tashley
Subscriber Member
We all know that DOF is a moveable feast. I, for example, have a new DOF calculator on my iPhone called TrueDoF-Pro which lets you set really anal-retentive parameters, such that at F5.8 on a Rodenstock 40 and IQ180, if you want to make a one metre wide print with 10LP/MM resolution, you know that you hyperfocal distance is 40 metres and that everything from 18m out will be good. Or, if you prefer, you can state a blur spot preference of 41 microns and know that your 'traditional' DOF is from 3.5 metres outwards if you focus at 7 metres. Etc etc. etc.
But I still want to focus really accurately sometimes, more accurately than focus mask can achieve and without all the difficult iterations of 'suck it and review on the LCD'.
SO I would like a rangefinder. But the good ones like the Leupold and the Leica Disto 5 seem to have restricted ranges of operation. As far as I can see, they both offer a minimum of 10 metres and a maximum that depends on target type but might be as little as 100metres or as much as 1000.
The HPF focus ring on my lens tops out at 52.7metres, which is a tiny nudge from infinity. But there's really quite small distance between that scale marking and 10.6 metres and then suddenly there are acres of space for everything under 10 metres - exactly the zone where laser finders seem to stop.
So, short of a tape measure (which would make me feel like an 1880's practitioner) can anyone suggest something as accurate as the HPF ring which works from let's say 1/2 metre and outwards?
I tried at Nikon 1000AS in the shop today and thought it seemed really nice and seems good value but again, it is a ten meter only option.
Thanks in advance!
Tim
But I still want to focus really accurately sometimes, more accurately than focus mask can achieve and without all the difficult iterations of 'suck it and review on the LCD'.
SO I would like a rangefinder. But the good ones like the Leupold and the Leica Disto 5 seem to have restricted ranges of operation. As far as I can see, they both offer a minimum of 10 metres and a maximum that depends on target type but might be as little as 100metres or as much as 1000.
The HPF focus ring on my lens tops out at 52.7metres, which is a tiny nudge from infinity. But there's really quite small distance between that scale marking and 10.6 metres and then suddenly there are acres of space for everything under 10 metres - exactly the zone where laser finders seem to stop.
So, short of a tape measure (which would make me feel like an 1880's practitioner) can anyone suggest something as accurate as the HPF ring which works from let's say 1/2 metre and outwards?
I tried at Nikon 1000AS in the shop today and thought it seemed really nice and seems good value but again, it is a ten meter only option.
Thanks in advance!
Tim