Switching to EV1 from Rangefinder not so easy

[Leslie22]

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30+ years using M’s , also SL 3 …. So I do have experience with M lens on SL3

BUT , with the M EV1 (which I like very much) I’m finding it a learning curve to get quick , sharp , in focus images.

After a few weeks I’ve settled on NO focus peaking. Us “punch in” at wide open aperture , then close down and take the shot (using auto ISO)

Thanks to Sean Reid for that suggestion , he calls it riding the Aperture ring.

It does take some getting used to looking into the viewfinder and NOT seeing the patch, 30 years , It will take a little time to get used to it

 

Any hints or differing methods would be welcome to hear.

 

 

 

 

[SrMi]

I am trying to switch to focusing at working aperture, but it is too strenuous to guess the proper focus settings. I am reverting to my old style of focusing: open wider aperture, set focus, close aperture.

[derleicaman]

My biggest issue is getting used to shooting without the freedom the optical viewfinder gives you. I was beta testing the camera for several months, and loved it for nailing focus with my Noctilux and 75 Summicron, to name a few. Being an avid M user for almost 60 years spoils you, and I am still using the M10P and and M10M cameras. There are a lot of things to love about the M11, but I am not used to it, only having used it before the intro a few years ago. So some of my problems with the M EV1 I attribute to being unfamiliar of the quirks of the M11 camera family. My biggest problem came with quickly focusing, composing and shooting in the field. With an OVF M camera, once you have the camera set, just shoot. With the M EV1, I found the electronic viewfinder getting in the way. As I said, some of this may be due to not being up to speed on the M11 system, partly due to there being no instruction book for the months I had testing the camera.

There were several occasions where I was shooting pictures of the grandkids at a local fair on the rides and other attractions they were into. I was trying to keep up with four of them, ranging in age from 3 to 7, and I found the M EV1 the way I had it set up getting in the way of getting results I was used to. I felt the camera was in the way, and missed using one of my M10s in this situation. It was like running at a track meet with work boots on.

For macro work, and nailing focus with any lens I chose, the M EV1 was a natural. Not having to use a VIso was a big plus. For me, the M EV1 would be a companion camera, not a replacement.

Edited 9 hours ago by derleicaman

[Jean-Michel]

16 hours ago, SrMi said:

I am trying to switch to focusing at working aperture, but it is too strenuous to guess the proper focus settings. I am reverting to my old style of focusing: open wider aperture, set focus, close aperture.

I find it interesting to read all the threads about the M-EV1 (which I do not have). I do have an M-P(240) and an SL2 and occasionally use the EVF2 or an M lens on the SL2. Really, the only way to focus as accurately as possible with a manual lens on an SLR, dSLR or Mirrorless is to do so with the lens open to its widest aperture. In the mid 1960s I sometimes used my older cousin's Exacta. One of his lenses had a device where you would set the desired aperture, say f/8, and push the aperture ring in, if I remember correctly, and the lens would open wide open, you would focus and then move the ring back and it would stop at the selected aperture. Sort of what you are doing, but without the 'automatic' aperture stop!

[duoenboge]

That's to be expected, since it's difficult to achieve precise focus at closed apertures when shooting with lenses that lack an automatic diaphragm. Perhaps Leica wanted to remind EV1 photographers that true Leica photography is done with a wide aperture, because only this produces the famous Leica look. 😘Mr. Karbe always emphasizes that with Leica, the widest aperture was always the working aperture. Which is also true.

[lct]

17 hours ago, Leslie22 said:

[...] Any hints or differing methods would be welcome to hear.

My simple method is two fold. For nailing focus, autozoom at working aperture + focus peaking. For good enough focusing, focus peaking at full aperture. Same method with MEV1 and M11+ Visoflex 2. No problem for me but i cannot speak for others.