My X-Pro2 Settings: Part Two

Continuing the blog serialisation of my popular X-Pro Series lust/hate/love story:

Part 53: The X-Pro2 Review: The X-Pro2: My X-Pro2 Settings: Part Two

Last time I covered the generics of setting up a camera to YOUR needs.

I was quite verbose 😉

The bottom line is this:

Spend some time doing some research, spend some time mentally mapping the features to the way you want to work, then you’ll send less time actually setting up the camera, and even less time wondering how your camera works.

Of course the true beauty of the Fuji is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it, because all the really important stuff is located on external dials and buttons.

Which brings me to the topic of this article, how I’ve set up the external controls of my X-Pro2. Of course you will want different settings for your Fn buttons, but he’s mine in case they are of interest.

The X-Pro2 has 6 user configurable ‘Function’ (Fn) buttons on it’s exterior. These enable you to assign a function of choice from a pre-set list (but this list MIGHT get more expansive in a future firmware update)

These choices are designed to make items and settings that you use frequently, quickly and readily available

Here are my choices (YMMV)

Fn1 – Preview Depth of Field (DOF)
Fn2 – AE (Metering Mode)
Fn3 – Shutter Mode
Fn4 – ISO (Auto ISO Settings)
Fn5 – WB (White Balance Settings)
Fn6 – AF (Auto Focus Modes)

For me; the Fn settings are a balance of what I use frequently Vs what I might want to change quickly.

For example, I hard ever use AF – but if I’m suddenly presented with a scene where I suddenly want to use ‘tracking AF’ I want that function to be readily available. I don’t want to have to remember where it is in the menu.

Here’s what each of my choices does and my PERSONAL rationale for having it on a Fn button

Fn1 – Preview Depth of Field (DOF)

Preview DOF stops the lens down to its working aperture. Mirrorless cameras tend to keep the aperture wide open, even when you select a small aperture. They do this to facilitate the brightness of the EVF.

So if you select (say) F8 on (say) the 56 F1.2 lens, the lens will stay at F1.2, until you half press the shutter then the camera will stop the lens down to F8 and take the shot.

When you press preview DOF the lens stops down to the working aperture (in this case F8) WITHOUT you pressing the shutter half way.

Using Preview DOF can cut out a tiny bit of shutter lag when used in conjunction with the EVF.

But it has another handy side effect. On the X-Pro2, pressing preview DOF when in OVF mode, will instantly take you to the EVF mode. This enables me to confirm (manual) focus and framing by pressing the button that’s next to the shutter (ie about where my finger is anyway)

I use this a LOT

PLEASE NOTE: If you use ‘preview DOF’ whilst in OVF mode, the camera will first go to EVF mode (as I describe above) BUT will then exit EVF mode when you press the shutter. So the preview DOF will remove a bit of shutter lag if you’re already in EVF mode, but ADD shutter lag when used in OVF mode. I use it to check framing/focus when in OVF mode. This behaviour is also true when using the ERF magnified views (but the ERF 100% scene view works as per the EVF mode)

Fn2 – AE (Metering Mode)

The X-Pro2 has 4 metering modes: Multi, Centre Weighted, Spot and Average. Unless you’re shooting 100% manually, these modes affect your exposure. So I like to have them ‘on hand’ to quickly select the one I want to use to facilitate metering the scene

Fn3 – Shutter Mode

The X-Pro2 has 2 different types of shutter, Electronic and Mechanical; which can be used in a combination of 3 ways: only mechanical, only electronic and both together – which automatically switches to electronic when the speed of the mechanical shutter is exceeded.

I have my electronic shutter set to be silent. So I have this selection set a Fn button so that I can quickly make my camera silent should the need arise.

Fn4 – ISO (Auto ISO Settings)

The X-Pro2 features 3 derivatives of auto ISO. Auto ISO enables you to set the range of ISO to be used (eg 200-12800) and the minimum shutter speed the camera needs to reach (eg 1/60) before the camera will select a higher ISO

Quite a lot of complaint is made online (I think I’ve done it myself to be honest!) of the fact that unlike many other manufactures, Fuji doesn’t offer a “1/FL auto ISO setting” (UPDATE: This feature was added in May 2017)

1/FL is where the minimum shutter speed is derived from the Focal Length (FL) of the lens attached to the camera.

I’ve PERSONALLY got over the lack of this feature. I’d rather control it my self tbh.

The minimum shutter speed we need is NOT determined by the length of the lens we’re using… It’s determined by what we’re pointing the camera at.

You may very well be capable of hand holding the camera rock steady at 1/28* when using the XF18, but you won’t get a sharp shot if anything is moving (like a person) in the frame, so 1/FL isn’t a set and forget feature, it would be a ‘set and remember to change when required’ setting.

If I want to specify a particular shutter speed and use auto ISO, I do that using the SS dial and let auto ISO pick the value as required

Therefore my 3 auto ISO settings are configured on generic shutter speeds that I might realistically need for a variety of situations.

Namely: Auto ISO 200-12800 on all 3 and then usually 1/60, 1/125 and 1/250 for each.

(*1/28 because the min shutter speed is generally considered to be the full frame equivalent focal length, not the APS one)

Update: Fujifilm did indeed implement a 1/FL SS based on FF equivalence and I still prefer to set my own min speed

Fn5 – WB (White Balance Settings)

I tend to use Auto WB most of the time, and adjust in post if needed. I’m planning an article about WB. However, when needed (usually when I use a ND filter) I set a WB using a WhiBal card. So I like to have the ability to do this quickly available.

Fn6 – AF (Auto Focus Modes)

Like I wrote above: I hard ever use AF – but when I do, I want that function to be readily available. I don’t want to have to remember where it is in the menu.

The X-Pro2 has 3 AF modes: Single Point, Zone and Wide/Tracking. I don’t use them enough to offer any insight into their accuracy and usefulness. If I use AF it tends to be single point, although Zone seems to work well enough for multi subject scenes.

Setting up your FN buttons:

There’s 2 easy ways to set up your Fn buttons (and a 3rd way buried in the menu some where!!)

To assign a item to an individual Fn button, simply press and hold the button for a few seconds and a menu will appear which lets you select from the list of available items

To assign items to ALL of your function buttons in one sitting.

Turn the camera on, then press and hold the DISP/BACK button for a few seconds and you’ll enter the menu that lets you work down the list of the 6 Fn buttons and assign an item to each

The Fn Button Menu

The X-Pro2 also features some other buttons, which aren’t 100% user configurable, but nevertheless offer some configurability and swap ability and we’ll cover them next time.

This was Part Two. For Part One click HERE and Part Three click HERE

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