Will I get used to focus with a Leica

[shoeshine]

I have always used an SLR, and became interested in Leica when I started to look for a more compact camera. I pre-ordered an X1 and started to spend time on different Leica forums to the extent that I am now considering an M8 or 8.2. My problem, however, when playing with an M8 in a store is the focusing. I think it is extremely difficult get the focus right. I have only tried to do this inside a store where it has been relatively dark. Is this something that needs practice or is a rangefinder camera not just for me?

[lct]

Needs practice indeed. If you cannot borrow a Leica i would borrow or buy a cheaper rangefinder in the first place to make sure that RFs suit you.

[Mark Pope]

Focusing does need some practice. Using a rangefinder is very different from using SLRs, as the image itself doesn't snap in and out of focus..
Personally, I don't remember having any difficulty making the transition. When I have a kit cleaning session in front of the telly, I find it's worth having a little practice session.

Beats what's usually on the box into a cocked hat.

Cheers


Mark

[Mark Pope]

Originally Posted by lct

Needs practice indeed. If you cannot borrow a Leica i would borrow or buy a cheaper rangefinder in the first place to make sure that RFs suit you.

That's good advice - my first rangefinder was an Olympus 35RC, which I bought in about 1980. Something like that or a secondhand Voigtlander Bessa might be a good place to start.

Cheers


Mark

I had real buyers remorse when I bought an M8 with funds from selling a Canon 1Ds Mark 2 and a few L lenses. I went on a trip to London and used the M8 all weekend. I was so horrified when I got home that so many of my photographs were either out of focus or had far too shallow depth of field (admittedly I was stupidly shooting at f/1.4 a lot 'because I could').

But now having persevered with the rangefinder I find it a wonderful way to photograph and not difficult at all. Took me months of use to really feel comfortable with it but it has improved my photography skills for sure.

Daniel

[farnz]

Originally Posted by shoeshine

... My problem, however, when playing with an M8 in a store is the focusing. I think it is extremely difficult get the focus right. I have only tried to do this inside a store where it has been relatively dark. Is this something that needs practice or is a rangefinder camera not just for me?

Welcome to the forum, Shoeshine!

Focussing a rangefinder camera can be a bit difficult at first until you find what works for you but when you do it's extremely rewarding.

If the store was quite dark it won't have helped your focussing but it depends what lens you were using too. If you were trying out a fast lens wide open because of the store's gloominess then your depth of focus (depth of field) may have been very shallow, which makes focussing harder to nail.

If you were using a telephoto lens say, 75, 90 or 135 mm then that won't have made it any easier either because of the increased distance between you and the subject, which makes the subject small in the viewfinder, and you might have benefitted from a viewfinder magnifier.

There are two fundamental ways to use a viewfinder to focus a rangefinder camera: the first is to adjust the the two images until they fully overlap and you'll see a single higher contrast image; or secondly to find a 'broken' straight line at your chosen point of focus that crosses the edge of the rangefinder patch and adjust focus until it becomes a single line. It's sometimes helpful to turn the camera on an angle until you find focus.

The other thing to consider is whether the viewfinder in the camera you were trying out was out of adjustment - it's not uncommon for this to happen with rf cameras.

Pete.

[jsrockit]

I don't remember a learning curve when I switched, but I do remember loving it. I think with rangefinders you either love them or hate them. I do not agree to try just any old rangefinder...but try any Leica you can get your hands on. If you don't like Leica rangefinders, it is safe to say you won't like any.

[jbgeach]

When I started I had trouble until I realized I was covering the whole lighting the focusing area, that makes it very hard. Don't worry, after a couple of weeks, it is no slower than selecting a focusing point on an SLR

[AlbertoDeRoma]

Originally Posted by shoeshine

I have always used an SLR, and became interested in Leica when I started to look for a more compact camera. I pre-ordered an X1 and started to spend time on different Leica forums to the extent that I am now considering an M8 or 8.2. My problem, however, when playing with an M8 in a store is the focusing. I think it is extremely difficult get the focus right. I have only tried to do this inside a store where it has been relatively dark. Is this something that needs practice or is a rangefinder camera not just for me?

You'll get the hang of it. I also had trouble at first (and it's always a challenge when there is little light) but in a week or so I was able to focus much more quickly.

One trick (unless you are using hyperfocal range - see below) is to always return the lens to the infinity setting between shots. This way you know where you are and the direction to turn the focusing ring. For most shots, 2/3 of the range are far too close so most of the action - at least for me is in the 10ft to infinity range - which is only 15-20deg of turning.

I also suggest you read up on hyperfocal distance and practice using the depth of field scale on your lenses. I find that in many cases - especially street photography - I get better results by pre-setting the focus so I am ready in a fraction of a second.

Hang in there. It's fun and it will be worth it.

Alberto

P.S. One of the reason I became proficient relatively quickly is that I practiced quite a bit. One of the cool things about rangefinders is that you don't have to turn the camera on to practice focusing.

[jbgeach]

A warning, the depth of field scale on your lens is for printing at 4x6 assuming you want to go 8x10 or higher, use the next stop down and your shots will be much sharper

[shoeshine]

Thanks for the advice. I feel quite confident that I can learn to get the focus right. On the other hand now I am really confused as to which one to buy, the X1 or an M8.2, but that's a whole new topic.

[earleygallery]

Depends what you want to do with the camera. The X1 is really just a larger format P&S type camera (auto focus, LCD 'viewfinder' etc., albeit with manual controls) whereas the M8 is a system rangefinder camera with a wide variety of lenses available.

One isn't better - or worse - than the other.

[mckeough_k]

first time can be discouraging; try again in good light. Don't let your finger block the little window as mentioned.

[brianv]

Takes a little bit of practice. The M8 offers immediate feedback that you've done it correctly, or made a mistake. It will not take much time at all. Remember that when the focus is WAY off, the object may not be in the view of the RF patch at all.

This book from the 1940s is great for focusing and holding Rangefinder Cameras:
35mm Photo Technique, H S Newcombe



Cheap on Ebay or used book stores. Also the Leica Manual. A good book can give some quick hints.

[Anguish]

I gave up the SLR for two years just so the rangefinder focus would become second-nature. Haven't taken the SLR back up.

[sore80]

Originally Posted by PhotoWebb.co.uk

>snip<

But now having persevered with the rangefinder I find it a wonderful way to photograph and not difficult at all. Took me months of use to really feel comfortable with it but it has improved my photography skills for sure.

Daniel

Looked at some of your galleries. I do believe you have figured it our quite nicely....

[sore80]

Originally Posted by shoeshine

I have always used an SLR, and became interested in Leica when I started to look for a more compact camera. I pre-ordered an X1 and started to spend time on different Leica forums to the extent that I am now considering an M8 or 8.2. My problem, however, when playing with an M8 in a store is the focusing. I think it is extremely difficult get the focus right. I have only tried to do this inside a store where it has been relatively dark. Is this something that needs practice or is a rangefinder camera not just for me?

You will have to think about focus. You will learn to pre-focus. You will learn to guess distances and set the camera so that when you lift it to your eye it need only be tweaked, if at all. You will learn to zone focus and realize that it makes you much faster than waiting for an autofocus camera to find focus on a hopefully correct spot. You will be amazed at how well all these things work. Every now and then you will have a situation difficult to focus as you wish.

It will become second nature.

A rangefinder is not a jack-of-all-trades kind of camera but you are more likely to carry it with you than most comparable quality DSLR's and in my opinion that counts for a whole lot. Your mileage may vary.

[RickLeica]

Depends, how good is your eye site?

[Bo_Lorentzen]

+1 borrow a rangefinder and play with it for a weekend, or rent one, before you make the jump.

Personally Im not tooo keen on the pre-focus and scale focusing stuff, I feel its too often is "almost" there, and personally prefer actually focusing the camera for each frame. but then I also like shooting wider f.stops which are practically impossible to prefocus.

In the beginning always push the focus to infinity, then you just need to pull on the focus tab until the image is sharp. But surprisingly, very quickly you will notice that your hand moves the right way to get focus simply by seeing the two images in the rangefinder, I could not tell you which way is what, but somehow my hand figured it out so I don't question how its done, but its fast, and that is all I need to know.

.