FujiFilm updates the X100 website.

[gavinlg]

Can't wait for this camera - it's going to make the perfect backup to my 5d.

 

[ampguy]

hmm

hmm

ywan .... I mean yawn ....

 

[jan normandale]

I love this thread! :- )

 

[ChrisN]

...however, the display of focus distance in the viewfinder is awesome. memorize the Hyperfocal distance for a few apertures, and you are set.

Just like the GA645. 🙂

i figure it's this camera or a really good lens...choice wise, that is.

But what will you do if the X100 turns out to have a really good lens? 😀

 

[semilog]

This is a bit of a let down after the talk of some kind of RF patch being implemented.

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif]"With manual focus selected, focusing is achieved using the focus ring around the lens barrel. A distance indication bar enables you to pre-focus if required, or you can simply use the electronic viewfinder to focus accurately. There is, however, no rangefinder focusing capability."[/FONT]

I like RF's, but in all honesty RF focusing is not easier, faster, or better than other ways — including the conventional SLR.

The rangefinder patch is not the best focusing modality; it is merely the best with an optomechanical RF. A well-implemented focus confirmation system may well be superior. Time will tell.

I use RF/VF cameras for other reasons altogether. Definitely not because RF focusing is easiest or most efficient. For me, it is merely adequate.

 

[Roberto V.]

I love how some people are disregarding it as a capable camera for not having an RF patch. It was never meant to have one! Why didn't anyone complain about the DP1/2? I think this will be a great camera, and I will quite possibly buy it as soon as I see photo and video samples. It looks like it will be a great all-around camera.

 

[gavinlg]

Anyone that thinks a compact camera with AF can't be as good or fast as an RF camera with optical rangefinder need to have a go of a panasonic GH2. I had a good 30 minutes with on in Tokyo last week and the AF was absolutely ridiculous. I could never focus a rangefinder as quickly as the GH2 could achieve focus, not even in my wildest dreams..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRdYEVLw6ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2eBL4LXsxU&feature=related (note especially the speed of focus at 280mm equiv.... so brutal...)

 

[tlitody]

Hahaha, very true for anyone seeking a partner. It's all about compromises. For me, it is can I deal with this person on a day to day basis. I find it is the same with cameras for me. 😉

Yeah but it's easier and less expensive to trade in camera if you decide you don't like it.

 

[zumbido]

The site says:



In other words, that is zone-focusing.

No focus confirmation in manual and no rangefinder, the choice will be either zone focusing or AF.

It may still be a digital Hexar, but it won't be a digital RF.

Wait, what????

That isn't zone focusing. Do you know what zone focusing is?

What they're talking about is the same as focusing an SLR that doesn't have a fresnel/split-prism/otherwise-enhanced focusing screen. It certainly isn't ideal, but it has nothing in common with zone focusing.

 

[user237428934]

My question is, will the lens have an infinity stop or will it turn forever like those silly m4:3 lenses? It would be nice to add a tab and focus by feel.

I assume that the ring for manual focussing is not mechanically coupled to the lens, so it's focus by wire. If it's that way, then a focus tab is not useful, because there is no fixed relation between distance and tab position. But that's just another guess here.

 

[Spyro]

Forget comparing to Hexar AF, that camera had the best AF ever. Anyone who owns one can confirm this: the camera will focus on a black coat inside a closet with the lights off. Try that with any canonikon, let alone a compact camera.

I could never focus a rangefinder as quickly as the GH2 could achieve focus, not even in my wildest dreams..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRdYEVLw6ts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2eBL4LXsxU&feature=related

Broad daylight, too easy on the camera. Try again when the sun goes down.

Besides, what would be even faster than both RF and AF would be to just move the focusing ring from 1m to 3m and back. That is, if these lenses had distance scales, which they dont.

 

[Jeff Charles]

Wait, what????

That isn't zone focusing. Do you know what zone focusing is?

What they're talking about is the same as focusing an SLR that doesn't have a fresnel/split-prism/otherwise-enhanced focusing screen. It certainly isn't ideal, but it has nothing in common with zone focusing.

From the published images, zone focusing will be available. There are distance scales below the bright-line frame in the OVF, and at the bottom of the image in the EVF. Both include DOF scales. Too bad there are no distance indicators on the focusing ring, so that you have to look through the viewfinders to set the manual distance.

It looks like focusing will work as follows:

Optical viewfinder:

• CDAF with movable focus points
• Manual zone focusing using the distance scale below the frame lines

EVF:

• CDAF with movable focus points
• Manual focusing by judging the sharpness of the image. Probably with magnified focus area as an aid during focusing.
• Manual zone focusing using the distance scale at the bottom of the image

Jeff

 

[gavinlg]

Broad daylight, too easy on the camera. Try again when the sun goes down.

How about night time in the city?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tim5uRHNE9k

 

[user237428934]

From the published images, zone focusing will be available. There are distance scales below the bright-line frame in the OVF, and at the bottom of the image in the EVF. Both include DOF scales. Too bad there are no distance indicators on the focusing ring, so that you have to look through the viewfinders to set the manual distance.

I don't know where I saw it but I think there was a distance scale on the screen. So when you want to preset a certain distance, then you can do this with the camera down.

 

[Frankie]

The Fuji update suggests shutter lag would be ~0.01s, or 10ms.

This is on par with the mechanical M's...widely believe to be 8~12ms, one source even says 15ms.

Manually focusing the M could take any length of time depending on the user, a fast CDAF would match or beat it...at least me.

Another personal worry is that MF could only be done via some weird switches...NOT SO, it is now confirmed that MF is done via good old-fashioned lens focusing ring!!! And, if the ring is not grippy enough, I have sources of nice rubber rings with choices of width, patterns and colours.

My most likely MO with this camera is to leave the focus point at view centre, if need be, use AFL/AEL and recompose.

I would not have any problem doing zone-focusing via the distance/DoF scale displayable in the LCD or in the O/EVF...what is the difference between doing it that way as compared to setting it on the lens barrel?

If we say it loud enough, the X100 might even be available in black. Fuji would be smart to conduct a poll on its web site.

 

[Spyro]

How about night time in the city?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tim5uRHNE9k

thats even more light than daytime with all those neon lights and signs... AF struggles when there's nothing of high contrast to focus on.

 

[johannielscom]

Wait, what????

That isn't zone focusing. Do you know what zone focusing is?

What they're talking about is the same as focusing an SLR that doesn't have a fresnel/split-prism/otherwise-enhanced focusing screen. It certainly isn't ideal, but it has nothing in common with zone focusing.

Do you know what zone focusing is?

How are you going to focus SLR-style when not looking through the lens in optical focusing mode? Your statement might be true for focusing in the EVF mode, but definitely not in OVF mode!

Please read my post again!

@Gavin: I don't want a camera to focus quickly! I like pre-setting it, using hyperfocal distance or precisely focussing it the slow way, it's part of my game...😱

On the Hexar focusing system: true. I shot the Hexar in a dark cave with wall paintings and shots came out perfectly focused. That IR-system cannot be beaten indeed.

Let's see what the camera will be like, there's always the option of not buying it, I'm cool.

 

[noimmunity]

If we say it loud enough, the X100 might even be available in black. Fuji would be smart to conduct a poll on its web site.

Fuji released the Klasse W first in silver, then in black, if memory serves well. They might easily do the same with the X100, especially if there is demand for it.

 

[gavinlg]

thats even more light than daytime with all those neon lights and signs... AF struggles when there's nothing of high contrast to focus on.

It's faster than my 5d in both daylight and the city night conditions, and I've never had a reason to be frustrated with my 5d's AF performance... Perhaps you should try a GH2 when they arrive in Australia and see just how good it is...

Also, AF is somewhat an art - as manual focussing is. Looks for vertical lines of contrast with single point AF and you'll be fine focussing in anything but near complete darkness. To be honest I suspect most anti-AF people just haven't figured how to use it properly.

 

[Spyro]

yeah fair enough, I'm just not the AF type (Hexar AF excluded). I have a 5D too and the first hint of focus hunting is enough to annoy me. With the fast Canon L primes it gets better but some times I cant tolerate any focus delay and I switch to MF. Then the focus throw and distance scales on these lenses are so short and the VF so dark that they make the whole combo unusable for proper MF and I wish I had my OM or RF instead.

But if you think the 5D is good enough you should really try a Hexar AF one day. I dont know why they dont make AF like that anymore.