Auto Exposure seems to be locked when shooting AF-C

[sfklr]

X-T1 w/ Firmware 4.0.  Set to AF-C, zone focus. 35mm f1.4.  Phase set, mechanical shutter and all that. Push shutter button halfway down and now it auto-focuses like a champ, no matter where I point it.  Super happy with that.

 

But for some reason, the Auto Exposure doesn't change while button is pushed halfway.  Point at dark desk, push button, focus and metering are there. Keep button pushed, swing around to the window.  Auto focus brilliantly finds and focuses on things outside, but the subject appears way over exposed because it hasn't changed from the initial indoor AE.

 

Note: I'm not taking the picture, just keeping button halfway pushed.  Perhaps it would re-calc the exposure after each CH or CL burst. 

 

Is there any way to have auto exposure change too as I wave it around with button down, or am I stuck with the exposure selected at the moment of engagement? 

 

Thanks.

[davehutch]

Exactly this issue. Posted on DPReview but after easing a few more posts around t'interweb, it seems the X Series have always done this.

In my case, I also tested by half-pressing on a dark area, moving to a bright area then taking a series at 3fps.

They were all too bright but slowly adjusted the exposure on each shot.

 

Basically this is a big deal, for the following reason:

Let's say your tracking a subject such as a car, horse, runner and waiting until they get to the right spot in your composition. If the lighting conditions are't the same as when you first locked on, the result will be badly over or under exposed.

I need to do more testing but my cats aren't obliging at the moment

 

I checked on my X-E2 and the result is the same, so at least we know it isn't down to the new firmware.

 

Oh yes, Face Detection is off and Mechanical Shutter only is selected.

 

Have a read of this and let me know what you think:

 

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/56070926

 

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/53246706

[sfklr]

Thank you, Dave.  You and DPReview contributors nailed it.

 

TL:DR - Set to CL (low rate burst) and auto pre-focus.  Yes, it will drain battery, but focus and exposure will adjust wherever you point it, without pushing down on the shutter button.  Apparently X-T1 will adjust exposure during an actual slow burst, just not as quickly as one might like.  (I have not tested.)  Pushing button halfway -- even with Pre-AF ON -- appears to lock exposure, though not focus (have tested).

 

Cheers

[davehutch]

Although, that doesn't actually cure the problem of cL or cH shooting. Yes, Pre-Focus constantly adjusts focus and exposure, but there's absolutely no chance of using it for sports photography that way.

In order to rattle off three or four shots of something moving, let's say for the sake of argument, runners moving in and out of shadows down a road or through a wood, you have to hold the shutter button down.

If the exposure changes during that time...basically...tough!

 

I checked my little Canon G15 and on Continuous focus mode, moving the camera around with the shutter half-pressed continually adjusts the focus AND the exposure, which is exactly the way it should work.

I'm sure my old Nikon worked that way as well.

 

Blimey, this is a £1K camera body!

 

I can't believe there aren't more people complaining about this?!

[sfklr]

Luckily it sounds as if a new firmware update could fix some day.  Patience.

[Macro]

Now working in X-T2...

 

p.96

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[Tom H.]

Now working in X-T2...

 

p.96

FocusExposureXT2.png

Indeed. On the X-T2 it's now leading to confusion as people set this to off all the time and then are surprised the camera is not giving them the exposure numbers, which if you think of it, is logical, since the camera only decides exposure upon taking the shot, no longer when half pressing the shutter.