[Leica] RE: Re: AF, a FAD?

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

At 03:01 PM 5/3/99 -0700, you wrote:
>Yes Father. For I have sinned and move into the forefront of technology.
>Forgive me ......
>
>Now please tell me what is a self-serving simplistic view?  You attempt to
>discredit my e-mail with a strong opening comment yet I am not sure of its
>reference.  After all, wouldn;t you say a LUG group is self serving in
>itself?
>
>Your next comment, "And what percentage of photographers, are photographers
>that make a living
>photographing rapidly moving things that can only be caught via AF?"
>I did not say this, this is a twisting of words on your part in an attempt
>to get me to retract my statements.  Jim, what I am saying is simply that
>there is a greater degree of moving sports photographs that will be in focus
>with a good AF system compared with a MF system. AF is faster than anyone's
>"twist of the wrist!!"  
>Now, if you read this you'll see that I did not say that one can do what the
>other cannot, simply one has clear advantages over the other.
>
>Yes, if Leica made an AF camera, they would have my attention.  The real
>reason I gave up much of the Leica stuff is price versus result.  A greater
>number or results were achieved with less expensive and more modern tools,
>hence the rationale for upgrading, yes upgrading, to a modern AF SLR.  I
>pick tools based on needs.  To me needs is justification and not the other
>way around.
>
>BTW Jim, I still hold dear my MF Medium format cameras.  However, when I
>find an AF 6x6 SLR, its bye bye antiquity.
>
>Peter K
>

Fair enough... 

But I find autofocus a detriment. It simply does not take into
consideration any artistic vision. And in many cases, will inevitably focus
at the wrong point. The exact focus point is one of the most important
pieces of a good photograph.

Autofocus has it's place with those professional photographers who do
indeed photograph fast moving (coming or going) things, and it has it's
place in the "help sell cameras" amateur marketplace, where the purchasers
don't know anything about DOF and/or where to focus to capture the essence
of the moment. And it has it's place with folks whose eye sight makes it
difficult to focus without an aid.

For normal day to day photography, I want to choose the exact focus point,
and I want to choose the exact exposure. As I have chosen the exact film,
and exactly how to process it. There is a lot involved in the making of a
photograph. This is photography. Otherwise, it could be called "point & shoot."

I will not delegate any of these processes to a computer. I will admit to
my own failures. I cannot say "it's the computer's fault" that
focus/exposure/etc. isn't perfect.

Jim