Re: Leica M6 and Contax G2

[Thomas Kachadurian <kach@freeway.net>]

Paul:

I think people who don't use AF don't fully understand it. When I use AF it
works more like power manual focus than AF. With EOS bodies you can set the
camera (as I do) so it focuses when you push a button on the back of the
camera, independent of the shutter release. It's just like manual focus,
only faster, much faster. I wish there were a power focus Leica SLR, I'd
buy it.

Tom

At 11:34 AM 8/4/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>Paul, maybe there's a balance that could be struck between all mechanical
>>and all electronic bodies. Look at the Nikon F3. Solidly built, manual
>>focus, all manual controls, aperture priority if you want it, but not a lot
>>of useless features. It's probably the last pro-SLR that will be built that
>>way. AND they still make it. I consider the F3 to be one of the highest
>>quality SLRs being built today.
>
>
>Ben,
>
>I'm not hung up on using all-mechanical stuff, although I do like 
>mechanical cameras for the reasons outlined below. I also use Contax 
>SLRs, which are manual focus, have conventional controls and elecronic 
>shutters (except for the mechanical S2).
>
>I have never been interested in letting the camera do things for me. I 
>want to know exactly where it is focused and what the exposure settings 
>are. Because I generally meter carefully with either a built-in spot 
>meter or an incident meter, there is not much point to autoexposure for 
>most of the shooting I do. I don't want the camera doing things behind my 
>back--I want to be sure of what I'm getting. If I shot sports or 
>motorcycle racing, I might feel differently about autofocus.
>
>The reason I like the M bodies is that they are very basic and simple to 
>use. Feature-wise, they don't lack anything that I particularly want, 
>which is not to say that I think they're perfect. I like the purity of 
>purpose they have. I was really excited when I first started hearing 
>about the Contax G cameras, since they always refered to them as 
>rangefinder cameras. I thought it was pretty cool if Contax was going to 
>re-enter this market.
>
>The problem I have with the Contax G bodies and many other electronic 
>cameras is not that they are electronic, but that they are hightly 
>automated and are clumsy to use manually, the way I prefer to work.
>
>I'm in my early 40s; reading my own message, it sounds like I may be 
>reaching "old fart" status a little early.
>
>May I assume from your signature that the serial numbers are back? Thanks!
>
>- Paul
>
>