Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/30
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Karen Nakamura pointed out: > Well, from a strictly anal (this *is* the LUG) perspective, you're wrong. > > The focusing error on an M7 @ 1 meter will always be +/- 1 cm (to > just pull a number out of thin air). > For a 35mm f/2 lens, that's covered by DOF amply. > For a 50mm f/2 lens, that's covered by DOF. > For a 75mm f/1.4 lens, we're starting to get to the point where > either bounds of the +/- 1cm will be visible. > So the focusing *accuracy* of a rangefinder is constant, it's just > that that accuracy will be visible with certain lens combinations.<<< To Karen and others arguing this or whatever, I have to ask this "anal question?" ;-) Do you folks run all these techie number things through your minds when you're shooting? I mean do you run a thought check list of how much the R/F is off or on with the lens you are using in the midst of photographing an event with either a Leicaflex or an M?. Or do you fire away at motivating moments with reckless abandon capturing neat photographs ? Or as I do, hope I am. ;-) As I've said many times in the past, I've gained a great deal of "techie" knowledge from the LUG over the years, which in many cases I dismissed the moment I stepped away from the screen to go on assignment. Why? Well if I worried myself about the many things some of you folks bring-up, I'd have missed 90% of the work produced over the years. Why? Well hell most of the above stuff on rangefinder baselines and focus amounts of error don't mean diddily when you're being shot at or shooting sports and many other subjects simply because, it's capturing the content that matters in the end. And I suppose if you are snapping a flower with all the time in the world it may make a difference, but in the real world of earning your living a techie overload distracts your mind away from what you are supposed to be doing... taking good photographs of motivating moments. Do you suppose Gene Smith, Bob Capa or HCB knew all this stuff? Or gave a flying hoop about it? Not likely. However, on a positive note. I thank many of you for presenting your knowledge of camera operating systems and many other aspects from the technical side of photography over the years, as in quiet times I found it quite fascinating. But during a heated shooting session it's mainly forgotten. ted - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html