Ronaldraw Posted May 12, 2023 Share #1 Posted May 12, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm considering to get a M10 with a 35mm. Im only not sure how to focus Portraits by using 2.8 for example I'm afraid the eyes will be blurry What is the best way to focus Portraits? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 12, 2023 Posted May 12, 2023 Hi Ronaldraw, Take a look here Focus Portrait. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
elmars Posted May 12, 2023 Share #2 Posted May 12, 2023 Practice. Just do it. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldraw Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share #3 Posted May 12, 2023 Is it possible to focus on the eye or is that to small and should I focus on the face? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted May 12, 2023 Share #4 Posted May 12, 2023 (edited) The eye is a contrasty object and as easy to focus on as anything else. But no one can tell if your blurry eyes will work or not. Everyone’s eyes are blurry in different ways. You’ll either have to take a risk or find a dealer, or someone with a digital M to try for yourself. I used an Apo-Summicron-M 90 Asph for portraits and didn’t find it a problem wide open. But many people do. Edited May 12, 2023 by LocalHero1953 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elmars Posted May 12, 2023 Share #5 Posted May 12, 2023 Focusing on the eye is not easy in poor lighting conditions or when the eyes are low in the sky. At least not if you want to see it completely in focus. One trick is to refrain from seeing the focus. Instead, you focus indirectly by trying to find the point of greatest contrast. To do this, turn the focus ring back and forth a little and then see when it pops the most. That is the point of focus. Alternatively, you can focus on something that is more visible, such as a spectacle frame. Then it depends on the depth of field whether the eye itself is also sharp. At 35 mm and 2.8 this should be the case. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlesphoto99 Posted May 12, 2023 Share #6 Posted May 12, 2023 Practice. Shouldn’t be too hard with a 35 - if you had said new to M’s and want to use a 90 at 2.8, I would have said start with a 35. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldraw Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share #7 Posted May 12, 2023 Advertisement (gone after registration) Yes I have no experience with the M Only with the Q2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotogLeica Posted May 12, 2023 Share #8 Posted May 12, 2023 Practice a lot on some object at home. I use an old Micky Mouse doll with contrasty eyes! Get close, set the camera lens wide open, focus on the leading eye, snap, review, repeat. Try maximum closeness, then 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet. You then get a good feel for the process and see the results and adjust accordingly. Zone focusing is fun with this practice routine as well. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronaldraw Posted May 12, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted May 12, 2023 22 minutes ago, PhotogLeica said: Practice a lot on some object at home. I use an old Micky Mouse doll with contrasty eyes! Get close, set the camera lens wide open, focus on the leading eye, snap, review, repeat. Try maximum closeness, then 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet. You then get a good feel for the process and see the results and adjust accordingly. Zone focusing is fun with this practice routine as well. With focusing the portrait means to looking the viewfinder and trying to Line up an overlay of the face or eyes. I suppose that's not zone focusing, am I right? I'm wondering if I can do that with only focusing at the eye. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LocalHero1953 Posted May 12, 2023 Share #10 Posted May 12, 2023 1 minute ago, Ronaldraw said: With focusing the portrait means to looking the viewfinder and trying to Line up an overlay of the face or eyes. I suppose that's not zone focusing, am I right? I'm wondering if I can do that with only focusing at the eye. Your first line is a fair description of rangefinder focusing. Zone focusing is something different altogether, and, in relation to focusing on the nearest eye, can be described as the Monte Carlo approach - with low odds of success. I suggest you read up zone focusing. And, seriously, you would be best advised to lay your hands on a M before handing over any money, to find out if it works for you and your eyes. For many people it doesn't. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pedaes Posted May 12, 2023 Share #11 Posted May 12, 2023 Lots of advice on YouTube (focus a rangefinder search) eg 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
M10R Posted May 12, 2023 Share #12 Posted May 12, 2023 6 hours ago, Ronaldraw said: Is it possible to focus on the eye or is that to small and should I focus on the face? Focus on the eye. No worry, you can do this. Manual focusing is not like auto-focusing, it's a trial and error process. You just need to turn the focus ring left and right a few times. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted May 12, 2023 Share #13 Posted May 12, 2023 Ask the model to close the eyes, focus and then ask the model to open them again and shoot. That way you get the time you need and the model gets a natural and relaxed look. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sometimesmaybe Posted May 13, 2023 Share #14 Posted May 13, 2023 (edited) 21 hours ago, Ronaldraw said: I'm considering to get a M10 with a 35mm. Im only not sure how to focus Portraits by using 2.8 for example I'm afraid the eyes will be blurry What is the best way to focus Portraits? consider using a visoflex, but with a 35mm f2.8 lens you should have enough leeway with DOF - assuming you have ok RF technique see calculation from PhotoPills 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! Edited May 13, 2023 by sometimesmaybe 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/376843-focus-portrait/?do=findComment&comment=4770748'>More sharing options...
Ronaldraw Posted May 13, 2023 Author Share #15 Posted May 13, 2023 4 hours ago, sometimesmaybe said: consider using a visoflex, but with a 35mm f2.8 lens you should have enough leeway with DOF - assuming you have ok RF technique see calculation from PhotoPills 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! Thank you very much 👍 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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