When to focus to infinity?

[mirekti]

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What are the real situations where you set the focus ring to infinity?

Would it be better to set it to infinity and than pull it a tad back as subjects "so far" are small anyway?

[01af]

Would it be better to set it to infinity and than pull it a tad back as subjects "so far" are small anyway?

To the contrary—because far-away subjects are so small, they need perfect sharpness. For a big foreground subject, perfect sharpness is less important. So if background detail is essential for your composition then do not rely on depth-of-field but focus at infinity! Otherwise, focus at your main subject.

 

For more reading on the topic see here (PDF document, 2.1 MB).

[jaapv]

Quoting Günther Osterloh in one of his workshops:

"If you need the horizon to be sharp you should focus on the horizon."

[mirekti]

"If you need the horizon to be sharp you should focus on the horizon."

 

:-)

 

 

The problem I face (apart from the technical knowledge) is inexperience with the rangefinder, and not being sure whether something 500m away is in focus when the lens is set to infinity or a bit less. I simply cannot distinguish this in a window's patch.

As 500m for example is behind hyperfocal lenght both cases will result with acceptable focu, but one will be sharper. This is/was kind of confusing for me.

[algrove]

Sounds you are the perfect candidate for the new M + EVF.

[Guest Marc G.]

use a depth of field calculator. this will give you the approximate distance per aperture where something is rendered in focus. the more you stop down the closer the depth of field will come towards you of course.

 

besides, at landscape apertures (5.6-8 for me) most is sharp anyway when we're talking about subjects being more than 50 meters away

[thighslapper]

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:-)

 

 

The problem I face (apart from the technical knowledge) is inexperience with the rangefinder, and not being sure whether something 500m away is in focus when the lens is set to infinity or a bit less. I simply cannot distinguish this in a window's patch.

As 500m for example is behind hyperfocal lenght both cases will result with acceptable focu, but one will be sharper. This is/was kind of confusing for me.

 

1. Try a magnifying eyepiece ...... 1.25 or 1.4

 

2. Make sure you have perfect dioptre adjustment for any eyesight defects

 

3. Make sure your rangefinder calibration is accurate ...... images should coincide at infinity in the viewfinder with most lenses (50 and above anyway)

 

4. Make sure the image vertical alignment is correct in the viewfinder ...... often an un-noticed cause of fuzzy images.

 

If all the above are OK should be able to focus accurately enough not to have to worry about your concerns .... which in any event are only issues with longish lenses at wide apertures. With a 50mm lens the difference in focus between 500m and infinity is a tiny nudge and just about at the limits of the RF mechanism. The rangefinder just shows the 'focus point', not the range of focus or DOF. Take a look at the Leica DOF tables for the lenses you are using .... you will see that at the distances you are talking about there is little to be concerned about.....

[Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS]

What are the real situations where you set the focus ring to infinity?

When things are a long way away.............for example if you want to take a picture of a bucket at the end of the next door neighbours garden set it to infinity