> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Bill Simonsen
> Sent: Monday, September 10, 2001 8:14 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: RE: EOS Decided against an Elan 7e - a/f assist light
> (plusflashassist)
>
>
> I even have toyed with the idea of going over
> >to a manual focus slr and learn to be handy with it. But Canon doesn't
> make
> >one, and so I can't share lenses with my daughter, and I can't get the
> IS
> >lenses.
>
>
> __I heartily recommend this! Not because I think you need it to be a
> "real photographer," but because these cameras are a real joy to
> use.____
> snip>>>>>---------------------------------------------------------------
> ----------------------------
>
> I dunno- I bought an AE-1 Program last month, just for the above
> reasons, plus 'get back to the basics', 'relearn how to do things
> right', etc. etc. I've used it, and it is interesting, and I'm sure
> I'll be glad to have a second camera body...but it sure is nice to have,
> with the Elan IIE, let's see, I'll start the list and who can add to it?
>
Well, I have to say you hit it on the head. I consider getting a m/f camera
but don't actually do it. In fact, if there was any feature I would rather
give up it is not autofocus but auto exposure. Learning to focus a camera
accurately and quickly is not a photographic skill but a function that
really is best done by the camera. Much more important a hand-eye skill is
exposure control. With all the advantages of speed and accuracy and complex
exposure analysis of a/e technology, the systems still can't evaluate a shot
and come up with the exposure that you want. Not only is exposure analysis
much more complicated than focusing, it is more subjective. In my
experience I became most sensitive and instinctively able to determine and
set accurate settings back when I had my Pentax Spotmatic. I liked the spot
meter and the moving needle. I could easily move the camera around and get a
feel for how it moved and then make a judgement. The only time when I was
better at it was when I had no built in meter at all and had to use an
external exposure meter and manually set the camera. As soon as I went over
to a/e I lost all sense of exposure. But as you say, the a/f cameras are
easier to do m/e, IF you actually do it.
> PLUSES for NEW CAMERA;
>
> -First and most obvious, a <P>rogam mode, for grab and shoot.
Absolutely.
> -Easily adjustable shutter speed and aperture- (You'd think this would
> be easier with the old camera, huh? No way. Half the time I have no
> idea what one of the two is (usually shutter speed).
Yes. The shutter speed is awkward in the m/f cameras. The Elan is good, and
the moving indicator plus the f-stop and shutter speed indicator is
important too. I could imagine even better faster finger controls especially
designed for manual exposure, but the new cameras are indeed better. The
only thing lacking in the Elan is a spot meter, which I remember finding
especially valuable in the Pentax.
> -Built in flash.
Yup. Don't leave home without it.
> -Motor for film advance (and rewind). Try it- you keep thinking the
> camera is not right, it is just the automatic motor advance you aren't
> hearing. (Refer to also under 'double exposure, inadvertent'.)
Absolutely. Film winding and rewinding is not a photographic skill.
> -No screwinging around with setting lenses to "A"utomatic, lining up lines
> with lines to mount lenses, and worrying about the protruding arms on
> the camera side of the lens.
I don't understand this. Which camera? I do understand the screwing part,
as my original Spotmatic had screw mount lenses :)
> PLUSES With OLD CAMERA
>
> -Won't cost so much if you drop it.
I never drop my camera. right.
> -Lenses are many, varied, and cheap cheap (compared to EF).
> -Light to hold- I'm sure you can gain two stops in 'hand holding
> ability' without camera shake at iffy speeds.
Right and right.
> -BRIGHT viewfinder- it is a real revelation to see so much through the
> viewfinder, without spending three sons on a 2.8 L lens from Canon- and
> even that seems much less bright than the 2.8 FD, not to mention the
> 3.5-4.5 Sigma which is all you could afford after buying the body
> anyway.
I recall that the focusing screens were brighter with the older cameras I
used. I think the higher end slrs may be better than the medium. I was not
all that impressed with the brightness of the Elans and Maxxums. But come
to think of it, with my Spotmatic I had only one lens, a 50mm f/1.4. Now
that I think of it, maybe the reason why manual focus on the a/f cameras is
more difficult is because they choose a screen that is brighter rather than
more snappy going in and out of focus.
> ....and I'll be interested in seeing what others can add, I'm *trying*
> to fall in love with the older camera but it is just not quite taking
> hold..HELP!
It didn't take much for you to persuade me. There is something about a
feeling of presence in the viewfinders of some cameras that is hard to put
your finger on. I think there is some truth to the idea that you just
naturally take good pictures with a Leica. I felt that way when I got my
Spotmatic, and also when I first used a Nikon F3.
So new and a/f win, but I did come to appreciate the value of manual
exposure control when I took a class with my daughter a couple of years ago.
The instructor said, by all means use autofocus if you have it. Use your
camera's built-in meter, but don't use the program or automatic exposure
settings. This is of course important if you want to really get on with
learning the zone system or really do fine work.
Also, you didn't mention the more sophisticated flash exposure control in
the newer cameras. That is something I have no desire to master myself.
Granted, some cameras and flashes are better than others. I hear Nikon is
still in the lead, but Canon is catching up. Measuring distances and doing
math is not my idea of photo fun.
----------------------------------------------
Gerry Palo
Denver, Colorado
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