[Leica] Mess 14 Vol 59 Issue 195 – Leica Glass on Fuji X-Pro 1

[bigdlakeside at yahoo.com (Rod Smith)]

Dave:
Thanks for the insight.
Your blunt assessment of the probable focusing issues is what concerned me 
the most. It appears that the Fuji may simply not have a truly adequate way 
to manually focus lenses. This has not been an unkown experience to me in 
trying to get better focus out of autofocus cameras.
I went through 3 Canon digital SLRS, then 1 Nikon SLR before I found one 
that autofocused worth a hoot (that being a Nikon D200 and so far I have 
sold one of those and sent one back to Nikon for repair for other reasons). 
And this something I have never done with at least 8 other bodies I have 
owned.
Whatever happened to hyperfocal distance? In the 70?s it was not uncommon 
for me to estimate distance in a low light situation and use a flashlight to 
set the distance on my old Nikon F, FMe, FM2n, Rollei TLR or Hasselblad 
501CM (of course I had to stop down ? but it worked). Today?s autofocus 
?lenses with such a short physical throw on lens distance setting makes that 
almost impossible. And there is not enough resistance to get a setting that 
will stay before I can get my fingers off the barrel.
This is one of the reasons I got into the rangefinder game anyway? ? to get 
better focus.
I have had no issue with my M6 or Zeiss rangefinder in getting images in 
focus. It is a bit slower than the Nikon D200 on autofocus of course. But to 
get that thing to work ? I have had to buy a bunch of fast, prime lenses and 
it still won?t do the trick at times. So folks have tried to sell me the 
$3000 to $5000 Nikon bodies, and I have been squeamish at that outlay. 
Especially since the digitals tend to be superseded so fast.? To top it off 
now, the $3,000 Nikon digital I would want seems to be impossible to get in 
any near time due to production issues I suppose.
Thanks,
Rod
PS ? lest anyone think I am just an equipment freak and don?t shoot photos ? 
I promise to get some on the LUG site this weekend.