Setting Up Your X-T1 Menus!!!!
Why wait, too hot at the pool! So here is the disclaimer, remember this is my thoughts on menus settings after one week of using the camera!!! For only a week I think I’ve learned a lot, but keep in mind some of these first thoughts could change over time, but for now I”ll stick by them!
SHOOTING MENU:
BKT/Adv. SETTING : This is where you set up all your initial BKT settings:
Mine are as follows:
AE Bkt +/- 1 Stop
ISO BKT +/- 1 Stop
Film Simulation BKT Film 1 Std (Provia) Film 2 S (Astia) Film 3 B (monochrome no filter)
White Balance BKT +/- 1
Auto Focus Setting
AF Mode Area (the rest can be set as you work)
Advanced Filter (to your liking)
ISO Auto Control (These setting take affect when you turn the ISO dial to A)
Default Sensitivity 400
Max. Sensitivity 3200
Min. Shutter Speed 1/125
Image Size ( change this depending on subject shape in the Q Menu )
Default 3:2
Image Quality I shoot F (Fine jpeg) You can choose RAW or jpeg + RAW
Dynamic Range I’ve found AUTO to work great.
Self Timer Off – I assigned Self timer to the Function button FN button that says WiFi because I use a 2 second delay a lot!!!!!
Interval Timer Shooting (only go there when I want to use that feature)
White Balance Normally set to AUTO however is easy to set in the Q menu and I do often!
For now I have all he following at 0
Color 0
Sharpness 0
Highlight Tone o
Shadow Tone 0
Noise Reduction 0
Long Exposure Noise Reduction : ON
Select Custom Setting is still on 1
Edit and Save Custom Settings : Used when needed.
Mount Adapter Setting Is set with the focal length manual focus lens you are attaching.
* I have a Kiron (Amazon) for attaching older Nikon lenses to the camera) And they work great! Especially he 200mm Micro Nikkor!
Shoot Without Lens Turn to On if you attach a manual lens via adapter other wise it should be off, (be sure to remember and turn the focus selector on the bottom left front of the body to M for manual if you are using a manual focus lens)
MF Assist I like Focus Peak White (you can try them and pick the best for you!)
AE/AF Lock Mode I have mine set to: On when pressing
AF-Lock Mode AF ONLY
Flash Compensation (Depends on situation)
Red Eye Removal OFF
Movie Set-Up Haven’t fooled with it yet, I’m not a videographer
IS Mode CONTINUOUS
Wireless Communication For setting up Wireless which is very exciting! With this camera and the Fuji App, gives you about the same features as Cam Ranger!!!
FUNCTION SETTINGS:
The 8th item down is FUNCTION FN SETTINGS
This allows you to set the Function buttons for the things you do the most often, and is a great feature that makes using the camera much easier!!!
Just for the record here are my settings: Yours may be different!
Function 1 Acrtivate focus points
Function 2 Self Timer
Function 3 Close-up focusing Setting
Function 4 DRV (Bracket settings)
Function 5 White Balance
Function 6 Face Detection Auto Focus
Color Space: sRGB (best for Web and Ink Jet Printing)
Some other thoughts:
I’ve found the Velvia film simulation to be a little over saturated, except when shooting killer color on overcast day, then it rocks!!!!
Astia has become my favorite Color Simulation setting, the colors are rich and the overall image is slightly less contrasty. Provia comes in second and the Monochrome setting are flat out crazy good! I rarely need to use NIK Silver Effects Pro anymore if I get a monochrome out of the camera. My standard set up is BKT mode film simulations, So I get Astia – Provia & Monochrome of every single shot! Hot dang!!!!
I shoot in Aperture Priority mode (Shutter Speed knob on A)
This is a general tip: The X-T1 has a great Dynamic Range in Auto, but it still is best to shoot on sunny days during the first two and last two hours of the day, and of course all day on overcast or rainy days. Contrast is harder to control when there are hard edged shadows, though there is an exception to every rule and strong contrast can be appealing for certain subject, but not all!!
I hope these ideas will help you, the X-T1 is a very forgiving camera, but like all photographic instruments the better you know it, the better you can take advantage of it’s qualities!!
Please share your thoughts here too…..
Blessings,
the pilgrim
O.K. Questions from my email!
Question 1 Can you describe how the color simulations are different?
Yes, Velvia is very much like the Fuji film Velvia, very punchy colors, rich saturation and high contrast, blacker blacks and deeper reds, oranges, yellows, and greens. Provia is a more accurate portrayal of color. Good rich color but not as punchy as Velvia. Astia is a softer lower contrast color with rich deep color, just less contrast!! The two film palates are very much like two of negative film emulsions from Fujifilm, I never shot either and don’t use them on the digital cameras. For everyday stuff I shoott Provia and Astia, for overcast days and rich color I shoot Velvia. All the monochromes are killer, choose the filtered ones based on subject matter.
Question 2 At what ISO do you become concerned about noise?
I always use the lowest ISO I can. Having said that I feel comfortable using up to ISO 3200 without a problem, I do shoot at 6400 when I need to and even though there is noise it is just very fine and no color noise! That is one of the most amazing things about the Fuji X System cameras! Above 6400? Go there only if you must, I don’t!! Well unless I saw Elvis at a truck stop!!!
This entry was posted on Thursday, February 27th, 2014 at 6:32 pm
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Thanks so much for your settings. It will help me when my XT1 arrives this friday. I hope that you and Shirlene are having a wonderful time in St. Croix!
Thanks Wayne we are having a great time, headed home Saturday!
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Yeah that’s what I’m talking about ba-bcyni-e work!
Thanks for sharing your settings, Bill! You must have read my mind. I’ve been searching the web for what other people are using. The settings I’ve chosen are almost identical to yours. I’m going to try a couple of things you have that are different to see if I like them better. Having lots of fun. Hope you and Sherelene are having a blast.
We are thanks Lynn, hope they helped, if only confirmation!
Thanks for sharing! I hope you enjoyed your vacation and didn’t spend too much time with the XT-1!
I think I’ve got most of these settings figured out, I got stuck not being able to adjust my focus points until I read I needed to turn of facial detection.
Thanks again and safe travels home.
It is important to look at files critically as you try different settings that affect that, color palate
Contrast, noise reduction, etc.
These settings are like gold. Thanks Bill in advance for when I get my very own Fuji X-T1 🙂
I think you will enjoy it! Tell David I said hi!
Bill, thanks for all your blog posts, really enjoy learning from you. I’m considering moving to the Fuji system from Sony. I’ve read a lot about the new X-T1 and I think I’d really like shooting with it. But, I have 2 questions you may be able to help me with.
First, I understand that the new X-T1 is suppose to have a new tracking ‘predictive’ focus system and I was wondering if you could comment on that feature? Have you tried using the new ‘predictive’ auto focus system with moving subjects? My use would be for children playing sports and for wildlife. Will I miss my DSLR?
Second, I use Lightroom 5 for my raw processing. From what I’ve read, I wouldn’t be able to use it for x-tran raw files, correct? What is your workflow?
Thanks Bill. God Bless.
I have not tested the predictive focus, however Nick Devlin who I respect has a video for the Camera Store in Canada, and he says it works very good! For birds in flight, I still think a DSLR would be better, but I have not run that test myself. As to RAW processing Adobe ‘s. Raw converter just got fixed for Fuji and my favorite RAW processor is Irident, which is reasonably priced. (Under $100.)
And it works great, however the jpegs are so spectacular I rarely shoot RAW. The latest Lightroom 5 also now works with Fuji RAW files. You need to consider Fuji if you want a lighter camera. With incredible film like color, serious out of the camera monochrome, stellar lenses, and files that rival most full frame cameras, that costs less than half of Nikon and Canon equivalent gear.
Thanks Bill for the quick reply. I’ll check out your suggestions. Have a safe trip home.
Mike, I try very hard to not let my enthusiasm lead others to go and buy the things I like, just because I like them! When I worked fir Nikon I was and had been a Nikon shooter for well over forty years, and I still would be if I hadn’t found the weight. of what I wanted to carry to have become burdensome. I found the Fuji X System because it met my need for a smaller and lighter system, plus I found it to give me image quality rivaling and in certain cases, exceeding my previous gear. I couldn’t go back to the heavier gear, even if I wanted to, so I’m thrilled I’ve found a system I really love, can afford, and allows he to make images I’m thrilled with!
Hiya, I came across your internet site by means of Bing at the same time looking for a very similar matter, your website showed up, it appears good. I have got bookmarked to favourites|added onto this social bookmarks.
Thank you so much for this posting.
My pleasure Connie!
funny you should post this… I just got my X-T1 today from Amazon. I have both my new X-T1, and my X-E1 sitting on my desk at work. I think I’ve got it all set up the way I shot my X-E1 which is -1 highlights and -1 shadows. I also use Iridient for those times when I need to work on a Fuji Raw.
Thanks Bill!
My only complaint so far — and that’s only since I’ve had the camera about an hour or so, is my pudgy fingers just can’t find the buttons yet. I’m sure I’ll adapt.
Best to everyone,
JOrge
It takes a little time , but it’s worth it!
Not sure why they did not set up delete like my Nikons where a photo is deleted if you push twice in succession.
I am sure there are other differences that will be looked at and maybe updated.
Thank you! I have been scouring the web for these settings. I too am a Nikon shooter who is beginning to have trouble with all the weight!
Hi! Thanks for sharing your settings.
Did you find out a way to use continuous autofocus without starting the autofocus on half-pressed release button? I use this way on my Nikon SLRs. So I have 3 modes within one setting:
– Manual focus: just focus manually and release with button
– Single focus: Press AF-L button to perform autofocus. -> Release whenever you want.
– Continuous focus: Press and hold AF-L button to perform continuous autofocus.
Best,
Thomas
Just got my X-T1 today and am reading the manual and trying to set it up. I will try your settings.
I am coming from Nikon, too. I love the look of the dials on the X, and will get used to them, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how to set it on Aperture preferred. I’m used to a dial that says A,S,M,P, etc. The dials aren’t intuitive for me. sigh.
I was in St. Croix October 2013, and will be going back this November. Beautiful place.
Betty
“My standard set up is BKT mode film simulations, So I get Astia – Provia & Monochrome of every single shot!” I’m trying to figure out if this means that when you set these values in Shooting Menu 1 > BKT/Adv Setting > FILM SIMULATION BKT that you get an Astia, Provia, and a Monochrome image (one of each) with one shutter click. And if so, what Drive setting do you use so that the shutter click does this?
I tried it, but it gives me three bracketed exposures.
Now that you’ve had a chance to use the X-T1 for a while, have you changed any of the above settings?
Hello! I’m curious to know if you have selected more custom settings (like the different picture styles in Canon).
Thanks for sharing with us your knowledge.
My kind regards
Maria Sacadura
Now that you’ve had a chance to use the X-T1 for a while, have you changed any of these settings?
Color 0
Sharpness 0
Highlight Tone o
Shadow Tone 0
Noise Reduction 0
Dear Bill hello,
I am taking the freedom to write and ask you, a very simple to you and very complicated to me question(s). Two weeks ago I got an XT1 w/kit and I am making circles all over Internet, to figure out how to use it. This is my first real camera, after simple point and shoot. My folks making fun of me, after they hear my comments, that one day I will be a photographer !
Should I use your above settings and leave it as is ? All I need is to take good stills of my Family and friends and also pictures of landscape and who knows maybe others as I grow up as a student photographer. What you recoment me to do ? Should I go to take some classes as well ?
Thank you Bill in advance and one day, I will get back to you with my results…I hope !
All the Best,
Taso Evreniadis
[…] figured out through much trial and error. If you want a quick settings setup, check out how Bill Fortney has his Fuji X-T1 configured.I wanted to post a couple of Fuji X-T1 photos from this awesome […]
This is a great article, i really enjoyed it. Wished i had taken a look here before i took my camera out shooting. i just finished taking out my new fujifilm-xt1 camera for its first real picture expedition. it was great and i came home with a couple amazing photos. however i learned the hard way that when you shoot photos in a different setting, such as an advanced filter, your image quality save options automatically changes within the camera from that of your normal custom options in single shoot setting. i did not know this changed from one action setting to another, perhaps i am too new at this and it is standard like this for all cameras. after all i am a beginner photographer. I’m left though with images that are great, but practically useless. the file was saved as a 2MB jpeg fine. later i have tried to see if i could make it better and change the camera settings when the camera is in advanced filter mode to save images with my personally desired RAW F quality, but it will not allow you to choose this option within this setting. is it possible? help please.