FujiRumors testing AF-speed on 35mmF1.4
Consider that this lens already survived several minutes under water (when I broke my X-E2) – and it still works ;)

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So how is that new Firmware ver. 4.0? Well, I can understand the enthusiastic FXF feedback of fellow X-shooter.

Yesterday I’ve tested the 55-200 at the ice rink. Extremely difficult conditions (indoors with bad light conditions, lots of ice-skater, many contrast elements like banners and lines under the ice). I had to use higher ISO in order to keep an acceptable shutter speed. So I’d say a good situation to challenge AF.

Consider: I’m not a Pro (Sport) Photographer. I’m sure many of you will get much better results than mine, with my humble skills… and I tell you, following crazy jumping ice-skaters zoomed all the way in @200 is a real challenge for me!

Zone AF Mode: Initial impression: A real pleasure to use. Tracks very good and smoothly. Due the really unpredictable movements of the ice-skaters, they often went out of my focus area… as soon as I placed them again in the focus area, the camera starts tracking again. I really loved it. I tell you, taking shots of your kids playing soccer with the 55-200? Much easier in future, although not 100% of the shots will be always in focus… at least I wasn’t able, with my limited skills in that particular situation (I never shoot sports). I’ll do more testings… Anyway, a highly appreciated improvement.
Wide Tracking AF: Wide Tracking AF had some problems on the ice rink, due to the many distracting elements (and my amateurish skills). It worked better when zoomed in all the way @200, isolating the subject as much as possible. Nice to have.

The coach of the ice-skaters allowed me to take some pictures to test the FW, but not to share images. All I can do is to share a short video fragment (at the bottom of this post) showing the zone tracking. I had to black out some parts of the video, so take it more as a proof that I did my homework, rather than really showing what the firmware is capable of.

But luckily there is Rico’s FW 4 AF test. See the samples and make up your own mind.

The AF speed has been improved, too.  I’m pretty busy at the moment, so I can not dedicate all the time I’d like to test the Firmware. I did a short video showing the AF speed on the 35mm here (consider that this lens already survived several minutes under water (when I broke my X-E2)… anyway, my 35mm has become faster).

There are other X-shooters who are testing the new BETA firmware on all imaginable lenses. Read all the feedback here. Here just some of them:

– rollypolly: It turned my formerly pokey Zeiss 50mm macro into a speed demon – Here are the ranges for the various shutter modes in the T setting: ES – 1″ to 1/32000 – MS – 30″ to 1/4000 – ES+MS – 30″ to 1/32000
– bashar: “Zeiss 32mm is now hunted by a speed demon! ”
– gavingoh7: Focus finally can said.. Awesome
– felipey: Tested it with the tracking with AF-C on the 50-140mm and it’s much improved. I had trouble locking focus before but now it works as it should have. Overall focusing is much better. I also love using the command dial to change the shutter speed across all ranges in T mode, it’s very nifty.

As you know, the Fuji X-T10 (which is now in stock at AmazonUS, BHphoto and Adorama), has the same AF-system. A video on youtube shows, how if focuses with XF 60mm (the probably slowest focussing lens in the Fujinon line-up). The tester says that the improvement is “massive“.

For some reason, yesterday a photographer decided to share the X-T1 Firmware 4.0 file with the whole world on Facebook. People began to install it, and a kind French FR-reader, shared the link also with FujiRumors.

Of course, for the sake of science, I had to install it on my own X-T1. But I’ve decided to take off from FujiRumors and the Fuji X Forum, since this is a BETA version of the firmware. The final version will be available on the 25th. Other sites are still offering it, like the Spanish Forum Fujistas. But I do not recommend to update, since it could have bugs, that Fuji still has to sort out. It could damage your camera, and no warranty will cover it. Just wait a few more days.

I hope to find some time later today, to test it by myself. What I can say so far, is that in AF-S the 35F1.4 for sure feels more responsive. Still have to do proper AF-Tracking tests.

Anyway, I’m not the only one with FW 4.0, and more feedback can be read in the comments of this FXF thread. I’ll share a few here… to read all the comments click here.

FXF member johan:

“The 35mm does not pulse back and force anymore it just locks on!! amazing!! :).”

FXF member absolutic:

“Here are my results so far.  I only have 3 Fuji X lenses currently.

35/1.4  the most dramatic change.  Lens just gets to focus without rocking back and forth. Amazing for this lens. All of the sudden it is like a different lens!!!
18-135.  I tried to lower the light in my bedroom and focus at tele end.  It is usually a slow lens to focus in low light.  Result – much quicker acquisition.
56/1.2    seems to be no changes whatsoever with how that lens focused with previous firmware.”

Rico just posted his X-T10 AF Tracking Samples on Flickr. The samples are taken wide open (F2.8) with the XF 50-140 zoomed out all the way at 140mm.

Read Rico’s Full First Look at the X-T10. And in order to avoid GAS, please do NOT read & see his XF90mm First Look.

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X-T10 (body + kit options): USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama EU: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonFR / WexUK / PCHstore / AUS: Camerapro

XF 90mmF2 WR: USA: AmazonUS / BHphoto / Adorama EUROPE: AmazonDE / AmazonUK / AmazonFR / WexUK / PCHstore / AUS: Camerapro

The last ones sold quickly, but now Camerland is offering again a limited number of [shoplink 36067 ebay]XF 16mmF1.4 WR with a $100 rebate[/shoplink]

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It’s just a boring Fujinon Glass… so get ready once again for the usual a long list of Pros and a very short Cons list also in the latest Admiringlight review. From the conclusions:

“Fuji keeps cranking out great lenses, and the 16mm f/1.4 is one of their finest. It brings the sharpness and low distortion of the 14mm f/2.8 and combines it with the great wide aperture performance of the 56mm f/1.2, while keeping almost all lens aberrations at a minimum. The lens is simply optically stellar. The only shooters who should pause a bit are those who are looking to use this lens for astrophotography, as it does show some notable coma. However, for almost all other shooting scenarios, it’s really hard to improve on this lens.”

French Review at k-pture (translation) / Review at thephoblographer / Samples at matthewhartphotography /

Beware: to avoid GAS, you should NOT read (and see) Rico’s XF90mm First Look. For the X-T10 First Look click here.

XF 16mm F1.4 WR
USA: BHphoto / AmazonUS / Adorama / EUROPE: WexUK / PCHstore