lawrence
Veteran
I like tabs! But some people don't...how about you?
To tab or not to tab, that is the question
- Thread starter lawrence
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crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
I love the tabs, especially on certain lenses, such as the 50mm Elmar f/3.5, or the Canon 35mm f/2.8.
However, I hate the infinity lock on my Canon 50mm f/1.2.
However, I hate the infinity lock on my Canon 50mm f/1.2.
alan davus
Well-known
I have tabs on 3 of my lenses, the CV21, the Hex35UC and Hex50 2.4 collapsible. I don't think it's a case of love or hate them, more a case of necessity because the lenses are so small they would be difficult to use without tabs. That said I don't have any problems in use.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Always, if possible.
You can focus by touch, once you know the lens.
('Tabs' includes the Zeiss 'nub', for me).
Cheers,
R.
You can focus by touch, once you know the lens.
('Tabs' includes the Zeiss 'nub', for me).
Cheers,
R.
Roger Hicks
Veteran
Dear Dan,
Disable it with a chip of wood (toothpick/matchstick) or have it reversibly disabled during a CLA as Balham did for mine.
Cheers,
R.
tbarker13
shooter of stuff
Tabs are fine. Infinity locks are not. I'm actually not quite sure of the reasoning behind them.
ampguy
Veteran
sepiareverb
genius and moron
I'm a fan of tabs, as long as they are real tabs, the 40 Summicron is a bit of a 'false tab' to these fingers. My 28 & 35 Summicrons are perfect.
On the longer lenses I don't miss them.
Infinity locks should be removed from every lens 😀
On the longer lenses I don't miss them.
Infinity locks should be removed from every lens 😀
gumanow
Snapshooter
I love the tabs, and am putting a tie-wrap around my J3 lens so that I can focus with it. I think it has more to do with the focal throw and how long it is. If its a long distance from minimal to infinity I can't live without it.
biomed
Veteran
It depends on the lens: a small lens needs a tab/lever: a large lens doesn't (CV 50/1.5 for example).
back alley
IMAGES
i like them.
i think the infinity lock was for removing the lens from the body, without needing to grab it at the base or to have to turn the focusing ring all the way before it could start turning the lens to remove it from the body.
i think the infinity lock was for removing the lens from the body, without needing to grab it at the base or to have to turn the focusing ring all the way before it could start turning the lens to remove it from the body.
ChrisN
Striving
Anyone want to swap a tabbed 50 Summicron for a non-tabbed?
Edit: to clarify - yes, I like tabs.
Edit: to clarify - yes, I like tabs.
Last edited:
ZeissFan
Veteran
Tabs suck. Worst thing ever put onto a lens.
And the infinity lock is to aid removal of the lens. Try removing some lenses when the helical is still spinning -- very difficult. True of the Leica and the Contax.
And the infinity lock is to aid removal of the lens. Try removing some lenses when the helical is still spinning -- very difficult. True of the Leica and the Contax.
literiter
Well-known
I never really thought of it 'till now. I really like the tabs on my 35 and 50 Summicrons. The fact that my fingers are away from the finder windows helps.
rtphotos
Established
As Roger says, one can focus by touch. I like having them on a few of the Leica lenses I own.
rt 🙂
Pherdinand
the snow must go on
i hate tabs. Give me a proper wide focusing ring instead!
sam_m
Well-known
Some lenses would be impossible to use without a tab, so for those lenses, I like them, because I like to be able to focus them! Physically longer lenses don't need them, and in this case I'm ambivalent.
rbiemer
Unabashed Amateur
I like tabs; I don't quite focus by touch but I can get fairly close and then fine tune when I look through the VF.
Rob
Thanks for the idea, gumanow!
Rob
Leica All Day
Veteran
Hello everybody....interesting thread...... I sometimes shoot one handed ( I have big hands) with my m6ttl and 28mm elmarit (tabbed) and I enjoy the tab very much on the lens....just yesterday I was out shooting and I had a 50mm summilux on my m6 and I had flowers,incense and candles in my other hand (I was at a buddhist temple) and I wanted to photograph my friend and I sooooooo wanted a tab on my lens, I can focus with one finger if there is a tab on the lens, but it takes two fingers (in most cases) to focus a lens without a tab and I had my my hand full of stuff.....I managed with some difficulty to focus but I knew that if I had my 28mm tabbed elmarit, it would of been easier.....that said, I really never thought about tabs that much until yesterday and then once again when I saw this thread.....anyways ...cheers....Michael
alexz
Well-known
My 35mm 'Cron ASPH is tabbed one of course, this is something that annoys me. I'm used to a regular focusing ring, feel very comfortable with one even for fast shooting pace, but just can't used to the tab so far..Every time need to search for one by the finger and have yet being able to adjust the finger movement for a gentle focusing snap as opposite to a proper focusing ring...
Perhaps the particular lens is that small to warrant a tab usefulness due to the fact that focusing ring would be too thin to grab securely, but it turns to be not that easy to get grips with tab....(at least for me).. I noticed I missed more then one potentially good shoot due to fiddling with the tab...
Perhaps the particular lens is that small to warrant a tab usefulness due to the fact that focusing ring would be too thin to grab securely, but it turns to be not that easy to get grips with tab....(at least for me).. I noticed I missed more then one potentially good shoot due to fiddling with the tab...
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