Foucsing aid...

[Will]

Hi Guys,

Just read one of Dan Stella's articles:

http://www.dantestella.com/zeiss/zeisstips.html


Inside he mentioned:

5. Use the split field indicator for focusing. Make sure the aperture is wide open. You may want to use accessories – small telescopes like the Carl Zeiss MiniQuick® 5 x 10 T* with 5x magnification are pretty handy for this task – to enlarge the center of your viewfinder image during focusing.

I know LF people use a loupe to aid foucsing, anyone have a soluation for us the 35mm RF users? ($10 USD solution please... 😛 )

Or did anyone done something similar to Dan?

Cheers





Will

 

[jlw]

That article referred to focusing an SLR camera. You may not need any accessory focusing aids with an RF camera because rangefinder focusing is inherently more precise than trying to judge sharpness of an image on a groundglass screen.

If you want to magnify the RF image further (as might be the case if you have a camera with a short RF base length) then you need to add, in effect, a low-power telescope (not a magnifier) behind the eyepiece. Leica makes an add-on magnifier for their cameras, but it's considerably above your $10 threshold.

I haven't tried this, but in theory it should work: take an accessory viewfinder that reduces the image, or even the viewfinder of a small camera, and look through it BACKWARDS. Notice that it now functions as a low-power telescope? You may be able to use this to enlarge the eyepiece image. The trick will be whether or not your eye has enough visual accommodation to focus on the finder image through this.

 

[bobofish]

Shoot, maybe you could just use a film loupe. I've seen great deals on dEvilBay.

or a loupe from a telescope? It wouldn't even have to be a nice one, and I've seen them at telescope shops for mere dollars.

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

Aperture while focussing is a zero % factor on RF cameras.

On most SLR cameras too, unless he's talking about a real vintage one, the aperture is always fully open for focussing and stops down for exposure.

 

[payasam]

Will, "S'ron" could mean a Summaron too, and it's just possible that someone came up with a dual range version. As for "Marco-Switar", perhaps Jon can tell us if that Polo chap sailed from Portugal to Switzerland in addition to his better known voyage.

 

[Will]

That article referred to focusing an SLR camera. You may not need any accessory focusing aids with an RF camera because rangefinder focusing is inherently more precise than trying to judge sharpness of an image on a groundglass screen.

If you want to magnify the RF image further (as might be the case if you have a camera with a short RF base length) then you need to add, in effect, a low-power telescope (not a magnifier) behind the eyepiece. Leica makes an add-on magnifier for their cameras, but it's considerably above your $10 threshold.

I haven't tried this, but in theory it should work: take an accessory viewfinder that reduces the image, or even the viewfinder of a small camera, and look through it BACKWARDS. Notice that it now functions as a low-power telescope? You may be able to use this to enlarge the eyepiece image. The trick will be whether or not your eye has enough visual accommodation to focus on the finder image through this.

JLW, I am trying to avoid that Leica 1.25x...

Shoot, maybe you could just use a film loupe. I've seen great deals on dEvilBay.

Yeah, I know the LF user do use a loupe to aid foucs, I got no loupe on hand...

Will, "S'ron" could mean a Summaron too, and it's just possible that someone came up with a dual range version. As for "Marco-Switar", perhaps Jon can tell us if that Polo chap sailed from Portugal to Switzerland in addition to his better known voyage.

Payasam, you need a few more history lessons...

 

[jaapv]

JLW, I am trying to avoid that Leica 1.25x...

I can only tell you to keep on doing so, don't even borrow one, because, once you use it, you won't let go of it..... 😛

 

[payasam]

I'm sure, Will, that Kern made a Marco-Switar specially for you, since you're clearly far above the hoi polloi who use mere Macro-Switars. How is it that you don't have an Apla too?

 

[Will]

Payasam, try post #2503 for the photos of the lens and adapter:

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=897&page=126&pp=20



Similar adapter can also been found on this page, photo #6 from the top:

http://www.cameraquest.com/TAnotcoll.htm



There are a lot more lens that can be adapted and use on RF, try this:

http://mitte.nir.jp/~mitte0576/index.htm

Will, "S'ron" could mean a Summaron too, and it's just possible that someone came up with a dual range version. As for "Marco-Switar", perhaps Jon can tell us if that Polo chap sailed from Portugal to Switzerland in addition to his better known voyage.

You need more history lession because Macro Polo was the italian who took the Silk Trade Route to Asia, instead of sailing and discovering North America. 😉

Keep an open mind my friend...

Cheers





Will

 

[ClaremontPhoto]

You need more history lession because Macro Polo was the italian who took the Silk Trade Route to Asia, instead of sailing and discovering North America. 😉

Was 'Macro Polo' really closely focussed?

 

[Will]

Was 'Macro Polo' really closely focussed?

Maybe I am being over defencive here, sorry guys. But when someone goes off at you by reinventing history, it's hard to resist.

Cheers




Will

 

[payasam]

Will, if the links you give relate to mounting a Macro-Switar on a Leica, they are beside the point. Kern made (and possibly still make) a Macro-Switar, not a "Marco-Switar". You might like to look at the engraving on your lens, if it has any. I'm afraid I mixed up Marco Polo (there never was a Macro Polo, as Jon appears to be saying) the Venetian with Vasco da Gama the Portuguese, probably because both of them came to my country. I haven't the foggiest how you dreamt up North America. Macaroni and Polo mints? Finally, if I am re-inventing history, are you not doing the same with spelling? Until you came along, there were no such words as "foucsing", "soluation", "lession" and "defencive".

 

[Will]

Payasam,

You are right, I can't spell...

Let's kiss and made-up and chat about photography, since I guess I am no good at history also...


Saw that you have a series of FD stuffs, would love to give the body a try (one with MLU!?), perfect for fitting Exakta mount lens. Not that I can afford them now, but eventually would really like to try those early east germany lenses (1950's lenses with B&W etc).

Found a early CZJ 75 f/1.5 in exakta mount, perfect body, slightly dusty lens...

 

[payasam]

I resent the "also", Will: it was only my ageing, leaky brain. Besides, Portugal and Italy are in the same general area, just like Newfoundland and the Trobriand Islands.

In both my FD bodies the mirror can be locked up. That's true for the F1 too, at least the early one which I couldn't afford. I know next to nothing about the various A series bodies or the later T ones. Canon did make an adapter for Exakta mount lenses, and maybe you'll find one, but how will you know what you're photographing, and how will you focus, if the mirror's locked up?

A Zeiss 75/1.5 sounds good, but it all depends on what "early" means. Post-war Exaktas and Prakticas, and their lenses, weren't all that hot. They were made chiefly to be sold in the West to bring in hard currency and were bought by those who couldn't afford Japanese SLRs. I had an Exakta RTL1000 for a year. Did the job, but that was about it.

If I could afford it, I'd keep my 4MP digicam for light-weight nonsense and one FD body with lenses and extension tubes for close-up and macro stuff, and, for everything else, get an M6 with a fast 35 and a fast 75. When, maybe not too far in the future, focussing becomes even more difficult than it is, I shall sell the lot or give it away and buy myself a Brownie.

 

[Will]

In both my FD bodies the mirror can be locked up. That's true for the F1 too, at least the early one which I couldn't afford. I know next to nothing about the various A series bodies or the later T ones. Canon did make an adapter for Exakta mount lenses, and maybe you'll find one, but how will you know what you're photographing, and how will you focus, if the mirror's locked up?

A Zeiss 75/1.5 sounds good, but it all depends on what "early" means. Post-war Exaktas and Prakticas, and their lenses, weren't all that hot. They were made chiefly to be sold in the West to bring in hard currency and were bought by those who couldn't afford Japanese SLRs. I had an Exakta RTL1000 for a year. Did the job, but that was about it.

I used MLU when I was using my CZJ 180 and 300 (sold) sonnars on my F3, I needed that, since I didn't have a stable tripot (for that setup), but I shot still subjects only, so I guess I am ok with that.

I do like East German lenses, hence the interest in Exakta mount lenses. I am into "lens hacking" hence the interest in adapters. I did find both Exakta to FD adapters, but I don't have a body for it.

Not that I can afford anything now, but I would like to try those rangefinder coupled adapters (for classic Nikon 50mm lenses). A non-coupled Exakta to LTM adapter is always on my mind, and I think I can get away with it buying a broken EXA camera for the mount. Someone had talked me out of it previously, and scale foucs put me off (Want to keep shoting 50mm lenses)...

Cheers






Will

 

[payasam]

Will, if your mirror's locked up then you have to focus by scale, or by using another camera or a separate range-finder. If you're using a 50 mm Exakta or Nikon (or Super Mumbojumbotar) lens on a RFDR camera, you'll have the camera's built-in view-finder: but if you have any lens mounted on an SLR, your only option is an accessory finder for that focal length. If you like to do this sort of thing, there's no one to stop you. I shan't join you, though. In addition to the Exakta mount lenses, there are the Praktica mount ones too. You might like to look into those, though it may be that they have the same optics. Lens hacking, you say? Old Angenieux optics may be a good and economical option.

For pity's sake, change "Marco-Switar" to "Macro-Switar". Those are fine lenses. I used one (on an Alpa) for a couple of weeks back in '73 or '74.

 

[Will]

Will, if your mirror's locked up then you have to focus by scale, or by using another camera or a separate range-finder. If you're using a 50 mm Exakta or Nikon (or Super Mumbojumbotar) lens on a RFDR camera, you'll have the camera's built-in view-finder: but if you have any lens mounted on an SLR, your only option is an accessory finder for that focal length. If you like to do this sort of thing, there's no one to stop you. I shan't join you, though. In addition to the Exakta mount lenses, there are the Praktica mount ones too. You might like to look into those, though it may be that they have the same optics. Lens hacking, you say? Old Angenieux optics may be a good and economical option.

For pity's sake, change "Marco-Switar" to "Macro-Switar". Those are fine lenses. I used one (on an Alpa) for a couple of weeks back in '73 or '74.

Payasam:

Thanks for the spelling mistake reminder, I will change it after replying on this...

With MLU, I shot still subject and have the composition done before I lock my mirror on the Nikon, just like shooting blind. While other cameras with MLU that requires a shutter cable (those special one with 2 heads), they release the mirror first and then the shutter. I am not shooting the nikon enough to hit any problem, I must say; RF come first nowadays.

I am aware that the RF wouldn't move if I just stick an adapter and a lens on a RF, the framelines are likely to be wrong anyway, but scale foucsing put me off (for now).

Praktica PB mount (or do they call that B mount) lenses, they are the last of CZJ and Meyer lens. They are even cheaper than Exakta lenses, dirt cheap in HK, but it seems no one I know knows about the register distance, hence I can't do much on it.

Honestly, I have access to a desent machinest in reasonable price, but until I start to shot wide or being comfortable with scale foucsing I won't do the Exakta to Leica thing just yet.

I had good experience with my CZJs, hence liking them so much. They are a pain to sell or to trade, which is a shame, people rather buy Sigma in Hong Kong... :bang:

Cheers




W