No, I doubt that this camera does feature predictive AF - it doesn't really track or calculate anything AFAIK. Predictive AF means calculating where the subject will be at the actual time of release - using calculations based on the pattern that a moving object describes on the focus screen. The *ist D does not do such calculations, does it? It's not exactly F16 weapons technolgy :-)
Even if it did, it wouldn't work well when the object is moving very directly towards the camera - then there is only VERY little movement to calculate (the movement caused by the subject changing it's size as it's getting closer or farther away). All it does is focus on what ever is close or has high contrast. It's really just a focus trap - that is always a little bit too late. Secondly I never let the camera choose the AF point. I always use the point in the middle. So, this can't be the reason for my shots beeing unsharp either. The only reason I can think of is that it doesn't focus properly on moving objects, because it's too slow. When ever the red square appears, the object is allready out of focus again, before the shutter fires. The K10D and the *ist D does have the same generation AF system, according to dpreview; the SAFOX VIII. I have never heard or read anywhere, that this system had predictive autofocus. The PZ-1 was said to have this (according the the user manual - which says about SERVO mode: "The predictive autofocus function is effective in this mode"). But I seriously doubt that the camera computer actaully did such focus calculations or really is very predictive. Even if they have just NAMED the servo mode/continuos mode "predictable autofucus" - it's still not very fast, is it? Regards Jens Bladt http://www.jensbladt.dk +45 56 63 77 11 +45 23 43 85 77 Skype: jensbladt248 -----Oprindelig meddelelse----- Fra: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] vegne af John Francis Sendt: 27. december 2006 21:12 Til: Pentax-Discuss Mail List Emne: Re: *istD AF On Wed, Dec 27, 2006 at 04:47:49PM +0100, Jens Bladt wrote: > Very nice photograph - in fact it's excellent! > This was not done with continous AF, was it? Well, at some distance any > photograph is always sharp. Only not necessarily where you wnat it to be. > In my experience the *istD AF/Continuos AF is not fast enough for anything > movuing faster than a walking human. I have pointed this out many times on > this list. Other list members allways seem to answer me, that shots like > this must be done using MF. That's a misrepresentation of the history. When you've posted examples in the past, it's often been pointed out to you that the problem lies with the selection of the auto-focus point. The camera is quite capable of tracking moving objects at speeds well in excess of humans walking (as photographs from myself and Doug Franklin, amongst others, demonstrate). -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.28/604 - Release Date: 12/26/2006 -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.28/604 - Release Date: 12/26/2006 -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net