p.1 #1 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
Hey guys with availability worldwide starting to grow I thought we can start a dedicated thread for tips and tricks.
As of now it seems like the learning curve is higher than expected and I am reluctant to go scouring the web for tips and tricks and am going to take the weekend to learn on my own since I just picked it up a few hours ago...
If anyone has tips, tricks or experiences they would like to share please go ahead!
I think for now we should not post images in this thread unless it helps explain or demonstrate a specific tutorial...
p.1 #2 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
Trick: Quickest way to activate macro...double tap macro button to switch and half press the shutter to dismiss.
Tip: Or as pointed out to me on another forum...skip macro..evf switch, manual focus, ael then adjust..fast way down to mfd.
Personal note: I reassigned fn button to nd filter, because frankly between aperture, ss, and ev dials, auto iso is fine, and I live in a bright climate.
Any way to change focus points in an easier way, I know clicking menu when holding af defaults to centerpoint (tip for those not reading the manual!)
p.1 #4 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
I find autofocus unreliable in dim light using ovf...and I don't know why this is the case technically, but it works a lot better in low light using the evf. I've repeated the test over and over, same results.
I find manual focus arduous right now. It does not adjust well to the speed of the ring turn...and I would like more zoom in magnify...or auto magnification when I start to turn the ring, unless that is possible? If not, it can be added, should they choose to.
p.1 #5 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
On the other forum someone suggested the ovf focus issue may be one of parallax. Makes sense. If it's not focusing on the one area of contrast in low light. I thought it was a good thought..and would explain why evf is more reliable in the dim.
p.1 #6 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
Wow...talk about a learning curve. The X100 seems as difficult to master as top of the line dSLRs with all sorts of bells and whistles.
I think I have a good handle on mine now. So I figured I'd share some of my settings.
Focus: manual focus. Then, I use the AFL/AEL button to focus. Sorta like using the * button on the back to focus my Canon. If I don't need to refocus, then I'm free to fire the shutter quickly to take more photos. I use the command control to zoom into the focus area. That works even using the optical view finder. It switches to EVF momentarily. I can confirm focus is where I want it, lightly tap the shutter, and I'm back to the OVF, and the shutter button is very responsive.
I now keep the focus sensor in the center. I tried moving it around, but focusing with the magnified view in the center and then recomposing seems to be faster than trying to fiddle with the focus area. It's no worse than using a rangefinder.
The added bonus besides the shutter button not re-focusing for me when I don't want it to is that I don't have to worry about going in or out of macro mode. The AFL/AEL button automatically focuses without regard to subject distance.
My miss rate on focusing is due to subject movement and not due to problems with autofocus. Duct-taping my children's feet to the floor slows them down enough so I can capture them. It's very similar to using a rangefinder to focus and then recompose, and probably takes about the same amount of time. I used to use an M6 with a 35/2 to shoot my oldest kid when she was a baby and toddler. Using the X100 is not too dissimilar for shooting my youngest.
Auto ISO: I've heard lots about how Fuji got this wrong, but I believe Fuji got this right. I set my max ISO to 3200, and my min shutter speed to 1/40. Then, I set the ISO to 200. (This last step is important.) The X100 uses the manually set ISO as a target. That means if I'm outside in bright light, even with auto ISO on, if I'm manually set to a higher ISO, the X100 will use a higher ISO. Seems so simple now that I understand this.
I've turned off the power saving modes. I have a quicker startup time, and autofocus speed is faster.
I'm really liking the X100. Hope the above benefits somebody else. I felt like a bit of an idiot when I first starting playing with the X100. It's definitely not intuitive.
So far, one item I'd like to see changed would be having more than +/- 1 stop in autoexposure bracketing. Or allow more than three pictures. Ideally, I'd like to set at 2 stop increments and have a 5 image set.
Additionally, I'd also like to be able to dial down the flash to less than -2/3 stop. My preferred setting in general is -1 2/3. I want just enough flash to start to fill some of the shadows.
I can live with the above limitations, but I'm hoping a future firmware upgrade will take care of these, like Panasonic did with their LX3. (Fuji: hint, hint. If you're listening.
I use strictly Electronic viewfinder now and my focus rate as jumped up dramatically! The Optical and rear viewfinders are terrible for focusing especially for macro
p.1 #8 · Fuji X100 Tips/Tricks and Experiences Thread
There are the three areas of the camera that could be improved and that bug me.
1. The menu button and the directional pad / wheel is really hard to use. It feels flimsy to me. Thankfully I don't have to use it much. I know space is at a premium but something raised a bit more, with a more secure / reassuring feel would be an improvement.
2. Where are the half stops on the aperture control?
3. The file size of photos made with pano mode is to small. I would like to have larger file sizes and be able to select the pano aspect ratio. How about 1x2 , 1x3, 1x4 etc for aspect ratios. Also, vertical pano mode would be very welcome.
Overall I'm very pleased with the output from the camera. The jpegs look great and the color separation is very nice. Skin tones looks great to my eyes. This camera is the most fun to use of any I have used in years.
It's very similar to using a rangefinder to focus and then recompose, and probably takes about the same amount of time. I used to use an M6 with a 35/2 to shoot my oldest kid when she was a baby and toddler. Using the X100 is not too dissimilar for shooting my youngest.