best scale focus method?

pollux · Jun 4, 2009

What is a good way of ensuring accuracy at wide apertures, without using a tape measure? can you buy or borrow a range finder, then log several distances to an object in your mind, then try to recall these when focusing on anything? use the rangefinder to measure distances then try to memorise them. the scale focus method is a slight gamble when shooting sudden action.

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2009

You can focus using the hyperfocus scale. For example, when shooting set the f/number of the exposure on infinity and see if the f/number at the other end of the distance scale covers the range of interest.

Small rangefinders that can clip on the accessory clip are available.

Steve

pollux · Jun 4, 2009

this came from me wondering if a hasselblad SWC would make a good, walk around candid shooter, due to the portability and reasonably fast biogon lens.

Q.G. · Jun 4, 2009

I hate hyperfocal focussing. It squanders the performance of your lens, letting where the actual sharpness is be determined by coincidence.

Scale focussing, guessing the distance, is the better thing to do. Though it depends on how good your guessing is.
But it will be closer to your subject than hyperfocal 'focussing' wil get it.

Sirius Glass · Jun 4, 2009

I just knew that Q.G. would take a shot at me for that. [It only took 35 minutes.]

One of many reasons for using SLRs is to see what is in focus and what is not.

Steve

David Brown · Jun 4, 2009

This is just another skill that takes a bit of practice. I guess that's easy for me to say, since I learned on a scale focus camera. But, it isn't too hard to learn to judge distances up to about 25-30 feet, and past that, especially with a wide angle lens, you're probably good to go. Oh, F/8 helps, too.

alanrockwood · Jun 4, 2009

pollux said:
What is a good way of ensuring accuracy at wide apertures, without using a tape measure?

Here is a link to a rangefinder you can make with a paper and pen. It works quite will.

http://photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HEV

If you are shooting action shots the best thing to do is pre-focus your camera to the distance where you think the action will happen.

Alan

Windscale · Jun 5, 2009

pollux said:
this came from me wondering if a hasselblad SWC would make a good, walk around candid shooter, due to the portability and reasonably fast biogon lens.

Sometimes you got too near the subject you get hit.

ic-racer · Jun 5, 2009

alanrockwood said:
Here is a link to a rangefinder you can make with a paper and pen. It works quite will.

http://photo.net/minox-camera-forum/003HEV

If you are shooting action shots the best thing to do is pre-focus your camera to the distance where you think the action will happen.

Alan

Yes. I made one of those. After using it for a while it is like a 'training tool' in that you can learn to guess better and use it less and less.

salihonba · Jun 5, 2009

Use your body, to me, my one arm and fist is about 2 feet long, my height is about 6 feet, also 6 feet for two arms extended.........these are your ever ready scale.

David A. Goldfarb · Jun 5, 2009

I prefer to use a shoe mount rangefinder for close distances, reading the distance off the rangefinder dial and setting it on the lens, but for scale focusing, the best recommendation I've seen comes from Weegee, who said to practice two distances at home and memorize them, so you can always keep those distances. Cartier-Bresson wrote that he did the same thing, even though he had a rangefinder to focus with. So did Weegee, but there often isn't time to focus with a rangefinder, and it can be quicker just to set the distance on the scale and get into position, raise the camera and shoot.

John Koehrer · Jun 6, 2009

Don't be afraid of hyperfocalizing with that camera. Didn't someone mention that wide open it's 10' to infinity?
Stop down to f8 and be somewhere.

Larry.Manuel · Jun 6, 2009

Focal layer: 1/3 and 2/3 advice.

This is an approximation regarding the in-focus region, or layer: One third of the in-focus layer will be ahead of the lens's setting. Two thirds of the sharp-focus zone will be beyond that setting.

Example [with easy numbers]: If the lens is set for 24 feet, and the layer is 24 feet deep, the nearest focus will be at 16 feet, the farthest 40 feet.

I use this knowledge when using my M3 rangefinder. Typically, the subject will encompass a non-zero depth. Thus, I focus on something 1/3 of the way from front to back within the subject.

Again: This is an approximation.

Q.G. · Jun 6, 2009

To use that method effectively, you still need to know what distance to set, where you need '1/3rd in' to be.
If you know that, you have no need for a range finder or guesstimate method. But to know that, you do need a rangefinder or guesstimate method.

aparat · Jun 6, 2009

I have been using a $10 Russian (Soviet, actually) accessory rangefinder Blik. It is very accurate. It comes in a nifty case that attaches to a camera strap, so it's always handy.

best scale focus method?

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