Did anyone else catch a major camera brand pitching paid firmware tiers at CES this week? If autofocus upgrades sit behind a $9/month paywall, that’s going to change how I choose my next body.
I’m treating “no AF behind a paywall” as a hard requirement on my next body and will ask dealers for a written, perpetual unlock on core functions. Nikon’s one-time Z6/Z7 ProRes RAW fee was tolerable, but a monthly AF toll is like renting your steering wheel, so I’ll favor brands that commit to lifetime features in the EULA.
Hard pass if the CES pitch is real: “AF behind a $9/month paywall” goes straight into TCO — 48 months adds $432, which can flip which body wins. I’ll favor brands that guarantee AF works offline and post‑EOL without renewals; subs are fine for cloud or camera‑to‑cloud, not focus. Which brand was it?