tsleica Posted October 22, 2016 Share #1 Posted October 22, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just thought today...as I had bought a WATE 16/18/21 a couple of months ago used in mint cond..and am using it on an A7 as I don't have a digital M body yet.. But I noticed it changes focus a bit when you change the focal length from 16 to 18 or 21....and then you need to refocus it for the new setting...as it goes out by a couple of inches... I have adjusted to this..but if I get an M body soon..I'm wondering will the lens focus correctly..as in..is there an adjustment for the rangefinder body that I'm not aware of..for this lens to keep it in focus..or does my lens have an issue here..? Thx in advance for those who have worked with this lens on their M's..and can bring this into perspective for me.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 22, 2016 Posted October 22, 2016 Hi tsleica, Take a look here WATE Focus issues. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jdlaing Posted October 22, 2016 Share #2 Posted October 22, 2016 As you change focal length on either WATE or MATE the focus will change. There is really nothing you can do about it except refocus. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsleica Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share #3 Posted October 22, 2016 Thx for the above info! I'm relieved! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Lucan Posted October 22, 2016 Share #4 Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) I have both.Wate and Mate and also Konica Dual. I used all on A7R and they are wonderful,but Konica Dual is fantastic. I am thinking of parting one of them I would like to keep Mate but finding hard to decide which one of wide zoom should go. Edited October 22, 2016 by Lord Lucan Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsleica Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share #5 Posted October 22, 2016 I always wanted to try that Konica Dual..! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Lucan Posted October 22, 2016 Share #6 Posted October 22, 2016 I always wanted to try that Konica Dual..! It is very sharp but not many samples about. I think Sony can reintroduce this lens since they(Sony) took over Konica-Minolta including the work force. They have all those tools! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 22, 2016 Share #7 Posted October 22, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Just thought today...as I had bought a WATE 16/18/21 a couple of months ago used in mint cond..and am using it on an A7 as I don't have a digital M body yet.. But I noticed it changes focus a bit when you change the focal length from 16 to 18 or 21....and then you need to refocus it for the new setting...as it goes out by a couple of inches... I have adjusted to this..but if I get an M body soon..I'm wondering will the lens focus correctly..as in..is there an adjustment for the rangefinder body that I'm not aware of..for this lens to keep it in focus..or does my lens have an issue here..? Thx in advance for those who have worked with this lens on their M's..and can bring this into perspective for me.. Ok, I own this lens and I'm trying to understand what you are saying. You are saying that at 16mm/f4.0, you change to say 18mm by zooming, and the lens changes focus by an inch? How would you be able to tell? Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsleica Posted October 22, 2016 Author Share #8 Posted October 22, 2016 Just look at live view...and you can plainly see...the lens does not hold focus as you increase or decrease focal length.. I was surprised at this.. I didn't measure this exactly..didn't need to..as its all there on the screen..its probably several inches off at 8' when you zoom...or an inch or 2 at close up.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted October 22, 2016 Share #9 Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Most still camera zooms are varifocal - they change focus with a change in focal length. Better lenses designed for cinema cameras tend to be parfocal and hold focus throughout the zoom range. Edited October 22, 2016 by Luke_Miller 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted October 22, 2016 Share #10 Posted October 22, 2016 (edited) Hello Everybody, Many early zoom lenses were "parfocal". Meaning that as a person changed focal lengths the plane of focus remained where it had been. Later, some manufacturers began to build lenses that were "varifocal". Meaning that the lens had to be re-focused after changing the focal length. This was done to save money in manufacture since their were less variables to solve for. This allowed a lens to be smaller, lighter & less expensive to manufacture. The same with apertures. Early zoom lenses had fixed apertures regardless of what focal length people would zoom to. Variable aperture lenses allowed for smaller, lighter & less expensive lenses to manufacture since there were less variables to solve for. 1 advantage of zoom lenses with non-changing focal planes & non-changing apertures is that a person can zoom to the longest focal length, focus more accurately & meter more accurately & then adjust the focal length to cover the scene appropriately & then not have to refocus or to re-meter the scene. Best Regards, Michael Edited October 22, 2016 by Michael Geschlecht Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frase Posted October 22, 2016 Share #11 Posted October 22, 2016 But if the focus moves will the focus scale on the lens not be wrong? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted October 22, 2016 Share #12 Posted October 22, 2016 I don't own a WATE so I might well be wrong but I seem to remember reading that it's not actually a true zoom lens but is classed as variable focal length. It is a zoom. The only M zoom made. The MATE is the one you are thinking of. The MATE is not a true zoom. Rick Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdlaing Posted October 22, 2016 Share #13 Posted October 22, 2016 But if the focus moves will the focus scale on the lens not be wrong?The distance scale, for the matter of focus difference of a couple inches over eight feet, is not accurate.If you move the focus ring ever so slightly with aperture wide open you'll see what I mean. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Q Posted October 25, 2016 Share #14 Posted October 25, 2016 I had trouble focusing the WATE on A7's. I found it quite time-consuming trying to nail critical focus with a f4 UWA lens using focus-peaking. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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