it’s causing the issue. I haven’t come across it on my XT4 but now I’m curious
I got my a7siii a few days ago, and still grab my Fuji for my paid shoots FML! I just can’t explain why I love the xt4. Smh Fuji casts a spell on you lol
Great review, and fully agree. Regarding the Mic issue, tbh I wouldn't be putting it on auto anyway. I'd combine it with the new VideoMic NTG, it's intelligent enought to deal with clipping and such so you can just set the levels manually and leave them within camera.
Flippy screen... perfet! I just purchased a Sony A7II - so far, so good. This past weekend's trip to the Rockies gave me some pretty good images, however heavy smoke from nearby fires really prevented that super-sharp mountains-in-the-distance image. It did, however, give me a golden hour from 3-6 pm!
‘Solo Video Creator’ needs to go on a t-shirt
yeah man the thing about audio is also true with XT3 and there has been no firmware for 2 years. so I am not very hopeful. earlier fuji used to make HUGE leaps in firmware but now even they have slowed down
Seems like a great camera for a "solo film maker". Good thing I'm happy with my Nikon Z50 as a solo film maker, so that I don't have to buy a new camera 😁
EUREKA!! I just hiked the Pinhoti trail, and I could NOT for the life of me figure out that digital interference on my audio. Now I know. Thanks for the info. No longer in autoaudio. Great review!
Audio is really easy to bring back. Just record all your audio with -6/8/12 (dont know the Fuji) and put a limiter or compressor on your audio channels when editing. Best would be if auto levels worked ofcourse.
Excellent down to earth, real-world review 😊
Great video. After watching this I took the X-T4 out of my amazon shopping cart. bad auto focus is not something I would accept. Thanks.
For autofocus locking u can set one of the additional buttons on the case. It is more comfortable
Excellent review and, I must say, interesting approach to cameras review. Thanks for sharing.
My cat loves your vidoes, always watch them with me.
Thanks, that was helpful
It looks like an amazing camera for video too.
Thanks Thomas, really love my X-T4! Being a solo photo creator myself, it's nice to discover it can shoot video also...
Philip Bloom has a good video on AF. You'll learn unfortunately the AF is largely different per lens. The 18-55, 23f2 and Viltrox 23f1.4 all work well. Audio will need to be manual on any camera I've ever used. You don't want it unnecessarily raising your noise floor.
Hello Thomas, regarding your audio issue with the rode micro, I think neither the x-t3 nor the x-t4 provide full 5v power through the jack for the micro to perform properly, making the noise floor extremely high and possibly introducing your strange interference noise. might be worth a try using a battery powered mic like the rode videomic pro. i understand the inconvenience though.
So it needs a "focus puller" (that's a job title in the movie industry).
Joking aside, setting the camera to manual, focusing manually before pressing start, prevents most of your problems. Most of the takes are landscape at (almost) infinity. The shots you want to change focus from foreground to background or v.v. need your presence whatever mode you choose.
Then there are the few takes that start with background and need to adjust as you step into frame.
If you think along these lines, my opinion is you are dependent on AF only in 10% of takes.
But is it worth it when the xt3 is now available for $999? Should I just save the money and get some nice glass with the difference in price?
For the manual audio input levels, there is an option to show the levels on screen (MIC LEVEL under WRENCH > SCREEN SETUP > DISP CUSTOM SETTING). That's a good way to monitor the levels. You need to turn off the LARGE INDICATOR MODE in order to see the option. Bummer you cant use more of the auto stuff. All cameras have their issues, I'd like to see what you could do with the Low Light Levels on a Sony A7SIII...or new Canon C70.
Cool tech review Mr H. In fact, I kind of fancy the way you do this - compared to a bunch of tech review TH-camr’s. The thing is that you have serious heavy in-field experience 👍
A rare thing on TH-cam nowadays but I believe everything you say...Thanks for the review.
You are an utter inspiration. Love your work. Keep going!!!!
Auto audio settings will see a low wind noise as a signal that needs to be levelled out with your voice - so it's brining up the wind so that all the levels are even. It's kinda of similar to how a compressor works in a audio interface
Did Fuji fix the issues? Now being 1 year on.
Always good to be on top of audio levels even when shooting on auto.