Canon MC with 35/2.8 pre-focus system

[Windscale]

Can someone tell me how the pre-focus system works? It seems that I pressed the shutter and the needle to the left of the frame will point to a distance symbol (head, body or mountain). But is the shot only actually taken when I released my finger? Or when exactly does it actually take the shot?
I was just given this camera and some pics allegedly taken by it which are very good to look at. But I just can't figure out the focusing. And I could not find much over the www. Please help.

 

[camera.bear]

Windscale,

Pre-focusing with the MC works the same as with many of the early Canon P&S cameras such as the Sure Shot.

Slide the pre-focus switch, center the subject and push the shutter release all of the way down, recompose the picture with the subject off center and push the shutter release all the way down a second time. The pre-focus is also the self-timer and the shutter will release in approx 10 seconds if you do not push the shutter release first.

Here is a link to Michael Butkus's great site of camera manuals that can be downloaded. Thank you Michael.

http://www.butkus.org/chinon/canon_point_and_shoot/canon_mc/canon_mc.htm

Additionally, as far as the zone focus indicators are concerned, think of them a focus confirmation and not a focusing aid. They will indicated where the camera was focused AFTER the shutter is released. See my review of the Canon AF35M.

http://www.wayneyoungphoto.com/sureshot.html

 

[Windscale]

camera.bear,

Thank you so much. Now everything is clear. In fact I do have an AF35M. But the prefocus there was via the timer lever first. I was also quite amazed by the quality of these P&S. The pics I got are certainly comparable to those produced by more recent examples. Was Canon moving backwards all the time?