Focus Button on Contax 645??

[charlesp]

I've just discovered (belatedly) the "focus button" on my C645.

The manual makes a brief comment with no real explanation.

Can someone explain how it works? I primarily use manual

focus and often find no green light, a blinking or erratic green

light. I'm guessing that the focus button helps in these situations

On another note, is ther some way to make the auto bracketing

only bracket one way, i.e + not - ?

I almost never have overexposure, but frequently a +1/3 or +1/2

stop would help.

Thanks all.

.

[colin_elliott]

If you have the camera set to Manual focus, this green button will allow you to "touch up" the focus automatically. I use this button extensively. I virtually always use Manual Focus mode to get me in the zone, but "touch up" with the focus button before shooting.

In Autofocus mode, this button will allow you to focus; just as pressing on the shutter release will.As you most likely know, when in Autofocus mode, one can "Manually" focus just by grasping the lens focus ring. I've had my C645 since 1999 and think it's the best camera I've ever owned. How do you find your experiences with it?

 

Regrettably, Auto Bracketing is only in + and - modes. As a transparency film user, I tend to err on the side of underexposure and a - bracketing only, would be a great idea. I've thought this for years. By the same token, having taken photographs for some 50+ years, I seldom bracket my exposures. I never even owned an exposure meter of any kind for my first 10 years!

[hendrik]

I use it all the time.

 

Camera set on manual focus, and by pressing this button you have Auto focus too. Very handy. You can then fine tune manually.

 

Regards.

[charlesp]

Thanks for the response guys. Do I understand that the focus

button has no effect with the manual-focus-only Macro 120mm?

That is my main lens, and I have to admit the only real issue I

ever have with my camera is that I miss the focus more than I

like even though i use the split image focusing screen. Must be

my not so great eyesight.. Colin, overall I love the camera, though

I secretly wish I had a faster focusing option for certain

occasions. But I'll never sell the Contax..The only glitch I've ever

had is an odd lock-up issue, where I need to take the back off

and on. I've heard that the contacts can be a fidgety. And recently,

after putting in a new roll of 220, instead of advancing to the first

frame, it advanced right through the entire roll. Still baffled about

that