Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/01/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 10:11 AM 1/30/98 -0500, you wrote: >Unfortunately I don't have any way to post photos. (I'd have to dig them >out of the archive anyway) I don't think that it is really correct to say >that an R system is superior or that an M system is. It rather depends on In overall terms, that's true. But for shooting sports, there is no comparison. SLRs are plain better for that particular subject type than Rangefinders. Because it's easier to focus SLRs faster on such fast-moving subjects. Has nothing to do with "vision" or style of the photographer. It's plain physics. The way focusing is fast when you turn the focusing ring with SLRs. The whole image shows what's in focus, not just a small square in the center. You can't focus and recompose when shooting someone doing a layup. Sports requires you focus with the whole screen. Setting one distance and letting the subject move into that spot might work for mundane pedestrian sports photos, but the great sports photographers all shoot as they follow the action. And focus on the eyes of the athlete as they shoot. Digital cameras let you see what's outside the frame and that's cool. But focusing with an SLR works better even when you can't see outside the frame. And good sports photographers also keep the other eye open to see what's going on outside the frame. It's a tough thing to learn, but it helps a lot. A good sports photographer is part psychic, they guess where the action is going. And live with not seeing what's coming into the frame for the tradeoff of better, easier focusing. >BTW-What is wrong with including half the court in the shot? Once in a while it's great to show context, but the true nature of good sports photography is focusing on the action, the emotion, the relationships and the blood, sweat and tears of it. Photojournalists who shoot sports shoot more than just the action on the court, but it's that too. I'm not criticizing you as a lesser photographer because you haven't covered every sports conceivable for 10 years on an almost daily basis. I'm sure for what you want, the M6 does the job. But you did ask... :-) ========== Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch You're only young once; you can be immature f'ever