Decoupling Film Simulations from Primary Camera Settings?

Goal: Be able to select and apply a custom film simulation while shooting with a setting that doesn't affect basic camera setting when changing modes.
I've had my X-S10 for a little while and have tried to set it up and configure it in a variety of ways.

For context, I've had numerous Fuji cameras starting out with the original X100.

I've always been a primarily RAW shooter. I dove into film simulations and really enjoyed the experience.

My main method has been programming the custom settings (C1-C4) on the X-S10 dial.

What I have disliked about this method is the custom settings inherit other camera settings like focus mode, shutter type, etc. If you switch to a different custom mode, or M, A, S, P. then your shooting settings are jacked up.

This might be useful for some people that use there custom settings for specific situations, but not for mine. It makes sense for different shooting situations you are frequently in that require different settings.

What I would like is to be able to shoot in any mode (M, A, S, P) and just have a custom film simulation recipe applied, assuming I have jpeg enabled.

The X-S10 has a command dial to set film simulations, but it doesn't seem you can customize those beyond the standard simulations (highlight, shadow, dynamic range, etc).

Am I missing something?

Am I thinking about this all wrong?

Is there a better way?

I've been going through the same scenario because I like the custom JPG recipes- even if/when I shoot RAW as well.

I'm not sure if it's possible on the X-S10, but what I have found as a sort of work around on the X-H2 is the following (picture parameter being color/highlight/sharpness/film sim. etc, and shooting parameter being the drive mode/focus mode/etc).

I've set up the C1-C7 to my preferred custom jpg picture parameter(highlight, shadow, film sim) to start. Basically a reverse of the shooting parameters they were intended to start with.

The base shooting parameter I start with for each custom mode is currently in aperture mode (with other tweaks). I'm experimenting with the Auto Update Custom Setting function. I haven't determined yet if I prefer the camera keep any changes I make (to either the picture or shooting parameter) each time I use it, or reset to the base set up I started with when I first programed each C1-7 mode.

However, what is working so far is the way I have part of the Q button menu assigned. When I press it, I assigned the first top left menu choice to allow me to quickly rotate with the command dial and select P/A/S/M within each of those 7 Custom settings. As an example- I pick Kodak 64 in C5, and then hit Q and rotate into P/A/S/M as I want. Adjust from there and decide if I want the camera to memorize those changes (as noted in the paragraph above).

Generally, if I know I'm going to be in a mixed environment I will go with aperture or shutter priority.

It doesn't feel as fast as the X-T4 where I would first choose the shooting parameters via the dials, and then choose one my my 7 custom jpg settings from a button push (I had the back command dial mapped that pushing it allowed me to rotate through my 7 picture recipes/parameters). The X-H2 feels a bit of an inside out implementation compared to the X-T4 this way.

I haven't run across a situation where I need to adjust the shooting parameters within one of my C1-7 custom picture parameters so quickly that I lose out on a photo. I'm sure that will happen at some point, and I'll have to rethink/adjust this. Although I do find that with the numbers of buttons, adjusting most of the basic shooting parameters on the fly isn't too difficult so far.

I do miss the ability to directly adjust those shooting parameters on the X-T4 via dials. Some of the button pushing on the X-H2 seems like extra steps- especially the discussed ISO implementation (or lack of ability to more directly map that to a front or rear command dial on X-H2).

It would be brilliant if Fuji could implement a photo parameter to go with the custom shooting settings. Imagine picking a C slot for shooting parameters and then assigning a separate button to choose photo parameters (Call it PP). Mix and match a C mode with a PP mode. I think there have been a few other threads about this as well.

All this is very much in 'edit' mode and subject to change- but so far it appears to be working. I don't pretend to believe this is the best or preferred method. Indeed, I'm curious what others have to say or suggest. The forum is a good place for idea exchanges.

Meeces wrote:

I've been going through the same scenario because I like the custom JPG recipes- even if/when I shoot RAW as well.

I'm not sure if it's possible on the X-S10, but what I have found as a sort of work around on the X-H2 is the following (picture parameter being color/highlight/sharpness/film sim. etc, and shooting parameter being the drive mode/focus mode/etc).

I've set up the C1-C7 to my preferred custom jpg picture parameter(highlight, shadow, film sim) to start. Basically a reverse of the shooting parameters they were intended to start with.

The base shooting parameter I start with for each custom mode is currently in aperture mode (with other tweaks). I'm experimenting with the Auto Update Custom Setting function. I haven't determined yet if I prefer the camera keep any changes I make (to either the picture or shooting parameter) each time I use it, or reset to the base set up I started with when I first programed each C1-7 mode.

However, what is working so far is the way I have part of the Q button menu assigned. When I press it, I assigned the first top left menu choice to allow me to quickly rotate with the command dial and select P/A/S/M within each of those 7 Custom settings. As an example- I pick Kodak 64 in C5, and then hit Q and rotate into P/A/S/M as I want. Adjust from there and decide if I want the camera to memorize those changes (as noted in the paragraph above).

Generally, if I know I'm going to be in a mixed environment I will go with aperture or shutter priority.

It doesn't feel as fast as the X-T4 where I would first choose the shooting parameters via the dials, and then choose one my my 7 custom jpg settings from a button push (I had the back command dial mapped that pushing it allowed me to rotate through my 7 picture recipes/parameters). The X-H2 feels a bit of an inside out implementation compared to the X-T4 this way.

I haven't run across a situation where I need to adjust the shooting parameters within one of my C1-7 custom picture parameters so quickly that I lose out on a photo. I'm sure that will happen at some point, and I'll have to rethink/adjust this. Although I do find that with the numbers of buttons, adjusting most of the basic shooting parameters on the fly isn't too difficult so far.

I do miss the ability to directly adjust those shooting parameters on the X-T4 via dials. Some of the button pushing on the X-H2 seems like extra steps- especially the discussed ISO implementation (or lack of ability to more directly map that to a front or rear command dial on X-H2).

It would be brilliant if Fuji could implement a photo parameter to go with the custom shooting settings. Imagine picking a C slot for shooting parameters and then assigning a separate button to choose photo parameters (Call it PP). Mix and match a C mode with a PP mode. I think there have been a few other threads about this as well.

All this is very much in 'edit' mode and subject to change- but so far it appears to be working. I don't pretend to believe this is the best or preferred method. Indeed, I'm curious what others have to say or suggest. The forum is a good place for idea exchanges.

It just seems way to overcomplicated. I started with manual film cameras. You load a specific type of film and adjust your ISO, shutter, and aperture. Minimal variables.
Now we have Fuji, whose engineers are allegedly dedicated to aligning that old school photo experience with new technology. As simple as a user wants it, or as customized.
The technology is there to achieve what I want, I just don't think it is implemented the way I would like.
I would be happy to create my custom film simulations, store them, and access them with the left fn dial. All while just keeping my normal camera settings in A, or other mode.
Instead, I feel like in order to use custom film simulations I need to use the C1-C4 dial settings and worry about basic camera settings when moving to other dial settings.

Photo Legit wrote:

Meeces wrote:

I've been going through the same scenario because I like the custom JPG recipes- even if/when I shoot RAW as well.

I'm not sure if it's possible on the X-S10, but what I have found as a sort of work around on the X-H2 is the following (picture parameter being color/highlight/sharpness/film sim. etc, and shooting parameter being the drive mode/focus mode/etc).

I've set up the C1-C7 to my preferred custom jpg picture parameter(highlight, shadow, film sim) to start. Basically a reverse of the shooting parameters they were intended to start with.

The base shooting parameter I start with for each custom mode is currently in aperture mode (with other tweaks). I'm experimenting with the Auto Update Custom Setting function. I haven't determined yet if I prefer the camera keep any changes I make (to either the picture or shooting parameter) each time I use it, or reset to the base set up I started with when I first programed each C1-7 mode.

However, what is working so far is the way I have part of the Q button menu assigned. When I press it, I assigned the first top left menu choice to allow me to quickly rotate with the command dial and select P/A/S/M within each of those 7 Custom settings. As an example- I pick Kodak 64 in C5, and then hit Q and rotate into P/A/S/M as I want. Adjust from there and decide if I want the camera to memorize those changes (as noted in the paragraph above).

Generally, if I know I'm going to be in a mixed environment I will go with aperture or shutter priority.

It doesn't feel as fast as the X-T4 where I would first choose the shooting parameters via the dials, and then choose one my my 7 custom jpg settings from a button push (I had the back command dial mapped that pushing it allowed me to rotate through my 7 picture recipes/parameters). The X-H2 feels a bit of an inside out implementation compared to the X-T4 this way.

I haven't run across a situation where I need to adjust the shooting parameters within one of my C1-7 custom picture parameters so quickly that I lose out on a photo. I'm sure that will happen at some point, and I'll have to rethink/adjust this. Although I do find that with the numbers of buttons, adjusting most of the basic shooting parameters on the fly isn't too difficult so far.

I do miss the ability to directly adjust those shooting parameters on the X-T4 via dials. Some of the button pushing on the X-H2 seems like extra steps- especially the discussed ISO implementation (or lack of ability to more directly map that to a front or rear command dial on X-H2).

It would be brilliant if Fuji could implement a photo parameter to go with the custom shooting settings. Imagine picking a C slot for shooting parameters and then assigning a separate button to choose photo parameters (Call it PP). Mix and match a C mode with a PP mode. I think there have been a few other threads about this as well.

All this is very much in 'edit' mode and subject to change- but so far it appears to be working. I don't pretend to believe this is the best or preferred method. Indeed, I'm curious what others have to say or suggest. The forum is a good place for idea exchanges.

It just seems way to overcomplicated. I started with manual film cameras. You load a specific type of film and adjust your ISO, shutter, and aperture. Minimal variables.
Now we have Fuji, whose engineers are allegedly dedicated to aligning that old school photo experience with new technology. As simple as a user wants it, or as customized.
The technology is there to achieve what I want, I just don't think it is implemented the way I would like.
I would be happy to create my custom film simulations, store them, and access them with the left fn dial. All while just keeping my normal camera settings in A, or other mode.
Instead, I feel like in order to use custom film simulations I need to use the C1-C4 dial settings and worry about basic camera settings when moving to other dial settings.

I agree the implementation could use adjustment.  It seems it wouldn't take much either.  I do find my patience with the editing process goes back and forth.

I like the grip and feeling of the X-H2 in the hand a little more each time I pick it up.  I actually have come to prefer the flip out screen(as on the X-T4).  But, depending on how long I want to try to continue editing the user process, I can easily see myself sticking with X-T series.  I have a X-T5 on order and may sell the X-H once I can compare the two side by side.  The choice would be easier if the implementation were simpler, or at least better organized.  I also understand that many don't find it an issue.

I’ve said much the same several times. There are shooting settings, which determine how the exposure is made, and image settings, which determine how the image is processed. The fact that Fuji mix the two, and have started doing so to an even greater degree on models like the X-E4, is frustrating.

I find that the best solution is one of the traditional-control cameras with a dedicated ISO dial (so the X-Pro2/3, X100F/V or any X-Tx). The DR setting remains the slight fly in the ointment, but I leave mine at 100.

Mind you, despite that frustration I’ve not come across a brand that does a better job of it.