POLL: Focus tab or no? and what type

cfrye · Nov 12, 2018

I want to know how many people actually prefer focusing tabs, plus which type is preferred. I've seen a bunch of focus tab replacements and accessories around on the internet and it got me wondering how common their use is.

One type is the metal post featured on many collapsible lenses.

Another is the C-shaped focus tab sported by a lot of compact leica lenses.

What do you prefer?

macfred · Nov 12, 2018

Two of my fixed lens rangefinder cameras have one (Konica III and Zeiss Super Ikonta 531/16) - really like this feature.
I bought a Rapid Focusing lever E for my Zenzanon lenses (Bronica ETRSi) - dont use it very often.

AgX · Nov 12, 2018

Another question:
Why are such tabs found at rangefinder cameras, but not at SLRs ?

Theo Sulphate · Nov 12, 2018

My collapsible 50/2 Summicron has the round metal button, as you show; my 35/2 Summicron has the C-shaped tab. The C-tab is much easier to use. I dislike the button.

narsuitus · Nov 12, 2018

I prefer no focusing tabs because most of my lenses for my other cameras do not have focusing tabs and only two lenses for my Leica have focusing tabs.

M. Axel Wikstrom · Nov 12, 2018

I find that they're handy to do a quick zone focus by feel without having to look at the camera or through the viewfinder. The button type, when locked at infinity, gives some purchase when installing and removing the lens.

Alan9940 · Nov 12, 2018

I prefer the C-shaped tabs on my Leica M lenses because the tip/edge of my finger seems to just fall naturally on that tab. Makes focusing, for me, quick and easy.

Trask · Nov 12, 2018

I have a number of RF lenses with post tabs, as seen in the Summicron photo above. I find them useful to fine focus; when making gross distance adjustments I don’t tend to grab them between thumb and forefinger but to push on one side or the other. I don’t have any modern RF lenses with C-shaped tabs, so can’t really comment, though I handled one once that had it’s infinity lock incorporated into the inner curve of the “C” which took a bit of getting used to. Like macfred I use levers on Hasselblad and Bronica lenses.

As to why they’re not on SLR lenses, perhaps it’s because you can wrap your fingers/hand around the lens barrel without blocking the focusing view, because, of course, you’re viewing through the lens. Using that same grip with a RF camera would block the rangefinder/viewfinder.

AgX · Nov 12, 2018

Good point. So those tabs are less for comfort than out of need in comparison with SLRs.

MattKing · Nov 12, 2018

I happily add a focus assist handle to those of my Mamiya 645 lenses that have the right size barrel for it - usually the ones that take 58mm filters.
Do SLR lenses tend to have longer focus throws?

Andrew O'Neill · Nov 12, 2018

I have knobs at the back and front of my camera to aid in focusing. I prefer knobs.

Pentode · Nov 12, 2018

I have a few lenses with the button tab you show as well as some fixed-lens RFs that have convex tabs with knurled surfaces.

When I’m using a lens that has a tab I’ll usually use it but I don’t really miss them when they’re not there.

slackercrurster · Nov 12, 2018

Speaking of more modern designs, yes I like focus tabs, some of them that is. I like Zeiss tabs, I don't like Leica tabs. The way I carry my cam, the big Leica tabs bothers my fingers.

Also Leica lenses have a loose aperture ring. Again I prefer the Zeiss aperture ring that tends to stay put. Leica needs to be taped..

mshchem · Nov 12, 2018

I have bear paw hands. I have issues with any tiny controls. I have a newer 50 Summicron and a new Zeiss (Cosina ) 35mm. Both seem fine. My favorite rangefinders are Fuji 690 series. No problem finding that focus ring.

Trask · Nov 12, 2018

mshchem said:
I have bear paw hands. I have issues with any tiny controls. I have a newer 50 Summicron and a new Zeiss (Cosina ) 35mm. Both seem fine. My favorite rangefinders are Fuji 690 series. No problem finding that focus ring.

Ha! Too true...

ic-racer · Nov 12, 2018

I only have one of perhaps a hundred lenses with a focus tab. It is a short super wide angle, for which the tab is needed to keep fingers out of the picture and out of the built-in viewfinder. Its use is not really optional so I had to learn to like it.

Unless you own one of these cameras you might not know that is one of the few rangefinders ever made with a 'super wide' viewfinder (21mm view). Other cameras with this lens require a separate viewfinder that may allow room for one's hands to grab the lens for focusing.

Pieter12 · Nov 12, 2018

It makes locating the focus ring and quick focusing easier by feel. Rangefinders seem to have this tab because the aperture ring is at the front of the lens and focus ring is right up against the camera body. On compact lenses this ring can be fairly narrow. 35mm SLRs have the aperture ring and the focus ring inverted vs rangefinders so they don't really need a tab. They will have a wider ring to just the focus, too. Medium format camera lenses will sometimes bee fitted with a large focus lever because there's a lot more to move on those lenses, the lever makes quick focusing easier.

MattKing · Nov 12, 2018

Pieter12 said:
Rangefinders seem to have this tab because the aperture ring is at the front of the lens and focus ring is right up against the camera body. On compact lenses this ring can be fairly narrow. 35mm SLRs have the aperture ring and the focus ring inverted vs rangefinders so they don't really need a tab.

Olympus OM lenses being the exception?

Theo Sulphate · Nov 12, 2018

MattKing said:
Olympus OM lenses being the exception?

How could you have possibly forgotten the Canon FL 35mm f/2.5?

Arklatexian · Nov 12, 2018

AgX said:
Good point. So those tabs are less for comfort than out of need in comparison with SLRs.

Leica seems to always have a very good reason for whatever they put on their cameras and lenses. It is not always apparent but sooner or later, with use, I have always found what that reason was........Regards!

Oren Grad · Nov 13, 2018

On tiny M-Leica lenses like my 35 Summicron, the C-shaped focus tab comes in handy. But once the lens is large enough to have a decent-sized focusing ring, I'd just as soon have it unadorned.

I don't care for the bump-style tab on Zeiss ZM lenses or the post-style as seen above - for me they don't help, they just get in the way.

Jim Jones · Nov 13, 2018

M. Axel Wikstrom said:
I find that they're handy to do a quick zone focus by feel without having to look at the camera or through the viewfinder. The button type, when locked at infinity, gives some purchase when installing and removing the lens.

Based on too many decades of using Leica RF cameras, I completely agree. For those into street photography, the shutter, aperture, and rough focusing can be done without ever looking at a M series Leica.

Arbitrarium · Nov 13, 2018

I've used two Jupiter 8's, one with and one without tab, and I did prefer the tabbed version. The focus ring is tiny compared to an SLR lens and the tab definitely helps when wearing gloves.

Bill Burk · Nov 13, 2018

I always figured it was for the focus by intuition, but assumed it would take practice to learn.

Bad enough with SLR I go back and forth from Pentax to Olympus and don’t know the way to infinity.

guangong · Nov 13, 2018

I appreciate a focusing tab on extremely flat lenses where aperture control and focusing are squished together.

POLL: Focus tab or no? and what type

cfrye

macfred

AgX

Theo Sulphate

narsuitus

M. Axel Wikstrom

Alan9940

Trask

AgX

MattKing

Moderator

Andrew O'Neill

Moderator

Pentode

slackercrurster

mshchem

Trask

ic-racer

Pieter12

MattKing

Moderator

Theo Sulphate

Arklatexian

Oren Grad

Jim Jones

Arbitrarium

Bill Burk

guangong

POLL: Focus tab or no? and what type

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Moderator

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