Stepping away from P/S and going DSLR, what do I need?

[Lost Canadian]

manual focus on a high res EVF with zoom feature is also superior to pure optical VF, especially compared to today's DSLRs' focus screens, that makes focus difficult to discern.

I agree with one very big caveat, it's pretty useless for moving objects. For those that haven't tried it, it's like trying to manually track focus while using live view magnified at 10x. I still prefer to manually focus moving objects with a real, bright, viewfinder,....actually, when it comes to movement the use of intelligent AF does a heck of a lot better job at mantaining focus on moving objects then I can manually focussing. In my opinion good AF is superior for movement in almost every way fathomable, it's certainly one of the benefits of modern day photography.

 

[ywen]

I agree with one very big caveat, it's pretty useless for moving objects. For those that haven't tried it, it's like trying to manually track focus while using live view magnified at 10x. I still prefer to manually focus moving objects with a real, bright, viewfinder,....actually, when it comes to movement the use of intelligent AF does a heck of a lot better job at mantaining focus on moving objects then I can manually focussing. In my opinion good AF is superior for movement in almost every way fathomable, it's certainly one of the benefits of modern day photography.

Well I made my statement in the context of your using MF for landscape phtoos.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Well I made my statement in the context of your using MF for landscape phtoos.

For landscape I like to use the LCD and live view. For me it's just the easiest and most accurate way to find the hyperfocal distance, assuming there is enough light to actually see and use the LCD of course.:ylsmoke:

A shot like this for instance still required the use of a good old fashion viewfinder as it was almost pitch black at the time of exposure and the LCD would show me nothing.

 

[ywen]

For landscape I like to use the LCD and live view. For me it's just the easiest and most accurate way to find the hyperfocal distance, assuming there is enough light to actually see and use the LCD of course.:ylsmoke:

A shot like this for instance still required the use of a good old fashion viewfinder as it was almost pitch black at the time of exposure and the LCD would show me nothing.

Yep the problem with all mass-produced mechanical devices is that there is always some margin of error. For example, my Canon 24mm f/1.4 lens' infinity mark is not actually as indicated on the lens barrel. So If I shoot long exposure at f/1.4, even a bit from true infinity shows up in the image. Which is why I'm glad to have LiveView on my 5D2.

Also when I shoot portraits with my 45mm T+S lens, it is much easier to confirm focus with LiveView than it is with the optical finder.

 

[ywen]

Found this hiking trip report with the EP-1 highlighting the tremendous advantage of that form factor over DSLR. Damn! Makes me wish I hadn't just sold my E-P1... the colors from the Oly is truly amazing!

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1041&thread=36562554

 

[Honu]

If camera makers get contrast detect AF close to the performance of phase detection, especially in low light, the EVIL's could really prove to be a perfect travel camera system. Exciting times to be a photographer either way.

my thoughts also

I guess the price we pay for portability at this time once focus gets down will be much nicer

 

[Honu]

The current generation of Panasonic M4/3 cameras have very repectable autofocus speeds, very close if not equal to entry level DSLR's. I'm not sure why Olympus couldn't make theirs comparable. It is the main reason I chose Panasonic over Olympus. But on their latest GH2 Panasonic managed to decrease their autofocus lag to .1s, claiming to be the fastest autofocus for any camera of it's type. Not sure if that means fastest of any contrast detect, or interchangeable lens in general. Either way it's impressive.

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in playing with them its not the lag/speed its the tough conditions and the ability in conditions that might not be best etc.. that the contrast type just does not do it