.95 focus accuracy

[stump4545]

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for those experienced .95 shooters, what is the hit rate accruacy can you achieve?

 

50% perfectly focused wide open?

 

75% perfectly focused wide open?

 

or is it possible to hit 100% or close 100% of the time perfect focus wide open?

 

right now i am getting pretty good focus i would say 75% of the time, but still sometimes i think i nailed it with the 1.4 magnifier, but when i go back to my imac, focus is just a little off.

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[jaapv]

You'll have to send your Imac and lenses to Solms to be calibrated together...

[edmond_terakopian]

for those experienced .95 shooters, what is the hit rate accruacy can you achieve?

 

50% perfectly focused wide open?

 

75% perfectly focused wide open?

 

or is it possible to hit 100% or close 100% of the time perfect focus wide open?

 

right now i am getting pretty good focus i would say 75% of the time, but still sometimes i think i nailed it with the 1.4 magnifier, but when i go back to my imac, focus is just a little off.

 

Depends what the subject is. If I'm shooting people (street, press conference, weddings etc) then the hit rate is around 60% as the subject moves a fair amount. In these situations I'll get some safe shots at f2 before opening up for the aesthetic.

 

Stationary portraits (posed) or inanimate objects, close to 90%.

 

Also depends on how much you're moving the camera and recomposing after focusing.

 

I use a x1.25 magnifier and only use the Noctilux on my calibrated and paired M9. The M9-P gets the other lenses (apart from the 90mm).

 

Do some tripodded focus tests and if need be send your camera and lens to be calibrated; this is essential.

 

Have fun,

 

Edmond

[RobertJRB]

Not that much experience with the 50 0,95. Tried it last weekend for the first time.

All the pictures I took were spot on. Found it actually not that hard

[Paul J]

It really isn't hard to focus at all. In most circumstances I would say my 'acceptable' hit rate is 95% or more. Critical hit rate, lets say, eye lashes focussed on and perfectly sharp 80%. Come to think of it maybe even more. I take 2 or 3 if it's important and ever so slightly move at the shoulders for focus bracketing. But normally I don't worry about this.

 

When I say acceptable I mean that if I focus on the iris of the eyes, occasionally you or the subject moves so you miss slightly and you have the 1cm or less closer or further cheek/nose or temple sharper. Just depends on how steady you are and how much movement is about. But in a 10x8 sized image you don't really pick it up so much.

 

lets just say I've never been let down by it and it really isn't hard to focus. My 75mm Summilux is harder and I've certainly noticed more camera shake in the exposure with the 75mm. I've just adopted a 1.4 magnifier and while some people don't like the reduced contrast I find it really helps. Certainly worth trying out.

Edited July 24, 2012 by Paul J

[lars_bergquist]

When the lens was out in the fall of 2009 I had a chance to try it on my M9. I had no problem whatever with focusing an immobile subject even at very close range – and without any magnifier.

 

The old man with two decent eyes

[edmond_terakopian]

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Depends what the subject is. If I'm shooting people (street, press conference, weddings etc) then the hit rate is around 60% as the subject moves a fair amount. In these situations I'll get some safe shots at f2 before opening up for the aesthetic.

 

Stationary portraits (posed) or inanimate objects, close to 90%.

 

Also depends on how much you're moving the camera and recomposing after focusing.

 

I use a x1.25 magnifier and only use the Noctilux on my calibrated and paired M9. The M9-P gets the other lenses (apart from the 90mm).

 

Do some tripodded focus tests and if need be send your camera and lens to be calibrated; this is essential.

 

Have fun,

 

Edmond

 

I think I need to explain one thing here as clearly what is acceptable is subjective. What I classify as acceptable for the calculations I made about hit rate is 100% accurately focused. The lens is a joy to use as it's focusing is buttery smooth.

[Paul J]

I'd never really thought about it till this post really. I spent the weekend shooting with this lens and i just looked over the shots. I can't find one in a couple hundred that I've missed focus on. Normally the iris of the eyes. So it's really not an issue OR the new 1.4 mag has helped a lot.

[thighslapper]

Mine is spot on with my M9P and very iffy with my old M9 .... as the near focus calibration point on the rangefinder mechanism is just beyond the bit on the eccentric cam where the adjustment goes into reverse..... (if that's gobbledegook look at the rangefinder adjustment posts)

 

I use a Japan exposures 1.35 mag with variable dioptre adjustment ..... so you benefit from exact corrrection if you need specs...... and it's a good bright crisp image.

 

All my recent 0.95 wide open shots are spot on where I focussed. Technique and practice is everything with this lens..... and if your rangefinder adjustment is not exactly right you will be struggling.....

 

..... and DOF is so shallow that unless you think very carefully about what you want in focus you will be disappointed .... close up portraits in particular.

 

I only use 0.95 when I have to or when I deliberately want to isolate part of the subject...... indiscriminate use will produce a pile of mediocre images......

 

The long focus throw on this lens makes focussing much easier than most other Leica lenses..... I got rid of my 90/2 as I had much more trouble and an abysmal hit rate.......

Edited July 24, 2012 by thighslapper