Fujifilm X-M1 review – Autofocus
Unlike the recent Fujifilm X100S premium compact camera, which uses a 16-million-pixel phase-detection AF sensor, the X-M1 uses the more standard contrast-detection AF with 49 user-selectable AF points covering an area around 80% of the image frame.
Overall, I found the focusing speed to be acceptable. From pressing the shutter button down to seeing the on-screen AF point indicate that focus has been achieved takes around 0.3secs, which is a reasonable speed for most photographic situations, although hardly lightning fast.
In addition to the user-selectable AF area mode, other focusing modes are available. In multi AF mode, the X-M1 will automatically select the appropriate AF points, while continuous and tracking AF provide further options.
When switching to manual focus, there are a few features that aid the user in getting sharp images. One of these is the magnified display on the rear screen. However, it is a shame that this magnified view option must be selected, rather than being automatically activated with a turn of the manual-focus ring on the lens.
There is also the option to use focus peaking, which creates highlights around any edges within the frame that are in focus. In combination, these features make manually focusing with the X-M1 a reasonably fast task, and most importantly, accurate.
