Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site wjvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!crsp!pesnta!wjvax!paul From: paul@wjvax.UUCP (Paul Summers) Newsgroups: net.rec.photo Subject: Re: Manual/Aperture/Program: Old vs. New Minolta Message-ID: <368@wjvax.UUCP> Date: Thu, 28-Feb-85 11:45:16 EST Article-I.D.: wjvax.368 Posted: Thu Feb 28 11:45:16 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 1-Mar-85 20:25:01 EST References: <1917@sdcc6.UUCP>, <162@rtech.ARPA>, <274@lcuxc.UUCP> Organization: Watkins Johnson, San Jose, Calif. Lines: 59 Being a fairly satisfied owner of a Minolta X-700, I'd like to offer a rebuttal to Ken Wolman's article comparing the X-700 to the venerable SRT-201. >...in high-contrast lighting situations where the programmed camera >can be easily fooled. ...the X-700's centerweight meter cannot handle >high-contrast. - True. I lost several shots this way before I learned how to compensate for this. >Using the AE lock on the camera is cumbersome; you have to extend your >fingers every which way to hold the lock down while going for the >shutter release. - Actually, I find the AE lock easy to use, and one of the most valuable features of the camera. It is located on the front of the body just under where your right middle finger touches the body. I have found that with a little practise, I can lock the exposure and get the shot off one handed. Granted, I have relatively large hands (although I can't palm a basketball). >The SRT enables me to bracket effortlessly (just ignore the match-needles) or >do a reading of my hand to establish the correct exposure. With the X-700, >if you read the shadows, you either have to use that damned AE lock or put >the camera on manual. - Using the AE lock in aperture mode, you can do the same thing: Focus, lock, open/close the aperture as desired. The AE lock only locks the shutter speed in aperture mode. >As for batteries, it seems to be a reasonably considerate >power-gobbler. - Yes and no. The X-700 is turned on only as long as you touch the shutter release, and then times out after 10 or 15 seconds of non-use. The real power gobbler is the shutter itself. I believe that one set of batteries will hold the shutter open for about 4 hours (not good for you astronomers out there). I've found that the more experienced I've become with the camera, the more I can anticipate how I should shoot the scene, either avoiding 'hot spots', use the AE lock, switch modes (Aperture priority, program or manual) or let the camera do the work. The moral is that you have to get experience with an advanced piece of equipment to best learn how to exploit its strengths and avoid its weaknesses. -- <*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*> Paul Summers Watkins Johnson, Co. 2525 N. First St. San Jose, Ca. 95131-1097 (408) 262-1411 x3203 ( {pesnta,twg,ios,qubix,turtlevax,tymix}!wjvax!paul ) Working is fine, but I wouldn't want to make a career out of it.