autofocus

Of all unnecessary inventions, multipoint AF must rank as one of the most superfluous.

The problem with camera designers (led, as always, by useless marketing people) is that just because something CAN be done, they think it MUST be done.

I like putting an M lens onto my *ist D, and switching all systems to manual. Bliss would be if somehow the camera could then take a picture and record it without needing batteries, but I suppose that's not really realistic.

George
(Whose computer has been on the blink, and can't remember his password)

I've been wondering for some time if solar cells mounted in the camera strap could be used to keep the batteries topped up

How about buying a fast charger and keeping several sets of batteries on hand? Plus the external battery grip on the *st D gives you almost unlimited shooting time! I can shoot several days, all day, with the extra battery grip and a fresh set of batteries!

Indeed Dent Arthur Dent but wouldn't that just be conforming to the norm?

Clockwork radios are a good idea because batteries are not always available and you wouldn't want to walk around with a rucksack full of spares, even if they were!

..............clockwork cameras - now there's a thought

You mean like my Pentax MX cameras that I''ve been using for years and years? They have this amazing storage medium, it can store gigabytes of data on non-volatile memory as a long strip of material, each image is part of the strip. It's light and portable, and no batteries are needed!

Amazing stuff!

Wow...............whatever will they think of next?

I've just got back into using my MZ-50 again after 2 years away from photography. On a recent holiday, I decided to go to "back to basics" and left my 2 FA lenses behind, taking my two 20 yr old manual focus lenses - a SMC A 24/2.8 and a SMC A 50/1.4.

Although I used the camera in manual mode the whole time, I found myself cheating almost every time I took a pic, by keeping the lens on the "A" setting and relying on the appearance of the "in-focus" circle rather than focusing by eye. The resulting prints were very pleasing, the majority crisp and sharp (those lenses really are lovely), but essentially my camera was autofocusing with manual focus lenses. Does anybody else habitually do this when using SMC A lenses, or do you all trust your eyesight?

I'm the same as you, after all that is why you have the confirmation light/beep and it's really no different than using the split-screen/microprism in say, an ME Super!

I tend to use the confirmation signal for the main part of the subject and then adjust the aperture to control the depth of field.
The only way you'd be 'cheating' is if you used the camera in fully automatic program mode - although you'd probably select the same settings anyway.

At least using a lens manually makes you think more about the subject, rather than just pointing and shooting!

You're right! I didn't consider that this focusing process is essentially the same as bringing the split screen into alignment using an older camera (I actually own an ME super in addition to my MZ-50)

It's also true that using the camera in manual mode and turning the focusing ring (until the circle appears!) makes you think more about subject, composition and viewpoint. Not the best approach for action shots though!

I love using the SMC A lenses, they feel so much more solid and smooth than my plasticy 35-80 FA. Sharp as sashimi knives too.

I've been away, so I'm coming in late on this. Believe it or not, I did once own a clockwork camera. It was made by Ricoh for use underwater, and came with a separate housing, so out of the housing it was a normal camera with a very fast and quiet clockwork motor drive. It only worked for 15 frames, then needed winding up again, which just meant turning a knob underneath.

It was a superb camera; unfortunately it was stolen, and I never found another to replace it.

George