[LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
- From: Richard Ward <ilovaussiesheps@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 11:00:06 -0700 (PDT)
Hi Aram,
Cool suggestion on that Nikon Eye Piece. I'll check it out. I wanted to
pass along a 'theory' about something you said in your post. re: "I could not
use my manual focus lenses on my
Rebel with out it. Even with the focus confirmation adapter. I
am not always able to get those focus spots to light up. Perhaps too
dark." Quite Likely your observation is 'right on' about things being too dark
for your Rebel to achieve focus comfirmation. The Rebel series don't have the
'latest/greatest' AF systems in them - they aren't uber efficient in general,
are lacking in low light sensitivity, and as the apertures get smaller or the
light gets dim their weaknesses pop up like a jack-in-the-box shouting
Hi-Hello-Look At Me! (Pardon the humourous anthropomorphication!). I have
'less' of an issue using a 20D, but it's systems are dated, too when compared
to a 40/50D and roundly whooped by the 1D wonder machines. (I pray each day for
the camera faeries to slip any 1D under this peasants tattered pillow!).
My 'theory' in regard to your post is to ask whether you're attempting to
focus confirm with your rebel's sensor when you've already 'stopped' the lens
down? At even f4 but especially down past f5.6 the Rebel sensors are into
territory where they weren't 'engineered' to work well in. They certainly 'can'
achieve results and depending on the volume of light in your scene coming in
the lens and the subject you're attempting to focus upon they're able perform
surprisingly well. I work around the issue by using the 'Pre-AF' techniques of
Focusing Then Stopping Down, Pre-Focusing for a specific spot I 'want' the
action to be framed at, and manipulating Depth of Field when possible to cover
up focusing errors. Trust Me! those beautifully engraved Distance Markings and
Depth of Field Scales on the 'old' manual focus lenses are Uber Handy! and can
really save a photographer's bacon in tough situations.
Also! you might want to experiment with your rebel's af system and get a
feel for what it does and doesn't like to focus on 'in general' and experiment
at what light levels the AF system starts geting flaky on you. I did it just by
spending time playing with my camera regularly in my home in the evening. The
lower light levels get tricky and homes have lots of low contrast stuff to
challenge af sensors. By getting a feel for what my camera likes and doesn't
like doing, I can take that experience with me out into the field.
Richard
________________________________
Life is hard...but I just take it one photograph at a time.
~•~
"You miss 100% of the shots you never take" Wayne Gretzky
~•~
In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows or Gates?
~•~
It's okay to be stupid. Just don't be gung-ho about it.
________________________________
________________________________
From: Aram Langhans <leica_r8@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, August 1, 2009 9:37:49 AM
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
The other option that I use, and maybe a few
others on the list, is the Nikon DK-21M viewfinder magnifier. It fits on
the Canon and allows a small, yet significant degree of magnification that
really aids in focusing.
http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-DK-21M-Magnifying-Eyepiece-Digital/dp/B000C0OF54/ref=pd_cp_p_2
I could not use my manual focus lenses on my
Rebel with out it. Even with the focus confirmation adapter. I
am not always able to get those focus spots to light up. Perhaps too
dark.
Aram
From: Richard Ward
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 10:54 PM
To: leicareflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take apart?
Hello
Steve,
I saw where you posted "I put the money towards a XSi
body and am looking forward to using the Live View to help with focusing." As
someone who cut his teeth in photography with fully manual Minolta SRT's,
progressed through their X370 to X700's, and transitioned to the uber techy EOS
Film and then Digital SLR's, I want to pass along an option you might want to
consider for your Rebel re: Focusing your Summicron. That "live view"
technology
is about as geeky cool as can be, but using it to chase your kids in changing
light and distances isn't very handy at all. (The word impossible comes to
mind!)
I suggest you research getting an aftermarket Focusing
Screen for you Camera to replace the Rapid Return Mirror in your Rebel. Canon
has interchangeable screens as an option in the more expensive models, but the
rebels and xxD's aren't included in the fun unless you buy aftermarket. I
haven't replaced my screen yet, good lenses are a higher priority at the
moment!
But I DEFINITELY want to. I carefully researched this topic and there are a
couple of sources you should be able to google up fairly easily. One's called
Katz, there's the very expensive beatty screens, and 1 or 2 other's out
there.
I use a 'focusing' M42 adapter with my old Zeiss,
but it's invariably inaccurate when dof gets shallow and when the working
distance starts to narrow up. That sports photo I posted before was prefocused
to keep the entire batter in the depth of field, but on the little 20D LCD I
didn't catch that it landed a bit to in front of him. It doesn't ruin the shot,
but instead of relying on adhoc adaptations of chips and sensors, I could have
quickly and easily used 50 year old technology to land my dof properly.
Sincerely
Richard W.
________________________________
Life is hard...but I just take it one photograph at a time.
~•~
"You
miss 100% of the shots you never take" Wayne Gretzky
~•~
In a world
without walls and fences, who needs Windows or Gates?
~•~
It's okay to be
stupid. Just don't be gung-ho about it.
________________________________
________________________________
From: Steve Lang
<stevelang@xxxxxxxxx>
To: LeicaReflex@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 1:47:40 AM
Subject: [LRflex] Re: Summicron 50mm take
apart?
I am currently getting the digest email, so will send all
replies in a single message-
To Doug and Aram,
Thanks for the advice, you are completely correct. Later that night I shot
some test shots on a tripod, and got striking results compared to my other
lenses. I always knew that minor lens flaws should not impact image quality,
but
this lens is great even with quite a few marks! I am very happy to have
acquired
it, I would've paid much more for a 'minty' copy anyway. Instead, I put the
money towards a XSi body and am looking forward to using the Live View to help
with focusing.
BTW Doug- it was your Leicaflex article at photo.net that inspired me to go
looking for
one!
To Richard,
Thanks for the tip. I was actually shooting at ISO 800, my impressions of
the Canon ISO range are the same as yours. ISO 800 is very usable even with a
bit of cropping (and I've never done too much post noise-removal work either.)
I
always find myself pushing the limits with my Canon 50mm at 1.8 and ISO 800,
with DSLR's I am always willing to give it a go. I'd rather have a semi-blurry
shot at the 'magic hour' than anything under the harsh early noon sun. That's
one wonderful thing about digital- with multi-GB cards the norm, you aren't
afraid to shoot a string of shots to try to make sure you get a good one if
conditions are challenging (as is usually the case with my kids.)
Cheers all,
Steve
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