On Tue, 03 Nov 1998 10:14:40 -0800, Russell Williams wrote:
>grumpysworld@my-dejanews.com wrote:

>> How long will it be before a manufacturer offers an AF body that is actually
>> worth owning? Specifically, when will they let us take AF photos without the
>> subject being in the dead-center of the damned frame?

>Um, as opposed to what? Every MF 35mm camera I ever owned could only
>be reasonably focused with a focus aid like a split image --
>in the dead center. How many people ever owned an MF body with a
>solid ground glass screen suitable for focusing anywhere? How many
>people are even capable of focusing on ground glass at that size?
>Ground glass is pretty dim to begin with, and if you've got an f/3.5
>or slower lens in less than ideal light, you're pretty much back to the
>focusing aid or the AF points. Even 3-5 point AF sensors typically
>cover a wider area than a split image aid.
[....]

Hmmm, try a Nikon F/F2/F3 with a "B" or "E" screen...
These are quite easy to use for focus over most of the
frame area (heck, even with an f3.5 16mm fisheye!) so
long as your eye will sharply focus at the approx. 3.5'
effective viewing-screen distance. One problem with AF
cameras is that the viewing systems have become less sharp
than those found in older cameras, making MF harder.
Even late MF bodies, due to attempts to keep the VF
system compact and bright, have compromised frame-edge
sharpness and focus accuracy. The difference often
isn't obvious, since most older MF VF's have their
centers cluttered with those (for me...) useless
"focus aids" - which (for me...) occupy prime screen
territory for quick/easy MF, using a matte surface...