Crystal ball gazing with focus assist ;-)

[Winedemonium]

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When we read reviews regarding problems people are having with large sensors, like those in the Sony A7R and the Nikon D800 (36mp) out-resolving, and revealing flaws in previously highly regarded (for acuity) lenses, and then we read about the development of a new generation of lenses designed specifically to tackle and exceed this sensor capability (Zeiss Otus, Leica 50 APO), then people like Ming Thein and others have commented that the thing left behind is the human eye (and steady hand) - that the modern combination reveals flaws in focusing and shake more than ever.

 

Crystal ball gazing a little, I wonder if a future M rangefinder might have a sort of 'focus assist' feature based on retina scan, or simple telemetry through the rangefinder patch. Perhaps we focus in the normal way with the optical rangefinder patch, and then (optionally) allow the camera to guide us the that infinitesimal last fraction forward or back?

 

I have no idea if that is possible, but trying to focus on the eye of a human subject with a 75mm Summilux at 1.4 is a little of a strain to say the least! I wouldn't mind a little arrow sometimes saying "nudge it clockwise a hair".

 

For all that, I love the rangefinder approach, and the optical viewfinder, and I wouldn't trade it for EVF just for this feature, but wouldn't mind it overlaid.

[jankap]

Did you record the DOF of the Lux at perhaps 2 meters? That is about 4 cm.

You may not lean forward or backward during focusing! Rangefinder or focus peaking.

Imagine the Lux or the camera would have AF.

Jan

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[Winedemonium]

Did you record the DOF of the Lux at perhaps 2 meters? That is about 4 cm.

You may not lean forward or backward during focusing! Rangefinder or focus peaking.

Imagine the Lux or the camera would have AF.

Jan

 

What I would like is an electronic function on the camera to tell me - within that 4cm DOF at 2m - whether or not I am in focus. I can then move slightly forward or back, or turn the lens a little clockwise or anti-clockwise. But I want this to be an optional aid, so that I can continue to use the rangefinder manually, and optically, but to have this confirmation assistance if I want it.

 

At the moment sometimes I feel like Luke Skywalker waiting to fire his missiles into the Death Star.

[lct]

What I would like is an electronic function on the camera to tell me - within that 4cm DOF at 2m - whether or not I am in focus. I can then move slightly forward or back, or turn the lens a little clockwise or anti-clockwise. But I want this to be an optional aid, so that I can continue to use the rangefinder manually, and optically, but to have this confirmation assistance if I want it...

I have just a 75/2 but several 90s including apo and pre-apo Summicrons and the best assistances to me are a good eyepiece correction lens, a magnifier if need be and, first of all, a lens calibration done by Leica or a serious workshop. Now if you need some electronic assistance, the M240's EVF provides it actually. It is not the best one in town and you'll need steady hands or a tripod to get the best out of it but focus peaking together with image magnification work fine with my 90/2 lenses which have the same DoF at f/2 as your 75/1.4 at f/1.4.