Hidden feature in X100?

[Jim Kuo]

Did other X100 owners know about this "hidden" feature that you can change the rectangular box size for AF (focus frame)? I was suffering from serious focus inconsistency while taking portraits of people/zombies on the streets last night, so I searched the forum for remedy. Someone mentioned the ability to reduce the focus frame size to improve AF accuracy, I haven't had a chance to verify if this is true, but here is the instructions on how it's done.

Hold the AF button (on the left of the camera), then turn the control stick left or right to reduce or enlarge the focus frame size.

I hope this information might be useful to some of you here.

(I just checked the manual and this information does appear on page 50. Apparently the focus frame size change only works for EVF or LCD)

 

[Hamish Gill]

I have to say I found it made little difference and settled back on the default eventually ... Worth experimenting though Jim, YMMV as they say

 

[Larry Bolch]

Have known about it since the beginning, along with the fact that it can be moved over most of the image area. The only out of focus images the x-cameras have done were through moistware error.

 

[Dave Green]

Neat!

No use to me though as I only use the optical overlay viewfinder.

 

[Jim Kuo]

Have known about it since the beginning

Haha, that would teach me to read the manual carefully to get these less obvious but useful features!

 

[Larry Bolch]

The Fuji manuals are very brief and anything but verbose. My D700 manual is over 440 pages and densely written. However, coming from another camera, they are absolutely vital. People who have tried to shoot the X-cameras as if they were CaNikon dSLRs have been highly disappointed. Auto-focus has been highly criticized, but contrast detection focus technique is covered very clearly in both the X100 and X-Pro1 manuals. When done correctly, it is not as fast as phase detection, but is extremely accurate—and orders of magnitude faster than manual focus. I used the technique long before buying the X100, and do not even notice focus speed. I have never missed a shot that I would have got had I been shooting the D700.

There were many complaints about how small the "OK" button was, making it difficult to press. The whole assembly can be pressed! Even with your thumb! Now, that one is a hidden feature. People were also complaining about "orbs" around lights. With other lenses, you get a star-burst as you stop down to smaller apertures.



This is caused by diffraction off the aperture blades. Diffraction is a physical phenomenon, and its effect increases as aperture decreases—in all lenses. It also causes harshness in out of focus areas. X-camera Fujinon lenses have curved blades, and star-bursts as above are impossible. However, out of focus areas are beautifully blended and make a lovely background in closeups.



Fuji may well be the current leader in innovation—or at least marching to their own drummer—and learning these cameras guarantees finding satisfaction with them.