street photography and shutter lag

Is there a way with cameras like Nikon 8400 and Minolta A200 to *fix*
the focus for several shots (not just before each one)? In other words
more or less like manual focus.
I like to prefocus on a couple of meters, using a wideangle lens. That
way the shutter delay (and my own reaction time) is minimal. I'd like
to have the shutter delay under 1/10 of a second.

By the way, here are two of my old pictures:
http://stobblehouse.com/arthome/stob/BW.JPG
http://stobblehouse.com/arthome/stob/2girls.JPG

 

Ooops, I was too impatient there. I have now found out from
megapixel.net that those cameras do indeed have manual focus. Kewl.

 

The 8400 has a manual focus mode, although I've never had occasion to use
it. I would imagine it would do what you want. Perhaps you could
download the manual to check. This site has the 5400 manual:
http://www.nikon.com.sg/

The only fixed-focus I've done has been at infinity - from an aircraft -
using the infinity setting.

David

 

Yeah.
I'd say that with the small sensor in a compact digicam, a wideangle,
and a medium aperture, the depth of field is practically infinite if
you focus in the middle distance. Certainly one meter to infinity is no
problem, probably much more.

 

David, I would assume the 8400 has the AF/AE button as well, no? On my 5700
you can set this to lock AT only, AE only or both. Being a newer model, I'd
assume the 8400 can do this as well?
________________________________________________________
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
http://EdwardGRuf.com

 

Ed Ruf wrote:
[]

Yes, indeed it does have the AE/AF-L button, so it should do everything
that's required.

I was reluctant to promise the OP that this would do /exactly/ what they
wanted as it is something is haven't /directly/ used myself.

Cheers,
David

 

Out of curiosity has Nikon fixed what I would consider a design flaw on the
57700, the need to hold the button down? I always thought and still think a
toggle would be much more usable.
________________________________________________________
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
http://EdwardGRuf.com

 

Ed Ruf wrote:
[]

As I haven't used it - I don't know!

If you don't have an 8400 manual, and could accept a 14MB file by e-mail
(perhap 18MB attachment size), I will e-mail you the manual (as I know you
are an existing Nikon user). Or download it yourself, of course.

Cheers,
David

 

________________________________________________________
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
http://EdwardGRuf.com

 

I would love to get it. (I did not see the 8400 in the Coolpix list on
the site you gave.)

TIP FOR SENDING LARGE FILES:
http://yousendit.com

 

Not quite, for that only locks the AF for ONE shot, right?

 

You will need to try another site.

Cheers,
David

 

Eolake Stobblehouse wrote:
[]

As I said, I haven't used the AF-L function so I can't say.

David

 

If it works like the AF/AE lock on the 5700, it's as long as you hold the
button down for, IIRC.
________________________________________________________
Ed Ruf Lifetime AMA# 344007 ()
http://EdwardGRuf.com