Leica M Rangefinder Focusing Tips and Tricks

[@cydengel]

The most straight forward explanation of rangefinder focusing ever! Simple, clear and illustrated perfectly! Thanks so much !

[@GaryLangEngr]

1,000,000 KZbin videos on this topic covered in one, clear video

[@RedDotForum]

Wow. So kind of you to say.

[@TitleDS]

Even with a seasoned rangefinder shooter like myself this video still sparks my learner soul. David combined his genuine lifetime knowledge in techniques, practices, and how to apply them in the most concise way possible.

[@ruepra6502]

Really useful tips ! I'm new to the rangefinder topic as I'm, shooting with Nikon for more than 40 years now. However due to health restrictions I can't take that trunk with my gear always with me. Therefore I'm familiarizing myself with Leica M and Leica Q. I watched countless videos and reviews...no one managed to explain that techniques so simple and valuable like you did. THANK YOU !

[@MadshGrappling]

It's hard to imagine a better rangefinder guide than this video right here!

[@PaulMansfield-2023]

That is the most worthwhile quarter of an hour's tutorial video I have watched for a long time. All of it was useful but for me the back and forth movement to nail fine focus is going to make a big difference to the rangefinder experience for me. I must admit I have been struggling a bit but you have inspired me to go out again and use all of these techniques with more confidence. Great video, thank you for posting.

[@LouiseMillar-goeritz]

I agree

[@WinfriedHeyland]

Excellent and I want to add one more item; when focussing, always start from one end - preferably from infinity. It avoids the back and forth of turning the ring.

[@RedDotForum]

Great tip!

[@paulosaret1811]

Yup, got that tip from Ralph Gibson too.

[@nikolajovanovic1140]

Exactly, like a default state. You excluded the possibility of being in front of the subject with focus point.

[@cinqo7]

You’re an excellent teacher. Leica should be proud of you. Congrats!

[@fransbaert4666]

Thank you David. I enjoyed this very much. I have used a rangefinder for 38 years (CL, M5, M6...M11) and found it very reassuring that my experience as an amateur matches your professional insights. What I do as well with tip #7 with the M11, is that I take pictures while moving forward and backward like that - as a sort of insurance policy - one of them will definitely be perfect in focus.

[@jlwilliams]

Nice job! I'm definitely bookmarking this to help orient rangefinder-camera newcomers. (I know this is a Leica channel, but most of these tips will work just as well when using a Minolta CLE, a Bessa, or a Pixii…) Here's my own mini-tip for subjects with repeating patterns, such as the wall example: try holding the camera at a 45-degree angle for focusing. Sometimes this makes it easier to pick up a “focusable” feature on the subject…

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks so much!

[@jensbondarenko9195]

David Farkas for president. Very helpful with all the details provided here. For someone new to the M System, some techniques and the resulting need to change your shooting technique if you are coming from a DSLR, for example, should be known before you buy. But for fine tuning, this video helps a lot. Thank you! And: No waste of time with an overly long intro, NO MUSIC in the background all the time, no bells and whistles, just knowledge. A special thank you for that.

[@carlseibert9015]

Say the distance to yourself in your head. That keeps the distance estimation separate from the tab position, which varies lens to lens and makes it easier to learn and remember. Best video on this subject I've ever seen. Way to go David.

[@RedDotForum]

Good tip and thanks for the feedback!

[@goarmymp1]

One of the best tutorial videos for the M cameras Very easy to understand and learn from

[@RedDotForum]

Wow, thanks!

[@andreasmi5120]

Love that you guys combined all the tips and tricks in one video. This is a must for all new to the rangefinder. There is one thing I would like to add: keep practicing. I exited and reentered the Leica M series multiple times, because I never mastered the rangefinder. But the thing is: I never tried hard enough. Let’s be honest, it’s like mastering the guitar or any other instrument. It does not come over night, you have to invest time. But once you’re on that level, you really start liking you music, or in our case, our photos.

[@bennyb865]

This video is so good it should be a charged lesson. Just got my Leica M and been practicing the last 8 hours and you've made my life so much easier. THANK YOU.

[@RedDotForum]

That's great!

[@ziggy149]

12:45 - Bambi's friends playing tag in the background. Found that rather amusing. And what a nice peek at how beautiful it is where you guys live.

[@snarkytadpole4799]

Excellent video as always. As much as I love the long ones I think these short, to the point, single subject videos are the most useful. Let's see more!

[@RedDotForum]

Great feedback. Any topics you'd like us to cover in the future?

[@patrickaltman5451]

Thanks David . You are a great pedagog. When the subject is moving, and to get the perfect focus is not so easy , I close a bit the aperture to get a little more depth of field and have a kind of automatic correction of the lack of perfect focusing with the range finder. It is "zone focusing" but in a particular situation.

[@Amillionyawn]

using a Q but trying to learn zone focus (auto focus still isn't fast enough), honestly the best tutorial explaining how to set up zone focus, and estimating distance tips are fantastic!

[@rolandrick]

Thanks for all RDF videos. Top informations guaranteed. The Leica lenses fall more off into infinity as towards closer ranges. With e.g. the Elmarit-M 2.8/28 ASPH always subtract a stop to achieve better results at infinity. When e.g. shooting hyperfocal at F8, dial the infinity marker somewhere between the F5.6 and F8. If foreground doesn’t matter always to infinity. - I’m shooting M since 1986 😇. Besides, it’s typical for Leica lenses to have more fall-off towards infinity and that’s perfect like so, that makes the Leica look, specifically shooting portraits with primes 50mm and longer.

[@jmjcv2704]

Many Thanks for those tips and in general for your channel 👌👏👍

[@artwong9405]

I had convinced myself that I really needed to buy a Visoflex 2 to focus my M11P properly. So glad I watched this video because it gave me the tools to improve my photography skills rather than purchasing a "crutch"! Thank you!!

[@FART-REPELLENT]

Very useful advice thank you. Another technique I have devised is when shooting outdoors while standing on a sidewalk made up of concrete paving slabs, each and every concrete paving slab on that sidewalk will have the same dimensions, therefore you can calculate the distance between you and your subject by counting the number of paving slabs between you and your subject times that by the length of each paving slab, which will allow you to pre-focus.

[@tashihishey34]

A useful rule of thumb is to apply standard lengths to calulate distance. For example, the width of cars, length of buses, tiles and the rule of thumb using the parallex method.

[@kevinmallory5237]

Hi David - more of these videos! I love the longer all things Leica - but, this type of short informative video around specific shooting tips are great! Very well done.

[@Sgt_Snacks]

I honestly had no idea how range finder cameras worked and now I kinda want one. You made it sound fun and approachable. I also never understand how to read those numbers on a lens but now I do! Great video.

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful! Do yourself a favor and try out an M for yourself.

[@healinginfluence]

Best tutorial I have seen. Being able to focus quickly is what keeps me from purchasing an M.

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@MilaBristol]

Stumbled across your channel and I’m so glad i did. Excellent tips and will try these tips next time I go out w my M3.

[@kbalch]

Nicely done, David. That's going to help a lot of rangefinder newbies. It's good to have some of the foundation knowledge in one place. Being able to break down techniques that we've taken for granted for decades into such easy-to-understand bites is a gift. Well done!

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks so much.

[@MGNphotography]

Another fabulous RDF video with useful tips even veteran rangefinder fans can benefit from. Many thanks, David!

[@RedDotForum]

My pleasure

[@bryanlovephotography]

Thank you so much for doing this! I usually fall back onto the Visoflex because I struggle with the rangefinder from time to time. Great content as always!

[@RedDotForum]

You can do it!

[@xiiiconcepts]

Great content David! As always, your knowledge and wisdom is something of legend to the Leica community. Would love to see more content like this of you, out and about doing what you do. Thank you!

[@RedDotForum]

Wow! Thanks.

[@tommytorres]

Thanks for the tips. Great video

[@eddiepeel]

This is very helpful. I’ve been around M cameras since the 90s and got my own first M with the M8 and I still learned things from this video. Much appreciated

[@DrScottMcDonald]

Great all-in-one lesson David! I've been using the M beginning with the M9 and now the M10, for me, I think the most valuable tip you've offered that was the greatest benefit to me was the rocking focus. Brilliant! I was guilty of trying to "fine-tune" the focus using the finger tab, but now I know better! I'll buy you a coffee the next time you're in Vietnam! Thank you David! As Josh said to you when reviewing my gear in the Show Us Your Kit episode last year, no, I do not have a farm! Hahaha! Cheers, Scott

[@payperview714]

I shoot street with 28mm most of the time. The first thing I do every day I'm out is walk up to a street sign or other pole, estimate 6 feet, set and then hold to my eye..I shoot zone focus without holding the camera to my eye about 90% of the time, so i then adjust for the distance of the camera being a little closer to the subject.

[@RedDotForum]

That's what I'm talking about!

[@ianrobertcope]

What a fantastic summary of focus techniques on the M11 . I also use pre focusing with focus, peaking on to quickly confirm my focus. I find this great as well Thanks again

[@TomokoMurakami]

This instruction is EXACTLY what I have been searching for. Thank you, David.

[@RedDotForum]

So glad it was helpful.

[@PaulTakesPhotos]

Thank you for sharing and explaining the working of an M camera. Just bought a M240. Perfect timing ❤

[@RedDotForum]

Enjoy!

[@srkgv]

Very well made. Been shooting rangefinder cameras for more than 10 years, yet I still learned from this.

[@RedDotForum]

Awesome!

[@wpdoyle]

Awesome tips! It was a great refresher for me. Thanks!

[@john_murch]

Excellent tutorial on rangefinder focusing David. I use all of these but thanks for your reminder, I need to practice on the last one, rocking the body back and forth slightly for fine focusing with portraits. Cheers!

[@RedDotForum]

Really makes a big difference, especially for portraits!

[@tocinoconrad3798]

I am so happy that you guys made this video. I just bought a Nikon SP as my first rangefinder and this video have greatly helped with focusing!

[@JohnnyAmiri]

Such a great video. The arms-length=0.7m point is 🤯 and pre-focusing using estimated distance is a great tip. I put both of these tips to use today after watching the video and already feel faster at focusing. Thanks for the great content as always

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@HN-sk2lr]

Great review, I'm in love with my leica m11 monochrom and sl3 can't be happier ❤

[@RedDotForum]

Awesome!

[@FART-REPELLENT]

Considering the low battery life of the SL3 (250 shots), can one buy a separate power pack to boost battery life for the SL3?

[@girliedog]

This is one of the best instructional videos I've seen explaining focusing on a rangefinder. I will be watching again.

[@olafsalomon2560]

You explained a very complex issue in 15 minutes where others need 3 hours. Many greetings from a German who does not (yet) have a Leica M. However, I have already been to the Leica factory in Wetzlar ;-) Fantastic place. I have subscribed to your channel

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Markus-u8v]

Perfect timing. today I bought my m6. All thumbs up.

[@RedDotForum]

Nice 👍

[@exalbino]

Great video David! Very informative and concise. More of this please!

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks, will do!

[@rupertkeeley8024]

That was so useful. Thank you David. So well explained.

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jasonf3959]

These are great advice. I had to learn these tips the hard way through lots of trial and many errors over many decades. You did it in 17 minutes. Well done.

[@RedDotForum]

Very kind of you. I'm in the same boat. Been learning rangefinder photography for over 20 years and had to do it by trial and error. Hopefully, this will help those just discovering the Leica M to shortcut the process a little bit.

[@edsonmartini]

This was the best explanation ever !! Thanks a million !!

[@tofulosophy]

This was great, David! Hope this will become a regular series. It compliments the longer, deep dive discussions on the channel.

[@iakish]

Next video : How to exposure with M cameras !!!!!! In David we trust !!!!

[@CrueLoaf]

Great video thank you. I’m also looking for tips on metering. Something that always trips me up with my M10-P.

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks for the suggestion. Will add it to the list.

[@street4fips]

A nice summary indeed! The other day, I realized that the minimum focus distance of 0.7 m is a great distance for taking selfie, so it's another way how to look at it :)

[@richa2495]

Thank you! I’m about 9 months in with the m10 and I’ve been working at it. The estimating the distance before focusing is what I think I was missing. Thank you! I really like rangefinder photography allot. I’m shooting the 35mm focal length 100% for probably at least 6 more month before adding a 50mm. I love the Leica glass. Appreciate you making this video.

[@RedDotForum]

So glad it was helpful. Stick with it and you'll be a amazed at how the rangefinder starts to become second nature. And kudos to you for really learning that 35 before moving on to other focal lengths. I did the exact same thing when I first started shooting all those years ago!

[@dummybert]

very good tip about fine focusing with your body. I never thought of it, but I'll try it next time

[@tonyvokey7607]

Thanks David, that was very well done as usual. I wish I was able to find something like this to watch when I bought my first M camera.

[@RedDotForum]

Yeah, same here.😂

[@robertkerner4833]

Very nicely done, compiling many useful tips in one place. Practice practice practice.

[@RedDotForum]

Absolutely!

[@daviddodier8845]

These are fantastic thank you! Man I wish I didn’t have to figure all this out on my own years ago! This will surely be a huge benefit to anyone new to the rangefinder experience. Nice video

[@RedDotForum]

That's my hope. When I started out with Leica over 20 years ago, I also wish there was someone who could have just explained everything upfront, in a straightforward way. That has been a driving force in all of our content since we started RDF.

[@lottic]

Loved the video, and the bump on the front of that FLE.

[@RedDotForum]

Hey, you gotta get out there and use the gear!

[@msamiullah001]

very useful tips, thanks !!!!

[@johndandrea3194]

Excellent tips for a more efficient and effective rangefinder experience..thanks!

[@miguelolea8942]

world class video and communication, you are a master David

[@RedDotForum]

Wow. Thank you!

[@1946gsp]

A nice, comprehensive set of helpful hints. Maybe next time add a short view of the lens barrel with the distance scale explained? And how about giving distances in meters and feet for those of us who use the latter? Thanks for your post!

[@RedDotForum]

Yeah, during editing, I had wished that I covered the depth of field scale a little more. Hopefully, the visual explanation of hyperfocal and zone focusing still made sense. As to the feet/meters, I did use both several times, maybe not every time talking about distance.

[@DongshengPan]

Very useful tips and clear explanation , thank you!

[@susanfleck4166]

Thanks! Succinct, informative, and a good reminder of the best and easiest ways to maximize the benefits of. Rangefinder.

[@RedDotForum]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@klarkolofsson]

The defintive rangefinder video. Cudos!

[@DavidTurner-z9y]

Nice job David. Keep the tutorials coming!

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks, will do!

[@JayJayNay]

I don’t have a Leica M or any other rangefinder camera (want one plus a good lens but they’re so expensive. CA adds another 9.125% sales tax on top of it), but this was a very nice video. I enjoyed watching. Although not the same, it brought me back to my Canon AE1 manual focusing. Thank you.

[@DarrenLoveland]

Great work as always!

[@212frankny]

Thank you David this was very useful. Great video. Practice is the best training. 🤩

[@RedDotForum]

Absolutely!

[@50shadesofNV]

this was a good one to watch even for refresher, BTW, looks like you were at the Ft Lauderdale Riverwalk area?

[@RedDotForum]

It is indeed Riverwalk in downtown Fort Lauderdale! Good eye.

[@vinylisland6386]

Rocking back forward is when you hit the sweet spot. Clarity and common sense personified. A model of how it should be done.

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks so much!

[@petemly-n9w]

Now that was a very useful video. Well done.

[@johnfalloon596]

Wonderful video David - watch you guys all the time

[@RedDotForum]

Appreciate it.

[@ernie61kim]

with the range finder patch approaches to match, start to squeeze the shutter. repeat practice then you can synchronize the focusing and releasing shutter - this saves a split of second that is crucial taking moving subject.

[@RedDotForum]

Great tip!

[@RichardPilon]

Great video. Thanks for all the tips. Does your comment of never shooting at F16 also apply to film cameras? I didn’t quite get that one.

[@RedDotForum]

You could probably get away with f/16 on film. On high resolution digital sensors, as the pixels get smaller and smaller, you can't stop down as much without suffering from diffraction.

[@HamadRK]

Thank you David that was wonderful !!!!

[@RedDotForum]

You're very welcome. Hope it helped.

[@snarkytadpole4799]

A bit off-topic but I'd love to see a video on using M-mount lenses on the SL3 using the Leica M-adapter-L.

[@itsahoax]

many thanks, clear and concise tutorial

[@martinsmyth5580]

Hi, I know this is a long shot because the video has been up for a long time. I am new to Leica, but do you see the mark in the middle of infinity when zone focusing? It's hard to see in the video. Thank you

[@amitavachatterjee4006]

Great refresher of the basics. Well done.

[@RedDotForum]

Thanks!

[@jayocotube6483]

Nice job, David! Thank you.

[@RedDotForum]

You bet!

[@constantinestewart7416]

Great video and advice. Thanks so much.

[@HRWG99]

Excellent video for a new m owner

[@RedDotForum]

Hopefully, this will help people on their Leica M journey.

[@kieulannguyen1193]

Thank you so much for all the tips. ❤❤❤

[@RedDotForum]

You are so welcome!

[@supremewaso]

really impressive, thank you for the sharing!

[@RedDotForum]

My pleasure

[@richardmathews4017]

Superb video. Thank you.

[@mikenrico123]

thx, nice info. will practice

[@LouiseMillar-goeritz]

David I think k you are excellent thank you so much

[@jaycochran2983]

Thanks for this great video David!

[@RedDotForum]

My pleasure

[@makmak69L7]

Great Video no doubt. Many thanks for the useful tips.

[@RedDotForum]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richarddenise3886]

Masterful! Well done!

[@gewglesux]

This was pretty good... i still think i'm doing it wrong though.. Can i use the same technique for my MP and Film?

[@RedDotForum]

Definitely. Rangefinder techniques are the same for film and digital.

[@mgscheue]

Yes!

[@gewglesux]

@@mgscheue Thank you very much! After spending what we all do for our Leicas... you'd think i'd know this already.

[@mgscheue]

@@gewglesuxWe are all learning. Keeps it fun!

[@gewglesux]

@@mgscheue Agreed.

[@johnchan7544]

David, thank you for this tutorial. Hope to see one on improving composition. Btw, is there a big jump in going from M10 to M11P? Would you sell your M9P plus M10 for M11P if u were thinking of upgrading to M11P?

[@RedDotForum]

Composition is big topic! Will give that some thought. Yes, there is a big jump from the M10 to M11-P. I'd suggest you check out my full M11 review, where I run down every improvement from the M10 to the M11: rdf.to/M11-Review As to your specific question, yes, I'd definitely make that trade. I know the M9-P has a cult following right now, but the M11-P is just a superior camera in every possible way, both to the M9-P and the M10. From the 15+ stops of dynamic range to the insane resolution and vastly better low light performance to the gorgeous EVF, live view metering and in-camera USB charging, the M11 is the way to go.

[@johnchan7544]

@@RedDotForum , thanks so much for your reply and keep up the great content. Look forward to your next Leica video..

[@BenjaminGauthey]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@forsterdaniel]

Simply brillant, thank you very much

[@RedDotForum]

You're very welcome!

[@gurugamer8632]

Hi David can you do video on Hasselblad X2D and 38mm and 90mm

[@perrymckenna2261]

Brilliant!