Lucklik Posted September 11, 2009 Share #1 Â Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I wonder how the MF works on the X1. Â On the D1 we could focus on the screen, but I never used it because it didn't worked well. On the D2 we had the choice between the screen (which worked better than the D1 but for me it didn't worked well enough) and setting the distance on the lens. (which I very often do because it is much faster) There seems to be no special focus dial. This leaves the option of setting the distance on the back screen in meters or feet It would be possible to set the distance on a scale and see the dept of field according to the used diafragma. Â On paper the X1 looks very interesting but for me proper handling of the manual focus will be very decisive to buy or no to buy the X1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 Hi Lucklik, Take a look here How to manual focus the X1. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
nhabedi Posted September 11, 2009 Share #2 Â Posted September 11, 2009 There seems to be no special focus dial. Â In addition to the two dials on the top of the camera (for aperture and shutter speed), the X1 has a third (thumb) dial on the back. Judging from the button layout on the back, my guess would be that this dial can be used either for manual focussing or for exposure compensation. It doesn't have distance marks like the dial on the DP2, though, which means you'd need to look at the LCD. I think I read somewhere that someone who already briefly used a pre-production X1 said that the LCD zooms in if you focus manually (like on the G1), but I can't find that anymore. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted September 11, 2009 Share #3 Â Posted September 11, 2009 the X1 has a third (thumb) dial on the back I hear that it is a bit of a bitch to use Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted September 11, 2009 Share #4  Posted September 11, 2009 I hear that it is a bit of a bitch to use  Where do you hear that? To my knowledge, no production model has left the factory so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nhabedi Posted September 11, 2009 Share #5  Posted September 11, 2009 From Rona|d who had the chance to play with a pre-production X1:  das Drehrad für die manuelle Fokussierung arbeitet sehr gut, man kann den optimalen Schärfepunkt recht gut erreichen.  Translation: The manual focus dial works very good, you can quite easily reach optimal focus.  More here. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted September 11, 2009 Share #6 Â Posted September 11, 2009 Bit of a bitch doesn't mean useless, then it does depend on one's dexterity.........texting freaks will find it a breeze. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
integrale Posted September 11, 2009 Share #7 Â Posted September 11, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) For practical use, the X1 thumb wheel for MF probably sits somewhere between the joystick on D-Lux 4 (a pain) and a focus ring on the lens barrel (much better), although this is pure speculation Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob_x2004 Posted September 11, 2009 Share #8 Â Posted September 11, 2009 G10, G11 it runs on the multi function wheel which I found to be pretty good. P6000 has it on the thumb wheel set in the top plate which I found to be a dog. Lovely camera, just doesnt work and the files are .... So hopefully the manual focus on the X1 .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosuna Posted September 11, 2009 Share #9 Â Posted September 11, 2009 The main problem is for me manual focus operation. It is not good on the X1. Â Two suggestions easily doable by firmware programming: Â 1. Ricoh's manual focus system: Â You can pre-select three distances (1m, 3m, 5m) and pressing a button or turning the wheel you will jump from one of these pre-selected distances to the next. Â 2. Clasical DoF markings simulation: Â On the LCD you get a line with the distance scale (from 0 to infinity). Then, a mark points to the selected focus distance, AND two additional marks (at the left and to the right) point to the limits of the DoF for the selected aperture and distance. In this way you can select a hyperfocal distance, or a particular DoF range (for instance, from 1m to 5 m). Then, turn the LCD off and make pictures. Â Leica should adopt one or the two solutions for a fast manual focus operation. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
barjohn Posted September 12, 2009 Share #10 Â Posted September 12, 2009 There are problems with all of the above suggestions. First, the shallow DOF means that you must be either stopped down substantially for an approximate distance to work. Second, if you are using the magnified image square you must be able to see it. In bright daylight or very dark conditions neither works very well from an LCD on the back. This is the same problem one has with the E-P1. With a P&S and its very wide DOF the focusing doesn't need to be as accurate to be acceptable for 4x6 (though not great). On a $2K camera you want very sharp focus and the range of conditions that you can achieve this using a rear LCD are limited. Thus you might as well figure it is really an AF camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdai Posted September 12, 2009 Share #11  Posted September 12, 2009 In addition to the two dials on the top of the camera (for aperture and shutter speed), the X1 has a third (thumb) dial on the back. Judging from the button layout on the back, my guess would be that this dial can be used either for manual focussing  You are right.  I was at the road show of Leica's S2/M9 today, somebody asked Leica USA's Brian Bell about the this and his answer is the thumb wheel on the back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Mitchum Posted September 12, 2009 Share #12 Â Posted September 12, 2009 You can see the thumb wheel being used to manual focus in this video. It appears to work well and I like the enlarged area to aid in focusing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenf Posted September 12, 2009 Share #13 Â Posted September 12, 2009 That video is a great find - thank you for posting the link! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cirrus Posted September 12, 2009 Share #14 Â Posted September 12, 2009 There is still another option with the X1. Use the auto focus as a rangefinder to focus the lens. Then press the focus button, which will lock it there. I have used this with the GRD and it works fine, a tiny bit slower than a rangefinder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucklik Posted September 12, 2009 Author Share #15  Posted September 12, 2009 The main problem is for me manual focus operation. It is not good on the X1. 2. Clasical DoF markings simulation:  On the LCD you get a line with the distance scale (from 0 to infinity). Then, a mark points to the selected focus distance, AND two additional marks (at the left and to the right) point to the limits of the DoF for the selected aperture and distance. In this way you can select a hyperfocal distance, or a particular DoF range (for instance, from 1m to 5 m). Then, turn the LCD off and make pictures.   This is what I tried to explain in my first post. I use MF when there is no time for AF. (in that case MF on an enlarged area on the LCD is out of the question) On street photography this is often the case. The X1 would be a perfect street camera if I can set the focus in meter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted September 12, 2009 Share #16  Posted September 12, 2009 I wonder how the MF works on the X1. On the D1 we could focus on the screen, but I never used it because it didn't worked well. On the D2 we had the choice between the screen (which worked better than the D1 but for me it didn't worked well enough) and setting the distance on the lens. (which I very often do because it is much faster) There seems to be no special focus dial. This leaves the option of setting the distance on the back screen in meters or feet It would be possible to set the distance on a scale and see the dept of field according to the used diafragma.  On paper the X1 looks very interesting but for me proper handling of the manual focus will be very decisive to buy or no to buy the X1  A thumb wheel (freewheeling, no distance markings), with zone focusing distance scale or live-view on the LCD. According to Sean Reid's review Welcome to ReidReviews the wheel doesn't work as well as the Sigma's. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnolio Posted April 11, 2010 Share #17 Â Posted April 11, 2010 On paper the X1 looks very interesting but for me proper handling of the manual focus will be very decisive to buy or no to buy the X1 Â I second this. magnolio Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted April 11, 2010 Share #18 Â Posted April 11, 2010 I have been pleasantly surprised by the effectiveness of the manual focusing mode on the X1. It is not perfect because the control is extremely fine (lots of rotation needed to get from infinity to closest setting). But it merits some practicing on objects around the house to get a feel for its idiosyncrasies. It is also a pity that manual settings cannot be stored when powering down the camera (Perhaps a firmware upgrade will solve this issue) Â Don't dismiss manual focusing; it may be slow, it may lack optical precision, but it can be accurate and vital for some tasks like moving objects or views through windows. If manual focusing is vital and recurring part of your everyday routine, then do try alternatives. But the X1 has other virtues which far outweigh this feature. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jsrockit Posted April 11, 2010 Share #19 Â Posted April 11, 2010 I just can't be bothered. To me, the X1 is a AF camera. Manual focus just takes too long. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eduardoho Posted April 11, 2010 Share #20  Posted April 11, 2010 It is a tediously slow process, that unless you really need a razor sharp shot it is not worth the pain it takes to get the perfect focusing. I took a shot my sweet Cassie and you can actually count the whiskers, but of course she was sound asleep. It took me quite few minutes of fumbling. 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! 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/96313-how-to-manual-focus-the-x1/?do=findComment&comment=1290521'>More sharing options...
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