Re: [Leica] Lagavulin and focussing Noctilux and 75 Summilux in low light

[Mark Rabiner <mark@rabinergroup.com>]

Mitch Alland wrote:
> 
> I posted about learning to drink Lagavulin and got 15-20 responses, and
> I posted about the problems of focussing the Noctilux and 75 Summilux
> in low light and got 1 response which was jocular not informative. I
> suppose someone will say, "Yup this is the LUG." So here's the
> Noctilux/Summilux focussing question again:
> 
> ---------------
> Last night I tried to take portraits of three young women using the
> Noctilux and the 75 Summilux on my M6 in low light which, with 400 ISO
> film, required exposures of 1/15 sec. at f1.4 and 1/30 sec at f1.0.
> Trying to focus on the eyes, I found it extremely difficult: the low
> light and the relative large turning circle of the focussing ring of
> these two lenses made it extremely difficult to tell when the eyes were
> in focus. I also tried using the 1.25x magnifier but this did not seem
> to make it any easier as it slightly darkens the viewfinder image. I
> get the feeling focussing the M6 in such low light at the extremely
> narrow DOF  of the 1.0-14 apertures of these lenses is a hit or miss
> process.
> 
> Is there a solution to this problem other than rating the film at 800
> ISO and shooting at, say, f2.0 to increase the DOF?
> 
> ...and for Ted Grant: I wasn't drinking the Lagavulin, so that was not
> the problem.
> -------------
> 
> --Mitch/Bangkok
> 

Which came first the problem or the semanticall quagmire which happen
with a bunch of WORDS were used to describe it?

My problem word is "Portraits"

If you're doing portraits cant you get yourself into a more controlled
situation. Like a room with a light swith? really it takes more than
that. When you say portraits they expect the shot to come out "good."
When you say extreme low light pushed Tri x infotainment
 of three women in progress.
Which will always make me think

       When shall we three meet again?
       In thunder, lightning, or in rain?     (1.1.2)
       When the hurlyburly's done,
       When the battle's lost and won. 

No offence.

Low light photography and portraiture are all but mutually exclusive.
(Cant get into the same country club)

Get a flash on a cord.

Good light is rarely low light.


Mark Rabiner
Portland, Oregon USA
http://www.rabinergroup.com
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