macjim
Well-known
New review, yes I know it's another one but it's written by tony Bridge for the F11 magazine. Worth a read both the review and, the magazine. Download from here: http://www.f11magazine.com/site/current.html
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Interesting... but no mention of the AF tracking - and then he goes and says it's for wedding photographers... what's the acronym the kids use these days? *SMH*
Cheers,
Dave
Cheers,
Dave
goamules
Well-known
A good photographer doesn't need AF tracking. A good photographer can make any camera work for him. The Hassleblads used on the moon by Apollo astronauts didn't even have a viewfinder. They were point and shoot, and the pictures are spectacular.
Every new camera that comes out, starts getting criticized for some technical shortcoming by technogeeks. Usually about features that didn't even exist 10 years ago like Focus Peaking, or 30 years ago like Autofocus. And to think, there were wedding photographers back in the 20s, 40s, 50s, 70s, 80s.......
Every new camera that comes out, starts getting criticized for some technical shortcoming by technogeeks. Usually about features that didn't even exist 10 years ago like Focus Peaking, or 30 years ago like Autofocus. And to think, there were wedding photographers back in the 20s, 40s, 50s, 70s, 80s.......
Spyro
Well-known
funny you mentioned it, I was just watching a video of George Tice at work. He set up his massive 8X10 on a wooden tripod, realtively close to his subject (a shopfront somewhere) getting ready for what seemed like a complex composition. He finished setting up, and THEN he chose a lens to mount
Freaked me out a bit, he had the whole picture in his mind without even looking through the lens. Standard procedure for large format shooters I guess... I don't think I could do it.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Thanks for your input - but let me see if I can put my comment in context:
1) I've been shooting weddings since 2001 professionally
2) I do not classify myself as a "technogeek"
3) my comment was for many wedding photographers who actually do use tracking for many moments during the ceremony, during the reception etc. Many of those want to use available light and shoot wide open so tracking is critical for this - "f8 and be there" isn't going to cut it for them
So while you may feel the need to toss veiled insults, I don't believe that's necessary.
I have noted that in many forum posts online, and from Fuji themselves, the claim that the AF is vastly improved with this camera. I have tested the camera - the single focus AF is slightly faster than the X-Pro1 that I sold about a year ago. The tracking AF is exactly the same - lacking. I have requested others who have the camera, if you research the other threads, to test it out and let me know if *I* have done something incorrectly but I've only seen one individual who has tested the X-T1 and has noted the same; that AF tracking is not up to par in this camera.
Dave
It does seem that people expect way too much from each camera that comes out. However, we all use them differently and if a newer feature allows someone to do something they couldn't do before (or do it easier), then who are we to judge?
Lawrence Sheperd
Well-known
Dave, this short paragraph towards the end of the article speaks to the focus tracking, but without really going into any detail:
"Sports and editorial photographers on assignment. If you can overcome the shutter latency issue, the focus tracking is so good that you can confidently shoot for your editor or agency. They don't need to know you are using a little camera."
It would have been great if the author had given some specifics. I share your concern about focus tracking, but of the four reviews I've read online, none have had an issue with it.
Time will tell…..
"Sports and editorial photographers on assignment. If you can overcome the shutter latency issue, the focus tracking is so good that you can confidently shoot for your editor or agency. They don't need to know you are using a little camera."
It would have been great if the author had given some specifics. I share your concern about focus tracking, but of the four reviews I've read online, none have had an issue with it.
Time will tell…..
Lawrence Sheperd
Well-known
Oh, and "Thanks!" Macjim for bringing f11 to my attention. Had not seen it previously.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
Agreed!!
Larry - try out the camera for yourself; for what you want to use it for - the AF tracking may be good enough and, as I've said time and time again, it may be "ME" that has the problem with how the camera is/was set up.
I just want another person to try it and to post the findings - reviews and camera store videos (who benefit from the sale of the camera itself) don't quite do it for me
Cheers,
Dave
Lawrence Sheperd
Well-known
I agree that the only way to know for sure is to try it ourselves. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until I can travel to a city that has an actual camera store :bang:.
dcsang
Canadian & Not A Dentist
And finding a camera store that actually carries the Fuji stuff is even harder.
burancap
Veteran
I feel the pain of the previous SC post!
Remarkably, the second closest shop (~1.5 hours and in the opposite direction of Charleston) to me actually does carry Fuji -at least the last time I was there.
May be time for a lunch trip this weekend to try the XT ... or just wait for your review as you and I tend to think very much along the same lines!
PhotoMat
Well-known
At times, the setup of the Fujis can seem a little vague, and the manual is not particularly helpful. It's like the computer programmers who hide "Easter eggs" within their gaming code. There have been little tidbits of information gleaned from other users (X-Pro 1 in my case) that have not readily been pointed out in the manual.
macjim
Well-known
Agreed!! Larry - try out the camera for yourself; for what you want to use it for - the AF tracking may be good enough and, as I've said time and time again, it may be "ME" that has the problem with how the camera is/was set up. I just want another person to try it and to post the findings - reviews and camera store videos (who benefit from the sale of the camera itself) don't quite do it for me
I should mention that the article is continued at the back of the magazine: page 172 or 177 so it could be that that has been missed when reading it.
Flickr: thesrpspaintshop
Spyro
Well-known
I haven't received mine yet, and I've never used AF tracking in my life, or expect to do so in the future, but just for the sake of conversation:
I understand these cameras need to use the pdaf pixels on the sensor for AF tracking to work. However in low light they revert to cdaf for some reason, so I would think AF tracking would not work? So far all successful AF-tracking tests I've seen have been in good light, so maybe that explains it?
I understand these cameras need to use the pdaf pixels on the sensor for AF tracking to work. However in low light they revert to cdaf for some reason, so I would think AF tracking would not work? So far all successful AF-tracking tests I've seen have been in good light, so maybe that explains it?
goamules
Well-known
My daughters old m4/3 G2 has Autofocus tracking. I think we've used it....once...to try.
Seems to me that some like to buy a hammer when a screwdriver is needed. That said, Fuji doesn't help matters with its claims.
GaryLH
Veteran
I believe u have hit the nail on the head.. I have also read somewhere that it switch to contrast when there is not enough light and that predictive uses the phase detect cells.
So it sounds like in continuous af and predictive is active, if it is too dark, it is not only reverting to contrast but some default behavior like maybe af lock at initial shutter release. I wonder if changing the number of frames per second to a lower number, also changes the af lock behavior?
Gary
Jamie Pillers
Skeptic
Dave, he does say, on page 128: "If you can overcome the shutter latency issue, the focus tracking is so good that you can confidently shoot for your editor or agency. They don't need to know that you are using a little camera."