[Leica] Perfect focus for landscape?

[Paul Roark <proark@silcom.com>]

On 20 Mar 2000 Mitch Alland <malland@mac.com> wrote, in part:

>>>>What is "perfect focus" for landscape? Obviously, if there is a major
object in the scene that one wants to isolate, one should focus on it.
However, what about the type of landscape in which there are many objects
in various planes of focus? I generally use the hyperfocal distance focus.
In fact, I almost always use the hyperfocal distance focus for landscapes.
Or, is this not a good practice?<<<

I often use the "hyperfocal" distance for landscapes.  However, I disagree
with the scales on cameras as to what that distance should be.  I think the
horizon is often the most critical point for focus if it is sharp (no haze
- -- which is typical of the High Sierras where I do a lot of shooting).  I
also think that the manufacturers' scales are for snapshots, not 16 by 20s.
 So, I like to set a sharp horizon three stops in from the manufacturer's
scale, and have any important foreground 1 to 2 stops in, depending on how
important the detail is.  With digital, of course, one also has the option
to take two frames and then stitch them together in Photoshop. (If using a
tripod, this really makes the view camera tilts a bit less important.)  

Paul Roark
http://www.silcom.com/~proark/photos.html