X-T1 owners - You'll love FW4.0

I agree DSLRs are superior for sports photography. I also agree satisfactory is highly subjective.

In my case the X-T1 with the 56/1.2 lens meets my needs for action photography. I would not use this set up for professional work. It's not the best tool for the job.
 
MCTuomey said:
I've surfed around looking at some other "pre-reviews" of FW 4.0. They're commenting pretty much exclusively on the effect of the update on the 35/1.4. If the update only improves AF on this lens, and maybe only one or two others, I'll be disappointed. The X-T1's poor focus performance isn't limited to just a few lenses in my experience. Its low light and continuous AF (in)capabilities need help if there's anything to Fuji's ability to compete with dSLRs beyond single shot AF in good light and contrast-y subjects. I'm a big Fuji fan (couple bodies and a range of lenses), really would like to see AF more responsive and decisive at lower EVs. It's really the last piece for me for low light work with Fuji X-series, camera handling and x-trans files being otherwise so good for this purpose.
Click to expand...

Over on Fuji rumors or another site I thought I saw a post where they said the 60 macro performed like a different lens.

Gary
 
MCTuomey said:
After a year with the X-T1, my take is that its AF performance for what I've experienced as action photography is not satisfactory if the comparable is mature dSLR performance with good lenses. ...Inexplicable re-racks, failure to grab focus under demanding backlit conditions, locking on peripheral details - none of these is acceptable to me when they occur frequently, and they do with my Fuji gear.
Click to expand...

I'm gonna second this. The X-T1 does okay most of the time under demanding backlit conditions, but has a propensity for totally blowing focus from time to time. When it works, it seems to do so very well...but other times it will simply fail. I still love the cameras, but 1D-level AF is clearly NOT a reason to use an X-T1.

I'd take a 1D MK IV with an X-Trans sensor for 95% of my professional needs in a heartbeat. 😛
 
MCTuomey said:
I shot youth sports for years with Canon 1D bodies and several teles (300/2.8, 400/2.8, 200/1.8). Sure, one can make anything work, but by any reasonable measure like a reasonable hit rate over many exposures in continuous or predictive AF mode, the X-T1 needs some help when judged from my background.
Click to expand...

My experience has always been that continuous focus sucks on every camera. I've never shot anything that requires it though.
Also it kinda goes without saying, but you're making a comparison between bodies that cost $1500 and 6k. Lenses too.

I'll be interested to see what you think of the new firmware comparitively!
 
The dslr is probably still king when it comes to fast action related photography. The question becomes when will camera xyz be fast enough for what my own needs are. Personally, I am hoping the new 4.0 update is good enough that I am not going to ever think about getting another Nikon dslr ever again. Though I rarely use it, I still keep it around just in case I need it...

Gary
 
Last edited:
Continuous focus works extremely well on Canon and Nikon DSLRs... the one's you see used by pros at sporting events.

Even the ancient D300 with an old, inexpensive, screw-driven 50 mm lens can track subjects in motion and focus in between 1/250 or shorter shutter time bursts. Ages ago I did an amateur gymnastics gig (no flash allowed, so DOF was shallow) and a pros sports photographer showed me how to set up the D300 AF. The AF performance blew me away. The athletes and parents preferred to purchase on-site prints where the gymnast was in the air. With fresh batteries I could get 5 shots during a dismount and everyone was in focus.
 
Some impressions purely on af improvement.

Some impressions purely on af improvement.

Prior to fw update 4.0
- 35f1.4 was
-- slower to af lock then my Panasonic lx100.
-- noticeable slower than my Sony A6000
- 60f2.4 was noticeable slower than both lx100 and a6000
- 18to135 I bought w/ my xt1 was
-- about same speed as the lx100, close enough to not worry about it
-- slower than the a6000

After 4.0 in bright sunlight, zone set for rectangular, face detect disabled
- 35f1.4 is
-- only slightly slower than lx100
--- in some situations almost as fast
-- slower than a6000, but not noticeable except under certain situations
- 60f2.4
-- still slower than lx100. Not as bad as before.
- 18-135 is
-- slightly faster than lx100 in center af mode and very fast in zone
-- almost as fast as a6000 in center af mode and equal to a6000 in zone

Other comments
- It is nice not to worry about macro button w/ new full coverage af support.
- locks faster in darker situations and doesn't hunt as much
- to me a6000 is slightly slower to af lock then Nikon d7200 as reference
- lx100 is about same on af as Panasonic gx7. Both gx7 and lx100 very slightly slower than Olympus em5mk1. There are times in certain situations all three are about same af speed.

Probably going to use the 18-135 on the xt1 for awhile to run through the rest of the new features..

Gary
 
Must have been some disappointed feedback - some hints

Must have been some disappointed feedback - some hints

http://www.fujirumors.com/disappointed-with-fuji-x-t1-firmware-4-0-here-is-why/

Some good hints from Fuji rumors about how to setup the xt1 for better af performance.

The only one I have never liked is pre-af..it drives me crazy, I always have it disabled. Never liked it. Tried it just for kicks w/ 4.0, still hate it. I normally use medium size for single point, so did not try wider.

Gary
 
Depends..upon expectations
- want Nikon pro dslr speed, nope..
- faster than pre-4.0, very much
- fast as Sony a6000 or Olympus/Panasonic m43
-- depends on the lens and af zone mode,
--- first gen like the 35f1.4.. Not quite
--- my 18-135 is on par w/ the a6000 in zone mode.
- high ISO, dark location shooting much better given I never turn on af assist light

I haven't had opportunity to try wide area tracking and eye af focus yet. Would love to hear how that is going. I think the most inportant advise for optimizing your experience is to make sure u have setup your camera to use the phase detection af cells on the sensor. Make sure to check the info from the fujirumors site post I posted earlier.

Gary
 
I did some tracking tests with a person walking/running towards me this morning (usually I don't use tracking at all so I'm not great at it in the first place), and managed to get consistently about 5/6 shots perfectly in focus. This was using the 35mm f1.4 at f1.4 on CL mode. Pretty impressive I think...
 
I uploaded v4 the other day, will be shooting some live acts this weekend where I'll give the updated AF a go. Expectation-wise, I'm not looking for Canikon dSLR AF performance, just improvements to focus tracking and less tendency to fail and re-rack the lens in certain lighting situations.

I'm hopeful based on the comments here.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

honozooloo
I love my JB Camera Designs X-T1 and A7R Wood Grips!
Replies
5
Views
4K
honozooloo
honozooloo
Back
Top Bottom