Focus Aid in Manual mode on Leica T

[anneescamera]

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Not sure if this has been asked before. I was wondering if there's a way to use Focus Aid magnification when shooting Manual mode on the T. I noticed there are two menus with 'F' and 'S' on the screen with Manual mode. 'S' with the right knob on the camera seems to adjust Shutter speed. I wasn't sure what 'F' program stands for since it doesn't do anything when I turn the left knob. I assumed 'F' is the f stop or aperture setting? I'm using M lens via M-adapter T and the aperture could be adjusted manually on the lens. Is there a way to program the 'F' (left) menu to be using Focus Aid instead like how it works with Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority Mode on the camera?

 

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated! I got the T for a few weeks now and have been enjoying the camera so far. This is also my first time to use manual lens on a digital camera. Still learning the best practice to quickly do accurate manual focus on this camera.

 

I don't own an EVF. Is it worth it to get one? I only own M lenses and none of the T's so far. I would love to get as much accurate focus as possible when doing street photography.

Edited September 21, 2015 by anneescamera

[dkCambridgeshire]

Image magnification does function in manual mode i.e. when the T is set to M … Manual .

 

But, it's easier to use a manual lens with Aperture Priority mode. Try setting camera to A … Aperture Priority, and let the camera set the shutter speed after you have set the lens with whatever aperture you require … and whatever ISO you need to obtain a reasonable shutter speed.

 

Which M lenses are you using for street photography? If using a wide angle lens e.g. 28mm or 35mm you might consider setting them at the hyperfocal distance (but for APS format , not FF format) 

 

http://www.nikonians.org/resources/images/nikonians/articles/guides/dof/wide_angle_tables.pdf

 

 

Thus if using a 35mm M lens (52mm FF equivalent on APS format)  at f8, and focus is preset to approx 7.7 meters , everything from 3.85 m to infinity will be in focus … or if you need more depth of field set lens to f11 and set focus to approx 5.4m and everything will be in focus from 2.7m to infinity … but you may need to increase the ISO at the smaller aperture setting to obtain a usable shutter speed..

 

If using a 28mm M lens (42mm FF equivalent on APS format) , then at f8, if lens is set to approx 4.9m , everything from 2.45m to infinity will be in focus …and if set to f11, and focus set to approx 3.5m, everything from 1.75m to infinity will be in focus. … but again, with a smaller aperture you need to check the ISO so as to result in a usable shutter speed. 

 

​If the ISO is increased , the resultant shutter speed for any given aperture will be faster … which can be useful for action shots to avoid blurring … unless you want to convey movement by use of a longer shutter speed. 

 

The EVF is useful but not essential. If using hyperfocal distance or a variation on it to maximise depth of field for street photography, it's probably just as quick to use the camera's live view monitor. 

 

But if you prefer to use a wider aperture with less depth of field and differential focus, then the EVF would be useful. 

 

dunk

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[anneescamera]

 

Image magnification does function in manual mode i.e. when the T is set to M … Manual .

 

 

 

Hi dunk,

 

Thank you so much for the info! This is extremely useful. I'll have to play with it more to get used to the focal distance.

 

I currently have 2 M lenses:  Leica 28mm Elmarit and Zeiss 50mm f1.5 C Sonnar.  I have an upcoming trip to Japan for the first time in November and I'm hoping to get better at handling the T with these lenses soon.

 

You mentioned Image magnification does function in Manual mode. I still couldn't get it to work and I wonder if there's anything I missed with my setup.

 

Inside the setup menu, Focus Mode shows darker color MF icon and Focus Aid is set to on. I can't seem to change anything on this menu. Is there anything else I need to do to make it work properly?

 

Thanks again!

[dbchun]

Great info about the modified hyperfocusing table! I knew about the crop factor but for some reason didn't cross my mind that these distances would be affected. 

 

anneescamera, have you update the firmware to the latest version? I believe it is 1.31

 

When I place the camera in M manual mode, the left dial allows me to magnify+focus while the right dial sets shutter speed.  My setup menu looks the same as you describe, Focus Mode with dark M and Focus Aid turned on.

 

My preference is shooting in A mode allowing the left to be magnify and right ISO settings

Edited September 22, 2015 by dbchun

[anneescamera]

Hi dbchun,

 

Thank you for the info!  Weird that my T's dial menu doesn't seem to work the same way as yours does for both A and M mode.

 

My firmware is already 1.31. 

 

When I'm in M mode, the left dial says F and it doesn't do anything when I turn the dial. I couldn't set it to anything too.

 

I took a picture of the screen here:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzWCtaUYUkItLXljaWdDSHBPb3JFaWlpZWc4TzlySzM5N0s4/view?usp=sharing

 

 

When I'm in A mode, the right dial says F and I can't change it to ISO like how you did with yours.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzWCtaUYUkItMGRocElOUVM1aE0xTncxWUstaGZ1bExJa01j/view?usp=sharing

 

 

I wonder if something is wrong with the camera. Do you use Leica M-Adapter T? I did notice one of the 6 bit code pins on the camera is pushed all the way in and stuck there. I bought a used T. I was trying to find a way to see if the adapter is actually reading in the lens code. Is there a way to check this with an image file taken with the camera without using Lightroom?

Edited September 22, 2015 by anneescamera

[dbchun]

I'm using the Leica M-Adapter T, however the lens is a non-coded 50mm Summicron.  If you've uploaded the image to the computer, (assuming you're on windows) try right clicking the image, selecting properties, then details tab and see if the lens information is there.  

 

Here's how the screens look on mine:

 

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

 

 

[anneescamera]

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Thanks for the photos, dbchun. I've been wondering for awhile too how come I couldn't turn on magnification on M mode and the right dial doesn't work for me on the other modes. Hmm, now I really suspect that my T doesn't take the info from the Leica M adapter T that I have.

 

I wonder what happens if you remove your adapter from the camera and turn on both M and A mode. Do you still get the same controls as when the adapter is attached?

 

I tried to reinstall the firmware but the camera said my current firmware is already up to date. I might consider a return if it turns out that the adapter doesn't function properly with the camera.

[dkCambridgeshire]

Hi dbchun,

 

Thank you for the info!  Weird that my T's dial menu doesn't seem to work the same way as yours does for both A and M mode.

 

My firmware is already 1.31. 

 

When I'm in M mode, the left dial says F and it doesn't do anything when I turn the dial. I couldn't set it to anything too.

 

I took a picture of the screen here:

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzWCtaUYUkItLXljaWdDSHBPb3JFaWlpZWc4TzlySzM5N0s4/view?usp=sharing

 

 

When I'm in A mode, the right dial says F and I can't change it to ISO like how you did with yours.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzWCtaUYUkItMGRocElOUVM1aE0xTncxWUstaGZ1bExJa01j/view?usp=sharing

 

 

I wonder if something is wrong with the camera. Do you use Leica M-Adapter T? I did notice one of the 6 bit code pins on the camera is pushed all the way in and stuck there. I bought a used T. I was trying to find a way to see if the adapter is actually reading in the lens code. Is there a way to check this with an image file taken with the camera without using Lightroom?

 

As you bought a 'used' T camera it might be set on previous user's/owner's custom settings . You could reset the camera to the factory default settings as per page 194 of the instruction manual ... and then create your own custom settings. 

 

dunk

[dbchun]

Thanks for the photos, dbchun. I've been wondering for awhile too how come I couldn't turn on magnification on M mode and the right dial doesn't work for me on the other modes. Hmm, now I really suspect that my T doesn't take the info from the Leica M adapter T that I have.

 

I wonder what happens if you remove your adapter from the camera and turn on both M and A mode. Do you still get the same controls as when the adapter is attached?

 

I tried to reinstall the firmware but the camera said my current firmware is already up to date. I might consider a return if it turns out that the adapter doesn't function properly with the camera.

 

I tried turning on the camera with no M-Adapter T and see the same screen as the images you provided.  However, I am able to turn the left dial in A mode to use Focus Aid.  Try the reset that dunk suggeted to see if it resolves the issue, if not, something might be wrong at the body to adapter connection.  Maybe see if the store you purchased from has another adapter and/or T body to try?

Edited September 23, 2015 by dbchun

[anneescamera]

Ended up returning the used T and got a brand new one. It turned out to be the body issue. I'm so glad to be able to find out about this sooner than later!

 

Yes, now focus magnification works on the left dial in M and A mode. This makes a lot more sense to me than before -- the broken body kept me thinking that they made a pretty bad interface design for awhile. 

[dbchun]

Glad to hear everything has been resolved!

[phetlive]

Here are the steps to get the Focus Aid to show:

 

1. Turn Focus Aid to ON

2. The the mode to P, A, or  S

3. Turn the left dial to get the menu show up on the top right corner

4. Tap on ISO and screen will popup to let you assign item to this dial

5. Tap on Focus Aid

 

I'm using Leica T with firmware version 1.610.

 

That's it.

[Lyndonlim]

Here are the steps to get the Focus Aid to show:

 

1. Turn Focus Aid to ON

2. The the mode to P, A, or  S

3. Turn the left dial to get the menu show up on the top right corner

4. Tap on ISO and screen will popup to let you assign item to this dial

5. Tap on Focus Aid

 

I'm using Leica T with firmware version 1.610.

 

That's it.

Great help. Much appreciated.

[xthunder]

Good info!

 

First I thought that this only works with Leica 18771 adapter only.

I just received Kipon adapter and Focus Aid Magnification works fine with 3rd party adapter(T w/ Firmware 1.70)

 

Thanks!

[microview]

Just bought a new TL2 and with magnification (assigned to top button – other to vary ISO) it's a bit irritating to find that turning dial up to x3 or x6 for focusing, when you depress the shutter you have to start all over again for next image, ie. camera doesn't 'remember' your preferred times-setting. 

[microview]

However, on the plus side (!) I find that in Play mode (press FN button) you can skip from one frame to another using the left button (as well, of course, as finger on touch screen). Press FN agan and camera reverts to taking a picture.

[microview]

Discovered today that if you opt for DNG+JPEG and have the latter preset as high-contrast BW, with focus assist/peaking on it's much easier to focus via the back screen (preview of course becomes BW). The red peaking aid is rather more clearly defined than with colour preview. Of course LR can be set to ignore the imported/unwanted JPEGs. As Thorsten Overgaard suggests in his lengthy overview of the TL2, DNGs converted to BW look rather better than the mono JPEGs. I would agree with that.

[mg84347]

On 1/6/2018 at 7:27 PM, xthunder said:

Good info!

 

First I thought that this only works with Leica 18771 adapter only.

I just received Kipon adapter and Focus Aid Magnification works fine with 3rd party adapter(T w/ Firmware 1.70)

 

Thanks!

I am using a third party M-L adapter on my TL and I cannot get focus magnification to work. I did the steps to assign "focus magnification" to the left dial but it does not appear as an option when I call up the menu after clicking on ISO. I dragged the icon the my camera apps and I see it there. Any suggestions...?

[jaapv]

Welcome . Yes, that is the norm for APS cameras. If you want full functionality of the adapter you need to buy the Leica one.

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[E759]

Firstly thank you to the contributors to this forum, you are doing a great job!

I found this thread via Google having just purchased a few days ago a used T [GBP 199] and used Novoflex LET/LEM [GBP 99] and was ready to set fire to the Leica T instruction manual 😉

Using the information found here I was able to unlock the left-wheel, long-tap, switch out of M manual mode to Shutter or Aperture mode and starting playing.

With the Novoflex one can set focus-aid on the left-wheel and shutter on the right-wheel when in shutter-priority mode. With Auto-ISO on this seems a good general purpose mode to use when shooting different scenes.

With the Novoflex and aperture-priority mode, you can only use the left-wheel, right-wheel becomes unusable, but you can still set focus-aid on the left-wheel.

Having played around with the menus, I then returned to photography. And the question I asked myself is does one need focus-aid with a manual lens? The display in manual-mode gives a nice metering scale (at first I thought it was exposure compensation). In shutter-priority mode you are reliant on the aperture & shutter indicator in the top left-hand of the display changing from white to red. Or you simply use your experience of gauging light and a little chimping 😉

So trying my four M lens I found NO NEED for focus-aid with Summicron Type II (1957) 5cm nor with Voightlander Nokon 75mm f/1.5. Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2 just about ok with the screen but very much ok with VisoFlex. Zeiss Biogon 21mm f/2.8 needs focus-aid and often the VisoFlex too.

In conclusion, focus-aid for me is not always needed with manual lens. I have also gained further admiration for the superb range-finder focusing in the M10-P.