On Fri, 15 Jul 2005, Shel Belinkoff wrote: > Have you read all the crap that one must consider and go through to get the > 5n to work while using auto focus. Suggestions included holding the camera > at an angle, focusing on something else in a similar location, using faster > lenses because of lighting conditions quickly come to mind. With all the > MF cameras I've used, I point, I focus, I snap the shutter. I've not had > to adapt my shooting style or technique to the camera. The camera responds > as I desire, when I desire. There's a more seamless integration of > photographer and camera.
A *few* comments here: - For most things in life, 90% of the problems come from 10% of the situations. [Oh shit, I know what this will end up...] - The AF works in *most* circumstances. It fails where your eye might fail too, and in that case you can at least hold at an angle; what will you do with MF? Moreover, with compatible flashes, (OK, within a reasonable distance) it autofocuses in *extreme* lack of light. Have you tried to MF a 5.6 lens? How well do you focus your M75-150 at 150 (particularly with a split finder)? - With the -5n you can most times point and snap the shutter; forget focus. - You can always MF with an AF camera. You don't have to adapt anything to this camera; even the shutter speed is where you like it (and of course lacks bloody half-stops as a result; look at the pain we suffer for you :-)))))) Put our comments behind and try it in real situations Shel, you will like this camera. > What has been interesting for me is that the more automated a cameras has > become, the more information it provides and the more features it offers, > the more it gets in the way of my seeing and photographing the scene. The > simpler, older cameras, that provide no information in the finder, and > essentially mind their own business, are, for more, easier tools to > operate. My favorite cameras have no automation, no suggestions or > information in the viewfinder, make no decisions. The Leica M2, M3, M4, > the Pentax KM (with meter inactive), and the MX (also with meter inactive) > are my favorite cameras. There is nothing that I have to adapt to. The > cameras are essentially benign, neutral, in my hands. There's no concern > about turning them on or turning them off, or if the light is right for a > shot, or of the camera deciding whether or not a shot can be taken. Simple to achieve all of that on the -5n; all VF info is *out* of the way. And it winds and brackets on its own. > Maybe others need or want to rely more upon the modes and features and > computers in their cameras, but if I have to work to overcome the > limitations of certain features in order to use them, what's the point of > having them in the first place? How do you shoot the Sony? > off the feature and shoot manually. And if I'm gonna do that, why bother > with an auto focus camera in the first place. I have answered this above. Add the fact that metering has evolved over the years; if you want to benefit from that you need a newer camera. I know better than mention flash to you :-) Kostas
