Originally posted by ThorSanchez Because autofocus is a baseline expectation for almost every lens made by a first-party camera manufacturer in the last decade or more. Manual focus is left for third party specialty or budget lenses.
What is the last manual focus lens made by a major camera manufacturer? What is the last one by Pentax? Have they made one in the digital era?
Of course, it's a baseline expectation today ... to me it doesn't make it the best and only expectation. Everyone is on the same band wagon.
Take my K-1 ... because it's a "pro" class FF DSLR, there's no on-board flash like all others in its class ... which is quite stupid to me since I often need a handy lil' flash to fill in, etc. The KP (ASP-C) ain't "pro" class, so it gets an on-board flash. Will the new APS-C flagship get a flash ? ... I am afraid that the marketing people drive that decision more than photographers.
To me, most manufacturers bend to this (these) "unwritten rule(s)" and please do state that there's no room for a flash. My PZ-1 has a very handy flash (1/250) with 1/8000 ... I wish that K-1 had this flash feature. But no ... it's not allowed in today's product marketing straight-jacket norms.
This is lock-set, herd-like thinking which predominates a lot of modern photography thinking and product offers IMHO. All major manufacturer lenses must have AF ... otherwise it's "third rate". I would be really happy if Pentax would go more "retro" with its glass and re-edit some of its killer MF lenses ... with WR and more modern elements plus coatings. Forget the new D-FA 85/1.4 which will cost an arm & leg ... just "modernize" my killer SMC K 85/1.8 MF and add a better focus point indicator system in the viewfinder for MF lens use.
And there's no secret to work digital with MF lenses ... since one can take many, many images at no extra cost (unlike film), just pan throw the focus a bit in front and a bit behind ... nearly impossible not to get the one you want ... and maybe see something other than what an AF system could lock you into seeing initially.
Just my
deux centimes of a € ...