[Leica] Re: Focus woes

[Jim Brick <jim@brick.org>]

Screens in R cameras can easily be installed incorrectly. You must use the
little tool that comes with them and when you install it, it must "snap" in
place. When it snaps in, you will know that it is installed properly. Focus
on some striped wallpaper or a brick wall (parallel to the film plane) to
check it out.

Jim


At 12:24 AM 9/28/99 -0400, David Strang wrote:
>Well, I got my 180mmf2 back last Monday from Leica NJ. Leica did a nice job.
>
>My first assignment(s) I decided to use it for were volleyball and some night
>football. One request I had was to get some shots of the new coach who is 7-8
>months pregnant and very camera shy. During the match I just located
myself at
>the end of the bench area and fired away. I was no more than 15-20 feet away.
>Shooting at 1/125 and f2, I latched the focuse to her eyebrows. I was
using my
>R5 with the matte screeen. I was very impressed on being able to focus on
>individual hairs in her eyebrows and eyelashes. I was using a monopod and
>oriented the camera vertical to use the front release on the R-motor.
Everything
>seemed solid as I shot.
>
>When I examined the negatives, her face was way out of focus! In fact the
focus
>was on her near shoulder (rather sharp fabric/textures).
>
>The day before I had "practised" by shooting a girl's basketball game where I
>noticed the shots I took of the bench exhibited this peculiar trait: my
subject
>on the right was out of focus, but items to the left (in camera) were in
focus.
>In fact, the subject girl wasout of focus but the girl on her right (left in
>camera) was in sharp focus.
>
>I have used matte screens in my Canon's for more than 15 years (F1n:SC/SJ/SK)
>where I often used my 85mmf1.2L wide open with very good success (great
lens!),
>and I shoot a 300mmf2.8L wide open as well for hockey with considerable
success
>(another great lens!).  I also use my EOS1 with its matte screen in manual
mode
>at maximum aperatures.
>
>The R5 was purchased used from Jim Kuehl in May or June. I set the diopter
>adjustment and it hasn't been budged since. My opinion is that the screen
is not
>held in place correctly or the mirror is out of alignment.
>
>HAS ANYONE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS OR KNOW HOW I CAN VERIFY THIS?
>
>Come to think about it, when I shoot outdoors, I usually use a smaller
aperature
>which gives more DOF. This will explain why some shots I swore I nailed
were a
>bit soft!
>
>Another thing that comes to mind is the focus screen may not be compatible
with
>a 180mm lens which is also an 2 aperature. Maybe ther eis another screen I
can
>try. The Canon F-1n FN-SK screen was optimized for 300mm lenses or longer
and it
>showed. It could not be used for shorter lenses. So maybe the R matte
screen is
>the problem?
>
>Opinions requested.
>
>Regards,
>
>Dave Strang
>dstrang@up.net
>
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