Re: [Leica] Using Leicas for sports/action photography?

[ternahan <ternahan@sonic.net>]

a motor drive helps too.
trish
ternahan@gentlelens.net


> From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@home.com>
> Reply-To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us
> Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 09:18:47 -0700
> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Using Leicas for sports/action photography?
> 
> Albert Wang wrote:;
>>> I was just wondering whether how good are Leica cameras in terms of taking
> sports or action shots where a fast focus/high shutter speed is necessary? I
> know that the Leica R8 has its fastest shutter speed at 1/8000 although it
> is entirely manual focus which makes it very difficult to capture a hockey
> game for example... is that the reason that I hardly see any Leica cameras
> at the Philly Flyers games? :)<<<<
> 
> Albert,
> Dismiss any thoughts about R cameras and in particular the R8 without A/F
> not being good for sport action. The R8 with it's 1/8000 shutter speed is
> fine, although I must say I can't ever recall using a shutter speed that
> high on any camera while shooting the Olympics, NFL, NHL, World
> Championships, Pan American or Commonwealth Games. F1 or Indy cars.
> 
> It isn't required, although I suppose some non-sport shooters may think you
> require that high a shutter speed.
> 
> The autofocus is handy sometimes for sports, yes it does allow one to
> capture more "sharp images" not necessarily better pictures than manual
> focus. Those of us over the years who've done a considerable amount of sport
> photography learn where to focus before the action happens or we just follow
> focus the athlete on the run. No we're not always 100% successful, but then
> neither is A/F! ;-)
> 
> As far as shooting hockey with manual focus it's a piece of cake as the main
> pictures come from just in front of the net with the action of the goalie
> and players scrambling for the puck. or a goal being scored and the red
> light on.
> 
> As far as the movement up and down the ice much of that isn't relevant
> because they are just skating hard going in a direction away from you or
> coming at you... another piece of cake.
> 
> Now don't take this as being anti A/F, it's not. I just feel too many people
> put their trust in autofocus far too much and if the autofcus stops, they
> haven't developed the manual focus re-action skills in handling the camera
> to still get solid in focus images.
> ted
> 
>