AutoFocus

[AlanG]

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Leica invented AF and introduced it at Photokina in 1976! Then, one of the executives at the time said, "I think our customers know how to focus by themselves." and sold the patent to Minolta.

 

My little understanding of the Leica AF system was that it wasn't very practical. (I could be wrong - there is little about it on the internet..) The AF technology for all of these cameras was pioneered by Honeywell. Some companies claimed they independently developed similar technology. But Honeywell sued Minolta and won.

 

Polaroid had a sonar focusing camera.

 

Minolta Told It Must Pay Honeywell - New York Times

 

COMPANY NEWS; HONEYWELL SETTLES AUTOFOCUS PATENT SUIT AGAINST FUJI - New York Times

 

In any case, I've always found it funny that some Leica users have looked down on autofocus. Yet Leica enlargers had autofocus a long time ago.

 

My experience with the Rollei AF system is that it is OK, but nothing compared to Canon's. Leica's may be similar or better. It is hard to say at this point.

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[markowich]

but you are aware that you can also make exposure compensation without the "+/-"?

 

in M-mode on the M8 and of course on the M8.2 by pressing the shutter half way and turning the dial. another master piece of leica ergonomics.

but i do not want to talk the M8 down, i had fun using it and i like the pictures i took with it. but now it is on to a new reality.

peter

[wildlightphoto]

In any case, I've always found it funny that some Leica users have looked down on autofocus. Yet Leica enlargers had autofocus a long time ago.

 

There's a very big difference between focussing on a stationary flat plane and focussing on a moving 3-dimensional object that can be anywhere in the picture area.

[freecitizen]

Does anyone know please....

Is the autofocussing motor in the body or the lenses ?

Any Image stabilization ?

[sdai]

There's a very big difference between focussing on a stationary flat plane and focussing on a moving 3-dimensional object that can be anywhere in the picture area.

 

I agree with Doug.

 

I don't think anybody here is looking down upon auto focus. Also none of us is having very high expectation on the AF performance from a Leica ... forget about Nikon and Canon, I'm not even talking about a flying bird!

 

What about men on the running tracks, kids on the playground etc ... these are very basic stuff IMO, I'm crossing my fingers ... and I hope folks stop crying for new features, doing so will only delay the R10. Let them do one thing (good) at a time.

 

I guess that many people are having the same level of expectations as mine as well. If it's only one point AF for studio use, then why would they bother with it at all while compromising MF?

[AlanG]

...I guess that many people are having the same level of expectations as mine as well. If it's only one point AF for studio use, then why would they bother with it at all while compromising MF?

 

I doubt if they have compromised manual focus. I had Hasselblads and Rolleis with all kinds of specialty bright screens. They were not always so easy to focus manually. Even single point AF should be a big help under some conditions. I'm talking about basic things such as a simple portrait where the subject is pretty still. You can use AF to focus on the eye and then recompose. Tracking action may be problematic.I don't know how good any medium format system is at doing that.

[AlanG]

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Does anyone know please....

Is the autofocussing motor in the body or the lenses ?

Any Image stabilization ?

 

 

There is no mechanical linkage between the camera and the lens. So the motors must be in the lenses. No stabilization was mentioned so I am sure it doesn't have it. Either does any other MF system.

[krabat]

That's right, focusing is performed by the lenses. And we have been told during the forum meeting that there is no image stabilisation.

Regards, Peter.

[sdai]

I doubt if they have compromised manual focus. I had Hasselblads and Rolleis with all kinds of specialty bright screens. They were not always so easy to focus manually. Even single point AF should be a big help under some conditions. I'm talking about basic things such as a simple portrait where the subject is pretty still. You can use AF to focus on the eye and then recompose. Tracking action may be problematic.I don't know how good any medium format system is at doing that.

 

Sorry, Alan, I forgot to mention that my post has shifted the topic to R10 in my mind.

 

Looking through a medium format viewfinder is totally different experience, but by the time when R10 really arrives, people may actually put it beside a R9 ... a SL2 for Doug ... and compare. I believe some people WILL see "compromise" more or less.

 

Back on the S2, since the it obviously has a shorter register distance than many other medium format cameras, if its manual focusing capability is great, I think many folks will try CF lenses on it ... a mini Hasselblad.

[john_f]

In this web site set up by Chasseur d'Images magazine (Premier contact avec le Leica S2 | Reflex | CI c'est fou!), we can see the lens mount and camera bayonet. There is no mechanical linkage between the camera and lens - all done through electronic contacts, and therefore motor(s) within the lens. What kind of motors? That is another question for Leica.

 

BTW, here is a post from the German side of the forum with a picture of that autofocus Leica SLR camera presented at Photokina 1976: the Leica CK2 with AF Summilux-R 50mm (separately required "portable" computer not shown in picture ;-)

Ref: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-sammler-historica/13992-wer-hat-mehr-info-ber-sl2.html

 

Really sad what hapenned to Minolta with that lawsuit from Honeywell. Being first with the Maxxum / Dynax cost them dearly - that and the debacle from the APS Vectix...

 

John F.

 

1976 working prototype of autofocus Leica CK2 with AF Summilux-R lens (pic from above link):

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[dfarkas]

I was told that the S lenses use a linear focus motor with a slip differential to allow for manual overide. I would say that the S2's AF is about as fast as the Hassy H3D and faster than the AFDIII. Manual focusing is really easy with the S2 viewfinder, and the drag and tactile feedback on the lens is just right.

 

David

[mooky]

In this web site set up by Chasseur d'Images magazine (Premier contact avec le Leica S2 | Reflex | CI c'est fou!), we can see the lens mount and camera bayonet. There is no mechanical linkage between the camera and lens - all done through electronic contacts, and therefore motor(s) within the lens. What kind of motors? That is another question for Leica.

 

BTW, here is a post from the German side of the forum with a picture of that autofocus Leica SLR camera presented at Photokina 1976: the Leica CK2 with AF Summilux-R 50mm (separately required "portable" computer not shown in picture ;-)

Ref: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-sammler-historica/13992-wer-hat-mehr-info-ber-sl2.html

 

Really sad what hapenned to Minolta with that lawsuit from Honeywell. Being first with the Maxxum / Dynax cost them dearly - that and the debacle from the APS Vectix...

 

John F.

 

1976 working prototype of autofocus Leica CK2 with AF Summilux-R lens (pic from above link):

 

John F.,

 

Nice work finding the image - I remember when Leica showed it, and thought wow!. Then within a couple of year's they announced the R3.......It's been a long time, dare I say, we are out of the tunnel, and it's looking bright.