The firmware update Ver. 2.00 from Ver. 1.20 has made a massive difference in my experience when it comes to focusing. While nowhere in the information about the changes is the focusing improvement mentioned, I noticed considerably better performance.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/150

Frankly, I was getting quite frustrated with the camera when it came to focusing, which was then screwing up my ability to capture “the moment.” Last night at my daughter’s Spring Orchestra concert, I could grab moments like the peak consistently when the conductor had their arms up and where I could capture what reads much more accessible than where you cannot see her arms.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/5, 1/200

The upgraded information said:

The firmware will shorten the display lag** for X-E2’s Electronic Viewfinder (EVF) to less than 1/10 compared to that of the current firmware to the world’s fastest 0.005 seconds for ultimate performance which has been invented as Real Time Viewfinder, featured in X-T1. Also it enhances the frame rate of the viewfinder and the highest frame rate is maintained even in low light conditions or night-time photography, providing smooth live view images through the lens.

My experience before the firmware upgrade was a great deal of focus hunting to lock in on a focus point.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.8, 1/550

The camera would take the photo, and then when I would press the shutter again, keeping the same composition and just wanting a second photo, the camera would hunt again to lock in on the focus point. Now the camera was no longer hunting, and the moments were much easier to obtain.

Fuji X-E2, 55-200mm, ISO 6400, ƒ/4.7, 1/180

The framerate was impacting my focus, and I didn’t know this was the problem. However, now I cannot see a good reason to buy the X-T1 since I purchased it to have a smaller profile, which meets that standard.

Fuji is doing what other manufacturers are afraid to do because the other manufacturers fear a loss in sales. For the most part, the firmware upgrade makes the differences between the X-T1 and X-E2 minor and makes me want another X-E2.