Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/05/31

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Subject: Re: [Leica] No more leicas
From: "Simon Lamb" <simon@sclamb.com>
Date: Thu, 31 May 2001 18:23:41 +0100
References: <383628689.991321170070.JavaMail.root@web624-wrb.mail.com>

I was using a Contax N1 at the weekend and was really pleased with the dual
AF/MF capability.  There were instances where I just couldn't get the thing
to focus on what I wanted.  One shot was of a fairground attraction that was
moving at speed and I wanted to focus on one particular aspect of it.  The
AF was certainly focussing but just never seemed to get the spot that I
wanted, even in continuous AF, so I went to the manual focus and got it spot
on.  I just couldn't be sure that the AF was going to give me the picture I
wanted, and the hunting was certainly not helping matters.  After a few
years with an F5 I am beginning to see the advantages of MF that can
outweigh the conveniences of AF.

If AF appeals but the ability to switch immediately to MF, or use MF always,
is a consideration, then the N1 hits the spot.  No switches or buttons on
lenses to fiddle with, just turn the ring and focus manually.  Not as bright
a finder as an R8, but a great camera to use.

Simon


Douglas Herr wrote:
>
> Suppose you wanted to focus on the iris, not the eyelashes.  It will take
> you much longer than a half-second to make the correction.
>
> Seriously, try a Leica APO lens with a killer viewfinder like the R8 or SL
> has.  A half-second??  I don't have the patience for that.  Warblers
jinking
> around in bushes, head-and-shoulders portraits of horses at full gallop,
> birds in flight... not a problem.  Try it.
>
> ------Original Message------
> From: Pete Su <psu_13@yahoo.com>
> To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Sent: May 31, 2001 2:12:08 PM GMT
> Subject: RE: [Leica] No more leicas
>
> >>>
> it's hard to imagine anyone focusing faster than a modern 35mm AF camera,
> especially with
> medium to long lenses. A Nikon F100 will focus a 100mm f2 lens in low
light
> on
> someone's eyelashes in much less than half a second.
> <<<

Replies: Reply from Mark Rabiner <mark@rabiner.cncoffice.com> (Re: [Leica] No more leicas)
In reply to: Message from Douglas Herr <telyt@earthlink.net> (RE: [Leica] No more leicas)