A warning about the peculiar ergonomics of the X-H2S

forest dream wrote:

Truman Prevatt wrote:

forest dream wrote:

Truman Prevatt wrote:

The traditional Fuji dials and knobs really don't allow full customization. They will lie to you when you look at them if the manual setting can be overridden by S/W presets. The Q menu - is primarily only for Jpeg.

Agree. Major issue of Fuji retro dial is didn't show actual figure if override by software preset/command dials.

These kind of hard coded dials (regardless retro / PASM) easy solve via E-Ink dials.

E-Ink dials :

• Consumer can customize own dials mark/function.
• When auto mode, E-Ink display actual figure instead of "A".

Best benefits from E-Ink dials : allow consumer configure own dials. Different photographer had vary need.

E-ink would help solve some issues. It could eliminate the confliction between S/W changeable parameters dials.

Agree. Main benefits of E-Ink dials.

There is clearly communication between the dials to the S/W as the parameters are changed on most Fuji cameras by changing a dial.

Agree. Main benefits of E-Ink dials.

There is just no communications in the other direction.

• When consumer rotate dial (regardless E-Ink / legacy retro), consumer tell camera follow his manual operation.
• For example, consumer can assign E-Ink dials as Min.SS, rotate E-Ink dials point to Min SS 500 mark. In same time, dials's E-Ink screen display actual SS 750.
• When consumer rotate Min.SS to 1000, camera forced to actual SS 1000 under same exposure.

However, unless the E-ink dials were continuously powered - one could not determine the state of the parameter with the camera off.

Current X-H2s monochrome top-plate LCD screen still display although camera power off (with attach battery). Monochrome LCD (without turn in blacklight) drain little battery power only.

Don't get me started on the Fuji (or any other camera for that matter ) top plate.  IMO - which is the only opinion that matters to me - it is the biggest waste of real estate one could envision.

E-Ink screen still display last screen without any power.

If they were always powered - a draw of power for no reason. Plus one for fixed dials. Secondly and the hard dials with indented and painted numbers are much easier to read - especially at varying angles.

E-Ink screen easy read in vary angle, same screen used in Amazon Paperwhite E-book reader.

Yes maybe in benign lighting.  Try reading an E-link screen under a tropical FL sun at mid day.  The dials on my Pro3 - no problem what so ever.  My iPhone - a problem but it can be done maybe or I could ask Siri    .  A Kendal on the other hand - forget it at any angle.

I have a good friend who is retired now.  He was a professor of mathematics at MIT when the electronic paper was being developed.  He was given a prototype reader and worked with them on the project.   After he retired he was down in Fl spending some time - his wife is a good friend of my wife and she is from Florida - small world.  Wes showed me his wonderful Kendal reader.  I showed him my iPad with a Kendal reader app.  I had just picked up a new iPad at the time.  Wes and Cindy went down to the beach and when he got back he asked if he could borrow my old iPad and load his content on it.  Why - his Kendal was worthless on the beach even under an umbrella.  The iPad worked fine for him.  Wes was a little less impressed with electronic paper after that.  However, it is fine for what it was developed to do.

I don't see it all that useful in the types of conditions one encounters in photography.  I have had no problem reading my Pro3 engraved dial - no matter the direction of the sun or intensity of the sun.  Electronic paper is a nice technology - I am not sure it is the correct technology for the application proposed.

The contrast is higher. While that might not seem like an issue to you young whipper snappers it can be an issue with we old geezers who have to use enlarged bolded fonts on our smart phones.

If the E-ink dials only showed the current setting - that would solve the issue with visibility. However, it wouldn't show all the options.

Similar to E-Ink watch, mark point to point to user setting (e.g. Min SS 500), behind E-Ink screen show actual SS 750.

Fossil Hybrid HR - E-Ink screen to display other info

Min SS 500 mark also render by E-Ink, but point via analog hand (when rotate dials), can switch to ISO dials when needed.

Again I can read my analog Citizens watch under the noon time tropical Florida sun.  Try that with an E-link display.  No way no how.

I really doubt if I could glance down at this dial in direct sun and make heads or tails out of it.  I have difficult time with my iWatch which is a much brighter (and power hungry) display.  My Citizens watch - works fine.

Personally the more I use my Q2 the more I think Leica merged the PSAM approach with the dial approach in an effective and usable way.

Q2 still need turn on rear LCD to display current info.

Of course a downside.  However - the entire UI is much better integrated than I see in Fuji.  I try to have my camera set up correctly so before I approach a target.  I would no more approach a photographic target any more than I would think about not having a loaded a cocked gun when I approached a big old nasty water buffalo that would just as soon kill me as look at me.  The Leica UI works fine for me.  The Pro3 UI works fine for me.  I am sure the XH2 UI would work fine.  I gets down to stop whining and learn the interface and develop the skill craft to make the best use of it.  But this is the Internet - that's too much of an ask.