"Evaluative metering" lies between the ears. Because no two shots - or
photographers - necessarily require the same frame area(s) exposure bias.
Indeed the photo may demand otherwise. AF? I don't know that I can not focus
faster manually for most shots (except at night with ones using IR) than
any AF I have seen. "Customizing"; lens choices, varimagni, the whole OM
*system*, filters - what more do you want?
".... The kind of camera we use very much depends on the kind of pictures
we're taking."
...... Well there you have it - good observation. Markets run along the
lines of, "who are you going to sell the most (cameras, lenses, batteries
etc) to - and have them *coming back for more*?" ;)
Btw; a snapshot is aimed with precision. Smoothly - but fast. Snapshooting
is a skill that if learned correctly and progresses permits hitting targets
- likely impromtu - with less delay. But presentation, sight alignment,
sight picture, *trigger control*, follow through (and adequate equipment)
still apply. Otherwise a miss will result - and a miss - is still a miss.
Snapshoooting seeks to hit every time - with less time involved. Hence not
very many people can do it exceptionally and consistantly well.
An AK over a .50 BP rifle? Maybe. But how about a double-barrel, double
trigger, auto eject hammerless 12 bore shotgun circa 1930 - and a "state of
the art" 12 bore autoloader 2002 with an 8-shot tube or box magazine and a
pouch full of extra shells on 50 targets, *timed*?
Automatic weapons are for wasting ammo ;)
Cheers,
Lee
----Original Message Follows----
From: "William Sommerwerck" <williams@xxxxxxxxxx>
CC: "J. Gregory Lefebvre" <jgl@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [OM] state-of-the-art technology
I don't understand the remark that OM cameras "are still pretty much
state-of-the-art." Multi-spot metering remains unique and useful, nobody has
ever made such tiny lenses, and -- sans motor drive -- OMs are remarkably
compact and "hand-some," but OMs lack evaluative metering, integral
motordrive, autofocus, and "customizability."
The kind of camera we use very much depends on the kind of pictures we're
taking. For snapshots, the IS-30 is non-pareil. (I have an Infinity Zoom 80
Wide DLX, but its autofocus is so slow it drives me crazy -- and interferes
with getting the shot I want.) But when I'm shooting slowly and
deliberatively, the IS-30's automation is a distraction.
Of course, if you're willing to carry two cameras, you can have your cake
and eat it.
The new IS-5 seeks to bridge the gap by offering manual exposure. Manual
focus would be nice, too, but Olympus didn't provide it, probably because
the IS cameras use varifocal lenses. For a company whose slogan is
"Nothing's impossible," it's a disappointing omission.
The question of whether beginning photographers should start with a simple
camera so they won't be distracted by automation and they can focus on the
subject, or they should use a wonderbrick because the automation removes
consideration of everything else and they can focus on the subject, will
probably never be resolved -- other than noting that focusing on the subject
is the most important part of photography, no matter how you define
"focusing."
I believe beginning photographers should use a Polaroid OneStep, because
it's a camera of limited capabilities that uses rather expensive film, but
provides immediate feedback. David Vestal recommended using a manual
camera -- even a Leica -- set at the hyperfocal distance and one or two
stops wider than the "sunny-16" rule to keep the photographer away from the
technicalities.
By the way, I recently learned the origin of the word "snapshot." It's a gun
metaphor -- a "snap shot" is a quick shot, made when there's no time to aim
carefully.
I own a 50-gauge black-powder rifle that will kill any single (or married)
person just as dead as an AK-47. "Unfortunately," I can't kill another
person until I reload. So, in that respect, it's hardly state-of-the-art.
And Washington State law acknowledges this by not requiring a gun permit. It
can only kill one person at a time, so it's not "really" a firearm.
The ultimate use of automatic weapons is to rip apart the tires on SUVs.
Followed by the rest of the vehicle.
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