I usually don't use the auto-focus assist light. I find it annoying
and distracting to the subject. Also I'm referring to manual focus
ability by using the viewfinder, not some auto-focus indicator.
Even if all I use is auto-focus, and the viewfinder image is good,
I can see what the camera is doing. That is important to me
and there does not seem to be any specs for it. I'm quite sure
a good C*non or N*kon dSLR will auto-focus well. But there are
situations were any of them will not lock onto what you want.
For those situations, I need to be able to see a good image
in the viewfinder.
At 12:58 AM 8/1/2004, Moose wrote:
><snipped here and there> The trouble I ran
>into was with the 50-250 zoom past the middle of its range. In moderate,
>not really dim, light and with plenty of detail contrast, the E-1 hunted
>a lot. The 300D just snapped in with no problem. Yes, I could focus
>manually, but this is a situation where I simply shouldn't have to.
The E-1 you tested, did it have the latest firmware? Not sure
if that makes any difference with the hunting?
Perhaps I've gotten used to the way the E-1 works and can
point one of the three sensors to get it to lock. (50-200?)
I will check the E-1 out and see if the focus hunts on me?
>>If I can readily tell by looking in the viewfinder what the camera has
>>locked on to for auto-focus, I'm happy and click away, because I know I
>>can tweak it to where I want it if it is not.
>>
>I don't recall how the E-1 shows it, the 300D flashes the sensor
>locations that found focus, so one does know where it focused. One can
>pick individual focus points too, to force it, but it's sort of a pain.
The E-1 gives a brief token to which sensor locked in the lower
left LCD display (later firmware). I've seen other dSLR's that
have lots of auto-focus points, and they light up showing you
where the focus is, and that is great. But as you say, forcing
it to some particular location is a pain. I like being able to just
tweak the focus knob and see a clear image in the viewfinder.
That is what I meant by seeing what the camera focused on.
Perhaps I've got OMitus. Too much sophistication and I'm lost.
>None of the APSish
>or less sensor size DSLRs are anywhere near as easy to focus manually as
>OMs, but I have good visual acuity and just have to pay a bit more
>attention.
Yes, but that is what I want, a nice viewfinder. That seems
to have been lost in the push for the cheapest megapixels.
And what good is backward compatibility with MF lenses
if the viewfinder is not good. Oh yeah, we just see which one
of the 45 sensors light up...silly me.
I'm not trying to argue which is the better camera. Maybe I made
a mistake buying into the OM-system and now hate giving up
features I came to love.
Wayne
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