Re: [Leica] Canon really has AF figured out...

[Mark Rabiner <mrabiner@concentric.net>]

Jim Laurel wrote:
> 
> Hello LUG,
> I just reviewed a bunch of shots I did for an upcoming MSNBC story on white
> water rafting.  I took a couple of EOS1n bodies, with a variety of thier L
> series lenses, including the wonderful 70-200 2.8L, 300 2.8L, and 1.4x EF
> extender.  Once again, I am very impressed with the Canon AF system.  At one
> section, I was using the 300 2.8L hand-held with server AI autofocus.  The
> rafts were coming so fast, that most of the time, they didn't look in focus
> to me when the shutter actuated, but predictive AF was doing its job.  The
> system accurately predicted the focus point when the shutter fired.  Focus
> on many shots was good enough to see minute detail, like graduated markings
> on water bottles.  Just amazing.
> 
> I was never good enough in the old days to get such a high hit rate of
> in-focus images of subjects moving toward me with manual-focusing systems.
> For sure, I would not have had as many potentially usable shots to show my
> editor on this shoot.  There were only two short rapids on this trip, and I
> had to get my shots there or not at all.
> 
> On topic...Though I use and admire the R system, I think Leica will
> eventually have to compete at this level.  Would an R8, even with motor, and
> in the hands of an experienced user yeild as many usable photos as the EOS1n
> in this case?  I wonder.  It would seem that with this advanced AF stuff,
> you can concentrate on composition, which is really hard when you're sitting
> in a moving boat.
> 
> --Jim

WE KNEW THAT!
WHITE WATER RAFTING? They can't just hire just any top pro to do a
specialized job like that Jim! They have to hire you with your up to the
minute high tech AF gear! A pro who went with Leica R wouldn't have many
white water rafting assignments on their resumé would they? You are an
active fast shooting outdoorsman. Other photographers pro or otherwise
are a tad more sedate and don't go broke and their tools reflect that.
People who shoot things rushing at them a million miles an hour have AF
outfits. Other people focus and shoot. They might even use winders. A
winder/moterdrive is much more nessessary than AF and I've found I can
live without that 90% of the time too.
My point being you want AF there is plenty to choose from. You want a
camera system with Leicas parameters/priorities R or M you use Leica's.
Leica does not need to go AF to be competitive. Both their systems
command the highest respect and would loose that respect if they tried
to go against Canon/Nikon in what they do best. I guess you use Leica's
when you are not rushing down rivers?
Mark Rabiner