What I Would Like In An X-T2

Better Days! (click to enlarge)
X-T1, 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens @ 31.5 mm; 1/750th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 200

The Fujifilm X-T1 has been out and on the market now for over two years.  Fujifilm, setting a new standard for customer service and satisfaction, has been gracious enough to provide several firmware updates refreshing the camera and giving users many new features.  Thank you Fujifilm!  I really appreciate it the extra customer service efforts. As a company, you know how to build loyalty.

Now, the X-Pro 2 is out with many upgrades and refinements not only from the X-Pro 1, but also from the X-T1.  I've been thinking about what features I would like to see in an X-T2.  I'm not interested in loading up the camera with twenty more features or turning it into the complex tool the E-M1 and some other cameras are, I would just like to see some efficiencies and a few useful functionalities added.

First, I hope all of the improvements from the X-Pro 2 are in the X-T2 (with the exception of the optical viewfinder, of course).  From the 24mp X-Trans III sensor to the faster and more powerful processing algorithms to faster focus with more focus points to the Acros film simulation, I hope everything is included with the new camera. One new feature I really hope is also included is the joystick control, allowing us to move the focus points around effortlessly.   All of those will give the camera better capabilities.

I don't have an opinion on the new location of the ISO dial, but I have owned film cameras in the past with the ISO dial incorporated into the shutter speed dial and I don't remember it being a real issue.

However, there are a few things that I would use (you may not) that I would also like to see incorporated into an X-T2.  In no particular order, I would like to see:

1) A touchscreen LCD.  Touching an LCD directly to change settings or otherwise interact with the camera, to me, makes things much easier than trying to scroll through buttons and dials.  I'm interested in two capabilities being added using a touchscreen LCD.  First, I would like to be able to press the Q button to bring up the menu items, then directly touch a menu item to highlight it, then either touch the item again or press the Q button again to be able to change settings with the rear dial.  A half-press of the shutter would send you back to shooting mode.  That would make changing settings on the fly intuitive and quick.  

Second, a three-way toggle icon on the LCD to enable functions related to focus and shutter release (by touching an icon on the LCD itself).  Position 1 would be off.  Position 2 would provide the ability to touch the LCD and instantly move the focus point anywhere on the LCD that you touch it as well as providing instant focus where you touch.  Position 3 would move the focus point, focus the lens then instantly trip the shutter.  The E-M1 does this brilliantly and is quite useful, especially if using a tripod.  I believe the Panasonic GX8 also allows the user to move the focus point around with the touch of a finger.

2) Eliminate the EVF lag when photographing in continuous mode.  Sony managed to do this in the new A6300 and a lot of us would very much appreciate having an EVF that keeps up with a moving subject while making rapid exposures.  Trying to follow a moving subject while shooting at 3 or 8 fps, is difficult due to the EVF not keeping up with the rapid shutter release.  (This is one value I see for the X-Pro 2 as we could use the optical viewfinder to accurately track a moving subject.)

3) More than three frame exposure bracketing.  I would like to at least see a 5 frame exposure capability with 1 stop difference between exposures.  At least.  Three is just not enough for some subjects.  Take a cue from Nikon, Canon and Olympus as to the capabilities they provide to users with exposure bracketing.

4) The ability to also bracket more JPEG settings, not just film simulations.  For example, the ability to bracket sharpening settings, highlight and/or shadow tone settings, saturation settings, etc.  With the JPEGS being so good, and so many photographers using them now, it would be nice to be able to have some variations in image parameters as are provided with exposure, ISO, film simulations, etc.

5) Batch in-camera conversions of RAW files to JPEG.  Instead of having to do one RAW to JPEG conversion at a time, be able to use the touch screen mentioned above to show multiple images on the LCD during playback, then touch each image to select it, then batch convert all those selected.

6)  Shutter button moved forward from the top of the body.  This would make for better ergonomics and a more comfortable grip.  You really don't have to enlarge the camera with the exception of adding a little to the front grip, which would house the shutter button on its top.  During the 35mm film camera era, the shutter button was on top of the camera in a similar manner as the X-T1.  One of the reasons "motor drives" became desirable, besides providing continuous exposures, was that the motor drive usually had a shutter button on the drive itself in front of the camera body, again, which is more natural and comfortable to use.

UPDATE:  One of my standard methods of working is by using an AF-On button to focus instead of focusing by half-pressing the shutter button.  With the X-T1 you can partially do this.  This is important to me as I have worked this way for years and years.  I would like the ability to disassociate the focus function from the shutter button, turn the camera to C (continuous focus), and use a button (typically an AF-On button) to focus,  The camera then focuses only when the button is pushed.  This way, you have the best of both worlds. By pushing the button, then releasing when your subject is in focus, you essential have the single, or "S," focus function.  By pressing the AF-On button and holding it in, you have the continuous, or "C," focus function.  Best of both worlds.

If you have a static subject, just push the button and release when your camera is in focus.  If your subject is moving, push and hold the button as you follow your subject and your cameras will continually adjust focus as your subject moves.

Currently, the only way to do this, partially, in the X-T1 is to place the selector on "M" (manual focus), press the AF Lock button and your camera will focus.  That is fine when your subject is not moving.  The camera doesn't allow this in the "C" position so there is no way to follow focus moving subjects.  You would have press to focus, repress to focus as your subject moves, again repress to focus as you subject continues to move, etc.

This function is very much needed.

Those are my main "wants" for the upcoming (hopefully soon) X-T2.  Again, I'm not interested in turning the camera into a "feature beast" that gives us more options and capabilities than any one photographer would ever use.  My intention is to improve its ergonomics a bit and give us some functionalities that make the camera "disappear" even faster.

This is about all I would need to give me even a much better camera than I already use. After all, one of the best things about the X-T1 is its simplicity of use.

What else would you like to see that I may be forgetting?  Let us all know.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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