http://www.technifoto.com/autofocus-trick-for-fujifilm-x-pro1-users/
Autofocus Trick for Fujifilm X-Pro1 Users
While I’m waiting to get my hands on the Fuji X-Pro1, I’ve decided to take a proactive approach and research as much as I can about it’s AutoFocus, or lack thereof. Now I know how sluggish it can be, because I’ve owned the X100 when it was first released. It was pain. It was a pain because I was coming from a DSLR. Now that I know what I’m getting myself into with the X-Pro1, I’m better prepared of what to expect.
While surfing and searching for other people’s experiences with the AF, I came across an Autofocus trick which works on the X-Pro1 and the X100
Fuji X-Pro1 Autofocus Trick
The X-Pro 1 autofocus is surprisingly good at locking onto moving targets – humans, bicycles and cars can all be caught with relative ease. First, set the X-Pro on AF-S (NOT AF-C) and select any autofocus point in the OFV or EVF.
The trick is to depress the shutter in one go – the camera may take 1/4 of a second to sort out the focus, but there seems to be an algorithm that compensates for the movement of the subject + the 1/4 second delay and puts the plane of focus back into the right position.
If you’ve been brought up on DSLRs the overwhelming urge is to half press the shutter to get focus – do this on the X-Pro 1 and the autofocus will fail on fast moving objects. Mash the shutter (gently) in one go and it works really well, even at f.1.4 with taxis.
This technique works an amazingly high % of the time. I was testing this in the rain on cyclists with the 35mm wide open at 1.4.
10 out of 10 were sharp.
Got bored and went home.
Although I don’t have the X100 several people have reported that this technique works with that camera as well.
Several users have agreed that this trick actually does work. Coming from a DSLR background, I can understand how it can be scary at first, heck – I love half pressing to focus. I guess the X-Pro1 doesn’t work like that. Well, once I get my hand on the X-Pro1 (hopefully this week), I’ll report my findings and create a in-depth review of what I think – it won’t be very technical, but more-so usability and functionality, and of course some bokeh-licious pictures.