I have another reason to support a manually chosen focus point (or at least,
the option of selecting one of several predetermined points). I have found a
number of images where the focus point is such that the image will not
autofocus in an LS4000 (usually a dark, low contrast area such as a black or
dark colored fish). The only solution I found to this (in Vuescan) is to
switch off the autofocus and then make multiple guesses of the manual focus
point until I get a preview that is in focus (difficult to determine precisely
since Vuescan does not allow the preview image to be zoomed - or at least I
have not found a way to do this).
Shifting the focus point, as in 7.2.11 (I have not yet implemented this
upgrade) will not solve this problem. It will simply mean that autofocus will
fail for different images than in previous versions with a central focus area.
You definitely have my vote for a little more complex interface so "power"
users can gain more control of the autofocus location.
At 06:05 PM 12/03/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>In a message dated 12/3/2001 5:56:59 PM EST, rarewolf@roadrunner.nf.net
>writes:
>
>> How 'bout if you could specify the area with a small crop region ...
>> enable manual focus, and then device=>focus(?) It would be nice if the
>> "manual focus" number updated itself ...
>
>I understand what you (and others) are asking for. I'd probably
>implement this if someone could show (with actual scans)
>that specifying a focus point manually works better than what
>VueScan 7.2.11 already implements.
>
>Regards,
>Ed Hamrick
Dr. Douglas A. Segar (dsegar@reefimages.com)
Oceanographer/Photographer
<>
Coral Reef Creatures. Underwater photography. Stock image portfolios
