Would It Be Helpful To Some If FujiFilm Would.....?

Osprey with dinner (click to enlarge)

I am hoping Fujifilm will create a better list of defined "use cases" for the X-T2 and their other cameras which have the user programmable AF-C Custom Focus Tracking options. Let me explain why.

In a number of their newest cameras, Fujifilm has given us users the ability to customize our camera's settings so we can increase the probability of successful focus tracking of various subjects based upon specific subject characteristics.  What does that mean? Fujifilm has given us three in-camera adjustments that we can make to tailor focus tracking to a specific type of subject and subject movement.  If we configure these three settings right, the number of successful in-focus images is maximized.  If we don't quite understand the fine points of each setting and don't have all three settings optimized, we have fewer images in sharp focus.

Is what I am asking absolutely necessary?  No.  But I'm making the assumption that for many users who don't quite fully understand the intricacies of these settings, it can be very helpful.  And...I'm all for helping others achieve greater success and more satisfaction with their photography.  Fujifilm engineers are the best source of information for creating the best possible settings and I would like them to create a variety of "use case scenarios" so it is very easy for those who don't quite "get it" to get it.

In the camera's menu, we can adjust a) Tacking Sensitivity, b) Speed Tracking Sensitivity and c) Zone Area Switching.

Tracking Sensitivity is the parameter that "determines how long the camera waits to switch focus when an object enters the focus area behind or in front of the current subject.  The higher the value, the longer the camera will wait."  The values can be assigned between 0 and 4.

Speed Tracking Sensitivity is the parameter that "determines how sensitive the tracking system is to changes in subject velocity.  The higher the value, the greater the precision with which the system attempts to respond to sudden movement."  This parameter has adjustment values from 0-2.

Zone Area Switching is the parameter that "determines focus area given priority in Zone AF."  This parameter provides for three settings: Center, Auto and Front.  

"Center—Zone AF assigns subjects priority in the center of the zone"

"Auto—The camera locks focus on the subject at the center of the zone then switches focus areas as necessary to track it" 

"Front—Zone AF assigns priority to subjects closest to the camera"

(If you want more information about these settings, start at page 135 of the latest version of the X-T2's user's manual [May 2017])

How many of you Fujifilm users really, truly understand what Fujifilm is giving you and what they are saying in the user's manual as quoted above?  For example, Tracking Sensitivity determines how long the camera waits to switch focus.  How long for each number setting?  The devil is in the details for each of these three settings.  

Fujifilm does provide 5 examples of when to use specific settings, but I don't think those examples are sufficient and the ones provided are very general and open to interpretation.  I think it would be easy, even using the provided examples, to configure the camera for less than optimum settings.

Also, I believe there are a significant number of users that a) don't have the technical expertise to fully understand these three parameters which can result in the camera not being optimized for any particular tracking subject and b) even a greater number of users who don't have the time or wherewithal to actually go out under a variety of situations, experiment, then be able to tailor their camera for their particular situations.

In either case the result is that users will not be able to fully take advantage of this technology and may feel dissatisfied in that the focus tracking doesn't work as designed or is less effective than it really is.

Being a very customer oriented company, I am advocating Fujifilm, with its engineering and photographic resources, create a number of specific "use cases" that can be added to the firmware in the form of a list in the menu.  We have a list of film simulations and other lists that give us choices, why not a list for this issue?  The "list" will give the user a number of situations to which the user can select and set the camera to optimize focus tracking and subsequent success.  When choosing a "use case", the camera would then automatically bet set at its optimum for that particular "use case."

Off the top of my head, here are some examples.  A list of "use cases" could include (or not include) some of these:

1.   A person running toward/away the camera
2.   A person running across the frame
3.   A person walking diagonally through a crowd in front of and behind other people
4.   A race car (race horse) at high speed moving across the frame
5.   A race car at high speed moving toward/away from the frame
6.   A child playing soccer
7.   An adult playing football (American football)
8.   A small bird in flight out in the open
9.   A large bird in flight
10. A bird in flight in front of trees or other vegetation
11. A large species of wildlife moving slowly through a meadow
12. A small species of wildlife moving about on the ground or in a tree
13. A hummingbird at a feeder
14. A slug darting across the highway (Ha!  just testing if you are really reading this!)
15. A swimmer in a pool swimming toward you
16. A swimmer in a pool swimming across the frame
17. An extreme close-up of a bee pollinating a flower
18. A person moving randomly at a slow speed
19. A surfer riding a wave 
20. A whale breaching the surface of the water

These are some just potential "use cases."  Yes, I know there an infinite number of use cases, each with its own characteristics, but this could be helpful to many photographers and get them started in the right direction to maximize their "hit rate."  If some of these repeat the same speeds and types of motion, that is intentional to better help the user decide which selection is best and leave as little as possible open to misinterpretation.  Also, there are subtle differences between some of these that, at first thought, my appear similar and would require slightly different settings, again, to maximize a photographer's "hit rate."  Every little bit helps in the complex digital world.

(click to enlarge)

During the course of research and engineering, Fujifilm's engineers along with their partner photographers and user groups, could put together a list of maybe as many as 20 of these examples to which customers could refer.  When the customer scrolls down the list in the menu, he or she could easily identify which "use case" most closely matches the characteristics his or her subject, highlight it then press the OK button to lock in that choice. The camera would then be automatically set for optimum focus tracking for that type of motion.  Quick and direct.

One would still have the ability to manually set the three parameters as we now can so i'm not advocating taking away anything that is already in the menu.  Also, this would take out the guesswork if you were somewhere and needed to quickly change the parameters as the type of subject and motion changed.  No guessing.  No fiddling around. Select a different "use case" and done!  That quick.

Can this work?  Sure it can.  Does it make sense and is it good for the customer?  I think it is as setting the camera by "use case" will ensure optimum settings and more successful in-focus photos. By utilizing "use cases" the chances of setting the camera for best focus tracking increases.  When a the number of in-focus images increases, customer satisfaction increases.  When customer satisfaction increases, they spread the word, which is better than any advertising.  The result is Fujifilm selling more gear in the future, which spawns more research and development, which ultimately is better for us Fujifilm users!

What do you think?

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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