Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/04/20

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Subject: [Leica] Noctilux DOF Film vs M8
From: kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour)
Date: Sun Apr 20 08:24:18 2008
References: <D66AF68A-F211-47AA-A589-492C18022D56@comcast.net> <77F7A2BB-2C7C-481D-860C-6C16A64EBF2F@cox.net> <F4AC3CA3-EC3D-4D43-BEBB-12FE0D13FA4C@comcast.net> <82c9dd70804200758w520ed0bbof0dd4f69235424e6@mail.gmail.com>

On Apr 20, 2008, at 7:58 AM, Eric Korenman wrote:

> My noct is coming back from Germany this week. Wish me luck.
> Leica claimed that adding the 6 bit coding ring would 'shim' it
> slightly and improve focusing with my m8.


sounds very scientific...let us know,

Steve


>
>
> here's to sharp eyes and soft ears,
> Eric
>
> On Sun, Apr 20, 2008 at 10:31 AM, Leonard Taupier  
> <len-1@comcast.net> wrote:
>> Hi Steve,
>>
>> Don didn't ask for my M8, just the lenses. He still has them and I  
>> would
>> expect for awhile as he's pretty busy.  Others on the Camera forum  
>> have done
>> the same thing and report very good results.
>>
>> Len
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Apr 20, 2008, at 10:15 AM, Steve Barbour wrote:
>>
>>
>>>
>>> On Apr 20, 2008, at 6:46 AM, Leonard Taupier wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> This is a very interesting issue. I don't know if anybody has  
>>>> mentioned
>> what happens to the depth of field of the Noctilux, or any other  
>> lens, in a
>> Leica film camera versus the M8 digital camera. It seems that nobody
>> complains about the focus on a film body but all kinds of  
>> complaints on the
>> M8, especially the Noctilux, Summilux Asph and the 75mm Summilux.  
>> Is there a
>> difference? Yup, there sure is. I tested 16 leica lenses for depth  
>> of field
>> at a distance of 8 feet. I tested 13 of the lenses with film using  
>> a .85 MP
>> and compared the results to those taken with an M8 and a 1.25 Leica
>> magnifier.
>>>>
>>>> In every case the DOF shifts away from the camera with the M8. In  
>>>> other
>> words the lens appears to back focus. The worse lens for this shift  
>> is the
>> Noctilux. But even on a film camera it is barely in focus. The  
>> typical back
>> focus shift of any 50mm Leica lens is about 4 to 5 inches at 8 feet  
>> with the
>> M8. The backward shift of the Noctilux is between 8 and 9 inches.  
>> This puts
>> the focused point of the rangefinder outside the depth of field of  
>> the lens.
>> The other thing I noticed is the DOF is better centered on the  
>> older LTM
>> lenses then on the newer lenses. I don't know if this is a quality  
>> control
>> problem now or if the focus point test has changed. I tested 7 LTM  
>> lenses,
>> the Xenon, Summarit, Summitar, Summicron Coll, 50 Elmar RS, 90  
>> Elmar and 135
>> Hektor. The focus point nicely stayed within the DOF on both  
>> cameras. Of the
>> M lenses the best is the 1st 50mm Summicron rigid version followed  
>> by the
>> current 50mm Summicron.
>>>>
>>>> I verified my results with a second M8. The MP body is one year  
>>>> old and
>> purchased new. I also sent my Noctilux and 75mm Summilux to DAG for  
>> focus
>> adjustment even though the lens is still in warranty. I'm also  
>> shooting more
>> with film these days.
>>>>
>>>
>>> hi Len,
>>>
>>> is it appropriate to send a Noctilux to DAG for focus adjustment,  
>>> without
>> the body...
>>>
>>> does that work out OK?
>>>
>>> I agree that with film (bodies) I did fine with the Noctilux wide  
>>> open,
>> with the M8 much less so...
>>>
>>> Steve
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Len
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> Leica Users Group.
>>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more  
>>>> information
>>>>
>>>
>>> best, Steve
>>>
>>>
>>> "I never wanted to be famous"
>>> http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/186890
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

best, Steve


"I never wanted to be famous"
http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/186890


In reply to: Message from len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier) ([Leica] Noctilux DOF Film vs M8)
Message from kididdoc at cox.net (Steve Barbour) ([Leica] Noctilux DOF Film vs M8)
Message from len-1 at comcast.net (Leonard Taupier) ([Leica] Noctilux DOF Film vs M8)
Message from faneuil at gmail.com (Eric Korenman) ([Leica] Noctilux DOF Film vs M8)