Contax llla focusing method - new to me.

[Jimbo035]

As far as I remember (going back over 60 years) every lens on the succession of rangefinder cameras Ive owned and let go, from a Retina lllC to a Leica M6, were focused by turning the lens barrel. When a Contax finally came into my possession - glancing through a copy of the Instruction Book - I tried the focussing wheel for a while but then out of habit and familiarity reverted to the 'old'*way .... turning the lens barrel to focus my one lens, a Carl Zeiss 50mm 1.5 Sonnar.
Then I re-read the Instructions as well as a copy of The Contax Way (1956 Edition -- the same age as the camera), neither of which mention any other way to focus a 50mm lens other than with the focusing wheel. I find this puzzling and have concluded that it surely doesn't matter whether the lens barrel or the wheel is used to focus the lens.... or am I missing something ? (I use the wheel now, expect to occasionally preset a distance via the lens).

 

[Dralowid]

Reckon you are fine either way but don't wrench the lens mount around too suddenly, this will cause the little wheel to spin at an alarming rate putting added strain on the gear chain.

 

[Dante_Stella]

If grabbing the lens barrel was not intended by Contax, then why the knurling? The wheel is only really critical for collapsible lenses.

D

 

[jim_jm]

One of the benefits of the wheel is it allows you to focus and shoot 50mm and shorter lenses with one hand. Longer and/or heavier lenses should not be focused with the wheel as it can put undue strain on the gear mechanism.

Zeiss likely wanted to promote this as a feature that Leica did not have, since the focusing helical is built in to the body, but most people probably use what is most comfortable for them.

I occasionally use the focusing wheel with the 50mm Sonnar and a 35mm Nikkor, but it's useless when the 10.5cm Nikkor (C) is attached.

 

[photomoof]

The wheel works best on wide angle lenses where you are not moving the entire lens, but only the interior bits. As noted lenses that move a lot of mass don't work well.

Also the weight of the internal mount 50 causes more strain on the wheel and gear, so it is much harder to turn. This is especially important with larger internal mount lenses like the Nikkor 50 1.1.