[stuny]

Paul -

In my case if I'm using my R8/DMR manual focus is the only possibility. With my D2, which has auto focus, I only use it when I must, such as with flash in a totally dark cave pointed at the ceiling to capture a photo of bats resting (really!), or when shooting from the hip (such as the interior Russian church photos on the 4th page of Paris photos on our site). In the case of my Panasonic version of the C-Lux, my only choice is auto focus. I have another auto focus camera on loan to a dear friend in France -- a Panasonic superzoom. I find that the manual focus on it is so coarse, and the diopter adjustment is too easy to knock out of adjustment that by default I almost always used it on auto focus (An example that many here have seen is on the the 4th page of India photos on our site, Delhi - Camera Ticket Man. Just to its right is an auto focus D2 shot of Barbara consulting the wine list at a restaurant in Delhi -- I set the camera to fully auto and sat it on the table in front of me). In short, auto focus for me is completely based on the situation and equipment and has little or not impact on my shooting choices.