Applying RF photography technique to SLR shooting

[FrankS]

RF photography has helped me with my SLR photography. Now, with an SLR, I am more often zone focusing and pre-setting exposure, techniques I learned to use with my RF gear. I used to hold the SLR to my face for long periods of time while racking the focus back and forth, and also "chasing the (meter)needle to set exposure. Now I can be much faster taking a picture than before when I was still mesmerized by the SLR viewing screen. Does anyone else also notice this improvement in their own technique?

 

[Colin Corneau]

No.

Focusing is always quicker on an SLR, I can find and lock focus in within less than a second...not so with a RF.

If you're holding an SLR to your face for "long periods of time" trying to get a lens in focus, you may want to check your eyesight (seriously) or the diopter adjustment on your camera (if applicable).

Not dissing rangefinders, I love 'em but they by nature do not focus as quickly as SLR's (I can only speak from my experience).

 

[Ljós]

Frank, I feel the same way. A different attitude towards (pre)focusing, mostly.
At the same time the years using SLR before switching to rangefinders helped getting an "internal gut-feeling database" when it comes to depth-of-field at varying f-stops and distances.

Greetings, Ljós

 

[Keith]

I had an interesting experience when I put a borrowed DX crop lens on my D700 ... the camera automatically brought up a set of frame lines in the viewfinder to represent the reduced usage of the camera's sensor. It was a very RF like experience considering the bulk of the big Nikon.

I don't think I've ever pre-focused an SLR .... might have to give it a try Frank!

 

[Particular]

I gave up on slrs after bringing the rewind lever up to my eye one too many times.

 

[Roger Hicks]

No.

Focusing is always quicker on an SLR, I can find and lock focus in within less than a second...not so with a RF.

If you're holding an SLR to your face for "long periods of time" trying to get a lens in focus, you may want to check your eyesight (seriously) or the diopter adjustment on your camera (if applicable).

Not dissing rangefinders, I love 'em but they by nature do not focus as quickly as SLR's (I can only speak from my experience).

Dear Colin,

And I from mine. Interesting that we have come to exactly opposite conclusions.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Yhbv24]

It's not an improvement in technique, just a different technique.

I find focusing with SLRs vastly, vastly easier, because the entire screen, along with the split prism, are helping you.

 

[Roger Hicks]

It's not an improvement in technique, just a different technique.
I find focusing with SLRs vastly, vastly easier, because the entire screen, along with the split prism, are helping you.

Highlight 1: Absolutely!

Highlight 2: Or hindering you. It's very personal. For me, RF or LF every time, if focus is critical.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Rob-F]

I think that focusing with an SLR can be faster, but only if you are satisfied with an approximate focus. SLR focusing calls for a little back-and-forth oscillation through the point of best focus, until our fingers-and-brain system memorize the center point where that best focus lives. But with rangefinder focusing, it is either in focus, or it ain't.

Of course, it may help that I started with my father's Leica II when i was 11 . . . Never used an SLR until I was 30.

 

[FrankS]

Before my RF experience, I almost never used an SLR lens' focus scale to zone focus. The SLR viewing screen was just too seductive not to use. Now I am much more likely to do so, because of my RF camera experience. Just say'n how it is with me, and was curious about others' experiences.

 

[Rob-F]

Before my RF experience, I almost never used an SLR lens' focus scale to zone focus. The SLR viewing screen was just too seductive not to use. Now I am much more likely to do so, because of my RF camera experience. Just say'n how it is with me, and was curious about others' experiences.

I use the DOF scale much of the time. Of course I learned this from using rangefinders. I dislike the present trend to leave off the DOF scale on AF Nikkors. One of the staff at the local camera shop told me that today's photographers no longer know DOF from Unified Field Theory. They just autofocus and shoot. Do you think that's true?

 

[aad]

Frank, I have noticed a change-my rangefinder experience helped on a trip in Ecuador, I am now in the habit of making a note of the focus distance, and the exposure settings even after I've stopped shooting.

When a woman walked by outside with a dog trying to pull off her "cargo", I knew I was in focus, and my exposure was set for the light outside-I lifted and snapped, using the viewfinder just for framing, and got the shot

 

[nikon_sam]

I prefer focusing with a SLR and one with a Micro-prism patch instead of the split screen...
It takes me a long time to get the images to line up in a RF...I just look for different things to shoot when using one...

 

[Keith]

I prefer focusing with a SLR and one with a Micro-prism patch instead of the split screen...
It takes me a long time to get the images to line up in a RF...I just look for different things to shoot when using one...

I have one of those screens with only the microprism patch in my OM-1 and I far prefer it to the split image types. The combo of my 1.2 50mm, the microprism screen and the OM's amazing finder is hard to beat in SLR land ... though I still think a good rangefinder has the edge in poor light for pure focusing speed.

 

[L. M. Tu]

I've used hyperfocal focusing most of the time when shooting with wide-angle lenses on SLRs, and I've done most of my shooting with wide-angles. It's a technique to use, nothing that's unique to SLRs or to rangefinders. If you have trouble focusing, try an SLR with interchangeable focusing screens and find the screens that you like for different situations. Some are really neat, the ones with 12mm microprism circles in the center for instance. Try that with a F1.4 or F1.2 lens. Bright screen in a dark theater. 🙂

 

[peterm1]

When I shot manual film based SLRs I often set the exposure (remembering to change it by a stop or so if I walked from sunlight into shadow etc) and when using a wider lens preferred to zone focus. This is exactly the technique I used also wtih my M4P. I still liked to hold the camera to my face however as it helped me envisage the shot especially in crowds where people change their position in an instant and there was often no time to bring the camera up for a shot.

When I moved to DSLRs which have pretty competent exposure meters I usually leave that to the camera but often shoot aperture priority as I will want to control DOF. I will also often shoot with a MF lens and zone focus where possible. However its not always possible as I also like to shoot fast lenses wide open as circumstances allow in which case, "twiddling the dial" is necessary.

 

[SciAggie]

I use the DOF scale much of the time. Of course I learned this from using rangefinders. I dislike the present trend to leave off the DOF scale on AF Nikkors. One of the staff at the local camera shop told me that today's photographers no longer know DOF from Unified Field Theory. They just autofocus and shoot. Do you think that's true?

This is remarkably close to my experience. My photography experience began with manual, mechanical cameras and I was taught to use the DOF scale and hyper focal techniques. It truly bothers me that that with a new Canon or Nikon wonder digital that I cannot use those techniques learned as a youth. Sometimes old school is faster.

I was honestly surprised on Saturday that I had almost zero focus issues using my Nikonos III and scale focus to take candid images in a crowd of people. I think at times I work harder than is necessary to capture some images.

 

[Joe AC]

I prefer focusing with a SLR and one with a Micro-prism patch instead of the split screen...
It takes me a long time to get the images to line up in a RF...I just look for different things to shoot when using one...

Overall I prefer rangefinder focusing, but I have to say that the old Canon SLR split screen with the Micro-Prism doughnut around it is a pretty sweat setup. Im still hanging on to an AE 1P and F1 just for that reason.

Joe

 

[nikon_sam]

The easiest of all my cameras would be the Mamiya m645 with a Brightscreen, Micro-prism donut, 45* split screen and Waist level Finder with Magnifier...

 

[shadowfox]

I can focus on people and people-sized subjects faster with RF now,
but an SLR like OM-1 or Contax ST (big, bright viewfinder) is a dream with 135mm or 24mm lenses.