Very Beginner Q - How do you focus the 40mm 1.4? (and RF lenses in general?)

[canfraggle]

I just go an R-D1 with a CV 21/4 and 40/1.4. Coming from a few years of SLR usage, this is quite a change for me. How do you focus the 40 1.4? There's nothing to grip onto for the focus ring. It's driving me nuts! At least the 21, you have the little arm, but it seems very awkward to be focussing it by holding the arm with your index and thumb and rotating...?

 

[julianphotoart]

If you're looking at the lens head-on without the lens-hood, at bout 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock there are scalloped little curved ear-like things that come out from that part of the lens where there should be a focusing ring. They are there but I agree they are not obvious as the things you are supposed to use for focusing.

 

[Terao]

Use the crescent shaped indention on the left below (as long as your fingers are long enough...)

 

[Xmas]

Canfraggle

The 40mm and the leitx 25mm lux from which it is a near clone is really designed for people with small hands and fingers, it will be difficult to use if you have normal to large hands.

With practice you should be able to focus without disturbing the aperature 'wings'.

The rngfdr technique is not necessarily always to use the rangefinder, or a TTL meter, some people use a faster film than normal & preset

focus
speed
aperture
dont use viewfinder, instinctive point instead, or from the hip
or on the run Mr. W. Bonney style

Unless you push the button you will miss the shot.

The little 40mm adopts to this way of use, short strap over shoulder, jacket on top.

 

[canfraggle]

The winged flanges on the aperture control ring are so much easier to grip, I wish those were on the focus ring instead! :bang:

My hands are small for a man and I can just about grip the ring but the crescent is in the wrong place if you want any sort of leverage in your grip.

Anyway, many thanks for the comments thus far. I will give the R-D1 another few weeks before I decide to keep or sell.