6 minute read

Get Smart with Autofocus

Unlock new creative powers as we explain some of the key features of your X Series camera’s focusing system

Almost every subject you photograph is different – and so are the situations you work in. From portrait or still life, when camera and subject don’t change position, to dynamic and fast-moving wildlife or sports, where both you and your quarry could be moving, there’s so much variety, the way you focus needs to adapt.

That’s why your X Series camera has multiple focusing modes. But even so, these are only as good as the way you use them. As a recap, remember that focusing is primarily split into two functions – the mode and the area. The mode is the manner of focusing – for example, manual (M), continuous (AF-C) or single (AF-S). The area is the portion of the frame that’s used to focus – for instance, via small AF points (Single Point), larger groups of AF points (Zone) or the whole frame (Wide/Tracking).

But beyond those modes and areas, there’s a wealth of options to speed up workflow and improve results. Here’s a few to check out, all found within your X Series camera’s AF/MF SETTING menu.

Start using the AF All mode

Normally, your camera’s focusing areas are split into Single Point, Zone and Wide/Tracking. These can be selected from the main menu or Quick menu, and when you want to change the size of those individual areas – for instance, Single Point can be set to six different sizes – you can cycle through all of them in that particular area. But your X Series camera also has an ALL area mode.

The ALL mode combines access to all the AF areas, meaning you can switch between all three – including the various sizes of Single Point and Zone – using the front and rear control dials. You don’t need to go into a menu, so you can make the changes faster. However, if you only want to work with a limited number of options, you can avoid the ALL mode and choose a specific area.

Discover manual override

Also adding flexibility, you’ll find an option called AF+MF. This allows you to use manual focus, even when AF-S or AF-C mode is engaged. With AF+MF set to OFF, the manual focus ring will not function in AF-S or AF-C mode. But with AF+MF activated, you can switch into the manual focus mode much quicker when required – or work in manual focusing mode and use AF only when needed.

This is a useful mode, especially when you have the manual focusing aids like focus peaking activated. Use it to correct focusing without engaging the AF, or for very low-contrast subjects where the AF is not able to focus quickly.

Keep the AF point where you want it

The option called Store AF Mode By Orientation can also be helpful. With this set to OFF, the position of the AF point in the viewfinder, or on the LCD screen, will remain the same when you switch from horizontal to vertical framing. Set to ON, the position is stored specific to vertical or horizontal camera position. So, for instance, if you’re focusing on a subject’s face, you can set the position to be near the top of the frame, no matter which way the camera is held – meaning you don’t have to move it each time you change composition.

Work with increased speed or go for ultimate accuracy

You can also change the number of focus points the camera uses. For example, on the X-E4, the number of available AF points can be set to display either 117 or 425. This means that when picking the position of the active AF point, you either have a grid of 9×13, or a grid of 17×25 points to choose from. The former is best if you need to work quickly, as it takes fewer moves to push the point across the frame; the latter is best for accuracy, as there are more points covering the frame, so it can be useful when working with partially obscured subjects, or for precise depth-of-field when shooting macro images.

Accelerate focusing with PRE-AF

If speed is of the essence – when shooting sports, action, unpredictable subjects like kids at a party – the PRE-AF setting can make all the difference. Set to ON, this mode will keep the camera focusing, even when the shutter release button or AF-ON button is not pressed. This mode can also be very helpful when shooting via the Remote Camera App, as it will cut the time between focusing and shooting, but you will notice a greater drain on the battery as focusing is constantly engaged.

Pick the perfect AF preset

When you switch to AF-C mode, the camera will keep following the subject, as long as you keep the shutter release half-pressed, or hold down the AF-ON button. But along with the AF area you choose, you can also tailor the responsiveness of AF-C to the particular subject. Its behaviour can be defined based on tracking sensitivity, the speed of the subject, and how the AF area will respond. Here’s what each mode does.

SET 1 Multi purpose

This is the default option and suitable for most subjects. It works great for a variety of sports, wildlife, and action situations, and it’s only necessary to change if you find you’re not getting the results you want.

SET 2 Ignore Obstacles & Continue To Track Subject

This mode identifies the subject and tracks it across the frame. It also understands that sometimes an object may pass between you and the subject – a tree in the wild or spectator at trackside – and will ignore this in favour of the subject, instead of focusing on a part of the frame you don’t want.

SET 3 Accelerating / Decelerating Subject

This mode tells the camera to be ready for subjects that change speed often, so it won’t assume they’re moving at a constant rate towards or away from the camera. It’s great for cars or motorbikes, especially those that are cornering.

SET 4 Suddenly Appearing Subject

In this mode, the camera will look for new subjects entering the frame, locking onto them quickly. It’s therefore very useful for fast-action sports, or situations where your view of oncoming subjects is limited by scenery.

SET 5 Erratically Moving & Accel. / Decel. Subject

This is the ideal mode for situations where subject movement is difficult to predict, and focusing needs to stick doggedly to a subject, even if it’s not following a particular path.

SET 6 Custom

The fully manual option, where you get to precisely define the subject retention, variation of speed and zone area priority. Use this if the preset options still aren’t delivering the results you want.

Explore the full range of X Series products online and find your nearest FUJIFILM Authorised Retailer here.