Close Examination of Fuji X-Series Lag Time

Easycass wrote:

UnChatNoir wrote:

Being a wave one Fuji X adopter, I can only say there is way too much electronics and firmware between the lens and the organs of this system. I still judge Fuji to be a small, almost niche-alike compact camera manufacturer that hired a crew of electronic engineers and programmers to develop this X system - after they likely had retired all magnificent 'mechanical' specialists that developed the TX/GX systems. The disappointing results of this way too early released computer experiment are there but I'm even more surprised that the most recent stuff is still suffering from the same pains. Even more, I don't think that Fuji will be capable to rectify this behavior on all existing gear by sending out some FW-updates and rebuying lenses and cameras every 2 years makes this X-system more expensive than proven mainstream pro-DSLR solutions, while still a lot of accessory areas - like flashes - is not covered at all. I don't understand all those hyping and blogging this is the best experience ever, unfortunately, beyond the fact that it delivers such a beautifu IQ and colour rendering, Fuji X must be one of the poorest low light event shooting solutions I encounterd in my 35 yrs photography career.

Yes, I can only say I feel your pain, having spent a month shooting in Vietnam, where I have been shooting with fast Nikons successfully for years, only to come back this last month rather shorthanded in good spontaneous, low-light grab shots that I just could not get so successfully with the comparatively unresponsive Fuji system...

I am sure in the future, all the Mk II products have a good chance to become what was hoped for now, but investing in a system to me does not entail replacing everything, which, like you, I feel will need to happen in the future to fully overcome what are likely to be design limitations enforced by the original offerings.

However, as the original writer of this thread, I guess, since I bought into the Mk 1 system of cameras and lenses, I am interested to see if they can take out some more of the bugs with firmware updates, before I decided to stay or run.

My hopes are not high though, especially as, since sending out the information about these particular test findings, I have not, after one month of trying, received any satisfactory response to the obvious fault from Fuji or their associates; nothing even from Dpreview with whom I sent special messages on the subject. I was saddened by that especially. This is not at all helped by many people on these forums that do not see or wish to acknowledge this or other speed-related issues (usually due to a different shooting style, lack of expertise or somewhat blinkered brand faithfulness). Without the demand from photographers to see issues like this fixed, I am not confident it will be high on Fuji's agenda unfortunately.

I sound so cynical, but try to remain positive... We will see.

Thank you for your comments.

I'm very afraid there is fair bit of market manipulation in all those blogs and rumor-sites. After two years and a half of it's first release, there are still a few other issues that don't even look important to Fuji. Perfect RAW-conversions is one of them. Flash firmware and a decend flash unit offering is another one. Last but not least, the firmware and operation of this camera itself still frustrates. I still get frequent lock-ups. It could all be because I really have one of the first batch X-Pro1's. I invested in a few lenses what keeps me to Fuji now, but when I had to make the choice today, Fuji wouldn't be in bag anymore - they improve only but by very minor incremental steps - in an APS/C-limited realm only - while others like Sony are running fast with newer and better FF-products.