Manually setting the exact focal distance for the WATE

[setuporg]

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I found that on the M10M, the WATE shows up as 16-18-21 @ 16, which gave me a hint that we can change that in the manual lens selection.

And indeed, if you go to Lens Detection=>Manual M, you get the three settings next to each other.  Now if you have Lens Detection in Favorites, it's easy to switch to the current focal distance when you actually change it.  This could be useful for instance when comparing lenses and you need to remember the exact settings.

[jaapv]

But note that the lens corrections in the camera  will be identical for all three focal lengths.

[Gobert]

Thanks Jaap, I did not know that, although I did some testing with it and I didn’t see any difference.

[Robert Blanko]

vor 10 Stunden schrieb jaapv:

But note that the lens corrections in the camera  will be identical for all three focal lengths.

Interesting. As my new WATE hopefully arrives next week: what will be corrected in the Camera for the jpgs? Distortion and vignetting? If so, it would be rather surprising to use the same profile, as both said parameters would according to Leica‘s technical data sheet depend on the actual focal length setting. I will usually only use the DNG RAWs, anyway, but I‘m just curious...

Edited May 8, 2020 by Robert Blanko
Typing error

[jaapv]

Both JPG and DNG. Colour shifts and vignetting. Like all M cameras. 

[jaapv]

7 hours ago, Gobert said:

Thanks Jaap, I did not know that, although I did some testing with it and I didn’t see any difference.

The point is that the camera cannot detect the different focal lengths. This limitation was considered in the design. 

[Robert Blanko]

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vor 36 Minuten schrieb jaapv:

Both JPG and DNG. Colour shifts and vignetting. Like all M cameras. 

Alright, thanks! But this would then strictly speaking never exactly (or maybe only for 18mm) compensate the true distortion which is different for 16, 18 and 21 mm: https://en.leica-camera.com/content/download/102650/907467/version/2/file/Tri-Elmar-M16-18-21-TechnicalData.pdf

But one could avoid autocorrection by disabling lens detection, should this be desired/necessary, I guess.

[jaapv]

The result may be cyan shift, vignetting and Italian flag. It is complete nonsense to switch off the corrections on an M camera, as they correct flaws that are a result of using unavoidable vintage parameters on a digital system..

[jdlaing]

2 hours ago, jaapv said:

The point is that the camera cannot detect the different focal lengths. This limitation was considered in the design. 

In the case of the WATE the different focal lengths are detected if lens detection is set to auto.

It is as well in the MATE but only if 6 bit coded and set to auto.

Edited May 8, 2020 by jdlaing

[jaapv]

How? There is no coupling for framelines, like the MATE uses. Nor any other way of transferring the focal length to the camera body, other than user input. The MATE has a complicated and failure-prone  (especially version1) shift mechanism in the mount, which the WATE lacks, because  there are no  framelines for its focal lengths.  I fear you are mistaken, the only thing the camera does is read the six-bit code, which tells it that a  WATE is mounted, that is all.

[jdlaing]

With the WATE the camera records the chosen focal length in the exif. The same thing happens with the MATE as long as it’s 6 bit coded. The camera knows the focal length.

[jaapv]

Chosen by the user in the camera menu. if you don't input the focal length it will default to 16 mm. The actual focal length will not be detected automatically like the MATE, as the WATE has no variable frameline coupling, so the camera cannot know the focal length. Try it.

[jdlaing]

Must be. I miss the choice like in the M8.

[Gobert]

16 hours ago, jdlaing said:

In the case of the WATE the different focal lengths are detected if lens detection is set to auto.

It is as well in the MATE but only if 6 bit coded and set to auto.

That is not correct. It always says 16 (or the latest handmade choice).

[tsleica]

The WATE is one of my fave lenses..

But it changes focus a bit when you change focal lengths..

I'm not sure if the M rangefinder compensates for this as I only use mine on Sony and Panny bodies..

Never tried it on my M6..as I dont shoot much film anymore..

Maybe I'll see about that..

[BernardC]

16 hours ago, tsleica said:

But it changes focus a bit when you change focal lengths..

I'm not sure if the M rangefinder compensates for this as I only use mine on Sony and Panny bodies

That's a colimation issue, most likely caused by the adapters.

Parfocal zooms are only parfocal when the flange focal distance is precisely calibrated. If they sit too close or too far to the sensor, they become varifocal. That's what you observed. Of course in your case it's not an issue, you are not using a rangefinder to focus, and you probably aren't shooting video and "zooming."

 The same lens on a Leica M will hold focus at all focal lengths, provided that the body and lens are within tolerances.

[adan]

On 5/8/2020 at 2:49 PM, Robert Blanko said:

But this would then strictly speaking never exactly (or maybe only for 18mm) compensate the true distortion which is different for 16, 18 and 21

Robert - no M camera ever corrects or compensates for distortion, with any lens. Just doesn't happen.

Corrections are for vignetting and color-vignetting (Italian-Flag stains) only. Distortion is something to correct in post-processing on a computer (.jpg or .DNG).

[Robert Blanko]

vor 12 Stunden schrieb adan:

Robert - no M camera ever corrects or compensates for distortion, with any lens. Just doesn't happen.

Corrections are for vignetting and color-vignetting (Italian-Flag stains) only. Distortion is something to correct in post-processing on a computer (.jpg or .DNG).

Thanks for the clarification! Good to know that this would have to be fixed in Lightroom for example! I thought distortion would be automatically fixed, as this would often happen in the „Nikon world“... 😉

[setuporg]

It's pretty clear that Lightroom does compensate for distortion of the M lenses automatically, as when I import them and go through them just as added, they quickly bend as my 18-core Mac gets to each one in turn, also applying other default presets, making the M10M pics pop!

Edited May 13, 2020 by setuporg

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Robert Blanko]

Lightroom would possibly automatically correct the distortion upon importing the photos, depending on the settings. However, the without manually setting the focal length in the camera, Lightroom would likely apply the wrong distortion profile. Notably, the distortion is different for the different focal lengths.