So... who switched to AF/modern film cameras?

[David Brown]

Minolta Maxxum 7. Beautiful machine.

 

[Roger Cole]

I admit I am getting tempted. I have almost abandoned 35mm except for slides for projection and very low light and even in the latter my 80mm 2.8 on my M645 with Delta 3200 is pretty good and picking up a 1.9 would make it even better. The thought has occurred that for moving subjects - not necessarily really fast ones but things that frustrate me with MF - it might get me back into 35mm.

My MF 35mm cameras are all Pentax K mount for no very good reason except that I bought the first back when off brands were better bargains and used it, then added an LX and MX when I got back into photography later and had some money and prices had dropped. But if I get into AF it will probably be Nikon and with all the recommendations most likely an F100.

 

[John Bragg]

Not an entire desertion of my Nikon FM2n, but I have "added" to my Nikon collection, with first an F90x and 50mm f1.8 af, (which I painstakingly de-stickyfied), and then a near mint F5 for a very reasonable price. The temptation was then to add some more Af nikkors, and a 50mm f1.8 d and a 35-70 af d followed shortly after. Finally I was seduced by a brand new in box (made in Japan version) 85mm f1.8 af d. The f90x is a joy to use, but the F5 is probably my favorite slr. Note to self, must shoot Nikon more often !!

 

[Xmas]

For street candits I use

Canon P with Canon 35 mm /2 or 28mm /2.8
Leica M2 with CV 35mm /2.5 or 28mm /3.5
Nikon F2 with 28mm / 3.5 AI - & mirror locked up

ISO 400 Rodinal 1:100 stand

prefocused at seven foot or closer.

 

[benjiboy]

I've never owned an AF camera, my Canon New F1's are everything I need.

 

[Tony Egan]

I shoot a lot of gigs and used an F4 for over ten years following dismal results with an OM2n. Purely for autofocus to catch those "peak moments" with performers always in motion. Due to worsening eyesight I recently switched to F100 as it has a multi focus point option which lights up red and is much easier to see in the dark compared to F4. It also has the second release button which makes portrait shooting a bit more comfortable. There are some Leica nuts who claim that can focus just as fast and sharp as auto focus, but it's a self-delusional lie! I have tried it. I have an M6 and have experimented with both cameras at gigs. Never took a shot with the M6 worth printing! However, I still like taking the M6 on gentle outings. Usually in a small bag on my evening bike rides, cause it ain't rock'n'roll ready!

 

[Tony Egan]

Alright, alright, I give in, perhaps there were a few people out there that got some decent rock'n'roll shots with a Leica!

 

[Drew B.]

You are in for a treat. Got a nice lens?

Several...but I'll be looking for something fixed in the 70-90mm range...

 

[darkosaric]

There are some Leica nuts who claim that can focus just as fast and sharp as auto focus, but it's a self-delusional lie!

Well, look at his guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_zGXERMRQU

 

[Cropline]

An Eos A2 was my second camera.Bought in '95 and still works fine.

 

[narsuitus]

So... who switched to AF/modern film cameras?

I did not switch; I just use both.

My manual/mechanical Nikon F2 is my personal favorite camera. However, I also use an automatic/electronic Nikon F4.

I use the F4 when I need to use auto focus, auto exposure, and/or a built-in light meter because my F2 does not do auto focus or auto exposure and my F2 does not have a metered prism.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/5219143020/

 

[film_man]

I never felt particularly comfortable holding the boxy manual SLRs, the modern cameras have nicer grips although I will admit that a silver FM2n is just a thing of beauty to look at. I also find the EOS 3 I currently have much more versatile as it gives me a bit of speed with the motordrive/AF (I mean, if I'm shooting 35mm I might as well get the speed of operation benefit), I have a EcS screen on it which is excellent for manually focusing (I love the 40/2 Ultron) and the EOS mount opens the possibility to all sorts of different lenses, native or adapted. I actually prefer the ergonomics and feel of Nikon cameras (had an F100) but the focus screen upgrade alone is worth the change.

As for AF speed, yes new dSLRs will have much better AF but the EOS 3/1V, or Nikon F5/F6 are very fast too with the right lens.

If I knew I didn't need manual lenses I'd get the EOS 30/Elan7 for Canon. It is an amazingly quiet and smooth camera. The F100 is rather quiet too.

 

[winger]

I didn't switch either, just keep adding (in all formats). I still use my Pentax H1a and also a PZ1p, though not for the autofocus. Mostly, it's the winder that I like in the newer cameras. I shot on a whale watch and at an airshow with fully mechanical cameras and winding caused me to miss more shots than focusing.

 

[segedi]

Several...but I'll be looking for something fixed in the 70-90 range...

I picked up the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G lens, new, for my F100. Great lens at a great price.

 

[Drew B.]

I didn't switch either, just keep adding (in all formats). I still use my Pentax H1a and also a PZ1p, though not for the autofocus. Mostly, it's the winder that I like in the newer cameras. I shot on a whale watch and at an airshow with fully mechanical cameras and winding caused me to miss more shots than focusing.

A whale watch in PA...that I'd like to see.

 

[Drew B.]

I picked up the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 G lens, new, for my F100. Great lens at a great price.

...and are you willing to part with it?

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Been shooting Pentax manual focus SLRs since forever, Mamiya 645, Hasselblad, and TLRs with manual focus for medium format for a long time also.

A friend sent me a Fuji GA645i to try, and the autofocus IS super nice, but I couldn't stand working with wide angle lens all the time. So I ended up with a Canon EOS3, which I use for anything portraiture or just casual shooting with critical focus. The lights in the viewfinder help me realize what's in focus.

For general shooting, just walking around, I still use the Leica all the time, and when the camera is on a tripod shooting static objects, of course I don't really need it.

So, yes, switched to one autofocus, auto exposure camera, and the rest of them remain the same.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I have a Pentax IQ Zoom that cost $3 (with a good battery), it's handy to bring to parties and so on plus if I hand it to someone they can actually take pictures with it.
Ever tried to explain the "Contax grip" (never mind a dismal Barnack-type rangefinder with a spinning shutter speed dial) to someone who's never used anything but a PHD camera?

 

[dorff]

I started all manual focus Nikon, and my first AF Nikon was actually a D70. Since then I have acquired many AF lenses and when making a re-entry into film, it just seemed logical to consider the F100 and F5. At the time in 2011 I was using a D700 as my main other camera, and the F100 was jolly mates with it. I appreciate the ability to use modern AF-S VR lenses on my film cameras. This last weekend I was shooting wildlife on TMax 400 with the 80-400 AF-S on the F100. It was a joy, and neither the camera nor the lens disappointed me.

 

[Paul Howell]

Does autofocus know where to focus?

Early autofocus had just one focus point, modern autofoucs has a number to chose from, my Sigma SD 9 has just one, the SD 14 has 5, i usally use just the center point.

 

[narsuitus]

As I stated in a previous post, when I need to use an automatic/ electronic 35mm camera rather than a manual/mechanical 35mm camera, I use the Nikon F4 instead of the Nikon F2.

However, when I need to carry an automatic/electronic camera that is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than my Nikon F4, I carry a Nikon N70 or a Pentax ME.


https://www.flickr.com/photos/11336821@N00/5580899210/

 

[vsyrek1945]

Does autofocus know where to focus?

AF systems ordinarily find the closest object in view and fix focus on it, and this works for many, if not most of us [works for me 95-99% of the time].

Canon's Eye Controlled Focus feature, on the EOS 5/A2e, Elan 7e/7Ne, and EOS 3, once calibrated to your eyeball, will focus the mounted AF lens at the viewfinder sensor nearest where you're looking at the scene. I've had an Elan 7e over ten years, but hadn't been able to calibrate the ECF properly until last year, when I got an A2e and got its ECF calibrated in no time [haven't yet figured out what I'd been doing wrong before]. It's uncanny - press the shutter release or AF Start button while looking at your subject, and watch it instantly snap into focus! I was shooting a half-dozen tulips in a vase, and could individually focus on each one, throwing the rest out of focus. I haven't read or heard anything about why Canon didn't include the feature on any of its d*g*t*l SLRs.

My AF experience began with an EOS Elan in 1995 [I was using a Canon FTb for 24 years, adding an AE-1 along the way, but the AE-1 and most of my lenses had been stolen, and I sold the FTb to KEH shortly after getting the Elan]. Once my GAS kicked in, I not only filled out the Elan outfit with lenses and flash units [I also acquired Olympus OM, then K-mount and Nikkormat manual focus gear, but those are off-topic stories].

Thanks and regards,
Vince

 

[airgunr]

I too have issues with my eyes (starting to develop a cataract). Auto focus is great for people and action shots but I still use manual when I do Macro or shoot from a tripod. Nice to have the AF, I wouldn't do without it.

 

[MattKing]

The Canon eye control focus function works well for me, but it was a retailer's nightmare, because it only works well for some people, and for some people it won't work when glasses are worn.
So a lot of people would buy the cameras, and then want to return them when the function wouldn't work for them.

 

[Paul Howell]

I too have issues with my eyes (starting to develop a cataract). Auto focus is great for people and action shots but I still use manual when I do Macro or shoot from a tripod. Nice to have the AF, I wouldn't do without it.

I have friend who just had cataract surgery, the surgen inplanted his near vision Rx in his right eye which is the eye he used when shooting with with a SLR, and his distant vision in his left eye, he reads with his right eye and drives with his left eye. Says it works great for him. I dont know if I can get use to it.