Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/03/28
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Nathan, I do not know the PZ1-P, but I have used the previous generation (SFXn) and tried the current ZX5n. Both offered focus confirmation with M42+K adaptor, K and KA lenses. It is a basic feature: you watch the focus indicator on the viewfinder LCD and get a full dot (if I remember well) when you hit what the camera considers as the point of focus. A useful feature is to activate the beeper: the body will beep when you hit the point of focus. I'd be very surprised if the PZ1-P did not offer that feature. Try it with beeper on, as the AF sensors are very sensitive, and the visual confirmation will only appear when you are perfectly on focus (with subject in the AF sensor frame). It is easy to miss the dot, as a millimeter or two past the point, it will not show anymore. More sophisticated focus confirmation systems like the Contax RX offer a scale, roughly indicating how far out of focus you are. I tried it: it does not work fast enough as to be of any interest. The Contax SLR lenses have no electronics at all BTW. The Nikon F501, F80(n), F90(x), F4, F5, and probably others as well, offer focus confirmation with AI lenses. Focus confirmation on the Leica R would probably be similar to the RX, hoping it will react much faster though. There is no 'reasonable reason' to believe that the ROM would be necessary for that feature. Alan On dimanche 28 mars 1999 16:19, Nathan Wajsman [SMTP:nathan.wajsman@euronet.be] wrote: > Alan, > > I am confused...my Pentax PZ1-P does not provide any focus confirmation when I > mount a Pentax K mount lens on it. I realize that it is not in the same class > as Nikon F5, but it is after all Pentax's top-of-line SLR and not cheap. Am I > missing something really simple? > > Nathan > > Alan Ball wrote: > > > Lucien, > > > > As a matter of fact, ALL autofocus bodies provide focus confirmation with > > compatible mount, manual, electronics free lenses (most Nikons and all > > Pentax show complete backward compatibility in that respect). AFAIK, you > > will also get focus confirmation with a Leica R or a M42 lens mounted on an > > EOS body. There is no need for electronics in lenses for focus assistance > > applications: the sensors are in the body and they telemeter points as they > > will appear on the film plane. Electronics come in handy for sophisticated > > TTL flash management, and, depending on the supplier's architecture, > > reliable, non-mechanical, interactive management of the iris. > > > > Alan-- > > Nathan Wajsman > Overijse, Belgium > Photo page: http://members.tripod.com/belgiangator > >