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jrc

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Hi Riley,

I have been pondering the possibility of an electronic equivalent to the opto-mechanical range finder. It would still be manually focused, but use elentronics to do the rangefinding.

Bob

 

yes Bob

of course i know nothing of your device

I can see how an AF would work

I can see how fly-by-wire focussing would work

but how would i control where it was focussed

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You can disable the Caps Lock key in Mac OS X. Keyboard panel in System Preferences. Click the "modifier keys" button and then set "Caps Lock" to "No Action".

 

Thanks guys

 

This is really helpful. I will do these things to stay stay away from some of these issues into the future.

 

Woody

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Woody,

 

OT from main thread, but I hope I may be in time to save you some cash. On the Mac it is trivially easy to disable the Caps Lock key -- something I am very pleased to be able to do as I have always found Caps Lock to be a solution to a question I never ask, and an accident waiting to happen.

 

Go to System Preferences (in the Apple menu), then select "Keyboard & Mouse", then on the Keyboard pane press the "Modifier keys..." button. In the drop-down that apears, simply select "No action" for the Caps Lock key.

 

Hope that helps you, and anyone else like me who isn't a real typist and is prone to fumbling.

 

Jonathan

 

Works perfectly Jonathon. Thanks for your intervention. now no new keyboard! Just disable the offending key cap

 

Woody

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havnt been able to find out much about these cameras

the NV-7 looks interesting

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Guest malland
...You know my take on this. I think you might be surprised about how well that camera works for your work. Since we've both spent some time editing and discussing your pictures, you know that I mean *your* work. You could batch the grain in and not even look at the pictures till they're "grained" or shoot at high ISO and stop down a lot to get your deep DOF...or not <G>...
There are two factors that keep me from buying the M8 now. First, I travel frequently and extensively and the new regulations in the European Community allow only on carryon bag — not like before the recent London bomb scare, when one could take on a roll-aboard bag and a computer bag/briefcase; so now everything has to go into my roll-aboard, which means a very small camera is much better for me. Second, I have gotten to like framing with the LCD monitors so much on my Ricoh GR-D and Leica D-Lux 3 because they facilitate a more "fluid" and "looser" shooting that I would miss not having a live preview on the M8.

 

—Mitch/Lubumbashi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

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Riley, I had two hours to kill in London recently so I went into Jessops and looked at the Samsung NV cameras. I wasn't very impressed. The control interfaces are difficult to master (especially on the NV10) and the image quality seemed only so-so (though mind you I was only looking at images on the LCD). I'd try before you buy.

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>Click the "modifier keys" button and then set "Caps Lock" to "No Action".

 

This was off-topic but very valuable. I am like Woody :-)

 

 

Thanks

 

PS: woody, Not all PC keyboards work well with Mac (e.g. keys to eject CD/DVDs). Be aware. I have a Macally keyboard and that comes with the right drivers to work on Mac and PC.

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There are two factors that keep me from buying the M8 now. First, I travel frequently and extensively and the new regulations in the European Community allow only on carryon bag — not like before the recent London bomb scare, when one could take on a roll-aboard bag and a computer bag/briefcase; so now everything has to go into my roll-aboard, which means a very small camera is much better for me. Second, I have gotten to like framing with the LCD monitors so much on my Ricoh GR-D and Leica D-Lux 3 because they facilitate a more "fluid" and "looser" shooting that I would miss not having a live preview on the M8.

 

—Mitch/Lubumbashi

Flickr: Photos from Mitch Alland

 

Gotcha...how's the little Leica working out?

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

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Guest malland
Gotcha...how's the little Leica working out?...
It's quite a good camera, but I only use the RAW files because there's too much smoothing on the JPGs, at least at ISOs over 100 or 200. The "joystick" provides very good manual controls, I guess as good as the two adjustent wheels on the GR-Ds.

 

—Mitch/Lubumbashi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

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I recently bought a Panasonic LX2 - the same as the D-lux-3 - and the least attractive feature of the excellent camera is the live preview IMHO. I much prefer an optical viewfinder - I don't appreciate having to wear my reading glasses whenever I want to take a shot with the LX2.

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Guest malland

I need glasses for reading as well, but never use them for framing with the LCD: all I need to do is to establish where the edges of the frame fall, and then I continue to look at the scene when clicking the shutter. However, I can just about make out the aperture and shutter speed without my reading glasses.

 

—Mitch/Lubumbashi

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10268776@N00/

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i think you will find that to satisfy the majority a camera needs both

the issue with zoom lenses is more complex for OVF

just how do you configure an OVF for zooms is a BIG question

 

you could venture to suggest that the OVF ought zoom itself

but it seems unlikely to be able to do that in so short a length

and incorporate a rangefinder focus mechanism

I know of no camera that does that

 

an added difficulty is when interchangeable lens system is incorporated

just how do you account for the 7-14mm and the 14-54mm zooms?

an EVF could do some of this

but would need to be a good deal better than the D2 EVF

Sony are reported to have much nicer EVF to use

but then there is still the issue of the focussing prism for the rangefinder

not an easy subject to resolve

and sure to make someone unhappy no-matter what you do

 

the lack of an adequate technical solution to this is probably the only holdup

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seen in a blog far away, and concerning FT/D3 owners, there is rumour that

 

Olympus have said quietly, very quietly, that they will be introducing ‘thin type lenses’ during 2007 (whatever that means)

 

There is also an “inofficial” roadmap on Panasonic/Leica lenses and “rumors” say, that Sigma will introduce most of its lenses for 4/3 mount in 2007.

 

Panasonic could make an entry level 4/3 EVIL (electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens) camera. Like an über-FZ model. (that being the ultimate answer to the OVF dilema)

 

also as many as 4 Leicasonic lenses, 2 of which we know about

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Leica needs to continue digital M development for it's core legacy user base. The 4/3 system however gives it a path to a designed for digital system unconstrained by film legacy limitations for the future. It also allows them to piggyback on the advances made by larger companies like Olympus and Panasonic. Plus the open 4/3 standard brings with it mass market economies of scale and access to a potentially much larger market. The only hitch is 4/3 needs to survive. I think a lot will ride on the next Olympus pro level offering making 4/3 equal in image quality to pro 35mm DSLR's at least at low ISO's.

 

Leica's 4/3 offerings don't need to rival it's M/R platforms price/quality yet. Leica really has no control over the electronics side of the 4/3 quality equation. It can develop over time from Leica's 2nd tier solution into a pro system as advances in chip technology improve the resolution/noise characteristics of the tiny 4/3 chips. The M I think will always be around because of the M compatible lenses in the market and it's association with the brand. But Leica also needs a path to future expansion and profitability that leverages it's core strengths, includes all the technologies/features that the larger market demands (AF, image stabilization) and breaks it out of it's narrow and financially precarious luxury/collectors market box.

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Each member of the four thirds consortium brings with it special gifts. Olympus has a wide experience in optical quality and significantly different cameras. Panasonic is a huge power in electronics and mass manufacturing, it is said that every Japanese home has at least one Panasonic product. And Panasonic are the market leader in OIS. Leica has the longest history in 35mm cameras, and an excellence in glass that is without comparison. Even Kodak who have ditched dSLR manufacture to better focus on sensors and the low end of the market.

 

As to the survival of FT, Olympus are the principle operator, and suffered losses for 2 years after the release of the FT system have in the last quarter recorded a 62% better than expected profit. FT was there biggest investment, and biggest gamble ever. Despite the occasional rumour that abound on fora everywhere, there is no risk of Olympus going under, although they may be somewhat susceptable to a takeover/merger, but then Leica and others may be in that situation too.

 

For Leica there is the opportunity to diversify the product line further, an option that otherwise would not be available. For those that believe that cameras like D2 are just rebadged Panasonics I must say I have never held that view. Where among other cameras could you find a camera with an aperture ring and speed dial? What digital camera had an F/2 28mm wide angle lens? It seems even the sensor wasnt sourced inhouse, and came from Sony. This from an organisation that makes its own sensors? Then there is the equally weird 69mm filter thread, Im sure you know for yourselves that only Leica would do something as odd as that. The brief I believe came from Leica, the manufacturing skills and capacity from Panasonic. This suggests a deeper relationship than is at first apparent.

 

As long as the consortium members are individually successful, and the shared contributions work out for the betterment of all. The FT format provides the opportunity to place these low end producers higher on the scale than they otherwise might be, that can be no bad thing.

 

For FT itself, it must do better than it has, and after a dull 06 year this sould be the year which bears some fruit. They have to make a mark in resolution, and they must conquer noise to iso1600 reliably. If and when they get there, the rivers to cross will be all the less. Perhaps because of M8 rather than despite it, Kodak has something in the bag to offer there. And with Olympus new flagship the E3 due for a view in the PMA early march, I dont think we will have long to wait for a taste of the future.....or not.

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the DMD would be reasonably well known here. Sigma seem to be intent on producing something of that order with the Sigma DP1, foveon equiped. I think its out come March this year

 

I looked at the DP1 and the f/4.0 lens is a deal breaker for me. Now a 2.8 would be ok.

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