Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/05/08
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ben, Here's an example. My son is walking around in my backyard. With an F5 or EOS1n (with Custom Function 4 On), I must point a sensor right at the portion of my son that I want in focus. I must then recompose -- this is the key. Nikon would argue that I could first select the appropriate sensor, say the left one, then just fire away. An equally good argument is that it is easier, better, more intuitive to constantly alter the composition as my son moves, focusing simultaneously. With a manual camera, this is very natural. It is simply not possible with an AF camera (in AF mode) to do this -- the focus points will dictate and influence the composition to some degree. If I want to be in complete control of composition at all times, I must be manually focusing. An F5 will manually focus, but you have to first flip a switch on the lens to do so -- this takes time, and more importantly, attention away from the composition and the subject. And once you have made the switch, the manual focus is not as good as with an R8. Why? Well, the R8 viewfinder is brighter and the lens has better tactile feel. More important, though, is that this is the only way the R8 works, so, practically speaking, the R8 user is going to get real good at it, better than the user of an autofocus camera who uses the camera in AF mode most of the time. I don't mean to argue, by the way, the R8 is necessarily "much" better at this. All I'm saying is that since AF cameras are designed to do so many things, they don't necessarily do all things better than all cameras. I admit that it is difficult to argue that the array of options on an F5 or EOS1n is somehow limiting, but most photographers will pick one or two options that they use most of the time and, in rare occasions, pick one for a special situation. This is great, but there is a reason that over many years SLR manufacturers standardized on a shutter dial on top of the camera and an aperture ring right behind the focus ring. My Nikkormat wasn't this way, and it was a great camera, but most manufacturers moved in the "standard" direction over time, with a few exceptions. The reason is that, over many years, this is what proved to be best. Nikon and Canon are at the cutting edge of major change. Technology is driving change at such a rapid rate that ergonomics will suffer to some degree in the transition. The old way IS an old way, but it is time tested and damn good for many photographic applications. Sports, power boats, and birds in flight are another story maybe, but for many applications, the manual approach can really work. A skilled, experienced photographer can get VERY good at manipulating the camera intuitively. With the options on an F5, you've got to be thinking about how the camera is set. You have to aware of this at all times. You don't want to get caught with your pants down with the wrong option set when the news breaks. One more things, I like the Matrix meter on the F5, but it makes mistakes, constantly. It can't know what's out there or what our intentions are. When you don't have time it's better than screwing up manually, but when you have just a little time, it is generally better to let our brains take over. John - ---------- From: Ben <ben@teco.net> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] R state-of-the art? Date: Fri, 08 May 1998 17:01:08 +0000 >John - couldn't agree more! If there is one thing that bugs me about the EOS >1n (and most AF cameras for that matter) it is the increased difficulty in >focussing them manually. I don't understand your comment. With the EOS-1n and custom fn #4 (which many people use as standard) as well as the Contax AX, AF is activated with a button. Therefore AF is just as easy as with a straight MF camera - - i.e. you turn the focusing ring on the lens whenever you like. On the other hand AF is always a button press away - whenever you like.