Hyperfocal focussing on R-D1

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louisb

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There is an long technical thread at the Leica forum about the impact on hyperfocal focussing of using a CV lens (I assume it could be any Leica mount lens) on a M8. The gist is that you have to adjust the hyperfocal settings because of the crop factor on the M8 (1.33). Someone suggests the rule of thumb is one stop, e.g. set aperture to f/11 and hyperfocal settings to f/8.

I use hyperfocal focussing all the time with my Leica lenses on my R-D1. I've never done this and I can't recall seeing any focussing issues. Mind you I only ever focus hyperfocally at f8 and above when for most landscape or architecture settings I'm going to capture everything in my dof.

Anyway, is anyone aware of this issue with the R-D1?

LouisB
 
Ok, LouisB, google "DOF calculator", and what comes up on top can give you the answer for all focal lengths/apertures and all sensor/film sizes.

Fair enough?

HOWEVER, also google "Harald Merklinger" and l;earn about farthest sharp object focussing. And when you understand both methods, DO explore them yourself and see what pleases your eyes more. I would always opt for infinity focus in all landscapes myself ... But you may prefer unsharp infinities.
 
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Since you have to 'enlarge' more from a cropped sensor there is 'less' depth of field is the way i think of it. As a result the markings on the lens don't apply as well. Of course those markings have always been an approximation based on guesstimates of 'sharpness' dating back to the 30s! So, as a rule of thumb, using, for instance, the f5.6 markings when you are shooting at f8 will allow for this. Try it out.
Steve
 
Depending on the manufacturer, the lens DOF markings might be
calibrated for different COC sizes. Russian lenses, for example,
have less conservative DOF markings than Leitz lenses.

The COC get enlarged by the crop factor when you enlarge a print to
identical size and view at the same distance, and therefore DOF
decreases.

As said above, best is to try out a given camera/lens combo and find
your own rules for each lens you use.

There is another implication: due to the thinner DOF, at the same f stop
fast lenses are much harder to focus with an RF on smaller than on larger format.
For example, a Noctilux is harder to focus on an M8 than on an M6 with equivalent
EBL.

Best,

Roland.
 
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So, if I read the gist of Merklinger method, it is not to use hyperfocal focusing and to focus on your subject, especially when it's at infinity. Did I get that right?
 
sirius said:
So, if I read the gist of Merklinger method, it is not to use hyperfocal focusing and to focus on your subject, especially when it's at infinity. Did I get that right?
Click to expand...
Precisely, Sirius.
 
Thanks. Boy, that is a lot of math to explain a simple idea! I appreciate the reference. I've never come across that information before.
 
louisb said:
...Someone suggests the rule of thumb is one stop, e.g. set aperture to f/11 and hyperfocal settings to f/8...
Click to expand...
Been doing this for 2+ years with Leica lenses and R-D1 / R-D1s.
Works fine for me.
 
Boy, I'm glad I bought the Version 1 Tri-Elmar rather than the Version 2! Talk about circles of confusion... ;)
 
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