Fuji XE2 - how do I use the AE-L and AF-L buttons correctly

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Hi all, I hope this is in the right section but I'm really struggling to understand when I should use the AE-L and AE-F buttons and why they are different to using a half shutter press.

My equipment is the fuji xe2 with the 35mm prime.

I have the menu settings to use when switch and the AE-F button works as AE-F and AE-L and metering mode is spot.

I suppose what I'm not understanding is when I pick a point in my composition and press the AE-L/F button I get the green rectangle in the middle of the EVF at but when I recompose the image changes exposure so my subject exposure changes.

I'd really appreciate it if someone could talk me through how to use these buttons correctly and I can then stop feeling so stupid :)
 
Been trying mine,must admit bit confused as well how they all work together,will take it in to my dealer and ask him :)
 
My understanding is you can set it to lock exposure,lock focus or both. Also can be used to set the above when being pressed or be used in an on/off method
 
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kennysarmy said:
Ae-l locks exposure.
Ae-f locks focus.

I use them as a switch so a single press of each button locks each.

What are you troubling to understand?
Click to expand...

I understand what they should do and the AF-L buttons work as I expect it to i.e. it locks the focus on a point and allows me to recompose without needing to press the shutter release half way down - with this function I don't understand when I would use it instead of pressing the shutter half way down?

Irrespective of what task I assign to the AE-F button (it can focus lock only or focus and exposure lock) the AE-L button doesn't seem to do anything at all. I expect to be able to select an exposure, lock it (similar to a half press of the shutter), recompose and take a shot. What I'm finding is that once I lock an exposure (using spot metering) I see no indicator to tell me the exposure is locked (no green rectangle or anything) and then when I recompose the shot the view finder shows a different exposure as I recompose depending upon the light.

I'm either not using the AE-L button/feature properly or just don't understand how I should be using it.

It would be great to see pics taken with and without the AE-L engaged but I can't find a thread on the net to explain this so I'm pretty sure I am being stupid but I don't know why???
 
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kennysarmy said:
I would use focus lock if I was taking photos of something like a cricket match. Once focused on the batsman I could focus lock and not need to worry about focus again....
Click to expand...
Ok, so why would that be different to pressing the shutter button half way down to lock the focus?
 
For long exposures with 9 or 10stop filters you can focus on the subject, lock focus, attach filter then shoot knowing you have predetermined the focus point.
 
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Ae-l is to lock exposure, say you want to expose for foreground in a bright situation etc then recompose the shot but want to keep foreground exposed.
 
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On page 5 of the XE2 manual there doesn't seem to be a picture of an AE/L symbol.

I get the green box for AF-L

Thanks for your help as this is real progress for me :)
 
I'm looking at the XE2 now and no matter what I press there is no AE-L symbol, is this a custom display you have or maybe I have some other setting on to show it?
 
rodd1000 said:
Ae-l is to lock exposure, say you want to expose for foreground in a bright situation etc then recompose the shot but want to keep foreground exposed.
Click to expand...
That is what I was hoping it would be so I was taking some silhouette shots last week in Edinburgh against a red sky so my plan was to meter the sky, lock the exposure, recompose and take the shot but it just wouldn't work for me.
 
kennysarmy said:
If you have a custom display and turned off aperture speed iso it will not show
Click to expand...

Yes I have it on custom display as I wanted the horizon line, just cant remember how to update a custom display now LOL
 
How this works, aim the camera at the foreground, meter it and lock exposure. Recompose the shot you want and shoot. The shot should be exposed for the predetermined exposure.
 
kennysarmy said:
Not manual focus...

Manual mode... If you set shutter and aperture then exposure is already locked!!!
Click to expand...

Okay, I'm going to hide in a dustbin somewhere, my stupidity clearly knows no bounds :facepalm:

Cheers for helping me out with that as now I've just forced the camera into Aperture priority mode and I can see the AE-L sign you mentioned when I press the AE-L button :ty:

:)
 
rodd1000 said:
How this works, aim the camera at the foreground, meter it and lock exposure. Recompose the shot you want and shoot. The shot should be exposed for the predetermined exposure.
Click to expand...
Cheers Rodd - Kennysarmy has kindly pointed out my folly - I had forgotten that I was using the camera in manual mode so the shutter button is the AE-L. I was so determined to not use any priority modes with this camera (I've spent too long using point and shoots) that I really hadn't worked out what the AE-L button does.

The technical term for me is - idiot (I think) :D

Thanks for your advice too ;)
 
You were in manual mode,you got their now (y),i shoot in AP and couldn't figure what was going on in your camera,should have asked what mode you were shooting in :oops: :$

Glad you got their :)
 
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