I have a bit of trouble focusing my M6 TTL with a 50mm 1.4 in a vertical format position. If I do it like the book suggests I can barely turn the focusing ring. Does anyone make a quick focusing knob for this lens? Than

-- Michael Bryan (mbryan@crcwnet.com), September 23, 2001

Answers

Michael,

I’ve read of people using nylon tiewraps, rubberbands, and other appendages to gain leverage on Leica lenses without focusing tabs. Coming from a predominantly 35mm SLR background I had the same inclination with the M6 50mm f/1.4 also, but I’ve found the answer, for me anyway, is in my feet.

The Leica rangefinder requires the left wrist to be (I think the term is) pronated – the thumb forward of the “pinky” finger. This gets the left hand under the lens, out of the way of the rangefinder. It requires the left forearm to be under the camera in landscape aspect, and to the right of the camera in portrait aspect. The problem with portrait aspect is, if you address the subject straight on, you must somehow contort your left arm across your chest (and, for some of us, greater obstacles).

However, if you address your subject as an archer would, aligning your feet and shoulders towards the target, your left arm simply stays still, and your right hand moves around and above the left. For portrait shots I find this stance quite comfortable. Landscape feels a little cramped this way, but you can pretty easily “open” your stance as you would with an SLR.

After thinking about it I believe the Leica M’s cannot be used fluently without opposed thumbs, which distinguishes it from an EOS.

Cheers,

-- Jeff Stuart (jstuart1@tampabay.rr.com), September 23, 2001.

FWIW I have to say that I too have the same problem with focusing (because my left hand is a bit more conked out than the right hand). This applied especially to the 1.4/50s and the 75s I have tried to focus. I found it to be similar, although not that hard or firm to turn, on the current 2/50 I had. I have already mentioned this in our debates lately about the love and need of a tab (however personal and/or silly some of us may think). I therefore wrote Leica again about tabs, this time to find out if a tab itself (like a spare part) has ever been able to be purchased and put on a lens by them as a custom job for us, or if this could even be done by us ourself. Haven't heard from them yet, and if I ever do, I'll let you know.

-- Michael Kastner (kastner@zedat.fu-berlin.de), September 24, 2001.

Michael

I'm one of those mentioned above who wouldn't know what to do without 10 cent cableties around the focussing ring of my 50 cron and my 75 lux. I'm reproposing two quick and dirty snaps of that setup.

-- Lutz Konermann (lutz@konermann.net), September 24, 2001.

The best solution for this is to send your lens to Leica and have a tab (actually a lever) installed. What they do is tap (drill) into the lens then take a lever with a thread on it so you can screw it into the hole. The one problem is if you have a 50/1.4 or 50/2.0 with reversible hood is that will no longer work unless you unscrew the lever, so some people cut a notch in the hood to bypass the lever.

-- Steve LeHuray (icommag@toad.net), September 24, 2001.

Counter to the "book" recommendation, I hold the camera right edge down (viewfinder up) for verticals, to permit easier focusing, especially for smaller lenses with focus tabs. I also don't like raising my right arm in the "recommended" manner in crowds, because I feel too exposed to pickpockets, etc. Instead, I drop my right arm and bring both elbows in towards my stomach to steady both arms. Exhale and you have a very steady platform. You can steady the camera in the heel of your right hand easily if you use a soft release on the shutter that permits you to release the shutter with the middle of your right index finger instead of your finger tip. Another trick is to wrap the strap around one wrist or the other (I use my right) to fix the camera in your hand. Even so, I find it far easier to focus with lenses that have a focus tab. In my kit, the 21, 35 and 50 all have the tab, and I can focus quickly by feel--vertical or horizontal--because all three have nearly the same focus distance with a given angle of the lever. Try a soft release--it gives you the option of grips that would otherwise be unstable, and may free up your left hand for easier focusing of your 50/1.4.

-- Tim Nelson (timothy.nelson@yale.edu), September 24, 2001.