ku # 712 ~ enough is enough
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 at 10:47AM 
Red twig dogwood shrub (?) ~ in the NE Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenUntil I acquired my EP-1 I had thought that my days of manual focusing were far behind me.
Once I had entered the digital camera world, in which AF is the order of the day, I just started to rely upon AF. For the most part, it worked quite well and I can probably count, using only the fingers on one hand, the number of times that I lost a picture due to mis-focusing on the part of the camera AF.
That said, I did/do use a kind of manual AF - my AF was/is always set to a single center "zone" which, when a subject is off-center, I use by placing the subject in the center of the frame, acquire and hold focus by depressing the shutter 1/2 way, reposition the subject to the desired location in the frame, and then make the picture. This technique works perfectly, 999 out of 1,000 times.
However, now that I use my EP-1 for almost all of my picture making, I am using the LCD screen (via Live View) for framing and, with increasing frequency, for manual focusing. Especially so for focusing when I am making narrow DOF pictures - which I am also doing with increasing frequency. I really like both the pinpoint focusing accuracy and the added element/ satisfaction of manually taking even more control of the picture making process.
All of which makes me pine for an EP-1 minus all of the features that the brave new world of digital cameras come with. Just give me an aperture ring, a focus ring, a shutter speed dial, an exposure meter (internal or external) and screw all the rest. I mean, what the hell, I made really nice pictures with my totally manual Nikon F3s and my handheld trusty Minolta Auto Meter III w incident-light attachment.
Sure, I'd be OK with AF or AE capabilities for those times when I needed / wanted them. But spare me from scene modes, face recognition, multi-zone AF, 10 different kinds of metering modes, ART Filters, HD video, etc., etc., etc.
All I wanna do is make pictures the simple way.
IMO, and without exaggeration, I really believe that camera makers, by adding on layer upon endless layers of "features", have made making pictures much more complicated than it ever was when a picture maker had to do it all "manually".
gravitas et nugalis
Featured Comment: The Cinemascapist wrote: "then why not just buy the Leica M8? Shutter speed dial on top, aperture ring, small size, and digital. what is it missing or adding that you don't like?
my response: the Leica M8 is a discontinued camera that sold for $5800US (body only) or there about. I don't want no discontinued camera (at any price).
The replacement camera body, the M9, sells for $7,000US. Add to that the cost of Leica glass - like say the $3,000US WA 35mm f/2.0 Summicron M Aspherical Manual Focus Lens, which is similar to the 20mm f/1.7 Panasonic lens I use on my EP-1 - and I'm living under the bridge on Main St. in a cardboard refrigerator shipping container, turning tricks at 20 Main in exchange for food and a beer (assuming, that is, that I'm lucky enough to find myself still amongst the living after the wife finds out).
And, even though made with a 35mm f/2.0 Summicron adorned M9, that's definitely not a pretty picture.
Reader Comments (6)
then why not just buy the Leica M8? Shutter speed dial on top, aperture ring, small size, and digital. what is it missing or adding that you don't like?
text from their site... and link to image below.
"Concentration on the exposure. Not on the controls.
By concentrating on the essentials, the camera's operation is simple and intuitive. The LEICA M8 deliberately dispenses with multifunction keys and nested menus."
http://us.leica-camera.com/assets/media/img5721.jpg
note to the step-mother/the wife, I am not suggesting he buy a $4,000 camera, but merely pointing out that there is a camera that seems to be what he is talking about. Lord knows, hugo needs more NHL Reebok Jersey's than Gravitas needs a new camera.
step-son dearest - thank you for the quick clarification. I will be sure to get Hugo a NHL Rebock Jersey soon, and hopefully Gravitas won't throw it away.
He so far has spared the NHL dog jersey i purchased which sports Micheal Vick's number 7.
thanks step-mom.
back to my point about the camera... so besides the price of that beast, isn't it exactly what you're looking for in a digital camera?
The family that emails together stays together.
Seriously I agree with you Mark, I want it simple. I can't believe that 40 years ago I was using a clunky Nikon FTN with the Photomic finder and thought nothing of it. Lining up the lens getting it on the right way in a hurry, taking the back off to change film. Yes it is somewhat easier today and I shouldn't complain BUT...........
The reason the EP-1 is relatively cheap and the Leica M8/M9 is not is because of those extra features that makes the former more attractive to the masses (read non-expert photographers). If they didn't buy the EP-1, it might have been just as expensive as the M8/M9. Once you realize this, you'll find that living with those extra frills is not really such an inconvenience.