What are the X-T5 boost mode EVF settings actually doing?

[owenb]

Hi all, long time X-T user professionally, skipped the X-T4 though. Have always had the camera in boost mode, but I see there's three different kinds of boost mode now.

One that claims to boost EVF resolution, and then two that appear to be about frame rate: one labelled '100P' and one labelled '200P'.

What are each of these actually doing?

Is the resolution of the EVF reduced if you have it in any mode other than 'resolution boost'? And to what degree is the resolution boosted? My eyes can't really see a difference.

What does the P stand for in the frame rate boost modes? Again, I can't really tell any difference between any of the boost modes in terms of frame rate, except for when I have it in 100P or 200P there's almost always some weird lights at venues that strobe slowly in the EVF, fading up and down at a very distracting steady pace. Flicker reduction usually gets rid of that in the actual photos but they continue to pulse in the EVF.

I had been using the 100P mode for shoots until I got so fed up of the strobing lights that I switched to resolution boost mode and the lights stopped strobing in the EVF. So I'll stick with that mode now.

But still don't really know what they're meant to be doing!

 

[Aoi Usagi]

Hi all, long time X-T user professionally, skipped the X-T4 though. Have always had the camera in boost mode, but I see there's three different kinds of boost mode now.

One that claims to boost EVF resolution, and then two that appear to be about frame rate: one labelled '100P' and one labelled '200P'.

What are each of these actually doing?

Increased framerate in 200P. 100P is probably used to increase battery life/CPA rating.

Is the resolution of the EVF reduced if you have it in any mode other than 'resolution boost'? And to what degree is the resolution boosted? My eyes can't really see a difference.

The resolution of the EVF most likely stays the same for both modes. Users will most likely see the frame rate difference when panning quickly, such as following a fast moving subject. Try it and let us know if you do.

What does the P stand for in the frame rate boost modes?

I am guessing the "P" stands for Progressive.

 

[owenb]

Hi all, long time X-T user professionally, skipped the X-T4 though. Have always had the camera in boost mode, but I see there's three different kinds of boost mode now.

One that claims to boost EVF resolution, and then two that appear to be about frame rate: one labelled '100P' and one labelled '200P'.

What are each of these actually doing?

Increased framerate in 200P. 100P is probably used to increase battery life/CPA rating.

Is it 100 frames per second, and 200 frames per second? Why can't I really see any difference at all between either of these and the Resolution mode, except for the horrible pulsing lights? I guess my subjects don't move fast enough to need it!

Is the resolution of the EVF reduced if you have it in any mode other than 'resolution boost'? And to what degree is the resolution boosted? My eyes can't really see a difference.

The resolution of the EVF most likely stays the same for both modes.

I don't follow. I'm wondering what the resolution boost is actually doing given that I can't really see any difference in EVF detail between this mode and the others.

Users will most likely see the frame rate difference when panning quickly, such as following a fast moving subject. Try it and let us know if you do.

Yeah I tried that but couldn't detect differences, maybe my subjects don't move fast enough to notice it.

Oh, I forgot 'low light mode' - I haven't tried this yet because I rely on the EVF to show me what the exposure of a scene will look like and can't imagine a scenario when I wouldn't want that, beyond flash (when I'd turn off Exp/WB Preview). It sounds like this mode changes how bright a scene looks in the EVF, compared to what the actual photo will look like?

 

[charisgratia]

From page 307 of X-T5 owner's manual


EVF/LCD Boost Settings

https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/x-t5_manual_en_s_f.pdf

 

[owenb]

From page 307 of X-T5 owner's manual


EVF/LCD Boost Settings

https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/x-t5_manual_en_s_f.pdf

Yeah I know.
This doesn't actually answer any of the questions I have though. I read this, I played with the options, I read it again, I found myself wondering:

- why you'd want the EVF to show a misrepresentation of the exposure;

- how the resolution is being increased because I cannot see a difference

- what 100P or 200P actually means (especially the P) and why I can't see a difference between either of these two modes, or these modes and any other Boost mode

Thanks though.

 

[charisgratia]

From page 307 of X-T5 owner's manual


EVF/LCD Boost Settings

https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/x-t5_manual_en_s_f.pdf

Yeah I know.
This doesn't actually answer any of the questions I have though. I read this, I played with the options, I read it again, I found myself wondering:

- why you'd want the EVF to show a misrepresentation of the exposure;

- how the resolution is being increased because I cannot see a difference

- what 100P or 200P actually means (especially the P) and why I can't see a difference between either of these two modes, or these modes and any other Boost mode
Thanks though.

Are you testing these different modes adequately? For example, are you in low light to test the low light priority setting? Why would someone use this? I imagine it may be useful in getting an enhanced view of shadow detail per the manual description. There may be other scenarios. I used resolution priority on X-T4 and use it now on the X-T5 because the other settings don't seem as useful for my type of shooting. When I had my X-T4, I watched pal2tech's video on the different boost modes and thought it was helpful (starting at 4:20 of this video but the entirety is worth a watch:

). As he explains with respect to resolution priority, the differences will be subtle.

As for the frame rate priority options, the manual explains that they increase the EVF refresh rate to smooth motion. So, it's going to be most useful for any panning type of activity, but there may be other situations. Have you tested by panning your camera? I believe the "p" is video terminology and from what I read it stands for "progressive" scanning. I found this which I think you can apply to the 100p/200p refresh rates:

"The numbers (24, 25, 30, 50 and 60) represent how many times the video frame is displayed per second. The letters indicate if the video frame is displayed using an interlaced (i) or progressive (p) format. Progressive video content displays both the even and odd scan lines (the entire video frame) at the same time." https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00014471

I know others here may have more knowledge about the EVF tech and can add/correct as needed.

 

[wantfastcars]

From page 307 of X-T5 owner's manual


EVF/LCD Boost Settings

https://fujifilm-dsc.com/en/manual/x-t5/x-t5_manual_en_s_f.pdf

Yeah I know.
This doesn't actually answer any of the questions I have though. I read this, I played with the options, I read it again, I found myself wondering:

- why you'd want the EVF to show a misrepresentation of the exposure;

- how the resolution is being increased because I cannot see a difference

- what 100P or 200P actually means (especially the P) and why I can't see a difference between either of these two modes, or these modes and any other Boost mode
Thanks though.

I can only offer speculation as I don't actually have an XT-5, but that note that the EVF "may darken" reminds me of a setting on my smartphone - it has a native 120Hz display, but has a fake "240Hz" mode that uses backlight strobing to display a completely black screen for 1/240s before displaying the actual image for 1/240s. Each frame is still rendered for 1/120s, the screen is just black for half that time. It increases motion clarity but causes the screen to appear dimmer.