From: Chris Brogden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 18:01:02 -0600 (CST)
There's more to a camera's AF system than speed and sensitivity, >though.
But speed and sensitivity are very important factors if we talk about AF *performance*. Low light sensitivity is a major drawback of the Canon system, because it must light the AF assist beam earlier and this drains batteries. Pentax can still focus when the Canon needs assist.
Pentax has the noisiest AF of the Big 4, and when the lens has trouble locking on a subject the noise becomes very noticeable in quiet situations.
The noise depends on the lenses.
My Sigma AF 24 f/2.8 is more noisy than the smooth sound of my FA 50 f/1.7. My 135 f/2.8 seems to be least noisy. If you are in a quiet situation and don't like the noise, then you can always focus manually. The shutter noise of my MZ-5n is low and smooth.
Also, until the MZ-6, entry-level Pentax bodies
"bodies"? Only the MZ-7 had 3-point, all others had a single point.
didn't even give you control over which focusing point was being >used. Even the MZ-6 (like the MZ-5n) only lets you select the center >point if you want control, otherwise the camera will choose one of the >three points for you.
Pro-photographers prefers center AF, because the AF gets more speedy this way. Multiple focusing points slows down AF operation. I finds a center sensor easier to operate. You forget that the MZ-5 entered the market at the same time as Dynax 606 Classic. This one had also only a 3-point AF system, just as Dynax 808. It was very well received in it's days. The MZ-5/5n is the oldest body in it's category, but it's also the most unique one. It's the only one left with a retro approach, and this alone makes it an excellent buy. The MZ-3 was awarded "top class" by the swedish magazine FOTO. Now "top class" means that the camera is one of the best on the market, regardless of the selling price. They liked the AF performance a lot.
When Practical Photography tested the MZ-3 against F80, Dynax 808 and EOS 30/33 (february 2002), they didn't found the AF to be inferior to the competition.
Canon's focusing may be slightly slower than Pentax (though their USM lenses are quite fast)
The USM lenses isn't fast on Canon's entry level bodies. And the difference is more than "slightly".
Personally, I can't see how the option of having several AF sensors is about AF performance. Performance is how the AF system *performs*, not how easy it is to select different AF sensors.
Anyway, I guess that you're thrilled by the fact that Pentax has developed an even faster AF system with 11 sensors, all of them can be user selectable. And Pentax uses more cross sensors than the competition. Now, isn't this *nice*?
Instead of complaining about what Pentax hadn't done in the past, can we focus on what they're doing? Obviously, Pentax has listened to you and tailor made an AF system - just for you. Isn't this fantastic? Shouldn't they be praised for this?
Best wishes, Roland
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