New to 'M'

[Husaini Pangeran]

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Hi guys,

 

I sold my Canon EF 85mm f1.2 II USM and bought second hand Leica M8.2 with Zeiss 35mm f2.8 C Biogon 2 days ago. I still keep the Canon 5D markII together with Canon EF 50mm f1.4 USM. This M feels are amazing, still can't believe finally I owned the legendary Leica. I've started photography (as a hobby) since the early 2010. Can't wait to test in the real-world when I'm free. By the way, any tips from you guys for manual focusing? I read somewhere in the internet for streets shooting; he said just leave the focus at infinity and then you just walk towards the subject. Is this the common way to focus when shooting at streets? Please advice me, thank..

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[ayewing]

Hello Husaini, and welcome to the forum. I am sure that you will have an enjoyable time learning how to get the best out your M8.2

 

Using the rangefinder to obtain the coincident image in the viewfinder will enable you to focus with great precision e.g in a portrait ensure that the eyes are in sharp focus. This technique is essential if using a wide aperture as the depth of field in focus is very narrow. This technique is fine for static objects but for street photography in which the subject may be in motion it often is more effective to use a smaller aperture which gives a greater depth of focus and to focus at a set distance then when you approach your subject take your shot. Rangefinder lenses generally have a depth of focus scale which is useful when using pre-focusing.

 

It would be worth reading up a bit on the concepts of hyper-focal distance and zone focusing. http://blog.mingthein.com/2012/04/24/zone-focusing-and-shooting-hyperfocal/

 

I note you have a 35mm lens which is a good choice for street photography.

 

I expect that other members of the forum with more experience of street photography than me will have some suggestions for you.

Edited October 13, 2012 by ayewing
Added link

[jaapv]

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m9-forum/130720-leica-m8-m8-2-m9-m9p.html#post1378521

 

Welcome to the forum:) This question has been asked before...

As have many other questions addressed in the FAQ.

 

Zonefocus is fine when you cannot focus properly for whatever reason, but should not be elevated to a system imo. The only really sharp part of you image is the plane of focus, after all.

Edited October 13, 2012 by jaapv

[IWC Doppel]

The great thing about the M is the design has been honed over decades without following a path of automation that in my opinion at least in part removes real control.

 

You will be forced to think, plan, adapt, and learn. After 10k+ shots with an M8 and now an M9 I am still learning, the 'curve' has shallowed a bit, but not that much !

 

Have fun

[dtoh]

Hi guys,

 

By the way, any tips from you guys for manual focusing? I read somewhere in the internet for streets shooting; he said just leave the focus at infinity and then you just walk towards the subject. Is this the common way to focus when shooting at streets? Please advice me, thank..

 

Always a joy to hear from a new leica owner, hope u are having a blast by now. For street shooting, sure you can set your focus to infinity, that really depends on what you wanna shoot, or you can set your focus to a preferred range (note the range on your lens barrel, it took me six months to realize that, really!) walk towards your subject or wait for your subject to walk towards you at your pre-set range. That’s the technical part, all is said there’s of course more to just plain focusing and hitting the shutter. I'm sure you know that too.

 

If you wanna speed up your range reading, try going for a day shoot only capturing your subject at a fixed range eg. 2.5m. Set your range at that and shoot only subjects at that range. That should help you better appreciate the correlation with your set up. I used to shoot only at fixed range 3m, these days 3m has become a reference point for me, I will compensate my range depending on the occurrence. All is said, this method is not by me, this has been done for decades by lots of photographers, I am only paraphrasing it with my own interpretation. It’s just my suggestion, you will probably discover something else as you progress. Enjoy your new gears.

 

Regards,

Daryl

http://www.dtohphoto.com

[farnz]

Welcome to the forum, Hussaini, and congratulations on your new (to you) M8, which despite what might have been said and written in its early days is still an excellent camera. What's written below is excellent advice and should keep you going for some time.

 

Pete.