Focus\compose or Compose\focus

[MarkoKovacevic]

Which one do you do first, through your Leica III? Composition is first for me, personally.

 

[nikon_sam]

I don't have a Leica III...but when shooting with the SLR's I do own and use I will focus first then compose...with auto-focus I'll lock on to what I want in focus then compose the shot...
With the Rangefinder I do have I work it the same way...focus somewhere on the subject then look for the shot I want...
I guess that I'm more concerned that it's in focus...composition can vary on what could happen...

 

[ferider]

Think, focus, compose. 🙂

 

[Disaster_Area]

Definately focus then compose for both SLR's and Rangefinders. Sometimes I'll set my SLR to chose it's own focus points and worry about composition, but that's usually only when the action is happenning fast and in good light when I'm using small apertures and I don't have to worry about where my DOF is.

For RF's I always focus first... maybe it's just me but there's not always something nice and contrasty under the RF patch so sometimes I have to move it around a bit to find something easy to focus on at the distance where I want focus to be set.

 

[payasam]

Compose roughly (to see if I need to move back or forwards), then focus, then switch back to V/F, do final framing and shoot.

 

[pvdhaar]

I've got a Bessa-T, so that means separate RF and viewfinder windows..

Most often, I've already scale focused to 3 meters for a wide-angle or 5 meters for a 50mm lens when I'm walking around. Then it's just a question of raising the camera to the eye and compose with the viewfinder.

Only when I suspect the subject distance is too far off from where I've set the focus, I re-focus first and then move the eye to the viewfinder window again.

 

[johannielscom]

Think, focus, compose. 🙂

Yup, me too. Unless shooting street, hyperfocal. Then its just compose, often in split seconds 🙂

 

[Keith]

Someone places a post in the screwmount forum obviously discussing the focusing sequence prefered when you have separate viewing and focusing eye pieces and people start talking about how they focus their SLR's ... huh!

Evil I say! 😀

 

[gilpen123]

I use a IIIf and I focus then compose. I love using that small lever to zoom in more to the focal point.

 

[wolves3012]

Think, focus, compose. 🙂

Another vote for this. Often use hyperfocal if the light's good enough, wide-angle on and I want the DOF.

 

[Ezzie]

First of all I think of what it is I´ll be doing next, then set the camera up for the approximate exposure and DoF. When a subject presents itself (and time permits) I pre-compose, adjust position, focus, and then compose. If not enough time I compose only, and hope that the DoF I´ve calculated for will save the day.

 

[JoeV]

Roughly compose, focus, adjust composition some more, recheck focus, meter the scene, adjust shutter speed, then f/stop, then recheck focus because DOF has changed; recompose, step sideways two paces...then the subject has moved on and I missed the shot entirely!

~Joe

 

[dedmonds]

compose-focus-compose

 

[ruby.monkey]

Focus, compose, pray.

 

[je2a3]

Focus, compose, pray.

I agree, this works for me 😀

 

[ampguy]

compose, focus, shoot, repeat 10x bracketing focus and exposure to ensure you get a keeper or two.

 

[reuno]

RF : Focus then compose
SLR : Compose while focusing, because i can.

 

[Mcary]

I agree, this works for me 😀

Oh yes the F-8 and pray method Myself I generally prefer the F-11 , just in case no one is listening method🙂