I recently discovered a little trick to make focusing close up shots easier with this non-RF coupled lens. I have not had any trouble scale focusing subjects 5 or 6 feet or further, but haven't had as good a success rate on close ups. I noticed that the double image in my finder of both my CLE and Leica M camera will line up precicely at about .85 meters when this lens is mounted on the camera. So now I set the lens at .85 meters on its scale, and move in and out slightly until the double image lines up, and it gives me super accurate close focus to this uncoupled lens. Thought I'd share this tip with some of the other 25mm V users.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), February 02, 2002

Answers

"Even a broken clock is still right twice a day."

Andrew - excellent reporting. I'd noticed this effect, but I'd never taken the effort to research the exact distance the 25 'sets' the focus to.

The 25's rim actually pushes against the camera's focusing cam (which is why it's .85m instead of the normal minimum focusing distance for the M - .6 (something or other) meters. And it should, therefore, be consistent from camera to camera.

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), February 03, 2002.

Andrew--

You're brilliant. I'm going to try it.

Cheers!

-- Alex Shishin (shishin@pp.iij4-u.or.jp), February 04, 2002.

Thanks Andrew -great tip.

-And thanks Andy for explaining why.

I have been toying with the thought of getting this lens for a while, but have hesitated due to lack of rangefinder coupling. An 85-cm. focus confirmation seem to be very useful for this particular focal length.

-- Niels H. S. Nielsen (nhsn@ruc.dk), February 04, 2002.

Great tip, Andrew. Another reason why I love this forum. I recently got this lens and love the results.

-- Ronald Blachly (theblach@swbell.net), February 04, 2002.