Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Back in the old days, manufacturers limited close focus to about 10 times the focal length or so because closer than that you need to compensate for the extension in determining the exposure, but TTL metering did away with that need. That is also why medium format lenses did not focus close. With rangefinders, parallax problems get worse. With the Leica, the rangefinders don't go closer than .7m or 1m on some (I am sure others on the list can recite model numbers and perhaps serial numbers on that). Even with the lines moving to account for the parallax, there is a difference in perspective -- where the background is relative to the subject -- that moving the lines can't account for. Also, as you move closer the frame lines should get closer together, but are fixed. There has been lengthy discussion on this on the LUG, and should be in the archives. Basically, as I understand it, and I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, for all but the 90 and 135 lines, Leica gives the frame lines for the closest focusing distance, assuming it is better to err on the side of getting more than you see in the frame, rather than less than what you see. I used to have a FUJI GA645W which actually changed the size of the frame lines, not just the position, as it focused closer, but Leica apparently has not figured that one out. Bottom line, if you do a lot of close up work, get an SLR with a 60 or 100 macro. The wonderful R8 can even TTL spot meter any flash, not just TTL flash, so all those crazy close-up flash contraptions can be used with TTL metering. Tom Schofield - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brougham" <brougham3@yahoo.com> To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 4:52 AM Subject: [Leica] re: summicron 50 dr + m6? > Thanks for everybody's advice on using the DR summicron with my M6 > (TTL). It doesn't sound like it's such a joy to use, and I'm not sure > I want to buy equipment that I have to machine in order to be able to > use. > > Is there a technical reason why most of the rangefinder lenses don't > focus as closely as their corresponding ones for SLRs? I figured that > I'd be able to focus through the normal viewfinder, and then I could > move the camera such that the lens ends up being where the viewfinder > was, and then shoot to compensate for the different angles of view. > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger. > http://im.yahoo.com/ >