Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/20

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Focusing a 75 1.4 -- mitch's question
From: Dan C <leicaman@sympatico.ca>
Date: Sun, 20 Jul 2003 10:58:23 -0400
References: <01fb01c34ebe$7a4e2400$d944fea9@nocjkutyt8zg5r> <006a01c34ec6$049e9a20$9cad5018@gv.shawcable.net>

Personally speaking, I would be happy with an 85% success rate with my
75/1.4 focused at 1.4.  As everyone has stressed, it takes some getting
used to to focus that lens correctly wide open.  In fact, even though this
is heresy, I usually use the lens stopped down a bit (to 2.8), so even
though I am not taking advantage of the extra stops available, the bokeh is
still very nice.

dan c.

At 10:25 PM 20-07-03 +0800, Nelson Chan wrote:
>Ted,
>
>I would say 15% are throw outs.  My subject is my 6 week old baby.  She is
>laying down on an upright cradle and I am shooting at one side.  Since my
>baby is small, I have to really shoot near the subject to more or less, fill
>the frame.  Most of the photos have one eye in focus only. Will shoot a
>couple of rolls with the lens.  Any suggestion for photographing babies
>using the 75mm? or should I just use the nikon 85/1.4?  OPPSSS.  Sorry.:)
>
>Nelson
>
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Ted Grant" <tedgrant@shaw.ca>
>To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
>Sent: Sunday, July 20, 2003 9:51 PM
>Subject: Re: [Leica] Focusing a 75 1.4 -- mitch's question
>
>
>> Nelson Chan aked:
>> Focusing a 75 1.4 .
>>
>> > I shot one roll of film using my newly purchased 75/1.4.  50% are out of
>> > focus.  The subject was my 6 week old baby.  Distance is around .8
>meters,
>> > aperture at wide open and focused on the nearest eye.  sometimes the eye
>> is
>> > out of focus but the chin is right on.  I don't know.  I might have made
>a
>> > mistake buying this lens.  Is it me or the lens?<<<<<<
>>
>> Hi Nelson,
>> No it's not a mistake of purchase and no it's not your fault. It's the
>lens
>> and ones ability to focus it at f 1.4. If you like the look of the frames
>in
>> focus keep it.
>>
>> But you must learn how to "use it!" That's the hard part.
>>
>> Because that entails lots of practice, first with an empty camera focusing
>> many many times at all kinds of distance. Then buy some cheap film and
>blast
>> a bunch of rolls shooting everything at f 1.4. Eventually you'll acquire
>the
>> feel of being on the mark. However, even then this is a very unforgiving
>> lens wide open, so don't be surprised if you continue finding out of focus
>> frames..
>>
>> If you find your throw outs are too high, sell the lens and buy something
>> easier to handle.
>> ted
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>>
>
>
>--
>To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
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Replies: Reply from "Nelson Chan" <cchan@info.com.ph> (Re: [Leica] Focusing a 75 1.4 -- mitch's question)
In reply to: Message from "Nelson Chan" <cchan@info.com.ph> (Fw: [Leica] Focusing a 75 1.4 -- mitch's question)
Message from Ted Grant <tedgrant@shaw.ca> (Re: [Leica] Focusing a 75 1.4 -- mitch's question)