Backlit Artifacts… on Sony A7III. Where DPReview is Wrong on Fujifilm and My Final Word on X-Trans Backlit Artifacts Myth
Let’s Talk Backlit Artifacts
Imporant disclaimers:
Disclaimer 1: Sony A7III is an amazing camera
Disclaimer 2: I share this post, no to attack Sony, but because DPReview claims Fujifilm has the same issue, and gives a wrong explanation that I want to correct
Disclaimer 3: I love DPReview
Disclaimer 4: Keep in mind Sony A7III is still pre-production model
The Legend
As you know, in the past Fujifilm cameras had a rare, but when it occurred, annoying issue: purple grid artifacts shooting backlit images. And a theory spread quickly: the cause of this evil is the X-Trans sensor.
I did try to explain, that it has nothing to do with the X-Trans sensor, in my “debunking 6 X-Trans myths article“, but for some reason the theory continued to circulate.
In fact, Fujifilm did find the cause of the artifacts (not X-Trans CFA), and starting from the X100F and X-T20, they applied some changes.
Since then, a rare problem (the purple grid artifacts) has become even more rare, as also shown by independent reviewers in our 6 X-Trans myths article.
So how did Fujifilm (almost completely) fixed the issue?
The Fix
It might not be the only solution, but one of the things Fujifilm did, is to re-design the front plate. Older cameras have a very angled front plate, while newer cameras have a more rounded plate, as I have demonstrated in my X-E3 Vs. X-T1 front plate image.
But it’s not only me… also X-shooters at DPReivew noticed that the very same camera, the X-T2, has different top plate designs. Newer ones were rounded, older ones angled.
Of course Fujifilm didn’t change the front plate design just for fun. There is a reason behind it. And it’s because this helped to mitigate the purple grid artifacts.
But keep in mind, that due to the IBIS requirements, the front plate design might have changed yet again on the Fujifilm X-H1. As soon as my local store has one in stock, I will compare it’s design with my X-T1 and X-E3.
The Sony A7III Artifacts, and where DPReview is wrong
Backlit artifacts have nothing to do with the special X-Trans design and also other cameras like Olympus have the same issue.
And today, we can welcome also the Sony A7III to the backlit artifacts club :) .
In fact, DPReview noticed a striping issue in A7III backlit images, see for example in this A7III image. They say:
“In a couple of the photos you may notice striping, a problem we’ve found common to all cameras with masked phase detect AF pixels when shot a certain way: with very fast lenses wide open pointed directly at bright light sources to purposefully induce flare [also with Fujifilm].”
Well, I don’t know if the striping on the Sony A7III is caused by the phase detection pixels, as DPR claims. For sure, though, phase detection pixels are not the cause of grid artifacts in Fujifilm cameras.
How do I know this?
Well, because the grid artifacts on Fujifilm cameras occur also in areas not covered by phase detection pixels. Just take a look at this image, shared at DPReview. At the very left of the image, and you will see the grid artifacts… and the Fujifilm X-T2 has no phase detection pixels there.
Again… the re-design of the front plate (as demonstrated by independent reviewers), has largely fixed this issue.
Should future Sony A7III Owners Panic?
First of all… the Sony A7III is still in pre-production.
Maybe Sony can fix this via firmware update or hardware before release. Or maybe they will release a Sony A7IV in 7 months – just kidding ;) .
But given that it is pre-production, and Sony engineers should be aware of this issue, they will probably just do it like Fujifilm: find the cause for the issue, and find a solution. For Fujifilm the front plate redesign seemed to work well, I’m sure the smart guys and Sony will come up with a solution, too. So no, don’t panic, if you pre-ordered a Sony A7III.
But if you really, really want to be 100% sure never ever to have any artifacts in your backlit shots, then… shoot film ;) .
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