Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I agree that the eyes should be the focal point, but I just don't think I can do it with a 35mm or 50mm R lens indoors. These are wiggly children, ages 2-5. Maybe I've got it all wrong. Comments/helpful hints from the group would be welcome at this point. Am I off base on this? I plan to re-check light levels tomorrow. Today, I was getting one or two stops less light than what you mentioned in your message, but even if your estimates turn out to be accurate, I don't think I can hand-hold an R camera and get a reasonaable number of sharp pictures of unposed little children, using 1/15 second--even though the depth of field would be wonderful. Thanks for your input. Every suggestion helps me in my thinking about the task. And welcome (picture your message here) back. Julian - ----- Original Message ----- From: <Ruralmopics@aol.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 8:12 PM Subject: Re: [Leica] Lens choice--sole lens for M6 In messages dated 12/15/99 5:40:49 PM, jkoplen@mindspring.com writes: << I am contemplating a limited M6 outfit for people pictures indoors, especially pre-kindergarten children in their classes and casual stuff taken at adult social events . . . Since the school has generous fluorescent lighting mixed with incoming window light, I anticipate that I will choose B/W over color for the classroom photos. >> A fluorescent lit classroom is not a low light situation. If you use 400 speed black and white you can shoot at 1/15 @ f8 and basically forget focus with wideangle lenses. <<It is hard for me to think that I can focus the 50-R and 35-R indoors on low-luminance faces accurately enough for f/2 shooting, but I plan to give it a more serious dry run tomorrow, using the technique you described and looking for consistency on the lens markings. Any other ideas on that challenge. I thought of using the kids' shiny hair and hoping that DOF would get me by for the face.>> Rules are made to be broken I guess but a pretty safe rule is ALWAYS focus on the eyes. That's where you want your viewer to look, not the hair. Bob (I'm back, at least for awhile) McEowen