Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/05/04
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks for that post, Mark! I'm not for or against high- or low-tech; I'm in favor of APPROPRIATE tech! I like autofocus, but I also like quick visual confirmation of what it's focused on, and like being able to quickly seize control (or disable) if it's not doing what I want. I like program-mode automation, but I like being able to twirl a handy dial in order to alter those default settings, in 1/3-stop increments. I like matrix metering, but before I'm entirely comfy with it, I like going out and deliberately trying to confound it, in order to know where it's likely to fail and how. I like auto-loading and motorized rewind, but really like seeing my film rewind knob spinning. I haven't lost a single shot due to a misload in years, and maybe it's because I always, always ensure that this knob is spinning! I like full-information viewfinder displays, but only if they're well-designed, telling me what I want to know in a way that I digest quickly. Match needles were good, but sometimes hard to see. Graphical LCDs can be terrific when properly done. Why graphical? Because seeing a bargraph or "needle" can tell me as much as seing a digital readout, but in a way that I can interpret from the corner of my eye. I like being able to fire off a shot immediately, and check focus and exposure settings if I have time to try additional shots. An AF camera that would fire immediately if it's shutter release were pressed firmly--that'd be kind of neat! Let it tweak the settings to perfection as the camera was blazing away--who knows how many slightly blurry masterpieces might be saved in this manner. While we're at it, let's program the camera not to return the lens to a parked position after each shot, but instead, only refocus if needed. Dials and levers are great; pushbuttons can be a real pain; multifunction ones especially so. Exceptions: Not too bad for seldom-used functions, like setting date and time. Depth of field scales are always fashionable, and, on SLRs, so are DOF preview levers. Electronic cameras are great; I just prefer that they be no larger or heavier than their spring-powered counterparts. Quick-change batteries are great. Digital will be great once we no longer have to make excuses for the results, or grumble about the handling. Jeff PS: I too hope to get some digital prints going, once the Epson Photo 1200 arrives. I am much impressed with the quality of drum scanning the originals, but might consider a sub-$1K scanner of my own, for less-challenging images. Frankly, darkroom work beyond film processing, is really not working out well for me, due to the lack of any permanent space. I sometimes find myself eyeing 8x10 cameras, because I love the thought of getting 8x10 images simply by contact printing! - -----Original Message----- From: Mark E Davison <Mark_E_Davison@email.msn.com> >There has been much discussion recently about AF and SLR systems. I thought >I would put in my 2 cents about AF and smaller cameras, framing my thoughts >in terms of a brief history of my photographic experience.