Deterministic photography

[RichardM8]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

I had a Mid-Point engraved by my local optician, they have the instruments for this, not only are they able to find the exact mid-point, they can also make the "point/mark" very neat.

 

That's a clever one! Do you have a pic how that looks Jan?

[Advertisement]

The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[BB W]

...

I set the focus point at the menu top setting which gives a useful but small area for aligning the focus point. It is more versatile than spot focusing and much less confusing than using multi-points for focusing. With practice I can now visualize the centre point, at mid to long ranges, with near 100% accuracy. As I said, at closer ranges I resort to using the LCD which lights up at the touch of the Info button.

 

Taking the above question, I place the imaginary centre point on the critical focus point in my image; take a half-pressure to lock focus; re-frame and shoot. For important subjects I repeat this two or three times to ensure I get the perfect shot. It minimizes ruination by unwanted transient facial expressions or gestures etc.

 

I hope that helps those uncertain about the benefits of the OVF.

 

wda, you do not mean you use the '1 point high", but rather you're using the 1 point and actually moving it to the top middle point of the focusing grid that one can access by pressing and holding the focus mode button? Most of the time, I've been using 1 point High and spot metering. I'm not quite sure why you choose that location...but it's probably just me not getting it.

 

One thing that I keep forgetting is that the camera retains the last settings one has used. I suppose that is why one creates a profile - and something I ought to consider doing.

[johnwolf]

...Having a tool where you can count on the results turning out the way you expect is what I call a deterministic camera....

 

You must work in industrial automation, which is the only place I hear "deterministic" used in this way. Thanks for the X1 report. Glad it's working out so well for you.

 

John

[wda]

wda, you do not mean you use the '1 point high", but rather you're using the 1 point and actually moving it to the top middle point of the focusing grid that one can access by pressing and holding the focus mode button? Most of the time, I've been using 1 point High and spot metering. I'm not quite sure why you choose that location...but it's probably just me not getting it.

No, I do not move the focus point 'off-centre' unless doing a tripod shot indoors. The whole idea of using a single point focus, centrally located, is to simplify the guess-work when selecting the desired image in the OVF. It really is a very effective way of framing an image through the OVF.

 

Elsewhere, there is a debate over using the OVF. I have no difficulty in aligning my eyesight through the central axis. It is not a difficult skill to acquire.

[BB W]

I see where I misunderstood you yesterday "I set the focus point at the menu top setting". I'll blame it on a long drive home from a short vacation.

 

I have set it as you, and at 1 point H. I'm really not sure which is better for me. I'd have to really concentrate to see the differences. I have read that 1 point H can make the LCD a slow, if that's the right word.

 

Thanks wda for following up. I've been getting more used to the OVF and am sure I will only improve given time.

[wda]

... I have read that 1 point H can make the LCD a slow, if that's the right word.

 

Thanks wda for following up. I've been getting more used to the OVF and am sure I will only improve given time.

 

According to the Leica Instructions, 1 point H only affects the rewriting of the LCD; but that is irrelevant when using the OVF. 1 point H employs a rather more tolerant focusing area than is the case with 'Spot', which is welcome when using the optical finder.

[BB W]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Yes, that's how I read it as well wda. I think I'll hang on to 1 point H for a while. I need tolerance.

[JeTexas]

I used the X1 "in the field" today for the first time. It was just cloudy enough that I could get by using the LCD with brightness set to high. I was shooting a sporting clay tournament. It's sort of a hard event to cover as you can't stand out in front of the shooters to catch their faces.

 

I was just reviewing some of my shots and the X1 absolutely blew me away. Here's a 100 percent crop of similar shots. The one on the left is my D70s with an 18-200mm f3.5 lens. To be fair, the D70 is only 6mp, which is why it's half the size of the 12mp X1 crop. A better comparison would be the Nikon D90, but I'm slow about upgrading gear that's still working. Of course, after seeing this, I realize how bad my D70s is these days.

 

No editing was done to these. It's the finest JPG setting on both cameras, straight off the memory cards.

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

[BB W]

Good for you - I haven't seen clay pigeon shooting in years! Well done and an impressive jpeg, too.