[Leica] Don's PAW - now focus with auto focus

[phong at doan-ltd.com (Phong)]

Dan C wrote:
> I do this with my Minolta 9.  There's a handy little focus lock button on
> the back of the camera right where my thumb falls, and I'm able 
> to lock the (auto)focus wherever I choose.  It's become second 
> nature to me.

For the most part I am a fan of the Contax G2.
One of the biggest complaint I have about it though is
that it does not have a true focus lock; what they call
"focus lock" is a button that you have to hold
in order to prevent the camera to refocus between
shots.  I mentioned this to Blake Ziegler every time
I see him at camera shows, but he was unconvinced.
Oh well.  Their problem, not mine anymore.

The Canon SLR/DSLR have a button that can be set
to refocus only when you press it.  In between shots,
you can just leave it alone, unless you want to change
the point of focus.  In some sense, it's like manual
focus:  the camera never changes the focus distance
unless you explicitly tell it to.  And it makes for a much faster
response time, as the camera does not have to constantly
refocus betwwen shots. Great system.  Wonder why I
am not a great photographer yet.  :-)
Other manufacturers probably have something similar 
by now, but Canon was the only one with that system 
10 or more years ago that I know of.

Cheers,

- Phong