Hello Shel, You raise some very good points. For some of us, AF was more thrust upon us because the newer cameras are only AF. So if you wanted a DSLR, you have to get one with AF. Now in my book, the first thing I check for is how good is the camera with all manual operations. Basically, how easy is it to focus manually, how easy is it to adjust the shutter and aperture, etc. Basically running the camera just like an MX.
My usage of automation is for those times when I am missing more manually than the automation misses. For instance, this last trip I took to Southern Utah, for the 500+ shots I took, all were manual focus and all were full manual control of aperture and shutter. Readings were taken both Center weighted and spot. Pretty much just like when I use an MX. When I am shooting baseball, I find that during certain parts of the game, I have better luck letting the camera manage the focus. In this case, lenses are in the 200-400mm range and focus being off is quite noticeable. So for about half the shots, they are AF and the other half are MF. My rule of thumb is when the location is predictable use MF. So batters, pitchers, steals to a particular base, etc are all done MF. But sudden hits to the infield or outfield are so intantaneous that I can't keep up manually very well. So those are AF shots. The real trick here is to use the automation when it is useful to you and not to use it when it would get in the way. So it is very important that when the automation is turned off that the camera is very usable that way. Only use the automation when you find that it is helping you. -- Best regards, Bruce Friday, July 15, 2005, 8:08:32 AM, you wrote: SB> Hi Mike ... SB> Have you read all the crap that one must consider and go through to get the SB> 5n to work while using auto focus. Suggestions included holding the camera SB> at an angle, focusing on something else in a similar location, using faster SB> lenses because of lighting conditions quickly come to mind. With all the SB> MF cameras I've used, I point, I focus, I snap the shutter. I've not had SB> to adapt my shooting style or technique to the camera. The camera responds SB> as I desire, when I desire. There's a more seamless integration of SB> photographer and camera. SB> What has been interesting for me is that the more automated a cameras has SB> become, the more information it provides and the more features it offers, SB> the more it gets in the way of my seeing and photographing the scene. The SB> simpler, older cameras, that provide no information in the finder, and SB> essentially mind their own business, are, for more, easier tools to SB> operate. My favorite cameras have no automation, no suggestions or SB> information in the viewfinder, make no decisions. The Leica M2, M3, M4, SB> the Pentax KM (with meter inactive), and the MX (also with meter inactive) SB> are my favorite cameras. There is nothing that I have to adapt to. The SB> cameras are essentially benign, neutral, in my hands. There's no concern SB> about turning them on or turning them off, or if the light is right for a SB> shot, or of the camera deciding whether or not a shot can be taken. SB> Whether or not a get a shot, whether it's properly exposed or focused, is SB> all my responsibility and a result of how I choose to set and use the SB> aperture, focus, and shutter speed. And for most photographic situations, SB> once the light is determined in an area, the rest is almost automatic SB> because I'm using a CPU with far more processing power than what is in any SB> of these whiz-bang cameras - the brain in my head. SB> Maybe others need or want to rely more upon the modes and features and SB> computers in their cameras, but if I have to work to overcome the SB> limitations of certain features in order to use them, what's the point of SB> having them in the first place? Perhaps when such features are more SB> seamlessly integrated into the cameras, as they may be in other models, or SB> when, for example, auto focus will work on subjects with any contrast or in SB> any light, I'd find it a totally acceptable asset. But to have to go SB> through machinations to use it, or first decide if the light is bright SB> enough, or the subject has enough contrast, or to consider any of a number SB> of other things before pressing the shutter, well, I'd just as soon turn SB> off the feature and shoot manually. And if I'm gonna do that, why bother SB> with an auto focus camera in the first place. SB> Shel >> [Original Message] >> From: mike wilson >> > From your comments, and those of others, it seems that the 5n is not a >> > camera I'd buy except for photographing in some specific situations. SB> I'd >> > sure hope newer cameras behave better - after all, what's the point of >> > autofocus if you're continually having to adapt to its limitations. >> >> Surely, that's no different to manual focus. Or any other aspect of SB> photography.
