Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/07/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Like several other posts I find automation can make shooting harder. Here's the deal. When we start out the automation makes the hit rate higher, everything is in focus, the exposure appears dead on. For those times when **t's hitting the fan the upper tier AF camera's from any leading manufacturer make it possible to bring home a focused exposed image. But, when you get some time under your belt you start to wonder? What would happen if I went to 1.4 focused on the eyelash in the top corner of the frame at one meter and overexposed two stops to completely blow the highlights and popped a 283 at 1/64th bounced off your forehead. Now you are spending your time turning things off, fine tuning focus after focusing, trying to find your exposure compensation all the while trying to entertain the subject. Yes, the twelve pound wonder plastic can be tamed, but you know, it's a breeze with an M or an SL(insert R8 for the non Luddites), almost intuitive in fact. And yes, I do own and use the Japanese choice that focuses in the correct direction for those subjects that require predictive autofocus to get an image: I never was any good with a Speed Graphic for those subjects. So, the Japanese un-Leica camera philosophy has a valid place for many users. It's just that many times it's easier, quicker, and more self-expressive to do it yourself the Leica way. more pfennigs to the choir Don dorysrus@mindspring.com