Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/07/29
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]A common mistaken notion. Focal length does determine focusing accuracy with rangefinders. As the focal length increases, accuracy drops. And at about 75 mm, the rangefinder becomes about as accurate as focusing with an SLR. The wider the focal length, the more accurate a rangefinder is compared to an SLR. This is a well-known phenomena. And it has to do with the angle of view of the rangefinder and how wide the rangefinder base is. So a camera with a narrower rangefinder base (the distance of the rangefinder window from the viewfinder) is going to be less accurate than one with a wider base. So, the Leica CL is less accurate than the Leica M because the rangefinder base is narrower. This principle actually works with SLRs too, where the effective rangefinder base is the physical width of the lens elements of the lens determines its focusing "base." On Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at 09:02 PM, Mike Quinn wrote: > Focus accuracy in the M series has little, if anything, to do with the > focal > length of the lens. You can get more depth of field with a higher > f-stop. Eric Welch Carlsbad, CA http://www.jphotog.com If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging. - Will Rogers. - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html