COMMENT: AF+MF Mode Update on X-Pro1 and X-T1

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The X-Pro1 received the AF-MF function during the Firmware upgrade last December.

 On December 18 2014 Fujifilm released a wave of updates for the X-T1 (firmware V3.0) that improved the camera in several key areas.  Some of the upgrades are very nice to have but hardly earth shattering and will probably be used by me on the odd occassion if at all during my ownership of the camera.   However there as some upgrades, like the electronic shutter (which I reviewed HERE) that are very useful in my everyday use of the camera.

 While the X-T1 upgrades hit all the headlines, the older X-Pro1 also got a firmware upgrade (V3.4), a single update that seems to have been overlooked in all the X-T1 plaudits but, in my opinion, improves the operation of the camera immensely. 

 The upgrade I am talking about is the inclusion of manual focus override when using AF-S - this mode is AF+MF.  Now the X-T1 also got this upgrade and the functionality is also slightly better with the newer camera, but let us look at the X-Pro1 first.
The menu selection on the X-T1

 When using AF to select the point of focus it is critical when using the fast aperture lenses such as the 35mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.2 that the focus point is checked to make sure the focus is spot on.  By keeping the shutter release half pressed you can use manual focus to fine tune before fully pressing the release to take the shot.  Using the Electronic View Finder (EVF) and Focus Peaking you can easily see where the focus needs to be adjusted if necessary.

Now on the X-T1 the camera will 'Focus Zoom' where the viewfinder automatically zooms in on the focus area so you can really see the focus point when using a very wide aperture.  The X-Pro1 doesn't have this 'Focus Zoom' function and this has its plus and minus points.  I will explain.

 When I use AF I sometimes point the AF point at the part of the image I want to the focus to be on, half press the shutter release to lock the focus and then recompose in the viewfinder. Now with the X-Pro1 this is still possible because you can see the whole image in the viewfinder.  However on the X-T1 when the shutter is half pressed the Focus Zoom operates and you can't see the whole picture, so my normal method of working is no longer permissible when using the AF+MF mode.


When using fast lenses, such as the 56mm f1.2, wide open it is useful to fine tune the point of focus
The solution is quite simple, I have to move the focus point around the viewfinder so it is in the correct position before selection the focus lock and the Focus Zoom now expands the part of the image that is covered by the focus area.  So there is no need to recompose the image.  

 It does take a bit of getting used to on my part because of the way I have worked in the past but it is a minor niggle on an otherwise very useful function.

 The AF+MF mode is a  great addition to both the X-Pro1 and X-T1 and it is good to see Fujifilm still providing useful upgrades for the three year old X-Pro1. There was some complaints that the X-Pro1 didn't receive some of the other upgrades that the X-T1 received.  I'm sure some of the reasons were down to the older hardware not being compatible and some of the reasons were economical.  

 For me the X-Pro1 is still a great camera and it is used on a daily basis alongside the X-T1 and X100.  It certainly produces the images that I and my clients expect and that is all that matters.

Another example of fine tuning the focus point in difficult conditions that could fool the cameras AF function
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Comments

  1. Hugh Saunders16 January 2015 at 11:34

    Hi, XT-1 Focus zoom can be disabled in menu > spanner 1 > screen setup > focus check.

    Apologies if this is a duplicate comment, I'm not sure if the first one submitted correctly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Macsport16 January 2015 at 11:45

      Thanks for the comment Hugh. Yes I was aware of the ability to disable the Focus Zoom but I find the zoom function to be useful for fine focus. As I explained the issue is when I try to compose an image where the point of focus is not where the AF square is located in the viewfinder I just have to readjust the way I work when composing an image when using the XT1.

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