X Pro 1 - simple user questions

[Bob Michaels]

1) Any way to disable the Q button? I use a side grip and carry the camera vertically. My thumb lands naturally on the Q button. There was a old thread about this but the only suggestion was to use the thumb thingie which does not apply to the way I have naturally carried a RF for 12+ years.

2) Doesn't the XP1 shut down automatically electronically? I have never had a camera that I had to manually turn off before. I have it set to single auto focus, power save mode is OFF, quick start mode is ON, and auto power off is 5 minutes. But several times, I have pulled the camera out of the case after not using it for a week and the battery is dead. Do I have to manually turn the power switch to OFF? I know the thing eats batteries but it seems to go dead while just sitting. BTW, does not seem to go dead when I turn the power switch to OFF.

3) How do I get the green autofocus box in the VF to stay in the center of the screen when using a half push on the shutter to set and lock focus? The autofocus box seems to jump all over the VF as in "do you want to focus here? Or, here? Or, here?" I just want it to stay in the exact middle of the screen with a half shutter push just like it does when I push the AE-L AF-L button.

I must say that I have very little tolerance to adapting my way of doing things that has become ingrained over decades because of camera design. I just want a camera that I can set to adapt to me, not change my way to adapt to the camera.

Sorry, I did search on RFF but could not find the answer to these questions.

 

[back alley]

from memory…

#1…cannot disable q button…i use a thumb thingie and it solved the problem for me.
#2…have to turn it off.
#3…use the af button on left of camera back…when set it should stay put until you move it using the af button.

cameras with menus usually have to be adapted to…i found the fujis the easiest to use with my 'old' way of doig things.

 

[helen.HH]

Had the XE1 , nice camera but too many buttons to deal with and a not so simplistic menu
Loved that little pancake 27mm lens !

I think the Epson RD1 is way Simpler to use re: Digital menus and overall ergonomics over the Fuji's
then of course Leica Digital M's
For a fixed lens, simple menu, no fuss ...the Leica X2 is Grand !

 

[Dante_Stella]

1) Any way to disable the Q button? I use a side grip and carry the camera vertically. My thumb lands naturally on the Q button. There was a old thread about this but the only suggestion was to use the thumb thingie which does not apply to the way I have naturally carried a RF for 12+ years.

2) Doesn't the XP1 shut down automatically electronically? I have never had a camera that I had to manually turn off before. I have it set to single auto focus, power save mode is OFF, quick start mode is ON, and auto power off is 5 minutes. But several times, I have pulled the camera out of the case after not using it for a week and the battery is dead. Do I have to manually turn the power switch to OFF? I know the thing eats batteries but it seems to go dead while just sitting. BTW, does not seem to go dead when I turn the power switch to OFF.

3) How do I get the green autofocus box in the VF to stay in the center of the screen when using a half push on the shutter to set and lock focus? The autofocus box seems to jump all over the VF as in "do you want to focus here? Or, here? Or, here?" I just want it to stay in the exact middle of the screen with a half shutter push just like it does when I push the AE-L AF-L button.

1. No.

2. Are you using generic batteries? They seem to self-discharge faster. If you bought this used with an original battery, it might be time to buy a new battery. Check for quick start mode - I'm sure that is causing a low drain.

3. It sounds like you have AF mode on Multi, not Area.

Dante

 

[back alley]

I think the Epson RD1 is way Simpler to use re: Digital menus and overall ergonomics over the Fuji's
then of course Leica Digital M's
For a fixed lens, simple menu, no fuss ...the Leica X2 is Grand !

the rd1 is close to a film camera experience...

 

[Bob Michaels]

Thanks for all the suggestions about settings. I will give some of them a try.

I think I will have my friendly camera repair tech open up the body and see how simple it is to completely disable the Q button. That should solve that problem permanently.

Hopefully the suggested settings will keep the battery from draining down while sitting unused in the bag. If not, I guess I will just have to remember to turn it off when I put it away.

The focusing thing does still bother me. I just am not accustomed to using a separate button to set focus. I understand DOF well from years of manual focus. I just want a way to point the camera at something in the scene and tell it "FOCUS HERE" using a half press of the shutter release button. Just like my Contax G1 & G2 bodies would do. Or, maybe I am just too old and set in my ways to adapt to modern day autofocus.

 

[willie_901]

1. No.

2. Are you using generic batteries? They seem to self-discharge faster. If you bought this used with an original battery, it might be time to buy a new battery. Check for quick start mode - I'm sure that is causing a low drain.

3. It sounds like you have AF mode on Multi, not Area.

Dante

This!


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[Catto]

I didn't even know there was a Multi AF mode until I read the replies on this thread! Thought it might be useful, but it seems to go for the area of highest contrast in the frame rather than the closest object, which is a shame. Ah well.

 

[OurManInTangier]

I personally found the multi-AF pretty much unusable and stick with the manner Bob's looking for. I think Dante_Stella has answered Bob's questions perfectly, though Bob now has me wanting to find a friendly tech to do the same to my Q button ( a pointless addition to my mind.)

I love my Fuji X-Pro's BUT you have to wade through so many options, button presses etc to get it set-up in the manner that you want. To be fair its the same with many modern 'pro' cameras but at least with the XPro you can make it a pretty simple and intuitive camera once you've finished wading.

 

[Bob Michaels]

Thanks to everyone's comments here, rereading the instruction book, and playing around with AF using both a very close object and a very distant one, I think I now know how the AF settings should be and how it works.

And, I just got the 14mm lens which suits my style perfectly. What a wonderful implementation of manual focus on that lens. Give me the ability to zone focus a lens with that much DOF and I am very happy.