Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/11/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Gary D. Whalen asked: > 1. How quick is AF? > 2. Aren't there a lot of false focusing mistakes (ie autofocusing >on the wrong point of interest) that you wouldn't have with manual? > and 3. If you use AF what percentage of the time do you use >the camera in manual? Gary, Until switching to an M6, I used Nikon and Canon AF equipment extensively. In answer to your questions: 1. Newer AF systems are very fast. The difference between Nikon F4 AF and that of the F5 and N90s is dramatic. If you go to AF get a newer system. 2. If you try to use AF on close flying birds against the sky, you're going to have to be very good to avoid having a lot of shots focused at infinity, and you're going to have to use manual exposure (or AE lock) to expose the birds properly. 3. I eventually was using MF 80-90% of the time. I was doing a lot of low light photography, and even the best of cameras are fooled (both AF and AE) easily. A friend of mine, a pro photographer, once remarked that AF and AE are for those who are really bad or really good. I'm not too sure I agree with him totally, but he has an interesting point. Good luck with your decision. Bill Cassing