24-90 SL: Determining Optimal Focus Point for Landscape

[jplomley]

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Quick question for 24-90 lens owners using this optic for landscape. To date I have been using M glass on my M10 and SL for landscape but would like to add the 24-90 for all the advantages of weather sealing etc. On the M-glass I focus the near point, then the far point and ensure the DOF covers both by using the scale engraved on the lens. I usually add an extra f-stop above that measured off the scale (e.g. if it says I can get away with f/8, I will use f/11).  As there is no DOF scale on the 24-90, how do you determine the optimal focus point for a given DOF? Even on my Arca Swiss 4x5 I have measurement units on the rail to determine near and far point when focussing using the rear standard and can accurately place the focus point for a given DOF.

 

All feedback welcome!

 

Cheers,

Jeff 

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[darylgo]

Iirc the depth of field readout is on the top display. Set focus and for any given f stop it will read out.

[LD_50]

Hold the shutter at half press, turn the focus ring. The top screen gives you an idea of the front and back focus points.

[Jeff S]

The SL top display DOF concept was borrowed from the S. David Farkas, who frequently uses the feature, describes it in his S review as follows...

 

"Perhaps one of the most useful additions, especially for landscape photography, is the live DOF readout on the top LCD. When you half press the shutter release, three distances are displayed: near, focus and far. Between the near and far is your effective depth of field. The range is dynamic and based on distance to subject, aperture and focal length. Obviously, this is most useful when using wide lenses at smaller apertures, rather than longer lenses at wide apertures. To determine hyperfocal distance, just adjust the focus on the lens as far forward as you can, while still keeping the back reading at infinity." (David Farkas)

 

Jeff

[jplomley]

Cheers gentlemen for the feedback, decision made, I’ll be picking up my first SL lens this weekend. Hope the 24-90 lives up to its reputation and its performance will be well aligned with the larger pixel count in the SL2