LEICA Elmarit-R 28mm f2.8 Focus Tab

[hirohhhh]

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I purchased this lens primarily for the ability of close focus, but I ended up using it rarely for two reasons:

1) Focus patch doesn't work, so I have to guesstimate.
2) No focus tab, which makes guesstimating even harder.

Oh, and I'm using it exclusively on my M cameras with the original adaptor.

Any ideas/solutions for either #1 or #2 issues?

Edited March 2, 2023 by hirohhhh

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[derleicaman]

No R lenses on a R to M adaptor will activate the focussing patch. That is the nature of the beast. You can only use Live View to see focus, otherwise on any other M camera, you can estimate with zone focus.

There are no R lenses with focus tabs. Again, nature of the beast. There may be some after market solution, but I don't know of one myself.

[hirohhhh]

3 minutes ago, derleicaman said:

No R lenses on a R to M adaptor will activate the focussing patch. That is the nature of the beast. You can only use Live View to see focus, otherwise on any other M camera, you can estimate with zone focus.

There are no R lenses with focus tabs. Again, nature of the beast. There may be some after market solution, but I don't know of one myself.

How do you zone focus without the tab? With my M lenses, I don't even look at the numbers, I can feel where the tab is, and then focus.

[derleicaman]

You have to guesstimate using the distance and depth of field scales.

[frame-it]

14 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

How do you zone focus without the tab? With my M lenses, I don't even look at the numbers

look at the numbers

[hirohhhh]

23 minutes ago, frame-it said:

look at the numbers

Yeah, but to me, that defeats the purpose of zone focusing, because you have to look at the number instead in the frame and composition.

[hepcat]

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4 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

Yeah, but to me, that defeats the purpose of zone focusing, because you have to look at the number instead in the frame and composition.

Zone focusing is setting the plane of focus at a certain distance, say 10', with the aperture at f/11 and letting depth of field carry you.  You use the depth of field scale on the lens to know how much DOF to expect at a specific focusing distance.  Once you set it, you forget it and set up your shots so that they fall into your zone of acceptable focus.  And no, zone focusing doesn't work real well in dim light, and yes in dim light you have to pay more close attention to your guesstimates of distance.  

Edited March 2, 2023 by hepcat

[hirohhhh]

Just now, hepcat said:

Zone focusing is setting the plane of focus at a certain distance, say 10', with the aperture at f/11 and letting depth of field carry you.  Once you set it, you forget it.  And no, zone focusing doesn't work real well in dim light, and yes in dim light you have to pay more close attention to your guesstimates of distance.  

I get it, but still, If I have to change the distance, I have to look at the lens numbers instead of the viewfinder.

All in all, no luck for me in this one. I'll probably keep the lens when I need close focus and when the speed is not critical, like when shooting street or kids.

Most of the time, I don't need focusing less than 0.7m, but it would be nice to have it too. For that reason only I purchased this lens, but it's not working as I was hoping for

[frame-it]

43 minutes ago, hirohhhh said:

Yeah, but to me, that defeats the purpose of zone focusing, because you have to look at the number instead in the frame and composition.

huh? you only have to set it once per scene, and only look at at again when you move to a different area.

[hirohhhh]

Just now, frame-it said:

huh? you only have to set it once per scene, and only look at at again when you move to a different area.

As I said, when the speed is not critical, this is fair. But sometimes I just see the scene and I have a second to focus and click. No time to look at the numbers

[spydrxx]

You could probably add a "TAAB" stick on focus ring. They often appear on Ebay as well as less expensive knock-offs. Last year I picked up a package of 3-4 for around $12 USD.

[hirohhhh]

@spydrxx while looking for a TAAB, I found this. Looks interesting. I think I'll give it a try.

[Chris W]

9 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

As I said, when the speed is not critical, this is fair. But sometimes I just see the scene and I have a second to focus and click. No time to look at the numbers

Street photographers set the zone focus to around 1.5M and try to shoot always at that distance from the subject. If something great happens at a different distance they quickly try and guess the focus and shoot. A lot of street photography is soft, blurred, which is part of the culture, or charm.

[hirohhhh]

10 minutes ago, Chris W said:

Street photographers set the zone focus to around 1.5M and try to shoot always at that distance from the subject. If something great happens at a different distance they quickly try and guess the focus and shoot. A lot of street photography is soft, blurred, which is part of the culture, or charm.

You're absolutely right. I also don't change the focus for every shot and I embrace blur sometimes, but that doesn't change the fact that I cannot focus as fast as I can with my lenses with the focus tab (which is there for a reason).

Edited March 3, 2023 by hirohhhh

[Chris W]

I thought the focus tab was there to give your finger some purchase. I've never used my focus tabs as a distance indicator.

[spydrxx]

8 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

@spydrxx while looking for a TAAB, I found this. Looks interesting. I think I'll give it a try.

It's virtually the same thing. The adhesive is ok but won't hold under heavy use. I've heard of some users, once they've determined the desired location afterr a few months use, and wanting a permanent fastening adhering the lens using a drop of cyanoacrylate, although I personally wouldn't do that.

[hepcat]

3 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

You're absolutely right. I also don't change the focus for every shot and I embrace blur sometimes, but that doesn't change the fact that I cannot focus as fast as I can with my lenses with the focus tab (which is there for a reason).

No I don't think you DO "get it."

You are just not understanding the purpose of "zone focus."  You don't change the focus for every shot.  You don't even check the focus.  You set the focus for a predetermined distance, make sure that the depth of field will carry you and go shoot.  Your images will be in focus.  This focusing EVERY shot thing is a new construct devised by amatuers, mostly since the introduction of autofocus in about 1987.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO FOCUS EVERY SHOT once you've set your focusing distance and have adequate depth of field (as indicated by the DOF indicator marks on the lens.)   Your camera becomes a point and shoot.  Ignore the rangefinder.  You'll be fine.

Edited March 3, 2023 by hepcat

[hirohhhh]

2 hours ago, Chris W said:

I thought the focus tab was there to give your finger some purchase. I've never used my focus tabs as a distance indicator.

I use it all the time. That was one of the first things I learned when I purchased my first M camera and lens. It was just no brainer to me that by feeling where the focus tab is would give me the quickest focus.

 

3 minutes ago, hepcat said:

You are just not understanding the purpose of "zone focus."  You don't change the focus for every shot.  You don't even check the focus.  You set the focus for a predetermined distance, make sure that the depth of field will carry you and go shoot.  This focusing EVERY shot thing is a new construct devised by amatuers, mostly since the introduction of autofocus in about 1987.  YOU DO NOT NEED TO FOCUS EVERY SHOT once you've set your focusing distance and have adequate depth of field (as indicated by the DOF indicator marks on the lens.)   Your camera becomes a point and shoot.  Ignore the rangefinder.  You'll be fine.

Again, you're absolutely right, but that's not the point of my post. All I want with this lens is to know/feel with my fingers where the focus is. Like Ii do with all my other M lenses. I didn't ask for the focusing technique opinions, but if I can mount a focus tab on this lens, for whatever reason  That's all.

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[hepcat]

1 minute ago, hirohhhh said:

Again, you're absolutely right, but that's not the point of my post. All I want with this lens is to know/feel with my fingers where the focus is. Like Ii do with all my other M lenses. I didn't ask for the focusing technique opinions, but if I can mount a focus tab on this lens, for whatever reason  That's all.

Essentially, you're misusing the lens.  You expect functionality of it it was never designed to give on an M body.  It was never designed to be used on a rangefinder body at all.   The adapter merely makes it useable on an M body under some pretty narrow circumstances.   It cannot do what you expect of it.  If you want a focusing tab and rangefinder coupling, buy an M-mount lens.

[hirohhhh]

Just now, hepcat said:

Essentially, you're misusing the lens.  You expect functionality of it it was never designed to give on an M body.  It was never designed to be used on a rangefinder body at all.   The adapter merely makes it useable on an M body under some pretty narrow circumstances.   It cannot do what you expect of it.  If you want a focusing tab and rangefinder coupling, buy an M-mount lens.

Well, I just found that out now. I purchased the lens because of the ability to focus close, and the price was fair. But at the moment of purchase I really didn't even think if it has focus tab or not. At the same time I was added to the wait list for the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4 ASPH, which focuses up to 0.4m, in my local Leica Store, but to this day, they never called me. I guess that the list is quite long.