In praise of (stick on) lens tabs

[newtoleica]

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I’ve always loved the M lens tab. It enables quick handling and a physical indication of the distance on the lens. 
One finger to focus. tab centre down = 1.5m, tab fully to the R = infinity, half way between those two = 5m, move to the L and it’s close focus territory (0.7-1.5m).

this is important as it’s easy to be moving the lens to almost focus as you lift the camera to your eye. You can instantly return to infinity so next focus comes from infinity as Leica recommend using the RF patch. Whilst walking you can set focus without looking at all at the camera, which is great for street work and zone focus as you can create three zones ‘near’, ‘mid’, ‘far’ and instantly switch between them by the position of the tab.

so what to do when a lens doesn’t have a tab? Stick one on with 3M double sided automotive tape (tabs are sold by 7Artisans). They do stay on but I am fairly gentle with my lenses. 

here’s my line up where only one comes originally with a tab. Laowa D-Dreamer 15mm f2, Leica Summilux M 24mm ASPH, Leica Summilux M ASPH 35mm v1, CV APO-Lanthar 50mm f2, CV Ultron 75mm f1.7. 

I often hear people saying they miss the tab or should get XX lens as it has a tab, well here is the solution. 
 

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Edited October 2, 2024 by newtoleica

[Crem]

I love focus tabs, but my favorite 50mm is the Summilux 50v3 (no tab). I've been tossing around two options for fixing this. One is to do exactly what you did. The other is this rubber/plastic ring that goes around the focus ring and adds a tab: https://www.catlabs.info/product/taab-lens-focus-tab 

I'm really curious if anyone has tried both options and has a preference.

Edited October 2, 2024 by Crem

[Lee S]

I use the 7artisans ones on my 35mm C-Biogon and 50mm Nokton II and it’s made them much more usable.

Only gripe is I had to cut them down to fit the narrow area that’s flat between the focus barrel and body so they are a bit flexible, otherwise would be perfect. 
 

Will see if I can source the TAAB and try that. 

[pippy]

I'm another who loves focus-tabs on all lenses up to and including 50mm. After that f/length I find the lenses to have become large enough for a 'normal' focus-ring to be perfect.

Out of curiosity I've just had a look to check on which of my lenses do - and which don't - have a tab and was actually quite surprised by the result. Out of the dozen M-mount lenses from 21mm to the 50mm f1.5 Summarit (seven Leitz; five 'other') all of them have tab and six also have an infinity-lock.

The first lenses which don't have a tab (at least not fitted) are the 7Artisans 50mm f1.1 pair but there was an adhesive-backed rubber focus tab included with each lens were it needed. However as these lenses are roughly the same size as an f1.2 Noctilux there is plenty of heft to grab with the hand so the tab was considered to be 'surplus to my requirements'.

Philip.

Edited October 3, 2024 by pippy

[newtoleica]

Thanks for replies. I don’t use the tab to have something to hold but to know by feel where focus is. The whole thing of using an M is that it needs to be like riding a bicycle, muscle memory and concentrate on the scene being shot. Tabs perfect for that! 

[250swb]

I think they a great idea if the focus throw of the lens matches amount of movement you can get in one sweep. But it's not always so, sometimes from one extent to the other of the focus range you need to shuffle your fingers, at which point a focus tab becomes a total abomination. Maybe why Leica decided which lens to fit it with?

[Crem]

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37 minutes ago, 250swb said:

I think they a great idea if the focus throw of the lens matches amount of movement you can get in one sweep. But it's not always so, sometimes from one extent to the other of the focus range you need to shuffle your fingers, at which point a focus tab becomes a total abomination. Maybe why Leica decided which lens to fit it with?

My 50:1.4v3 has a relatively normal throw and seems perfect for adding a tab. I believe the same is true for the current version of the 50 Summicron. I don't know why Leica didn't put tabs on them because the focus throw seems designed for it. I'm sure it boils down to some people don't like tabs even though I think they are the best option.

Edited October 3, 2024 by Crem

[newtoleica]

1 hour ago, 250swb said:

I think they a great idea if the focus throw of the lens matches amount of movement you can get in one sweep. But it's not always so, sometimes from one extent to the other of the focus range you need to shuffle your fingers, at which point a focus tab becomes a total abomination. Maybe why Leica decided which lens to fit it with?

I always set 1.5m as straight down for the tab. The longer focus throw usually affects the close focus end, so the zones still apply, but ‘close’ moves a bit further over. Personally I rarely shot closer than one meter, it’s just not needed on the street, especially as I favour the 24 and 35 to tell stories from wider scenes. No interest therefore in the closer focus versions, although two of my lenses will do that (the 15 and the 75). I think for landscapes, tripod stuff and the like the tabs don’t matter as much perhaps?