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The Fujifilm X Pro 3 Has a Great Trick. Try This.

Chris Gampat
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10/07/2022
3 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Fujifilm 33mm f1.4 R WR LM Review product images 21-13s3200

I adore the neglected step-child of Fujifilm. I mean, what I truly mean, is that I love the Fujifilm X Pro 3. But I think we all know and understand that even though it’s a flagship camera, it hasn’t received the updates that photographers really want. One thing that it really needed was revamped and better autofocus akin to what the Fujifilm XT4 has. However, when using the Fujifilm XH2s recently, I found a setting that I’m surprised was on the Fujifilm X Pro 3.

It’s called Pre-Shot ES: and no Fujifilm X Pro 3 user I know has used it. Nor has anyone really even talked about it on the web. So here’s what you need to know about it:

  • Pre-Shot ES is like OM System’s Pro Capture Mode. It shoots photos and keeps them in a buffer when you’re autofocusing. When you fully press the button down, it starts to write the images to the card. So the Fujifilm X Pro 3 will keep the moments right before you shot the photos too.
  • Combined with electronic shutter, 20fps shooting, and AF-C mode, it will track and focus on subjects moving through the scene pretty easily.
  • You need fast SD cards to make sure this doesn’t freeze your camera up.
  • This is best done with a fast focusing lens like the new 23mm f1.4 R WR.
  • You could also do it with zone focusing if you wish.

So if you shoot like this, then you’re far less likely to miss a moment. Sure, you’ll have a larger bounty of images to cycle though and cherry-pick. But your photo walks will also bear more fruit.

The folks who use the Fujifilm X Pro 3 are either often photojournalists, street photographers, or candid photographers such as those who shoot weddings and events. And with a feature like this and a fast SD card to ensure the camera doesn’t run into freezing issues, it gets a whole lot better. In fact, it freezes less than the XH2s does. Currently, we have an inquiry in with Fujifilm as to why this occurs.

Why haven’t Fujifilm shooters been using this? Well, we could argue that some of us like to shoot like we’re still in the film-era. But a whole lot of us love the ergonomics of Fujifilm cameras like the X Pro 3. And coupled with that awesome screen, you can still shoot like it’s the film era. However, this time around you’re less likely to miss a shot.

I talked about this feature with one of my best friends, who also owns the Fujifilm X Pro 3. And he agreed, a lot of companies are pretty awful about marketing features like this. But honestly, if the Fujifilm X Pro 3 were talked about with this feature from the start, folks probably would’ve bought more of them.

I think X Pro photographers should really be trying this feature out. It will seriously make you love your camera a whole lot more and offset some of the things you dislike about it. The same goes for other camera owners that may have the Pre-shot ES feature.

Have you been using this feature? Let us know what you think about it in the comments below. We truly wish it were more talked about.

autofocus camera electronic shutter fujifilm Fujifilm X Pro 3 fujifilm xh2s moment pre-shot es
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.