How much wiggle room in M8?

[akptc]

I am a fairly happy R-D1 user wondering if the grass is greener closer to number 8. After a lot of research (I read just about everything you guys post here 😱) I have but one question: on any of my film M-bodies, I can focus accurately by wiggling the lens left or right as much as need to without noticable penalty to focus accuracy. Not so on the R-D1 which has some "play" built-in that causes some shift in focusing if one wiggles the lens left and right of the focus point. I am wondering - how is M8 in that respect? Is it as tight as the M7, for example, or closer to the R-D1? Thanks!

 

[furcafe]

As far as focus "play," i.e., the mechanical linkage between the lens cam & RF is concerned, I believe the M8 is the same as that on the M7, MP, & M6 TTL. You should remember, however, that the M8 is a lower magnification finder, like the 0.58 versions of the film M bodies.

However, I'm a little confused because your definition of play seems to be the opposite of mine: focus play for me means that small adjustments in the focus do *not* properly show up as movement in the RF patch. That's a bad thing & I have encountered that w/the R-D1; it's also 1 of the reasons why a high magnification VF, like that on the R-D1, is not a complete substitute for a long RF base. My experience w/the M8 & film M bodies is that they do not have play, i.e., small focus tweaks are reflected in the RF patch (though depending on DoF, they may not produce significant changes on film/sensor). Those same small tweaks are often not apparent w/the R-D1 (or there is the similar issue of focus "backlash" when the RF cam follower is stuck & fails to track the lens properly).

I am a fairly happy R-D1 user wondering if the grass is greener closer to number 8. After a lot of research (I read just about everything you guys post here 😱) I have but one question: on any of my film M-bodies, I can focus accurately by wiggling the lens left or right as much as need to without noticable penalty to focus accuracy. Not so on the R-D1 which has some "play" built-in that causes some shift in focusing if one wiggles the lens left and right of the focus point. I am wondering - how is M8 in that respect? Is it as tight as the M7, for example, or closer to the R-D1? Thanks!

 

[Ben Z]

The M8's rangefinder (this according to DAG) is for all intents and purposes the same as the M7's, except the magnification is a little less than the 0.72. That said, I did find that while all my lenses line up at infinity on my M6 and M4, one or two of them were just a hair off on the M8 but the rest were spot-on. I probably could've left well enough alone, but I did adjust the rangefinder a tiny fraction, at DAG's suggestion, and those couple lenses are now almost perfect and the other lenses didn't go off in the opposite direction. I checked my 50 Summilux and 90 Summicron wide-open at their closest distance shooting a page of the 'phone book, and they are both tack-sharp. So I have complete confidence in my M8's rangefinder. I was also very lucky in that my R-D1 rangefinder was perfectly aligned and never needed adjustment, however the short baselength did have more limitations.

 

[akptc]

...focus play for me means that small adjustments in the focus do *not* properly show up as movement in the RF patch. That's a bad thing & I have encountered that w/the R-D1...

That's exactly what I was trying to say in my native Gibberish 🙂

I think I am "this close" to breaking down and getting an M8. But then I see images like in this gallery taken with the R-D1 and keep wondering will I - a lowly amateur - be able to really take advantge of M8's sharper sensor? Just thinking out loud ...

The focus play in the R-D1 does not normally bother me too much except when trying to shoot wide open, e.g. with a Canon 50/1.2 (I love this lens!). Then it's a bit unnerving, I must say. Is it good enough of a reason to get an M8? I guess it's back to the M8 vs. R-D1 thread for me 🙂

Thanks a bunch for both replies, I appreciate it.

 

[eef]

Don't feel bad that someone is taking great pictures with the RD-1 in Viet Nam. It is a beautiful place for photography. I was there years ago with a Ricoh R-1 (basically a point and shoot, but a very nice compact one). Got great pictures of people selling things, including snakes in jars. No scans, sorry.

That's exactly what I was trying to say in my native Gibberish 🙂

I think I am "this close" to breaking down and getting an M8. But then I see images like in this gallery taken with the R-D1 and keep wondering will I - a lowly amateur - be able to really take advantge of M8's sharper sensor? Just thinking out loud ...

The focus play in the R-D1 does not normally bother me too much except when trying to shoot wide open, e.g. with a Canon 50/1.2 (I love this lens!). Then it's a bit unnerving, I must say. Is it good enough of a reason to get an M8? I guess it's back to the M8 vs. R-D1 thread for me 🙂

Thanks a bunch for both replies, I appreciate it.

 

[akptc]

Don't feel bad that someone is taking great pictures with the RD-1 in Viet Nam. It is a beautiful place for photography. I was there years ago with a Ricoh R-1 (basically a point and shoot, but a very nice compact one). Got great pictures of people selling things, including snakes in jars. No scans, sorry.

Thanks eef, I need to get out more... 🙂

 

[furcafe]

I hear you. $5500 is a lot of coin & the R-D1 was overpriced to begin with.

If you haven't tried it, you might want to get the VF magnifier for the R-D1 to help w/focusing the 50/1.2 & similar shallow DoF lenses.

The focus play in the R-D1 does not normally bother me too much except when trying to shoot wide open, e.g. with a Canon 50/1.2 (I love this lens!). Then it's a bit unnerving, I must say. Is it good enough of a reason to get an M8? I guess it's back to the M8 vs. R-D1 thread for me 🙂

Thanks a bunch for both replies, I appreciate it.

 

[akptc]

I hear you. $5500 is a lot of coin & the R-D1 was overpriced to begin with.

If you haven't tried it, you might want to get the VF magnifier for the R-D1 to help w/focusing the 50/1.2 & similar shallow DoF lenses.

Great idea, but wouldn't you know it, Megaperls is out of stock..