[Leica] Raising the bar, again

["David W. Almy" <dalmy@mindspring.com>]

Jim Laurel wrote:
> 
> Hello LUG,
> I just reviewed a bunch of shots I did for an upcoming MSNBC story on white
> water rafting.  I took a couple of EOS1n bodies, with a variety of thier L
> series lenses, including the wonderful 70-200 2.8L, 300 2.8L, and 1.4x EF
> extender.  Once again, I am very impressed with the Canon AF system.  At one
> section, I was using the 300 2.8L hand-held with server AI autofocus.  The
> rafts were coming so fast, that most of the time, they didn't look in focus
> to me when the shutter actuated, but predictive AF was doing its job.  The
> system accurately predicted the focus point when the shutter fired.  Focus
> on many shots was good enough to see minute detail, like graduated markings
> on water bottles.  Just amazing.

Jim,

FYI, Canon earlier this week announced that they are replacing their big
guns to include reformulated optical designs and Image Stabilization.
The substance of the announcement can be found at
http://www.usa.canon.com/press/060199a.html. In part it says: "The new
lenses: EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM; EF 400mm f/2.8L IS USM; EF 500mm f/4L IS
USM and 600mm f/4L IS USM, achieve the world’s fastest autofocusing
speed and focus tracking performance. Utilizing advanced, innovative
technologies such as Image Stabilization, Ultrasonic Motors (USM) and
Fluorite elements, the new lenses deliver superb image quality and
rugged reliability for a wide variety of professional and advanced
amateur photographic applications."

Competition is hell, eh?

> On topic...Though I use and admire the R system, I think Leica will
> eventually have to compete at this level.  Would an R8, even with motor, and
> in the hands of an experienced user yeild as many usable photos as the EOS1n
> in this case?  I wonder.  It would seem that with this advanced AF stuff,
> you can concentrate on composition, which is really hard when you're sitting
> in a moving boat.

I'll stick with my manual focus stuff regardless, but would augment it
with AF where necessary. Bouncing boats probably is one of the "where
necessaries." 

David W. Almy
Annapolis