Posted by Wade Ramsey on January 25, 2001 at 16:58:49:
In Reply to: How accurate is the Crown's rangefinder focusing? posted by Nick Rowan on January 17, 2001 at 15:01:35:Nick,
First, check your RF at the approximate distance
you plan to shoot at, 5' (which is close to the
near limit of the RF's range.) Use a loupe on
the groundglass and a nice contrasty target. Yes,
the GG focus is more accurate, tho' not as easy to zero
in on. The results of this test may answer your
question, if the RF is off!
If you are trying for maximum resolution, you will
want to keep the lens stopped down, which will
increase depth of field and help cover small focus
errors. On the other hand, you may wish to keep
the background out of focus. Be careful about depend-
ing upon the RF when the aperture is fairly wide
open and DOF is minimal. But GG focusing is also
difficult to achieve under these conditions with
portraits, since the subject has to stay put. I'd
stop down a ways and use the RF if it has checked
out okay in your test.
It is easier and faster to use the RF if it is
accurately adjusted. But that's a big IF! (As I
write this, I'm fighting with trying to zero one
in on a Crown Graphic. The top RF was designed
by a mechanic, not an engineer!) You're right in
thinking it is easier to snap the two images together
than focusing through a loupe, but if DOF is shallow
the RF has to be able to focus on the plane of
the eyes (not the profile of the head) and that
can be a real challenge.
BTW, the top RF is not a Kalart. They were mounted
on the side. The top one is a Graflex design.
Wade Ramsey