Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/08/23
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]There seem to be a lot of "photographers" who like to belittle anyone who doesn't work the same way they do. I know how exposure meters work, and how to use the spot meter to nail that exposure in tricky light on the first try. I know how to take several minutes to painstakingly work out my depth of field, and focus manually on the screen in just the right place. I also know that in many situations, its just as easy, and as accuate for me to point the AF sensor at the right thing and have the camera turn the focus ring on the lens for me to get to exactly the same place. And I know when I can point the matrix meter at the scene and have it set the shutter speed for me, so I don't have to twirl the dial. "Auto" does not mean "Lazy" or "Dumb" (or "inaccurate"), it just means "Auto"... it means that you tell the machine to do for you what you would have done anyway. Now, lots of people use automatic systems without real understanding, but just as many people use "manual" systems with just as little understanding. Besides, all of this is just technique, and good technique is only 30% of a good picture anyway. Cheers, Pete