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.”