[LRflex] Re: Oooops!
- From: "Dave Saalsaa" <dsaalsaa@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 07:07:51 -0500
Ted, I do mainly portraits where the eye is my target. Can I focus faster
than AF? Probably not. I installed a Katz Eye focus screen in my 20D. I find
the micro prism collar works very well for me with my Leica 90mm Elmarit R. I
do use AF lenses set to AF at times too if I am shooting action but for the
bulk of my shooting I still like to "roll my own".
Dave
----- Original Message -----
From: Ted Grant
To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2007 12:49 AM
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Oooops!
Dave Saalsaa offered:
>> I use the AF function very little with my Canon 20D. Selective focus is
very important in my type of photography using both AF lenses and manual
focus lenses with adapters. Just quicker and more accurate to manually
focus.<<<<
Hi Dave,
I think we all use selective focus at times as it depends on the subject
being shot. Of course not knowing what discipline of photography you work in I
would like to know how you manually focus faster than auto-focus? I'm not
saying it can't be done. But I've shot car racing of all kinds predominantly
manual focus and follow focus and made many sharp right on the mark time after
time. The subjects manually focused are endless, moving or stopped and rarely
did I miss.
Which for the first years pro auto-focus cameras where available I considered
"who needs it, as it's just another gadget." And as told by many users they
focus in the wrong place every time you need it right on the mark. More
negatives than positive so I completely forgot about it.
Athletes by the hundreds in varying sports focused manually while shooting
with R Leica's and yes all kinds of them knife edge sharp. And I wont go into
the numbers of out of focus! J
However, when I started using Canon EOS film cameras in '93, I didn't have
any choice as Canon was a Corporate sponsor of the Victoria Commonwealth Games
and I was very gently told ." we don't want to see your Leica's around here at
any time! NADA! Therefore I was Canon loaded for two years solid with any
piece of Canon photo gear I wished.... For free! Unfortunately it all had to be
returned when the Games were over. :-{
But I began to concentrate on using the auto focus and much to my delight
using only the centre focus spot and focus lock where I rarely if ever blew a
shot due to focus. Actually I used it for everything from PR stuff, H&S,
sports, stadiums being constructed to the extent I just never thought about it
as it became instantaneously automatic.
And today with the few Canon lenses I use on the 20D it's auto focus. If it's
Leica glass is adapters with focus confirmation. That's become quite handy.
However, manual focus.
Talk later Dave
=================================================
From: "Douglas Herr" <telyt@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Oooops!
> Ted Grant <tedgrant@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>>I don't think it has anything to do with technology at all. It has far
>>more
>>to do with the photographer handling the auto-focus camera by not placing
>>the auto focus point on the correct part of the picture.
Doug Herr responded:
> In certain situations Canon recommends against using AF, in particular
> where the subject where you want to the focus to be doesn't coincide with
> one of the camera's focus points and the situation involves a shallow
DOF.<<<
Hi Doug,
Sure of course there are times when the subject and situation is far better
manually focusing. Actually I have all kinds of buddies who shoot for the wire
services where during certain sports who prefer to use manual. Sorry I don't
remember which sports they mentioned.
> In particular Canon recommends against using the focus-lock-recompose
> technique with shallow DOF because in the time it takes to re-compose,
> either the subject or the camera will move forward or back enough to place
> the plane of focus on the wrong spot.
Well the only focus lock I use which is rare, that is keeping the pressure
down on the shutter release so it's quite easy to let up and squeeze down again.
> Canon recommends manual focus for this situation. It's a scenario I
> encounter very frequently and my trash bin can attest to the slight
> movements between focus and re-compose. Where as in most sports the main
> subject as-composed lies on a focus point, AF is well and good. Also
> where DOF will cover small focussing errors, AF likewise is well and good.
> However it's not a panacea for all situations.<<<<<<<
But your subject matter is far more "twitching about" and demanding of
instant agile finger tip touch to keep the critters razor blade sharp. So I can
well understand the manual focus being far superior with this subject type.
What's more important in the use of auto focus, is the skill and experience
of the photographer using it knowing when and where to make it work to the
shooters best advantage. Auto or manual.
On the other hand it can fall into the hands of "would be photographers with
motor drives and auto focus who see "something" then merely squeeze on motor
shutter release and blast away with the full knowledge every picture will be a
supreme photograph perfectly sharp and composed with impeccable design ;-) If
you believe that have I got a bridge to sell you! J
Of which we see so often in the digital photography of many today.
This is another subject for a round table discussion on a comfortable day
with a cold beer and some goodies on the table for munching. J J
ted
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