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Focusing with a Rangefinder — Intro
Focusing accuracy is critical with any high resolution digital camera, more so than most photographers realize. The 18-megapixel M9 sensor shows the slightest focus error, as demonstrated here and here. Stopping down can overcome error to a limited extent, but much less than one might assume.
Skeptics are advised to make an image at f/8, then turn the focusing ring by 1 mm, then shoot again. Compare the two and the difference will be very significant: while depth of field doubles with each two stops, the depth of field required to resolve to sensor resolution is confined to a narrow zone of sharpest focus. See also Making Sharp Images.
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Diglloyd Guide to LEICA contains in-depth coverage of Leica M system cameras and lenses, with additional coverage of Leica M Monochrom, Leica Q.
Special emphasis is placed on Leica M lenses and certain Zeiss ZM lenses.
- Make better images by learning how to get the best results right away.
- Save money by choosing the right lens for your needs the first time, particularly the Summilux/Summicron/Elmarit choice and/or Zeiss ZM.
- Make better images, a sort of “cheat sheet” saving yourself months or years of ad-hoc learning. Processing parameters are discussed and shown.
- Jaw-dropping image quality found nowhere else utilizing Retina-grade images up to full camera resolution, plus large crops [past 2 years or so].
- Real world examples with insights found nowhere else. Make sharper images just by understanding lens behavior you won’t read about elsewhere.
- Aperture series from wide open through stopped down, showing the full range of lens performance and bokeh.
- Optical quality analysis of field curvature, focus shift, sharpness, flare, distortion, and performance in the field.
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