Getting frustrated with Nikon ... so, what about Canon, then?

[epp_b]

^ Lighten up. I'm just trying to have an interesting technical discussion, there's no need to bring insults into it.

Darrel, I understand that the 16-85 is f/3.5-5.6. Canon's 17-85 is f/4-5.6. Compared on the most directly-competing bodies, I found the Canon to be faster. I never claimed that one was more accurate.

I don't think there's really any way I can convey this to you people using just words. I'm very perceptive to minute technical nuances and I don't really understand what or how other people feel and sense things.

 

[itznfb]

I can count on both hands the number of times I've missed a shot because my camera/lens was slow to find focus and that is usually because I've been caught unawares.

then that would be because you were caught unawares,,,, not becuase the camera/lens was slow

i can honestly say i've NEVER missed a shot due to my camera/lens.

 

[ANDS!]

I can count on both hands the number of times I've missed a shot because my camera/lens was slow to find focus and that is usually because I've been caught unawares.

then that would be because you were caught unawares,,,, not becuase the camera/lens was slow

i can honestly say i've NEVER missed a shot due to my camera/lens.

No. Lenses CAN be slow to find focus depending on the situation: try focusing with a telephoto from near to maybe halfway to infinity bird nestled in a tree surrounded by branches and leaves.

As someone already mentioned, cameras focus based on contrast detection; if the level of contrast isn't as robust - you are going to have difficulty focusing.

 

[itznfb]

I can count on both hands the number of times I've missed a shot because my camera/lens was slow to find focus and that is usually because I've been caught unawares.

then that would be because you were caught unawares,,,, not becuase the camera/lens was slow

i can honestly say i've NEVER missed a shot due to my camera/lens.

No. Lenses CAN be slow to find focus depending on the situation: try focusing with a telephoto from near to maybe halfway to infinity bird nestled in a tree surrounded by branches and leaves.

As someone already mentioned, cameras focus based on contrast detection; if the level of contrast isn't as robust - you are going to have difficulty focusing.

i don't think i've ever tried to use AF in those situations. so the blame would be on me not the camera, but also doesn't really apply to this discussion. i can see why you may miss a shot under those circumstances due to AF not hitting the mark.... but in those situations the chances of the focus hitting a branch or leaf instead of the bird are high enough that the body and lens don't matter.... which may have been the point you were trying to make.