Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/06/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Well i cannot accurately focus a moving target at f1 with a m at ranges up to 1.5 meters. Weight is no factor i had no problem with a nikon 300 2.8 . And as you point out it is not easy to find a subject plane that is truely perpendicular to the lenses axis. one eye unsharp with faces for instance.That and the narrower dof at close range is holding me back. I have 2 nice offers for a 180. For my birthday i got the book portraits from Mario Testino and i noticed that many pictures have the plane of focus in front of the face often on a shoulder with the eyes just behind. That cannot be misfocusing and is a nice solution to the problem producing a flattering softness around the eyes of the older then 20 . My Canon using sport pro friend showed me what a 180 can do on an eos at close range with a fast subject(cookie at speed) and as one would expect just as with the old F5 and the like focus tracking and speed is spot on as is exposure all at 7fps or so maybe 8 i forgot. So I guess it would be wisest for me to practise with the m3 and learn how to develop fast film And wait for a digital full frame(why not larger?) back with a m mount . The ones on offer here also have Rom contacts and my leicaflex sl has not a working meter so i,d have to get a R8 as well i think. And all that for as yet unknown subject matter.Would be a bit stupid. But as usual you pulled me over the line and i,ll buy it. fond regards simon jessurun > Some have questioned whether the 180 Summicron is really useable at F2. > Oh my yes, if you can focus a Noctilux then you can focus the 180. > Depth of field is an issue, but if you think about your shot then you > can control the focal plane by moving the film plane parallel. As to > being heavy and not suitable for hand holding, bah. F2 gives you the > fastest shutter speed possible in the light available and the focusing > screen on an R8 is more than up to the task. I'll have to dig up the > shots I took with this lens at the Leica Seminar at shutter speeds down > to 1/8th: not perfectly sharp but as reportage priceless. > > Late last year I could not take advantage of a good buy, but if > something similar comes along, I will pick one up in a heart beat. > > 0.02 > Don > dorysrus@mindspring.com > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information