delander † Posted July 7, 2011 Share #1 Posted July 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) At the age of 66 I'm finding manual focussing of my M cameras is slowing me down. Some say this is good but I often feel frustrated that I'm not able to 'point and shoot' and catch the moment as I see it. My eyesight is OK, nothing out of the ordinary for my age, I do wear reading glasses. I've tried magnifiers and have dioptre correction lenses on my 3 main M cameras. My left eye is better than my right but the cameras are designed for right eye use. I wonder if others of my age are finding the same but too proud to admit it here? Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 7, 2011 Posted July 7, 2011 Hi delander †, Take a look here Too old for a M camera?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wooferdog Posted July 7, 2011 Share #2 Posted July 7, 2011 Your not too old. I'm 62 , switched from right eye to left eye after my optometrist told me the left was much stronger than the right ..... whatever it takes Best regards Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 7, 2011 Share #3 Posted July 7, 2011 No- but I tend to forget to reset manually selected lenses. Otoh, I would have done so at 25 as well.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustafasoleiman Posted July 7, 2011 Share #4 Posted July 7, 2011 What was the question? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gyoung Posted July 7, 2011 Share #5 Posted July 7, 2011 I have always used the Ms with the left eye, that way the camera rests against the face and is more stable, if anything I would suggest they were designed for left eye use. I am 67, and value the consideration needed to use a manual, mechanical camera, if I need fast point and shoot (ie for the grandson ) I use a digital Panasonic G1 Gerry Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 7, 2011 Share #6 Posted July 7, 2011 No- but I tend to forget to reset manually selected lenses. Otoh, I would have done so at 25 as well.. Jaap, SET USER PROFILE having set them up for your most used situations. Granted you have to remember that drill; but I find that easier than making incessant changes 'on the fly'. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
archi4 Posted July 7, 2011 Share #7 Posted July 7, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) I am 74, use eyeglasses for reading but no problem focusing even my very fast grandchildren of 5 and 3. Use leica correction lenses - very important to get the right strength and with 50 and longer lenses the leica 1.25 magnifier that has a higher contradt than non-leica ones. Without the magnifier my results are just as good, probably because the contrast is higher. Most important are the diopter correction lens and in my case using the magnifier requires a different correction. maurice Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 7, 2011 Share #8 Posted July 7, 2011 Jaap, SET USER PROFILE having set them up for your most used situations. Granted you have to remember that drill; but I find that easier than making incessant changes 'on the fly'. I just remembered, that is exactly what I did and forget. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted July 7, 2011 Share #9 Posted July 7, 2011 At the age of 66 I'm finding manual focussing of my M cameras is slowing me down. Some say this is good but I often feel frustrated that I'm not able to 'point and shoot' and catch the moment as I see it. My eyesight is OK, nothing out of the ordinary for my age, I do wear reading glasses. I've tried magnifiers and have dioptre correction lenses on my 3 main M cameras. My left eye is better than my right but the cameras are designed for right eye use. I wonder if others of my age are finding the same but too proud to admit it here? Jeff Jeff, your experience is nothing unusual. As individuals we age at different rates and have to make adjustments accordingly. Quite a few are older than you yet still succeed with rangefinder cameras. Just accept that it may take a little more effort and time. After trying adapter lenses I have settled on using my prescription spectacles, augmented by the use of a 1.4x Leica magnifier for my 75, 90 and 135mm lenses. There is a small penalty with the latter. I have to remember to remove it for lenses of wider focal lengths. After initially trusting autofocus in other cameras, I still find I do better with my range-finders. Autofocus is not immune to error. Indeed, many older photographers return to using range-finders because of errors which occur with manually and auto-focusing reflex cameras. Like many, I have been warned that cataracts are building and that will entail some corrective surgery in due time. Meanwhile, I concentrate on enjoying my M cameras while I can. I hope you find a happy solution too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bocaburger Posted July 7, 2011 Share #10 Posted July 7, 2011 I've still got quite a way to go before I hit my 60s but I have worn glasses for strong nearsightedness and astigmatism since the fifth grade, and for the last few years have had to get progressive lenses due to decreasing accomodation at closer distance. I have absolutely no difficulty focusing a Leica without any diopters. I did start to have a problem, then I visited my eye doc and he said my prescription had changed (less correction needed for distance, more for near)...new prescription, Leica focusing problem solved. So the first thing I'd do is get your eyes examined if you haven't had it in the last year. Not a bad idea anyway once we're into middle age, because glaucoma is one of those things like hypertension that sneak up silently but if detected early can be treated before they cause permanent damage. Focusing the Leica on subjects moving quickly in random directions (like children and pets) was something I have always had difficulty with, even when I had my first Leica as a college kid. I always liked the wide-aperture/short-tele subject isolation, so stopping down a wide lens wasn't a solution. Neither is prefocusing on a mark, unless the subject motion is predictable (like a racing horse or car). Early AF was not very good, but the current ones are great. Much as I enjoy the Leica, there are situations when I unreservedly prefer my Canons. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
microview Posted July 7, 2011 Share #11 Posted July 7, 2011 After trying adapter lenses I have settled on using my prescription spectacles, augmented by the use of a 1.4x Leica magnifier for my 75, 90 and 135mm lenses. There is a small penalty with the latter. I have to remember to remove it for lenses of wider focal lengths Like many, I have been warned that cataracts are building and that will entail some corrective surgery in due time. Meanwhile, I concentrate on enjoying my M cameras while I can. I hope you find a happy solution too. In a similar position. However, RG Lewis helped me yesterday with diopter and I found that much more clear than the 1.25 Leica magnifier I had been coping with. (Was beginning to find I was putting reading glasses on to help with the rangefinder!) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 7, 2011 Share #12 Posted July 7, 2011 Everything is more difficult at our age. As I've mentioned too often I have terrible eyesight, but continued use has habituated my reflexes to focus, however due to an industrial accident my hands do not quite fit the Leica without grips and extensions to the lenses. So I'm slower, too. Do not feel bad about this. Life is short. Enjoy what you have, and forget about what you cannot have. If you feel that it is time for auto-focus, then by gosh give it a try. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacarape Posted July 7, 2011 Share #13 Posted July 7, 2011 At 54 and having been using reading glasses for 18 years, I have found that without dioper correction lenses an M is much easier to focus. So much more that I just sold my Hassey 500c/m. But where I miss the most is when trying slice a really narrow DoF with fast glass at 1.4/2.0. I usually end up front or back focusing. (This is probably more from trying to stretch bad technique.) When (if) I get to the point where it's way way to dificult to use an M like I do know, I'll keep it and still use it. And have another G2 in my bag when I need fast focusing. Nope, you're not to old to shoot with an M. Maybe there are some things you need to adjust to though. Best-Jac Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicanut2 Posted July 7, 2011 Share #14 Posted July 7, 2011 At the age of 66 I'm finding manual focussing of my M cameras is slowing me down. Some say this is good but I often feel frustrated that I'm not able to 'point and shoot' and catch the moment as I see it. My eyesight is OK, nothing out of the ordinary for my age, I do wear reading glasses. I've tried magnifiers and have dioptre correction lenses on my 3 main M cameras. My left eye is better than my right but the cameras are designed for right eye use. I wonder if others of my age are finding the same but too proud to admit it here? Jeff I am in the same boat , just sold all my r stuff and now taking a long hard look at the M. I find I am using my GH2 more than my M. I know thats sacrilege but one has to do what one has to do. Jan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebidwell Posted July 7, 2011 Share #15 Posted July 7, 2011 What I would say having read all of the comments, is at least I know I'm not on my own when it comes down to the sort of problems you describe. I love my M6 and I'm certainly not too proud to admit I'm getting older Keep smiling :D Best wishes Mike:) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted July 7, 2011 Share #16 Posted July 7, 2011 No! I'm not quite as old as you, but I became long sighted in my early forties, and needed progressive lenses by my fifties. Nowadays I use disposable contact lenses - one for distance (and the rangefinder)(1.75) in my right eye, and one for close up (to read the dial)(2.5) in my left. It's a revelation - and not just for photography - no more of that craning your neck up and down to read the right part of the 27"monitor, no more odd feelings going downstairs - and no more glasses (whether lost or not). I simply can't understand why others will not try it, but nobody seems very keen. all the best Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobey bilek Posted July 7, 2011 Share #17 Posted July 7, 2011 If your vision can be corrected for at least 20/40 at 3 feet using some combination of eyeglasses and diopters in the shooting eye, you are not too old. I suggest your technique is more at fault if you go hunting around for focus. Start the lens at infinity and focus closer every time. The focus target needs to be picked first. Vertical contrasty lines are best, but you can always twist the camera, focus, then go horizontal. It is important you focus closer and stop when the images merge. Do not hunt around trigging to improve it. The faster you mocha the focus, the better the pop and you stop. Two other techniques are straight lines that you make continuous from outside the patch, thru the patch, and out the bottom. The last is one I use for portraits. Set the 90 mm to 5 feet, then move in until the catch lights from the modeling lights merge. then stop. This works for other type subjects also. I am 69 almost. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted July 7, 2011 Author Share #18 Posted July 7, 2011 Thanks to all for the suggestions, but you'll have to take my word that I do know how to focus an M camera and I tried out various dioptres, with the help of a well known West End London dealer. Another problem is watery eyes, especially in windy conditions. Perhaps it is the forthcoming cameras from Olympus and Panasonic which have got me thinking that wouldn't it be nice to have a small camera that I just bring up to my eye, compose and press the shutter button. Evidently the EVFs on these cameras are much improved and the AF is now as quick and accurate as a good DSLR. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted July 7, 2011 Share #19 Posted July 7, 2011 And this is the reason a little focus confirmation LED, linked to the existing RF mechanism, would be useful for us old codgers:rolleyes: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted July 7, 2011 Share #20 Posted July 7, 2011 Thanks to all for the suggestions, but you'll have to take my word that I do know how to focus an M camera and I tried out various dioptres, with the help of a well known West End London dealer. Another problem is watery eyes, especially in windy conditions. Perhaps it is the forthcoming cameras from Olympus and Panasonic which have got me thinking that wouldn't it be nice to have a small camera that I just bring up to my eye, compose and press the shutter button. Evidently the EVFs on these cameras are much improved and the AF is now as quick and accurate as a good DSLR. Jeff I believe you when you describe focusing issues. We all have different eyes, and subtleties can be important. When you look at Auto-Focus, Live View, Compactness with good IQ, please have a try with the Leice V-Lux 2. It is smart, has a built-in adjustable diopter, small, easy to use, and handles beautifully. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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