Chinese New Year 2002, NYC
-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.
Just got a 15mm Voigtländer! Advice on focusing?greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread |
Hello All, I found a deal on this 15mm Voigtländer I just couldn't pass up. But even with the supplied M mount adapter there is no focus coupling. Any advice besides using the scale would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), April 11, 2002
Use hyperfocal focusing in bright daylight or tripod shots :)
-- Alfie Wang (leica_phile@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.
There is no other way to focus that lens but estimate the distance and scale focus it. With that focal length and speed lens, if you set it at 2 or 3 meters and didn't focus the lens at all, most of the shots would still be very sharp.
-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), April 11, 2002.
Alfie, Can you explain hyperfocal focusing?
-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), April 11, 2002.
Does the focus mark (and lens hood) come up to top dead center on the body with the adapter?Not a focusing question... just a general 15C/V on M question....
Thanks!
-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), April 11, 2002.
Charles, I think it is at 1 O'clock. According to previous threads, this has no affect on accuracy.
-- John Abela (jamriman@yahoo.com), April 11, 2002.
You think the lens hood is aligned sufficiently straight as to not cut the corners off?I've been wanting a 15CV, but heard this was a problem with some M adapters
-- Charles (cbarcellona@telocity.com), April 11, 2002.
If top-dead-center is within the two f8 depth of field marks on the lens there won't be a problem. That's quite a wide range, outside anything reported with the various adapters. Additionally, the mounting flange on the back of the lens is easily adjusted to rotate to lens to centered, if the error is sufficient (at least 5mm off), and you want to go to the bother.
-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.
Guess. It takes practice but it works.
-- Jeff Spirer (jeff@spirer.com), April 11, 2002.
My lens screws in almost exactly straight to the M-adapter, meaning that the aperture and focus marks are almost exactly in the top middle. If I tightened it some more (with heavy pliers) I could probably center it exactly, but it is now only about 0.7mm or so from the middle position, and I obviously don't want to abuse my lens with a wrench. If the lens does not screw in to the middle and is offset a lot, then the built in hood might start vignetting. I would try another mounting ring if that happened. Otherwise it should be no problem.Hyperfocal focusing means that you select the aperture you want to use, and then set the infinity marker to that aperture point in the depth of field scale of the lens. The actual (middle) setting will vary depending on the f-stop you chose. At that setting, the image will be in focus from infinity to as close as possible. You can check the closest distance that will be in focus by looking at the other depth of field marker for the same aperture. It will be about half of the actual (middle) distance setting.
Ilkka
-- Ilkka (ikuu65@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.
Also another point to note, with an angle as wide as this, you can very easily get your finger (the one that you use to focus Leica lenses that have the focus tab) in the shot as well!! Get into the habit of totally removing all fingers from the lens when you take the shot!
-- Karl Yik (karl.yik@dk.com), April 12, 2002.
In accordance to what Karl said, please never never support then lens with the left hand(if u r right shooter) when making the shot, or else all your pics would include the fingers.
-- Travis (teckyy@hotmail.com), April 12, 2002.
Practice. Practice. Guessing distance isn't hard and the lens has such an enormous DOF, it's kind of hard to get it wrong. All in all it's a fun lens. I like street shooting with it.
Chinese New Year 2002, NYC
-- Richard (rvle@yahoo.com), April 12, 2002.
This lens is actually easier to use than an AF lens. Just set it approximately and keep shooting!Joe
-- Joe Buechler (jbuechler@toad.net), April 12, 2002.
Richard - nice snap!John - "Focus?! You don' need no stinkin' FOCUS!'
With the 15 - at f/4.5 DOF covers infinity to 4 feet (focused at 2 meters) with some margin for error. At f/5.6 or f/8 (best performance) the DOF is wider than the entire range of the M rangefinder (.7m to infinity vs. .5 meters to infinity)
Hyperfocal focusing means using the DOF field scale to set a focus point midway (but not halfway) between the near and far distances you want to be sharp. E.g. with the 15: suppose you want the DOF to cover from .5 meters (19") to infinity. Just turn the lens while watching both ends of your range until both ends fall within the same f-number amrks (on different sides of the lens).
On my 15 the .5m and infinity marks 'hit' together on f/8 - while the 'actual' focus is on 1 meter. So by focusing on 1 meter and shooting at f/8 I know that anything from .5 meters on out will be sharp (at least according to Cosina's computers.)
Another example - for, say - close-in street shooting like Richard's. Assume you want f/4.5 for action-stopping shutter speed. Set 2 meters at f/4.5 on the RIGHT side of the scale, (actual focus just under 1 meter) - and the scale tells you the near focus 'sharpness' limit will be about 2.5 feet (left-hand 4.5 marking)
For really close work, carry a tape measure. Remember to measure from the FILM PLANE out - older Leicas have a mark for the film plane, but on an M6 TTL it's basically the back edge of the little dimple behind the shutter dial.
Another hint - first mentioned by Andrew Shank(?) on this forum. When you mount the 15mm (also the V'lander 25mm) the back rim of the lens tube presses lightly against the rangefinder roller - and "sets" the RF to about .9 -.95 meters. So you can actually use the rangefinder to position yourself just about exactly a yard from any subject. Then just set the lens to a whisker under 1 meter. This is a good 'environmental portrait' distance with the 15 - assuming you can deal with the stretching effects.
But for most work it's just 2 meters and be there - shifting to 1 meter if action gets under 5 feet or so.
-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), April 12, 2002.