M6 and zone focussing

[iwoks]

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Hi everyone, this is my first post, I hope this is the right place for it :)

After a long wait, I have finally acquired a leica M6 with a Summarit-M 35mm f/2.4 ASPH lens. The whole focussing process is quite new to me and I am not sure I’m getting it right.

My problem is the following : I understand that if I open at f/8 and put the infinity focus symbol on the left so it matches with 8, I will be in focus from approx 2,5m to infinity (see attached picture). When I then look in the viewfinder, I see that the two images are well aligned for anything around 5m. When I point at anything between 2,5m and 5m or anyther further than 5m the two images are no longer aligned. I know this is probably a silly question but is this normal ? Does it still mean that despite the images not being aline I will be in focus ?

Thanks for your help !

iwoks

 

 

 

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[Paul Verrips]

Yes this is normal.

With the RF patch you can only nail one distance, but the depth of focus creates the sharpness between A & B, but is something you can't see through the VF.

That is one of the differences between RF en SLR.

[Ko.Fe.]

Rangefinder is showing focusing at one and only distance.

DOF scale shows where else focus is going to be.

http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html

[spydrxx]

Think of focus being on a bell curve with the horizontal axis being distance....focus at the top of the curve is the best with it tapering off each side. A coincident rangefinder can only align images at one distance...the top of the bell curve.

[TomB_tx]

Whether you use a rangefinder, SLR, mirrorless, or view camera, a lens only has “perfect” focus at one distance, but “depth of field” can give acceptable sharpness over a range of distance. The rangefinder simply shows the optimum distance very clearly, and you have to evaluate the DOF scale in your head rather than with your eyes as with an SLR image.

[ianman]

12 hours ago, Ko.Fe. said:

Rangefinder is showing focusing at one and only distance.

Obviously... as there is correct focus at one and only distance. Anything "in focus" in front of or behind that distance is only perceived as in focus.

[Ko.Fe.]

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11 minutes ago, ianman said:

Obviously... as there is correct focus at one and only distance. Anything "in focus" in front of or behind that distance is only perceived as in focus.

I have first generation of OP lens. And on the street I use it as scale focus lens most of the time. My objects of choice comes in focus. :).

[Trivette]

You are doing it right, iwoks. I've known professionals who used rangefinder cameras and didn't  understand how to use the lens markings for DoF.

[pico]

23 hours ago, Paul Verrips said:

With the RF patch you can only nail one distance, but the depth of focus creates the sharpness between A & B, but is something you can't see through the VF.

We cannot see it but we can gauge it for ƒ5.6 and ƒ16, at least on an M2.

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Edited January 6, 2019 by pico