X100 AF tip for those that miss-focus often

gavinlg

gavinlg

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Just got my x100 yesterday, and have noticed the dreaded AF mis-focus in OVF mode, focussing close - like a half body portrait. A few times the background has been in focus rather than the subject, due to the parallax error in the AF spot close up.

I've found the solution though - in the setup menu, go down to the very last menu time - 'corrected AF frame' and mark it as 'on'. Now, there will be 2 visible white AF spots in the viewfinder - one indicating where the spot is at infinity and one indicating where the spot will be at close focus. Use them accordingly and you shouldn't have the problem of mis-focus anymore.

*as an added bonus, when you line up and half press for focus, you'll see the green 'AF confirm' box will appear overlaid on or between the white near & far AF indicators - its position in relation to the 2 white boxes relays to you where it's found focus. For example - If you're focusing on a half body subject close up and the green 'AF confirm box' pops up on the infinity 'AF box', you know you've missed focus.

I hope this helps someone - quite a clever little piece of software I think!
 
Yes, this was a feature added with the firmware update and it's very useful. I now rarely miss focus. I'm not sure why you can't do that when in MF mode and using the AE/AF button to pre-focus. That would've been really nice too.
 
If I need to use MF I use the EVF and press the control button to zoom in if I need to check the focus. I agree that it would be nice to have the OVF show the parallax box when in MF though.
 
I have to say - for the amount of complaints and the reputation for 'buggy' firmware that the x100 has, I really can't see much wrong with it. I don't treat it as a manual focus camera at all, and autofocus is quick and really quite simple.

There's a lot of interesting little bits of firmware engineering that are included which are quite impressive - makes my 5d look archaic in comparison!
 
My solution:

Custom OVF with distance scale.
Quick look between half- and fullpress and you won't get an out-of-focus shoot.
 
OlliL said:
My solution:

Custom OVF with distance scale.
Quick look between half- and fullpress and you won't get an out-of-focus shoot.
Click to expand...

Yep, just tried this one out too. Just turned all the other info off except for shutter speed and aperture etc, and the distance scale down the bottom is an extra option if I need it, just by changing view mode. Very cool.
 
fdigital said:
I have to say - for the amount of complaints and the reputation for 'buggy' firmware that the x100 has, I really can't see much wrong with it. I don't treat it as a manual focus camera at all, and autofocus is quick and really quite simple.
Click to expand...

That is because you are using the camera as intended (AF) and you didn't a expect a M9 for $1200. With any AF camera, MF is secondary... most people expected better manual focus implementation. I don't care about that, so I like the X100. AF doesn't bother me... I will only use manual focus on cameras where MF is not a secondary feature.
 
jsrockit said:
That is because you are using the camera as intended (AF) and you didn't a expect a M9 for $1200. With any AF camera, MF is secondary... most people expected better manual focus implementation. I don't care about that, so I like the X100. AF doesn't bother me... I will only use manual focus on cameras where MF is not a secondary feature.
Click to expand...

What I don't understand is why people are so obsessed with manual focus? The x100's focus is generally quicker than I can focus a rangefinder, and you just need to know a few little things to get it to work in 98% of light and conditions....
 
fdigital said:
What I don't understand is why people are so obsessed with manual focus? The x100's focus is generally quicker than I can focus a rangefinder, and you just need to know a few little things to get it to work in 98% of light and conditions....
Click to expand...

Probably, you have not tried it in low light, yet. There are conditions where camera cannot autofocus and where manual focus would be handy, if it was working as expected.
 
palec said:
Probably, you have not tried it in low light, yet. There are conditions where camera cannot autofocus and where manual focus would be handy, if it was working as expected.
Click to expand...

I've used it in low light every night I've owned it so far around Melbourne city, and haven't had a situation where its failed focus yet. But then, I would consider myself to be quite good with AF, having used my 5d on center point (same as the x100) for the last several years.

It's always the same - find a line of contrast to focus on. Don't try focus on someones solid colored shirt or dark face in low light. If you have to, find something within the same distance around the subject which IS a point of contrast, focus on that, then re-compose.
 
fdigital said:
I've used it in low light every night I've owned it so far around Melbourne city, and haven't had a situation where its failed focus yet. But then, I would consider myself to be quite good with AF, having used my 5d on center point (same as the x100) for the last several years.

It's always the same - find a line of contrast to focus on. Don't try focus on someones solid colored shirt or dark face in low light. If you have to, find something within the same distance around the subject which IS a point of contrast, focus on that, then re-compose.
Click to expand...

Agreed. All contrast detect systems will fail if there is no contrast, regardless of the lighting conditions.
 
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