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dndavis@stanfor... wrote on
08/06/2012 - 22:24.

Great article!

I grew up on manual focus cameras. My first SLR was a Nikon FE, purchased new in 1982. I won't claim to be a great artist, but I became quite comfortable with the technical aspects of pre-focusing and using DOF scales.

I was out of photography for many years. I bought my first DSLR in 2007, just before a month-long vacation in Vietnam. I took the Pentax 16-45 AF zoom, a third-party 70-210 AF, and an old 50/1.4 Super Takumar manual focus lens (screw mount, with adapter). I used the 16-45 most, but I've since realized I would have been better off leaving the MF Super Takumar attached.

Autofocus too often hit something other than what I had in mind. Even when it and I did agree, I realized I relied too much on it and not enough on pre-visualization. A little more direct engagement and thought on my part would have yielded more interesting photos in many cases.

You didn't mention it directly, but theres a real, tactile joy in using a dedicated, MF lens like that old Super Tak. There's too much slop in the AF lenses, at least the ones I've tried, and aluminum just isn't as smooth as brass (try an old dial combination lock vs. a new one to see what I mean).

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[quote=dndavis@stanfordalumni.org]Great article!I grew up on manual focus cameras. My first SLR was a Nikon FE, purchased new in 1982. I won&#39;t claim to be a great artist, but I became quite comfortable with the technical aspects of pre-focusing and using DOF scales.I was out of photography for many years. I bought my first DSLR in 2007, just before a month-long vacation in Vietnam. I took the Pentax 16-45 AF zoom, a third-party 70-210 AF, and an old 50/1.4 Super Takumar manual focus lens (screw mount, with adapter). I used the 16-45 most, but I&#39;ve since realized I would have been better off leaving the MF Super Takumar attached.Autofocus too often hit something other than what I had in mind. Even when it and I did agree, I realized I relied too much on it and not enough on pre-visualization. A little more direct engagement and thought on my part would have yielded more interesting photos in many cases.You didn&#39;t mention it directly, but theres a real, tactile joy in using a dedicated, MF lens like that old Super Tak. There&#39;s too much slop in the AF lenses, at least the ones I&#39;ve tried, and aluminum just isn&#39;t as smooth as brass (try an old dial combination lock vs. a new one to see what I mean).[/quote]

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