continuous focus mode question

[tbarker13]

So I may have missed this elswhere. But when I use the XP1 in Continuous mode, this happens:
I press the focus button and the lens searches for focus for about two minutes before stopping.
I mean, I can shoot the image I want and then leave the camera alone. The lens will continue moving in and out for a full two minutes (I timed it today) before it stops. Each time I press the focus/shutter release button, it initiates another two minute cycle.
I sort of assumed the lens would stop its continuous focus mode once I'd taken my finger off the shutter release button. This would seem to create a silly waste of battery power.

Again, I may have missed an earlier discussion on this, but didn't find much in my Google search on the topic.

 

[tbarker13]

Not sure what to make of the lack of any response to this question.
How about his. Can one of you other Xpro 1 owners tell me what happens when you put your camera in Continuous focus mode?
Take a picture and then set the camera down.
Does the camera continue to search for focus for a couple of minutes after you've taken the photo?

EDIT: I realize the only reason the camera ever stops focusing is because i have the camera set to power off after 2 minutes. So basically, when set to Continuous mode, the camera never stops hunting for focus. The lens constantly moves in and out. Can this really be by design?

 

[Gazzah]

Its just as you describe - and it sort of makes sence, the camera is constantly focusing so when you press the button its ready to capture - As it says in the manual - Focus is continually adjusted to reflect in the distance to the subject EVEN WHEN THE SHUTTER BUTTON IS NOT PRESSED 1/2 WAY...

 

[Johnhw]

That's correct, the camera is continuously focusing...exactly what you told it to do.

 

[tbarker13]

That's not exactly what I told it to do. I told it to go into continual focus mode. And then I want it to do its job when I hold the shutter release down when I'm ready to frame and take a photo.
I don't want it to waste precious battery power doing nothing of value.

I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't want this feature to shut off when you take your finger off the shutter release.

My DLSRs also have a Continuous focus mode. They handle it much better.

 

[luibargi]

The camera is designed to do what it declares, not what you want it your way.
The concept is very simple:
- you set the CF mode (AF C)
- you press shutter 1/2 way telling the camera to start CF operation
- the camera continues focusing if you move it (or if target moves) until it times out, which happens exactly after 2 minutes.
To end AF C mode change to AF S or manual.
This makes sense when your subject is moving, you follow it (like if shhoting a video) and you want to be ready to shoot when you decide, having AE and AF ready.
quote
I mean, I can shoot the image I want and then leave the camera alone.
unquote
Then you set to AF S (single shoot), why setting to AF C?

 

[tbarker13]

Actually the more I look at it, I realize the camera starts focusing before I even touch the shutter release button. Continuous means the camera (if on) is always focusing. That's a waste of battery power and a silly design. It could just as easily have been configured to have the shutter release act as a toggle switch - as other camera makers do.

As for why to use AF (C) versus AF (S) - in my experience thus far, the camera tends to focus quicker when in Continuous mode. It's a way of working around the somewhat sluggish focusing of the S mode.

The camera is designed to do what it declares, not what you want it your way.
The concept is very simple:
- you set the CF mode (AF C)
- you press shutter 1/2 way telling the camera to start CF operation
- the camera continues focusing if you move it (or if target moves) until it times out, which happens exactly after 2 minutes.
To end AF C mode change to AF S or manual.
This makes sense when your subject is moving, you follow it (like if shhoting a video) and you want to be ready to shoot when you decide, having AE and AF ready.
quote
I mean, I can shoot the image I want and then leave the camera alone.
unquote
Then you set to AF S (single shoot), why setting to AF C?

 

[tbarker13]

They chose the typical implementation for compact cameras (continuous without touching the release button) instead of the typical DSLR implementation (continuous as long as you touch the release button). I like the DSLR implementation more and don't know what drove the Fuji engineers to chose the happy snapper implementation.

Thanks. That explains where it came from. I've never used a compact digital camera - probably why this was so jarring to me. I much prefer the DLSR version.

 

[Griffin]

Haven't you read the manual? 😎

 

[tbarker13]

Haven't you read the manual? 😎

Read the manual? That would be too easy.🙂

 

[Gazzah]

As the old saying goes -"As a last resort RTFM " ...

 

[Griffin]

I agree. Posting here is like Manual 2.0

 

[Johnhw]

I correct myself...

It's doing exactly what you told it to do, just not the way you wanted it to do it.