...going nuts I think...

J

jky

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I love rangefinders. It's what lead me to this wonderful forum. Love that it's the closest a digital camera (M9) can get to analog (imo).
But lately, I've been looking for automation... and yes... even face detection 😱

*just thinking out loud*
 
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I have face detection built in to my eyeball. It's amazingly accurate at recognizing faces and working with my brain and mouth to even spit out their names. Pretty advanced huh? 🙂
What, you want automation?
How about this then......
If I think it, my finger moves. Just think of all the automatic things I can do with that.

Hope you know I'm just kidding. Just trying to help you get over your problem.
 
I love rangefinders as well, both my Bessa R and the M7 are a joy to use. Which means by the way film, of course. But since I have the X1 (first digital camera) I appreciate some of the benefit of a "little automation". Now these three cameras can live together depending on the day's mood or on what I want to photograph. And I find myself more thinking about the m9...
robert
PS: me too, just thinking out loud 🙂
 
I think AE and even AF can be good things. There's often a time and a situation for them. But face detection? Trust me, the further you get away from controlling the shot, the more you turn it over to the camera, the more will go wrong.
 
If you're talking about AF, AE, why not?
I think it's severely limiting if you only shoot with old manual rangefinders.
I carry my GR1s everywhere and it's very useful (as well as fun to shoot with) in getting shots that I won't get otherwise.

But I also agree with the sentiments here, face detection is ... too much automation.
I feel similarly about those bleeding edge technologies like picking DOF or extreme HDR (in which case, my eyes are the ones bleeding).
 
I use my M9 constantly.

But I also have two toddlers.

When I shoot them, out comes the super-fast AF cameras, the face detection, the ultra high ISO, the whole ball of wax.

Try shooting running, jumping, screaming young kids and you will thank all the Gods of Japanese electronics for face detection.
 
shadowfox said:
If you're talking about AF, AE, why not?
I think it's severely limiting if you only shoot with old manual rangefinders.
I carry my GR1s everywhere and it's very useful (as well as fun to shoot with) in getting shots that I won't get otherwise.

But I also agree with the sentiments here, face detection is ... too much automation.
I feel similarly about those bleeding edge technologies like picking DOF or extreme HDR (in which case, my eyes are the ones bleeding).
Click to expand...

In what way? What pictures have you missed because of a lack of automation? Limiting: conceivably (though automation has its own limitations too). Severely: hardly.

Cheers,

R.
 
Roger Hicks said:
In what way? What pictures have you missed because of a lack of automation? Limiting: conceivably (though automation has its own limitations too). Severely: hardly.

Cheers,

R.
Click to expand...

For example, the GR1s focuses down to about 30cm.
The Ultron on my M4-P (a manual rangefinder) can't do that.

But that's not really my point, which is: Given the breadth of choices that are available to us, in my opinion (and mine alone), we are severely limiting ourselves if we choose to only use one type of camera.
 
shadowfox said:
For example, the GR1s focuses down to about 30cm.
The Ultron on my M4-P (a manual rangefinder) can't do that.

But that's not really my point, which is: Given the breadth of choices that are available to us, in my opinion (and mine alone), we are severely limiting ourselves if we choose to only use one type of camera.
Click to expand...
Dear Will,

Ah, I see your point. I was thinking only of automation. Sorry to have been so dense. Indeed, I use several different kinds of camera, and explored why, in a piece called Voluntary Limits, http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps voluntary.html

My point -- which I accept was not what you were saying -- is that in the course of my photographic lifetime I have missed more pictures through automation than through using manual cameras. I think it's a question of mindset: my mind just doesn't work in the same way as the automation designers' minds. I have much the same problem with software.

Cheers,

R.
 
Neare said:
Get a GRD III (or the new IV) for cheap, it's pretty analog for a digi p&s.
But face detection? Really...?
Click to expand...

Yes really... face detection.

Not saying it's a deal-breaker of a feature for me with future camera purchases, but I used it extensively on my GF1 on a recent trip and I enjoyed it tremendously.

I used to - and still partly - think of it as a gimmick, but it was nice to point the camera in the direction I want concentrating more on composition and allowing the camera to "see" the face... all I had to do was fire off the shutter.

It's heresy!
1. Loving automation.
2. Enjoyed face detection.
3. Amazed by the iA of the Pannys (GF1).
4. Starting to like that LCD-thingy on the back.

...all that's missing is the "Style" modes: The Elliot Erwitt Humorous mode; The Contrasty BW Trent Parke mode; The Fly on the Wall HCB mode; The You-don't-own-the-street Gilden mode...

Seriously though - it was nice to just think of spacing, composition, etc... and let the camera do the rest.

j
 
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