After 5 Years of Loyalty why am I switching?
After five years of shooting with the Fujifilm X-T3, I’ve made the decision to switch to Canon — and it’s not a decision I’ve taken lightly. I’ve genuinely loved my time with Fuji. The colours, the design, the feel of the camera in-hand — it all made photography a joy. Fujifilm has a certain magic about it, and for a long time, it was exactly what I needed.
I first picked up the X-T3 because of its reputation for colour science, and it didn’t disappoint. Fujifilm’s film simulations like Classic Chrome and Provia gave my images a cinematic edge straight out of camera. The colours were rich, yet soft, especially in natural light and skin tones — a huge plus for my portrait and wedding work. I also loved how tactile the cameras are. The physical dials for ISO, shutter speed, and exposure compensation make you feel completely in control. It’s intuitive and fast, without digging through endless menus.
Another big win for Fujifilm was portability. The system is lightweight, discreet, and incredibly well-built. It made long wedding days feel a bit lighter — literally. With primes like the 23mm f/1.4, 35mm f/2, and the brilliant 56mm f/1.2, I had a kit that was easy to carry, quick to shoot with, and produced beautiful results.
So why switch?
The short answer: autofocus. As my photography evolved and I took on more high-stakes work — particularly weddings and video projects — I found the autofocus just didn’t hold up. In fast-paced, emotional moments where there’s no second chance — the first kiss, a hug between relatives, tears during speeches — I couldn’t always rely on the X-T3 to nail focus. Even with face and eye tracking on, the system was prone to hunting or missing completely. That’s a deal-breaker when someone’s trusting you to capture the most important day of their life.
I did consider upgrading to the newer Fujifilm X-T5 or even the video-focused X-H2. But after testing and reading feedback, I realised the improvements in autofocus still didn’t bring it up to par with other systems — particularly Canon and Sony. For what I do, “close enough” isn’t good enough anymore.
Video was another factor. In the early days, Fuji’s video capabilities met my needs — 10-bit recording, F-Log, and strong colour profiles. But again, the autofocus was inconsistent, especially in low light or when filming solo. And while Fuji’s lenses are excellent, I found myself limited in dynamic range and light handling compared to what full-frame systems offer.
That brings me to another key point: the sensor. Fujifilm has arguably mastered the APS-C format, but there’s only so far you can push it. I found myself fighting against its limits in low-light environments and when trying to get that deeper, more immersive depth of field that full-frame delivers effortlessly. At a certain point, gear should enable your creativity — not hold it back.
Then there’s the lens ecosystem. Fujifilm’s XF lenses are beautiful, no question. But the Canon RF system — especially when paired with bodies like the R6 Mark II — offers so much more versatility for hybrid shooters. L-series glass, ultra-fast autofocus motors, better third-party support, and a future-proof system all helped seal the decision.
So now I’ve moved to Canon — specifically the R6 Mark II — and the difference has been immediate. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II is fast and accurate. Low-light performance is solid. IBIS makes handheld shooting smoother, especially for video. And the full-frame sensor delivers incredible dynamic range, rich tones, and that creamy bokeh I’ve been craving. Most importantly, I can trust the camera to do its job, so I can focus on doing mine.
I want to be clear — I still have a lot of respect for Fujifilm. I think the X-series cameras are some of the most beautifully designed tools in photography. I’ll continue to recommend them to hobbyists, travel photographers, and anyone who values simplicity, style, and straight-out-of-camera quality. For some people, Fuji will be the perfect system.
But for me, right now, Canon gives me the reliability, flexibility, and performance I need as a working professional. It’s not about chasing the latest trend — it’s about recognising when your tools need to grow with you.
Maybe Fuji will take a leap in the coming years. I hope they do. But for now, I’m putting my trust in Canon.
When you look at Fujifilm vs Canon, it’s not just a battle of specs — it’s a difference in approach. Fuji has always been about feel. From the start, I was drawn to the X-series because of how intuitive it is — the dials, the compact build, and that stunning colour straight out of camera. Over the past five years with my Fujifilm X-T3, I’ve taken it across weddings, portraits, travels, and shoots where portability mattered. The film simulations like Classic Chrome and Provia made my workflow quicker and made images look incredible even before editing.
But here’s the thing: as my work has grown and I’ve taken on more demanding, high-pressure jobs — mainly wedding photography and hybrid video work — I’ve started to feel the limitations of the Fuji system. Autofocus, especially. I’ve missed critical moments due to focus hunting, even with face and eye detection turned on. The X-T3, while reliable in many ways, just couldn’t consistently keep up with fast-paced movement — and that’s something I can’t afford to risk anymore.
I seriously considered upgrading to the X-T5 or X-H2, and while both offer improvements, I still felt the autofocus performance wasn’t quite where I needed it to be — particularly in low light. The Canon R6 Mark II, though, changed everything for me. It’s fast, sharp, and the Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system is genuinely on another level. It just locks on, and I know it’s going to hit focus every time, whether I’m shooting stills or video.
Canon’s full-frame system also gives me more dynamic range, better low-light performance, and that smooth, shallow depth of field you just can’t replicate with APS-C. And while the RF lens range is incredible — I’m especially loving the RF 50mm f/1.2L — I’ll also be making good use of Canon’s extensive EF lens lineup with an adapter. There are some fantastic EF lenses that are still workhorses today, and being able to tap into that range gives me more flexibility without having to break the bank on all-new RF glass right away.
That’s another point where Canon just gives you more options. Whether it’s high-end RF primes or tried-and-tested EF lenses, you’ve got choices — and that matters when you’re balancing both photography and video work.
But let me be clear — I’m not walking away from Fujifilm entirely. I still love what they offer, and I’ll be keeping a fujifilm camera in my lineup for personal projects, street photography, and travel. Fuji’s colour science, simplicity, and lightweight design make it the perfect tool for when I just want to slow down and enjoy shooting. It still has a place in my kit, just not as my main workhorse.
So no, it’s not about Canon being better than Fuji. It’s about what works best for your needs. For me, Canon brings the autofocus reliability, sensor performance, and lens flexibility I need to confidently deliver under pressure — especially on days where there are no second takes. But Fuji will always have a place for the kind of work where I want to feel a bit more connected to the process and less worried about speed or performance.
At the end of the day, the camera is just a tool — it’s how you use it that counts. But if the tool starts getting in the way of the work, it might be time to reassess. For me, that meant shifting to Canon for my professional workflow, while keeping Fuji around for the love of photography.
