According to soundimageplus the phase detection update for Fuji XF and XC lenses (available here) made the AF on the X-E2 definitely faster… so fast that soundimageplus can’t really tell if there is a difference to his [shoplink 15259]Panasonic GH3[/shoplink] (which is considered one of the fastest)!
“Moving between close up and distance is also lightning fast. I even tried it in a very dark cupboard and again it worked very well and locked on quickly and accurately. […] I can say that the X-E2 with this update has demolished the notion that Fuji X cameras are sluggish at AF. There is now (unfortunately for the people who own them) a significant and observable difference between this camera and the X-Pro 1 and X-E1.”
Read more at soundimageplus’ blog here.
FR-reader flesix said in the comments to the previous FR-post here that on his 35 and 60mm “the AF is certainly better when using the inner 9 AF points (that feature PDAF), but the improvements vary a lot. From almost unnoticable to tremendous.”
Keep it up, share your findings in the comments.
Is this the kind of news you’ve waited for to switch to the X? Then here is where you can get your brand new X-E2! (And read Rico’s first look at the X-E2 here.)
X-E2 – USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama / DigitalRev / Pictureline / EUROPE: wexphotographicUK / DigitalRev / Fotomundus24 GER / PCHstore / AmazonDE (via DR) / AmazonUK (via DR)
80 Responses
Fast af? have you ever seen an olympus??
have you ever seen the X-E2 with the latest firmware? Or the GH3?… soundimageplus has them both. He talkes about cameras that he really owns. The GH3 has a sofisticated and terrific AF… and now it seems that the X-E2 is pretty fast too
Owned an em-5 and it focuses very fast… I’d say faster than the gh3 but that’s my appreciation…
And I owned Panasonic cameras (starting with the GF3) that focussed in a blink of an eye. Can’t imagine any mirrorless camera focussing faster! If the X-E2 is on the par with the Panasonic, it will be really awesome. btw, the first Olympus I ever owned (Olympus E-PL1) was painful slow, but now Olympus is super-fast. It’s an amazing evolution of Olympus, and it seems that Fuji is making the same evolution too. If the X-E2 is as fast as the first reviewers suggest, AF is super fine for me. And I’m also very happy with the improved EVF.
yea i have tested, but my em-5 is faster, for sport shooting is a no brain to go with oly especially low light (Stadiums-night)
It’s like 0.2 seconds faster, a small trade when you consider the superior low light quality of the Fuji X compared to Oly small sensor.
Superior? the xtrans hipe with fake iso reach everybody ps. i have a xe2 and em-5 and it is not about 0.2 sec but a : i can get the af VS.. maybe i.. eventually can get a decent af
Hahahaha, you call m43 tiny compared to APS-C, hahahaha you comedian you.
Clearly you d(i)(o)n’t own one.
There’s no clear advantage in real life!
Only amateurs talk that way. In their notion Pro photography is only possible with big sensors, APS-C is not much bigger than m43, it is wider but not much higher.
The issue with the X-trans sensor is that 3rd party software makers don’t get it right.
Although the Jpeg output of the Fuji is sufficient in most cases, sometimes RAW conversion IS needed. That’s where it get tricky and time consuming. You need to switch to Fuji’s own software. And that’s a big no no in my world. Extra workflow time without benefit is a no no in the pro world.
Might be that some photographers don’t have a life outside their profession and don’t mind the extra time spend but I do.
Don’t get me wrong I find the Fuji fantasic but not for a “mixed kit”.
Anyway I hope Fuji keeps up their good work because I want mirrorless to succeed. Nowadays I don’t look like a mule anymore, like I did a few years back with those stupid enormous backpacks.
@heres: first of all regarding the “fake” ISO of fuji: x-e1 was about 1/2-1/3 stop wrong and the x100s (same sensor as X-E2) was 1/6 stop. Especially the latter can be called accurate. other manufactures are less accurate 😉
You guys want good image quality or just fast ? Is the Olympus image quality better than Fuji ?
IQ, this is why I switched to Fuji 😉
It’s not a matter of good IQ or not.
Tha’t is an amateur remark. In real life there’s not much difference.
Did you ever print work?
If you did you’ld know that in print DR is lost that is available on the files.
Printers haven’t improved that much as sensor sensitivity has on camera’s.
My business is selling my work, and one does that with a printed portfolio.
Nobody can tell the difference between photo’s with my m43 gear and the occasionally rented 35mmFF Nikon in my portfolio. So that negates the Fuji advantage as well.
Pro photographers live in the here and now, we don’t buy a camera to be able to satisfy our customers future needs. The customers need the result now and don’t buy upgraded stuff in the future. That’s how it’s allways been also with film. A gig shot with a certain type of film can’t be upgraded to higher quality if the printing and processing media isn’t upgraded.
Why would a commercial photographer buy gear that gives him/her latidude for the future. It’s just plain overhead. Gear developement changes that fast that in a few year the quality has increased enormous but the output might still be marginally better. I’ve never had customers demanding a better copy than the original if they order the same picture years later. The sad thing is that they’d rather go to a print shop to make a copy of their photo than order a new one from existing original RAW/JPEG.
So the only reason to buy “the best IQ” is for once own needs, or an ART photographer who might have ideas with the suff he makes in the future, but even they work with what they have.
The whole discussion of “best IQ” is getting less and less relevant. Only Canon and Nikon and to a degree Sony need to shout it out load, else people will not buy the overpriced 35mmFF gear anymore.
Let’s face it bigger format gear need to have high margin because of the small quantities sold. Only people/photographers who really need that gear will fork out the cash, because it should give the roi in some way.
The only reason amateurs are interrested in 35mmFF is of the perceived status of the Pro. They think people will consider them Pro and they will get attention.
Photography is just another job, with pros and cons.
perhaps this is the first result of the cooperation with Panas
that would be interesting since Panasonic’s engine got better too.
the organic sensor and the micro color splitter thing is so promissing…
yes, GX1 sensor, perhaps first result of the cooperation with Fuji 🙂
sorry, GX7
I don’t think that the sensor is a result of that but maybe some algorithms in the engine because the GX7 sensor doesn’t seem to be the same Sony sensor used on the Olympus and the GH3 – it seems to have less rolling shutter – but even so Panasonic managed to get better colors than they normally do. And for some reason, the noise of the GX7 looks less digital to me than the Sony sensor, it has a more film-like noise, it’s more pleasant for me.
It will be remain to be seen how fast actually compare to E-M5 or E-M1, not to mention low light or tracking subject.
Tracking is poor still
I have X-E2 and OM-D E-M5 on my desk, Oly is still faster but it’s closer than I ever thought possible. Especially after the lens firmware update this morning – I recommend anyone buying an X-E2 to update the lenses (35 1.4 for me)
Probably on a par with my GX1.
is it enough fast for sport, indoor matching like ..for example d800?….
You don’t buy the x cameras for that shit
I never consider D800 to be a fast AF camera. It’s the best IQ camera second to perhaps MFC or the upcoming A7R.
Canon 70D is perhaps the better name you can mention for for fast non- micro-tiny-sensor camera.
What about the postproduction with Lightroom from RAF to JPEG?
Does not work yet
GH3 AF is really fast. In my experience almost fast as Olympus EM5. If X-E2 is as fast as GH3 … Fuji is catching the competitors…
Looks like Fuji X-E2 has turned the corner on the AF issue. Glad I held on to my place in line. 🙂
Thank you Fuji and thank you Patrick. This is exciting news. If the X200 or the XP2 are not on the horizon, I’ll definitely be picking up an XE2 when the 56mm is released.
don’t forget about the model between the X-E.. and X-Pro.. that is supposed to be announced in January 😉
This is the model I’m drooling after. I’m hoping for a weather sealed, all metal, X-E2, with a new weather sealed 16-80mm f/4 lens. This would be AWESOME!!!
I fully agree!! 🙂 and with a swivel touchscreen 😉
or at least tiltable
although purist would bark so much about something that if they don’t want they can simply not use but that kind of complex thought seem too much for them
I’d like to see its focus speed compared to that of the Nikon V1, which is the fastest mirrorless I’m aware of (and in my experience faster than O EM-5)
Yes to all of the above, EXCEPT the swivel screen. I have yet to see one of these that feels durable. I definitely prefer the solid brick body style of the X-E2 and X-Pro1.
I’m sure a few nanoseconds is critical.
Hey, I didn’t make the claim, Fuji did.
Nice info! If AF speed will be confirmed in later reviews – i will put X-E2 on my list .. but will wait till new model of X will be announced in January.
But..still :
1) Tracking focus? Any good?
The accuracy and speed of the continuous focus very much depends on the shape of what you’re targeting with your AF point. Ranges from spot on to moving continuously in and out of focus very rapidly.
But when we talk about tracking, I’d expect that this also offers subject tracking ACROSS the frame (automatically hopping from one AF point to another, depending where your subject is located). But you won’t find this in the X-E2 (except for face detection, but there it’s obviously limited to face-like shapes), even though it’s featured (and working) in the X20 and the X-M1 (and possibly in the X-A1 too).
So for me and how I use the camera, the AF tracking is almost entirely useless in the X-E2 (with the exception of FD). I’m very disappointed about this, since I absolutely didn’t expect that subject tracking would be abandoned in the X-E2 after I saw it in the X-M1 already.
Maybe Fuji implement tracking in future firmware upgrades? Sounds really stupid – not to put real tracking capabilities in camera that supports PDAF (which is made mostly for subject tracking).
AF tracking is one of the most important features in the XQ1 and X-E2, so I am not sure what you are referring to.
OK, I’ll elaborate: You X-E2 is switched to AF-C. Then any of the 49 AF points is active and once you half-press the shutter, the AF continuously focusses (and refocusses) on the subject under this AF point. But what happens, if your subject moves away from this AF point and you don’t want to move your frame? So it ends up under another AF point. But your AF point selection is still on the AF point you started with and focusses on whatever now is under that AF point.
In the X-M1, when set to “Auto Tracking AF” (not AF-C!) you can press the left arrow on the selector and the camera would memorize the shape of the object that’s under your currently selected AF point and when it moves accross the frame, it would follow it over the available AF points. When you then half-press the shutter, if would focus on the then active AF point with the subject under it.
Know what I mean?
Yes, and as I said: What the X-M1 is doing (all the cheap P&S from Fuji have it too) has nothing to do with actual focus tracking. It’s pattern tracking to reselect the AF frame. Tracking the AF frame is not tracking the focus. It’s also pretty sluggish, sadly, and not very reliable, but that’s just my personal opinion after trying it on various subjects.
What you and others really want is (predictive?) multipoint AF tracking, which will probably come in the next Fuji camera (and possibly as an update to the X-E2).
In the Nikon-world it’s called 3D-tracking (I used to have a D90 and I never used anything else in combination with AF-C). There seems to be a great confusion of AF-C, AF-tracking, subject-tracking, whatever and it’s hard to find globally/consistently used uniform terms for this.
It’s rather simple: There is normal AF tracking and predictive AF tracking. Currently, only (D)SLRs with dedicated PDAF sensors can do predictive tracking. It’s going to be interesting to see whether predictive tracking can also be implemented in on-sensor PDAF cameras.
Well, the pattern tracking of the X-M1 IN COMBINATION with the focus tracking of the X-E2 is what I was looking for and I believe, I’m not the only one.
Sure, that’s going to be the next improvement. Maybe already in January, we’ll see. Obviously, many people want this, but then again, those who really NEED it now should stick with DSLRs.
Rico, when you say “in the next Fuji camera”, do you refer to the one to be (possibly) announced/presented at the CES in January?
I certainly won’t comment on cameras that may or may not be announced in January, but it’s save to say that there will be more X cameras after the X-E2. 🙂 You’ll have to ask Patrick and his rumor mill if you want to speculate on unannounced cameras.
Well, who needs AF anyway, I did without it until 5 years ago. But it would help a lot and would save me from manually selecting an AF frame. I abandoned my (at that time) beloved D90 for the X-E1 and I don’t intend to go back. I’d much rather like to see this pattern tracking + af tracking in my current X-camera.
And after the pattern tracking was already available in other X-cameras, I just cannot understand (and I am really disappointed), why this is not available in the (much more powerful) X-E2 now too.
It’s a different technology and would not work with PDAF, anyway, only CDAF, like Face Detection. See my next column in Friday. 😉
I don’t really get it. What works with a face (pattern) can work with any other pattern too (at least from what I can tell from my image processing background), but I’ll be patient to wait until Friday to see what additional insight I will get from your column 🙂
flesix explained it – AF-tracking like on Nikon DSLRs.
I had D7000, so speaking in “Nikon language” current AF from Fuji is just “Continuous AF”, and not “tracking”, which is slightly disappointment.
Anyway X-E2 seems to be good upgrade from X-E1 in terms of AF-speed and shutter lag.
For you guys waiting to see if anything will be announced in Jan..you’ll be missing photos taken with your brand new XE2 during ThanksGiving, Christmas, New Year, any vacation or time off between now and then and of course, 60+days of difference – Fuji X100S was announced last Jan but it was only available end of March!!! Of course, when Jan comes…there will be another rumor of the X-Pro2, X200, XE3.5 etc etc…I don’t get it. You can always get the XE2 now and sell it next year at 100-150$ loss, then buy the weather sealed with more than ..0 available weather sealed lenses.
Exactly!
+1
0 available weather sealed lenses means ..no sealed body in the future…or………..:
56 1.2 will be sealed
10-24 will be sealed
I’ve got an X100s that I can use through the holiday months.
🙂 I sold mine for the XE2!! Cool.
if one of the people that have the XE-2 have a dog and the 55-200, id love to hear how that goes as far as focus tracking.
Please…..PRETTTY PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually anyone with a dog and an X lens…..id love to hear how it goes!!!
Sorry, no XE-2 yet but XPro1 and 55-200 mm and dogs.
I wonder if it will fix my xe 1. It has the worst focus of any camera I have ever used.
Now that we know it focuses essentially as fast as a GH3, the trolls will not buy it because it doesn’t focus in the future…”I know it’s as fast as a GH3, but I shall not buy it, until it focuses before I decide what to focus on!”
precisely.
It’s faster than my X100s in low light. They need to upgrade the X100s as well.
Now, if we could only get our hands on the 56mm lens…*looks at Patrick*
Boom Shakalaka! There’s word of a Fuji sale at the end of November. Looks like Fuji is gonna let us have our cake and eat it, this holiday season.
Where did you hear that? I would so be getting a 23mm f1.4 and 14mm f2.8 if they had lens discounts on both those lenses.
Jon R,
They just leaked it over on the other forum. I bet Patrick will be posting information, soon.
Fuji will probably have discounts on the older lenses (18mm, 60 macro) and XC zooms. Sought after lenses like the 14mm probably not.
Thor, they had a discount before on the 14mm before once. However, I’ve only seen it on that lens once.
According to the moderator over there, it will include the 14mm and the 23mm.
Really? How generous. How much are the discounts on these?
The discount on the 14mm before was a $200 discount. It might be same thing again. I would probably expect it to be similar on the 23mm f1.4.
Hello,
Patrick, Is it possible a video testing the AF with the new firmware?
In youtube exist a lot of videos testing the AF of different cameras, can you make one with the x-e2?
Thanks.
No I can’t, as I do not own an X-E2. I have no contacts with Fujifilm and so they never send me pre-production cameras. I’m in the normal waiting list for Fuji gear as everybody else… I pre-order and wait. In UK there are some who already have it, so maybe they will upload something on youtube soon.
Ok, thanks, If you receive it soon, please make it (If you can do it and if you want ;-))
I prefer to leave those things to professional reviewers, they surely make a better job than me ;)… and I’m also busy enough with the work(s) I have now.
What I want to know is this: is there any point to these lens updates for X-Pro1 users? If it doesn’t help improve the autofocus speeds on the X-Pro1 then there’s really no point in updating, or is there?
And I hope FUJIFILM will demolish too much Green tones in low-light conditions with street lamps. In these conditions Fuji allways bring too much green tones on pictures compare with other cameras. And I don’t like it.