----- Original Message -----
From: Paul Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 12, 2001 6:35 PM
Subject: Re: Pentax SMC-FA* 85mm/1.4 IF on E-bay
> Hi Tom,
>
> In the last two weeks i have started shooting with a Bessa-R rangefinder
and
> a Summarit 50/1.5 lense and the most difficult part about getting used to
a
> range finder has been being able to focus only with the centre patch. It
has
> made be realise that most of the time my main focal point is not dead in
the
> centre of the frame. I am alot slower with the rangefinder than with an
SLR,
> although i have only put a few roles through it, so time will tell.
>
> I do like being able to see outside of the viewfinder frame.
>
Welcome to the wonderful world of rangefinder photography! At some point
you'll have to ignore the focusing patch and start to zone focus (Use the
Force Luke!). I found myself missing too many pictures if I tried to get
critically focussed images in quick changing situations. Using a 50mm or
35mm lens it is far easier to walk forward until your subject is in your DOF
and WHAM, you get acceptably sharp images, but at just the right moment,
plus its much more fun!:-)
After some tests, I've found that my acceptable DOF with a 50mm lens is
around 6 feet deep at f8, focused around 6 feet (If I remember correctly,
its been a while since I've shot like this...). Sometimes I shoot with both
eyes open, sometime I only look through the viewfinder, and sometimes I
only look through the eye not at the camera! That's the advantage of a 50mm
lens, I find it easier to "see" the frame without looking at a frame...
Of course, none of this helps a whole lot with limited DOF, but I don't
really think that's a great way to use a rangefinder IMHO. Too many hoops to
jump through, and easier with an SLR...
Isaac
> Regards,
> Paul
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "tom" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Thursday, December 13, 2001 10:18 AM
> Subject: Re: Pentax SMC-FA* 85mm/1.4 IF on E-bay
>
>
> > Shel Belinkoff wrote:
> > >
> > > Were these done with autofocus?
> >
> > No. AF doesn't seem to work for me below f/4...recomposing after locking
> > on the central sensor is usually enough to knock it out of focus at
> > really shallow DOF.
> >
> > Which leads to a related question which maybe you can answer. Like I
> > said, when using AF you often "lock-on" the sensor, then recompose the
> > image. With shallow DOF, this slight movement is often enough to change
> > the plane of focus enough to screw things up.
> >
> > Using a rangefinder seems to me to involve the same dance - line up the
> > images in the central area, then recompose. Do you find the act of
> > recomposing throws off your focus? From my limited use of rangefinders
> > it seems like the camera is moved less when recomposing as compared to
> > an slr and would minimize the effect.
> >
> > I'm still debating the purchase of a rangefinder.
-
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