Summarit 75mm 90 deg. focus rotation

[TonyField]

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I am used to a 180 degree lens rotation from infinity to minimum distance on my 50mm F1, 50mm 1.4, 50mm 1.5 etc. The 28mm 2.8 is about 130 degrees. For some reason, the new 75mm Summarit has a 90 degree focus rotation. This (for me) makes precise focus a bit more difficult.

 

Why did Leica move to "short rotation" for focusing ???

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[01af]

Because some clueless folks think shorter was faster

[skuromis]

Because some clueless folks think shorter was faster

 

TBH, that's not completely wrong. I understand your concern and especially close to infinity I experience it with some of my lenses too. On the other hand, for me as M beginner who might not have the right technique yet, I like if I can turn the ring in one go without changing grip again. A gearbox might be a solution

[01af]

... I like if I can turn the ring in one go without changing grip again.

It's not how fast you can turn the ring from one end to the other. It's how fast you can achieve proper focus.

[250swb]

The difficulty many have with a short focus throw is that it is so easy to go beyond the point of focus especially if trying to focus quickly. This is exacerbated the longer the lens.

 

A long throw does admittedly take longer to rotate, but as you near the point of focus it can be slowed down and come to rest dead on without requiring fractions of a millimetre adjustment to and fro. So although it is a longer movement the accuracy is usually immediate with a long throw lens and it works quicker on average. You do get to know lenses and you do get quicker over time anyway whichever amount of rotation they need, but I much prefer a longer one despite the trend being towards short.

 

Steve

[TonyField]

It's not how fast you can turn the ring from one end to the other. It's how fast you can achieve proper focus.

 

To me, this is the key problem - which is magnified when you use any lens at wide apertures - which I often do.

 

Additionally, if you train your hand/eye focus skill to the long rotation lenses, it is difficult to adjust to a lens with short rotation when you change lenses (and I am sure the converse is true as well).