----- Original Message ----- From: "Jens Bladt" Subject: RE: *istD AF
Yes, so it seems. Only in the PDF-manaul this is page 72. So, what does it do, when the subject is fixed and YOU move the CAMERA? It may work fine in theory. But in the real world, the images rarely turn out sharp, if the subject is moving. I can say this because I used this camera close to every day for 28 months, releasing the shutter appr. 45000 times. Perhaps the micro chip can cope (which I doubt), but the speed of the whole system is still slow compared to the mayor players in the high end DSLR segment. To me this is not very important, since I don't do sports photography (perhaps the camera limitations are the real reason for this). When I shoot images like these I use manual focus, because I can't release the shutter at the decisive moment if I use AF: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bladt/sets/72057594101295335/show/ For pro photographers this is obviously a major issue, since they tend to choose faster cameras. I plan to buy a K10D anyway, regardsless that it is using the same old (2003) SAFOX VIII system. Obviously the speed is is not a huge priority for Pentax. Luckily it's the same for me. Predictive AF is a pretty misunderstood tool. It only works if the subject is moving in a predictable (read: straight line) way, and yes, the AF has to be able to keep up with what is happening. John Francis and Doug Franklin are shooting racing cars using Pentax predictive AF, but I know that most field sports photographers tend to use manual focus. The better ones know the sport they are shooting, and can predictwhere the action will take place and be ready for it. William Robb -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List PDML@pdml.net http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
