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Fuji XT-1. The ugly side of this little beauty.

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John Clark Headshots

John Clark Headshots

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I love my little Fuji XT-1. I now have 2 and and have been using them professionally for over a year. There is a lot I like about the camera.

But.....

Fuji have been very good in listening to their client base and implementing changes. Lets hope they read this as well.

Buttons
  • The buttons are too flat and cannot be felt with your thumb while your eye is on the view finder. They just need to be raised a little. I have said this in a previous post and a bodge to put things right.
  • I cannot see the point of the Focus Assist button. The auto focus is that good it's simply not needed as a main button. Bury the facility in the menu and use the button for something more useful.
Focusing
  • As with my Canon I would like the Fuji XT-1 to remember the landscape and portrait focus points. Shooting headshots for instance, you are always focusing on the eyes and it is a pain to keep manually changing the focus point between orientations.
  • After initially focusing the highlighted focus points should disappear like the Canon so you can see your subject without distractions. Its not so bad with single point focus but when your in Zone focussing there can be many focusing points illuminated disturbing your view of the image.
AE Mode
  • AE mode is canceled when you review the picture you have just taken. Why? You have set the shot up, applied exposure compensation, checked the picture and then the Fuji forgets the settings. This is especially frustrating using external speed lights when you have to check the exposure to see what they are doing.
  • With AE locked you can't access the Quick Menu and it locks you out of changing the focus points. Why! You may want to change settings when you have the exposure correct.
Drive and Metering Dial
  • I would like these dials to be lockable somehow. Perhaps you would have to push the dial button in to move it. Its far too easy to nudge these buttons while adjusting ISO and shutter speeds.
Front Command Dial
  • There is no problem using the manual exposure compensation dial when using the Fuji XT-1 in landscape but its very fiddly when using it in portrait. I have the battery grip attached which has the dial in a very convenient location just under the shutter button. I would love an option to use the dial for exposure compensation, overriding what is set on the manual dial. The camera knows its orientation so when the camera turn to landscape mode the manual button would override the dial.
 
2 cents:

D-pad buttons could have a slightly higher profile.

Focus Assist button, very useful when reviewing, hardly use it otherwise. I'm happy where it is.

Focus point memory would be nifty; less of an issue if the D-pad buttons were more positive or if there was a joystick a la X-Pro2.

I'm happy with vis focus points throughout a shot, though.

AE mode locking; it's what manual is for :)

Sometimes I jog the drive dial, hardly ever the metering one though. It's pretty obvious when drive has changed, though, and changing ISO always triggers that warning in my mind.

I can't think how the EV function would transfer satisfactorily to one of the grip dials, although I agree that changing EV in portrait orientation can be a pain. I'm big into FD though, so EV comp is less of an issue because of the spot mode it goes into.
 
Overall, the xt1 is a wonderful camera. I have two which I completely enjoy using but yes, there are some quirks. One item that's not mentioned by the OP is what I consider to be dreadful manual focusing. I've tried manual focusing with all the MF modes and combinations available on the xt1 and find MF very difficult and unreliable. In comparison, I can pick up my early 1970s Minolta XK or xe7 and focusing with these two beauties is absolutely a joy. I'll agree that no one buys an xt1 to use it solely for manual focusing but I can't imagine that adding better MF screens would be that difficult. The technology in the early 70's Minolta's is pretty simple and yet MF is a piece of cake as compared to what's available on the XT1. I really wish Fuji would have implemented better MF technology.
 
Ever tried face detection with eye AF?, you don't need to change focus points at all in both landscape or portrait orientation.
 
Thats fine Dave but it should get on with that task in the background. And in any case I am not shooting continuous. Single shot mode with half a dozen focusing points illuminated is not ideal. If Canon and Nikon can do it....
 
57LowRider said:
I'm big into FD though, so EV comp is less of an issue because of the spot mode it goes into.
Click to expand...
where does it get its metering reading for FD?
 
alexne said:
57LowRider said:
I'm big into FD though, so EV comp is less of an issue because of the spot mode it goes into.
Click to expand...
where does it get its metering reading for FD?
Click to expand...
From the focus box area (which can be the whole face), at least, that's how I see it. Have a play and see what you think.
 
John Clark Headshots said:
Drive and Metering Dial
  • I would like these dials to be lockable somehow. Perhaps you would have to push the dial button in to move it. Its far too easy to nudge these buttons while adjusting ISO and shutter speeds.
Click to expand...
Leica had a solution similar to what you describe with the R8 :



The intelligence of this locking mechanism is that, like all good locking mechanisms, it requires an action in two different directions to change a setting, but doesn't require the use of an extra finger or action to do so.
The intelligence of this locking mechanism is that, like all good locking mechanisms, it requires an action in two different directions to change a setting, but doesn't require the use of an extra finger or action to do so.

But, personally, I think that locks should be that last resort after more intelligent and imaginative solutions can be found.

The XT1's levers are simply, very badly designed. They're too close to where your fingers are when operating the dials, and because the tab isn't grippy at all and some of their positions are hard to get to (when close to the fake pentaprism), Fuji's made their detent mechanism too soft and unpositive. A Leica R8 styled locking mechanism could be a solution, but it would be a lazy one and Fuji should start by properly designing those levers in the first place in my opinion.
 
I too come from shooting Canon for nearly 40 years and can't disagree with your points though some are less important for me. My biggest gripe is the lack of true custom settings that can be changed quickly. Yes I know there are custom settings but they don't include the needed parameters.

For example I now have the 100-400 and will use it for wildlife and especially shore birds. With my Canon 7D I can set all the parameters for both low ISO single frame static shots and then mid ISO continuous frame action shooting for birds in flight in custom settings. It's then simply a one position turn of the dial to switch between the two which I'm very accustomed to. I can be concentrating on feeding birds in tide pools and then a flock of whatever flies in and instantly I can switch to my BiF settings and capture the shot.

With the XT1 some of the parameter changes needed are buried in the menus so opportunities are lost because I can't switch the camera fast enough. I love all the controls on the body of the XT1 but this is one area where they're a negative. With Canon you can set the drive and ISO in the menus where with the XT1 it has to be done with dials and switches on the body. So far the only solution I can think of is 2 XT1's but then I'd also need 2 100-400's and that's not going to happen. I'm liking the XT1/100-400 more for static bird shots over my Canon gear and I'm starting to figure out how to use the combo successfully for BiF but this is a big obstacle.

Bob
 
John Clark Headshots said:
.

Drive and Metering Dial
  • I would like these dials to be lockable somehow. Perhaps you would have to push the dial button in to move it. Its far too easy to nudge these buttons while adjusting ISO and shutter speeds.
Click to expand...
John,

In the Setup Menu #3, There is an option called "LOCK". You can select a handful of items that can be locked, including the Drive and Metering Dials. This option was added in one of the Firmware updates, maybe 4.0.

I have my Function Button Number 1 set with this Lock option to quickly lock/unlock the dials when necessary.

Scott

 
rwbaron said:
I too come from shooting Canon for nearly 40 years and can't disagree with your points though some are less important for me. My biggest gripe is the lack of true custom settings that can be changed quickly. Yes I know there are custom settings but they don't include the needed parameters.

For example I now have the 100-400 and will use it for wildlife and especially shore birds. With my Canon 7D I can set all the parameters for both low ISO single frame static shots and then mid ISO continuous frame action shooting for birds in flight in custom settings. It's then simply a one position turn of the dial to switch between the two which I'm very accustomed to. I can be concentrating on feeding birds in tide pools and then a flock of whatever flies in and instantly I can switch to my BiF settings and capture the shot.

With the XT1 some of the parameter changes needed are buried in the menus so opportunities are lost because I can't switch the camera fast enough. I love all the controls on the body of the XT1 but this is one area where they're a negative. With Canon you can set the drive and ISO in the menus where with the XT1 it has to be done with dials and switches on the body. So far the only solution I can think of is 2 XT1's but then I'd also need 2 100-400's and that's not going to happen. I'm liking the XT1/100-400 more for static bird shots over my Canon gear and I'm starting to figure out how to use the combo successfully for BiF but this is a big obstacle.

Bob
Click to expand...
 
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ScottAPhoto said:
John Clark Headshots said:
.

Drive and Metering Dial
  • I would like these dials to be lockable somehow. Perhaps you would have to push the dial button in to move it. Its far too easy to nudge these buttons while adjusting ISO and shutter speeds.
Click to expand...
John,

In the Setup Menu #3, There is an option called "LOCK". You can select a handful of items that can be locked, including the Drive and Metering Dials. This option was added in one of the Firmware updates, maybe 4.0.

I have my Function Button Number 1 set with this Lock option to quickly lock/unlock the dials when necessary.

Scott
Click to expand...
As many know, many of the Fuji lens don't have a fixed position aperture ring. It just spins forever and moves too easily. Is there a way to use a locking mechism like ignoring aperture ring turns unless function button is held while turning?

--
reminder to self.
#1 "never explain never complain." -toomanycannons.
#2. keep posts limited to questions only and post of photos for C&C.
 
Last edited:
alexne said:
As many know, many of the Fuji lens don't have a fixed position aperture ring. It just spins forever and moves too easily. Is there a way to use a locking mechism like ignoring aperture ring turns unless function button is held while turning?

-
Click to expand...
You can also lock the aperture with the Lock setting on the Settings Menu #3. I switch aperture constantly so it would be a hassle to lock it with the current option. I'd prefer it if they gave the option to move Aperture to one of the command dials like other brands do.

Scott
 
alexne said:
57LowRider said:
alexne said:
57LowRider said:
I'm big into FD though, so EV comp is less of an issue because of the spot mode it goes into.
Click to expand...
where does it get its metering reading for FD?
Click to expand...
From the focus box area (which can be the whole face), at least, that's how I see it. Have a play and see what you think.
Click to expand...
If it's the whole face, would we still need to account for the skin tone?
Click to expand...
I've had a look at a couple of darker skin tone portraits using FD and the highlights seem to be the reference.
 
ScottAPhoto said:
alexne said:
As many know, many of the Fuji lens don't have a fixed position aperture ring. It just spins forever and moves too easily. Is there a way to use a locking mechism like ignoring aperture ring turns unless function button is held while turning?

-
Click to expand...
You can also lock the aperture with the Lock setting on the Settings Menu #3. I switch aperture constantly so it would be a hassle to lock it with the current option. I'd prefer it if they gave the option to move Aperture to one of the command dials like other brands do.

Scott
Click to expand...
cool! thanks. I'll go see about setting a function button to this so I can hold down a button before it allows me to change aperture.

update: no.. does not let me turn lock on and off via only single button press. It basically takes me to the lock menu. too bad.. that would have been quite useful as a aperture ring ON/OFF function.
 
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