[Leica] IMG: LE1CA Photo MAKING WIDE ANGLES SHARP EASILY!

[tedgrant at shaw.ca (tedgrant at shaw.ca)]

Jim Nichols offered:
Subject: [Leica] IMG: LE1CA Photo

>>> Focusing ease seems to be a function of focal length, with the 60mm 
>>> focusing with ease, and the 28mm more of a challenge, particularly in 
>>> low light.  The linked image is one of my first with the 28.
>
> http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Table+Top.jpg.html<<<<<<<<

Hi  Jim,
OK here is the simplest "focusing fix it" for any wide angle lens. Once you 
get the feel and screen look comfortable,  wides should never ever be a 
problem again.

1: With a wide angle lens on body, before you even look through the 
viewfinder turn the lens with a quick turn to it's closest focus point stop 
at the end of the barrel turn.

2: Now put the camera to your eye and everything will be wildly out of 
focus. Now begin to focus from there, in other words you'll begin to turn 
the focus ring toward the infinity end. Obviously you do this carefully 
watching for the sharpest focus moment, which with any luck the sharpest 
point should "pop" sharply into focus.  Do not squiggle the lens back and 
forth once you hit the "in focus point" or you might as well go right back 
to the closest point and start over.

The reason going this manner is quite simple.
The lens before we place the camera to eye with a wide at it's usual place 
of infinity, everything through the viewfinder appears in focus.

As you begin to focus to a closer position it is harder for the eye to lock 
on the sharpest wide point! Because you are going from sharp looking for 
another sharp point.

But if you do the opposite and start from the wildly out of focus close-up 
end, the eye recognizes sharpness much easier because you've come from a 
completely wildly blurred image to a now, "sharp image!" The eye recognizes 
sharpness much easier from this direction than going from sharp trying to 
look for another sharp spot.

A few tries and you'll find this is so simple and accurate you'll use it all 
the time with wide lenses.

I've done this for years using 15mm to 28's and it's never failed me and so 
much easier and accurate. Certainly far less time consuming twiddling back 
and forth trying to get it sharp right on the mark.

cheers,
Dr. ted