MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Share #1 Posted October 17, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) While searching for something completely unrelated, I discovered "Leica Camera Australia" last night, with a series of videos showing how to get the most out of the Leica, and for me, the M-series rangefinder Leica cameras. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT-T92nKsXk That got me to wondering - I often shoot "people photos", and according to this video, it is mandatory to get the pupil of the eye perfectly sharp. What I'm puzzled about, is while I can take my Nikon D780, and place a single red dot over an eye, knowing that eye will be in precise focus, I've never felt that confident when using my Leica cameras with the rangefinder. To be honest, I never tried to focus on an eye - focusing on the face seemed good enough, but I think I've learned something new. I know I can attach my Visoflex 2 and accomplish this, but I've been trying to use my M10 and my M8.2 the way I think they were designed to be used, with the built-in rangefinder. I guess from now on, I need to try to be much more precise with my rangefinder, even if it takes a lot more time. Until now, I thought capturing an image at the perfect moment was most important, with me concentrating on the person's expression, not the eye. This is with 24 megapixels - with more powerful sensors, I think this is even more important. Any thoughts? (Check out all the other videos at this site - lots of good information, presented differently than what I'm used to reading.) 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 17, 2022 Posted October 17, 2022 Hi MikeMyers, Take a look here Precision Focusing with M10 (and other Leica M cameras). I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
convexferret Posted October 17, 2022 Share #2 Posted October 17, 2022 Capturing an image in the perfect moment is more important. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share #3 Posted October 17, 2022 2 minutes ago, convexferret said: Capturing an image in the perfect moment is more important. I agree with you, but capturing a properly focused image at the perfect moment would be even better. Perhaps you didn't watch the video I linked to, and perhaps you don't agree with it? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakontil Posted October 17, 2022 Share #4 Posted October 17, 2022 I capture the moment and people too and of course portraits, depending on the lens u r using, mostly focusing accurately on the eye is good enough doesnt have to be precisely on the pupil, but then im mostly using 50mm or 35mm some other time and the dof at widest open enough to accommodate the dof, except on certain occasions, a noctilux 0.95 might need to be more finely focused in order to help focusing, i use a leica magnifier 1.4x and 1.25x 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted October 17, 2022 Share #5 Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) • Edited October 17, 2022 by lct Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted October 17, 2022 Share #6 Posted October 17, 2022 1 hour ago, MikeMyers said: I agree with you, but capturing a properly focused image at the perfect moment would be even better. The good news is that when shooting a portrait with an M there are many perfect moments. First, choose the part of the face you want to be in focus, then as the conversation continues you will have a variety of expressions to capture knowing that the focusing has already been taken care of. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpsawin Posted October 17, 2022 Share #7 Posted October 17, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) Practice, Practice and Practice. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share #8 Posted October 17, 2022 41 minutes ago, Kwesi said: First, choose the part of the face you want to be in focus, If you agree with that training video, there is only one part that counts - the eyes. I agree with him. I will need to try harder to focus specifically on they eye, unless I've got lots more depth of field than I usually do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share #9 Posted October 17, 2022 This is just one of the 8-part series from Leica Camera Australia. Here's a link to the full series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL40yjzJ8GmWY0ySmeyRdCJuJwPR-0adQ9 I'll probably get around to the remaining 7 "classes" over the next few days. A lot of what they explain, I already know - but there are lots of new things, as well as things I never paid enough attention to in the past. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted October 17, 2022 Share #10 Posted October 17, 2022 13 minutes ago, MikeMyers said: If you agree with that training video, there is only one part that counts - the eyes. I agree with him. I will need to try harder to focus specifically on they eye, unless I've got lots more depth of field than I usually do. I think if someone is sitting for a portrait, then yes, the eyes being in focus is quite important and also fairly easy to achieve with an M since the sitter is usually quite still. I find that for myself making portraits of people while engaging in conversation with them is infinitely more rewarding for me since the sitter is usually less guarded. Leica M11 - 50/1.4 ASPH BC 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! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/341077-precision-focusing-with-m10-and-other-leica-m-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=4537351'>More sharing options...
evikne Posted October 17, 2022 Share #11 Posted October 17, 2022 12 minutes ago, Kwesi said: I think if someone is sitting for a portrait, then yes, the eyes being in focus is quite important and also fairly easy to achieve with an M since the sitter is usually quite still. I find that for myself making portraits of people while engaging in conversation with them is infinitely more rewarding for me since the sitter is usually less guarded. Leica M11 - 50/1.4 ASPH BC 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! Nice portrait, but not easy to see if his eyes are perfectly in focus. 😄 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share #12 Posted October 17, 2022 12 minutes ago, evikne said: Nice portrait, but not easy to see if his eyes are perfectly in focus. 😄 When I view that portrait, my eyes go right to his mouth. His eyes, and glasses, and the area around his eyes appears to not be in focus. My own eyes do what the article said they would, go to the sharpest part of the image. I clicked on the image to enlarge it - same result. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted October 17, 2022 Share #13 Posted October 17, 2022 14 minutes ago, MikeMyers said: When I view that portrait, my eyes go right to his mouth. His eyes, and glasses, and the area around his eyes appears to not be in focus. My own eyes do what the article said they would, go to the sharpest part of the image. I clicked on the image to enlarge it - same result. When a person's eyes are hidden, one may try to look at other areas of the face. My gaze is also drawn to the mouth, and perhaps it is then correct that this area is in focus? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted October 17, 2022 Share #14 Posted October 17, 2022 10 minutes ago, MikeMyers said: When I view that portrait, my eyes go right to his mouth. Just now, evikne said: When a person's eyes are hidden, one may try to look at other areas of the face. My gaze is also drawn to the mouth, and perhaps it is then correct that this area is in focus? I generally try to capture the persona and sometimes that comes thru the hands or eyes or mouth or shoulders.... What im trying to say is that making the sharply focussed eyes a must in every portrait is very limiting. Especially if you are not shooting commercially. On the other hand this young woman, making a selfie or doing a live broadcast at the next table one from the first image I shared. Is all about looking sharp! shot with a 1962 90mm Tele elmarit "fat" on the M11: 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! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/341077-precision-focusing-with-m10-and-other-leica-m-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=4537401'>More sharing options...
TomB_tx Posted October 17, 2022 Share #15 Posted October 17, 2022 10 minutes ago, evikne said: When a person's eyes are hidden, one may try to look at other areas of the face. My gaze is also drawn to the mouth, and perhaps it is then correct that this area is in focus? The lighting also highlights his mouth, so focusing on it is correct for this shot. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
evikne Posted October 17, 2022 Share #16 Posted October 17, 2022 (edited) 12 minutes ago, TomB_tx said: The lighting also highlights his mouth, so focusing on it is correct for this shot. But was it intentional? That is another question. 😉 Edited October 17, 2022 by evikne Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted October 17, 2022 Share #17 Posted October 17, 2022 I have to admit that in this case it wasn't intentional. Because people tend to move their head when talking. I usually focus on the bridge of the nose just to get me into a zone of acceptable focus then I concentrate on the body language. for example in this image shot around F4 on a 50/1.4 ASPH: 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! 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/341077-precision-focusing-with-m10-and-other-leica-m-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=4537420'>More sharing options...
lct Posted October 17, 2022 Share #18 Posted October 17, 2022 Sometimes the eyes are important, sometimes they are not. Only one was relevant here . 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! 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/341077-precision-focusing-with-m10-and-other-leica-m-cameras/?do=findComment&comment=4537428'>More sharing options...
Kwesi Posted October 17, 2022 Share #19 Posted October 17, 2022 1 minute ago, lct said: Sometimes the eyes are important, sometimes they are not. Only one was relevant here . 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! Beautiful photo!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeMyers Posted October 17, 2022 Author Share #20 Posted October 17, 2022 3 hours ago, Kwesi said: Beautiful photo!! I agree - and my eyes go right to that beautiful eye in your photo. Lovely! I'm still trying to figure out the reflections in that eye..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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