RE: [Paddlewise] Minolta Vectis, sea&sea MX10

From: Craig Bowers <craig_at_bowers.net>
Date: 07 Jan 2003 16:04:53 -0800
> On a final note, I speaking as a past professional photographer, do NOT
> like autofocus cameras for most uses.  (The Canon and Pentax mentioned
> above are AF.) Problem is that if at the precise moment that you want to
> take the picture, if the camera's electronics judge it to be not yet
> sharply focused, it will not "release" the shutter.  Some cameras have a
> decent override function (which first must be engaged) while others
> offer you to pre-focus on an object at the same distance, while others
> have a distance setting that automatically locks the lens at the dist
> mark and allows a near instant shutter release.   So if you can find an
> old Nikonos or other camera that does not have the AF, I would go for it
> instead.  It is also less to break.

The digital cameras with quite usable waterproof optional cases such as
the Canon G series, and S series (I have an S40), as well as some Pentax
models with waterproof cases (such as my Optio 430RS) all additionally
have a manual focus mode.  Mostly as easily activated as on my SLR gear.

You can set the focus either via an arbitrary distance guage, or
visually on the LCD panel.  They zoom in on the central portion to give
you a magnified view to set focus.  That said, I'm not sure I'd want to
rely on it in a moving environment.  More likely you'd get better
results setting it to landscape (biased to infinity settings) or Macro
for the other end of things and placing subjects accordingly.

They don't even begin to approach the SLR experience, but they're
serving me well for saving film for simple "record shots", and useful
for video clips, and wet or cramped environs.



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Received on Tue Jan 07 2003 - 16:06:44 PST

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