Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/12/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Of course Leica could make autofocus lenses, and bodies which would have backward compatibility with focus confirmation. The problem is, to make them work quickly and silently without excessive battery consumption, the focussing mechanisms need to be as light-weight and inertia-free as is physically possible. Making them thus whilst retaining the "feel" which Leica users are accustomed to is a tremendous challenge. I've tried the Contax AX, and it is quite well executed. Its only drawbacks are related to the software and lack of multiple sensors...the premise itself is quite sound and workable. It is also quite likely a difficult patent to skirt around. Additionally, it is a tad fiddly because one must be careful not to disturb the lens from the infinity setting (Leica might need to re-instate those infernal infinity locks from the early rfdr lenses!) Regards, Nigel On Thu, 03 Dec 1998 13:13:19 +0100 "Martin V. Howard" <marho@ida.liu.se> writes: >Robert G. Stevens wrote: >> >> I think what a lot of people have been missing in this "make an >> Autofocus thread" is that Leica can make an Auto focus camera and >> maintain compatibility with previous lenses. Pentax and Nikon have >> done it. >> > >As have Contax, though they've chosen a different path. I haven't >used >the Contax AX, but I find the concept intriguing. Not only are the >old >lenses compatible with the new autofocus camera, but they also allow >autofocus. > > >M. > >-- >Martin V. Howard, Application Systems Laboratory, | >Dept. of Comp. & Info. Sci., Linkoping University, | Just "DOHH" >it! >SE-581 83 Linkoping, Sweden. Tel +46 13 282 421, >+----------------+ >Fax +46 13 142 231; marho@ida.liu.se; www.ida.liu.se/~marho > ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]