X100F focus tips

[jalm1]

Historically, most of my shooting has been nature, city scape, travel. using the Fiji AF system has worked, but to be fair I haven't been using it in taxing situations. Since we've been on lockdown I've been leaving my x100f around the house to shoot more of our infant vs. my iPhone.

I am really struggling getting focus on most shots. I'v been playing with a lot of settings (C, S, various sized focus boxes, even BB - but that was a disaster) to experiment and learn, but even then there will be a number of sessions where zero or one or two shots are in focus. Clearly I'm not approaching my AF settings for a situation where I have a relitively fast moving (forward and back and side to side) target.

I really like the quality I get from Fuji, but sadly I am getting more in focus shots with my phone. Any tips on how I should approach focus around moving kids? He's too young to hold still or understand that he should. Maybe this isn't a good task for the X100F and I should be using my XT2 with a faster lens or I am just dumb and need some better lessons on Fuji's AF system.

 

[FuhTeng]

I'm in the same use condition you are - my sons, 5 and 2, are my principal subjects with my X100F. As I say in another post asking about the latest and greatest, X100V, my results depend strongly on the conditions -

"I really enjoy my X100F, what a beautiful little camera, but going through hundreds of shots of my boys (5 and 2 years old) I find that the focus is off an unfortunate amount of the time. It varies depending on the scene - for example backlit is just about 50% hit rate, versus nicely front-lit is probably 90%, versus quite dark [ISO 3200, f2, 1/125] is probably 60%. The slowness of the AF on the lens also causes problems, as does the limited PDAF area in the middle."

I always use AF-C, always with the mid-size single point, and always always moving it where I want it to be. Doesn't help with the AF fails to grab focus and has to rack with its slowness, and in back-lit situations it's a mess, but I'm doing adequately. Still interested in the X100V because I'm a GAShole.

On bit of advice from one parent to another - crank up your shutter speed. You say your child is an infant, but unless they're asleep, 1/60th isn't fast enough for me for critical focus. I learned this with my a6000 which would default to that with my old 35 mm f1.8. I'll use it when it's dark (I'd rather do 1/60 and f2 at ISO 3200 rather than 1/125 and f2 and ISO 6400!), but I try to keep it at 1/125+ all the time.

 

[jalm1]

Thanks. I will give those suggestions a try. At 13 months (i guess a toddler now) he sure moves fast. Over the last week I’ve been using my XT2 and am noticing i am getting focus on a lot more shots than before. I love the size/feel of the X100F but in comparison it doesn’t seem to work in this situation.

 

[FuhTeng]

Thanks. I will give those suggestions a try. At 13 months (i guess a toddler now) he sure moves fast. Over the last week I’ve been using my XT2 and am noticing i am getting focus on a lot more shots than before. I love the size/feel of the X100F but in comparison it doesn’t seem to work in this situation.

Best of luck. I found this on the companion AF post - https://alikgriffin.com/fujifilm-x100v-thoughts-samples-autofocus-lens-character/

I like his style and his results certainly align with mine - software can be improved and apparently it is on the X100V, but the hardware even in the new lens just can't move the elements fast enough to focus on kids at short range.

I know birds in flight photography is acclaimed as the hardest test for AF systems but I disagree - unless you're trying to photograph swallows or other darting birds, small kids are tougher! And shorter range means great stress on AF hardware.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Use Single shot (S) Mode - do not use C (Continuous Focus Mode)

AF set to WIDE - the camera picks up the subject moving and if you press the shutter all the way down in one smooth motion, it will focus and grab the shot in focus for you.

This is different to the half press focus, then press more to shoot technique - you press the shutter all the way n one movement for this technique.

This allows you to capture targets in motion, even when you are also in motion.

Set the ISO to Auto with a minimum shutter speed of 1/125, so that the camera will keep the shutter speed high enough to stop motion blur, and you do not have to worry about setting new ISO values as you change location.

Set aperture to suit.

--

Your time is limited, so don't waste it arguing about camera features - go out and capture memories - Oh, and size does matter - shoot MF

 

[FuhTeng]

Use Single shot (S) Mode - do not use C (Continuous Focus Mode)

I need a mind-blown GIF in here.

Thank you Chris, I'll try it tonight.

 

[Paul Hoppe]

I just wanted to write the same. I tried AF-C, eye and face detect but it is just too slow. When you use this technique make sure that your shutter is set on "focus priority" in the settings.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Use Single shot (S) Mode - do not use C (Continuous Focus Mode)

I need a mind-blown GIF in here.

Thank you Chris, I'll try it tonight.

Yeah it's counter intuitive but works for all Fuji X series, X100 models, and GFX

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I just wanted to write the same. I tried AF-C, eye and face detect but it is just too slow. When you use this technique make sure that your shutter is set on "focus priority" in the settings.

Good call - I always have it set this way BTW, seems pointless to get a timely but out of focus shot!

 

[saltydogstudios]

Use Single shot (S) Mode - do not use C (Continuous Focus Mode)

AF set to WIDE - the camera picks up the subject moving and if you press the shutter all the way down in one smooth motion, it will focus and grab the shot in focus for you.

This is different to the half press focus, then press more to shoot technique - you press the shutter all the way n one movement for this technique.

This allows you to capture targets in motion, even when you are also in motion.

Set the ISO to Auto with a minimum shutter speed of 1/125, so that the camera will keep the shutter speed high enough to stop motion blur, and you do not have to worry about setting new ISO values as you change location.

Set aperture to suit.

Nice! I've always been a half press kind of guy but I just tried this on my original X100 and it does a good job focusing and capturing on one shutter click.

Agree that you need a faster shutter speed because the "one swift click" will introduce motion blur, I'm familiar with this with my Ricoh "single press snap" cameras.