Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1997/07/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]> I did not see even one pro photographer >without an AF camera. And I did not see any Leica camera at all - with the >exception of one Leica Mini at Mercedes VIP lounge. To me autofocus IS >essential with SLR cameras. Just because the pros were using the newest cameras does not mean they were using the autofocus features. Most working pros, esp press shooters who bang their cameras around alot, tend to update their cameras fairly regulary just because they wear out. If they were using a Nikon F4 or less I would be willing to bet they were not using the autofocus as it was not that great on those cameras, nowhere near as fast as the EOS 1. I do not find it a surprise that there were no Leica shooters there,as the working press photogs who use Leica are in the minority. How many Contax shooters did you see? The point we were making was that with a little practice you can get your hand/eye cordination to the point where you can do as well follow focusing as the auto-focus features do. I'll admit for snap focus from out of focus to sharp image the EOS is impossible to beat manually, but I have shot with my EOS 1 and 80-200 2.8L on auto focus and on manual focus at basketball and it does not do any better than I am able to do on manual focus following the action of the game. Remember that good autofocus is a reletavily new development and many of us have shot and still shoot good photos without the aid of electronic focus. I guess had I been covering the race I would have been ruled an amature by you since I would have been shooting with an old Canon F1 and 400 2.8L MANUAL FOCUS lens. I use the EOS line of gear for my SLR system and am very pleased with it, however I find it somewhat ludicrous for someone to say one camera is far superior because it has more automatic features than another. The improtant thing in the use of any camera is whether the person shooting with it is comfortable with the way it works and are they able to deliver the goods with it. If yes to these two questions then any other arguments are moot. While auto focus is improtant to you it is not so for everyone. Harrison McClary hmphoto@delphi.com http://people.delphi.com/hmphoto