[Rand Scott Adams Silver Member Posts: 287]

Landscape & Nature Technique

on: June 30, 2019 at 5:22 am

There are lots of videos on various techniques for achieving optimal focus in landscape work.
I’m curious to hear what specific approaches members here find most effective / manageable in the field. I know my question is stated pretty broadly, but that is intentional. This might even make for a good article for the site.
Rand

Rand Scott Adams Rand47

[Kevin Raber Silver Member Posts: 1311]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #1 on: June 30, 2019 at 8:33 am

It just might make a good article/video for the site. I put it on the list.

Kevin Raber
Owner and Publisher of photoPXL

[Rand Scott Adams Silver Member Posts: 287]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #2 on: July 1, 2019 at 12:34 am

Kevin,
Thanks!
Rand

Rand Scott Adams Rand47

[Ron Lacy]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #3 on: July 3, 2019 at 8:04 pm

I don’t use Medium Format, but I will comment anyway. After 50 years of photography, the best and easiest focus technique I use is the “double the distance” method. Determine the distance to the closest object you want in focus and then double that distance as the focus point. If you want to be sure you have the optimum focus using this method, you can get a very easy to use app for your cell phone that will calculate the best aperture. Just enter the lens focal length, distance to the closest object to be in focus and it will give you the best aperture to ensure sharpness. The app apparently considers diffraction in the calculation. A simple, easy and reliable method for me to ensure the best sharpness when I focus.’

Not saying this is the best for everyone, but this is the best one for me. I trust it and get terrific results.

Ron

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Ron Lacy.

[Rand Scott Adams Silver Member Posts: 287]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #4 on: July 3, 2019 at 11:44 pm

Ron,

Thanks for the input.  What’s the specific app you use for this?

Rand

Rand Scott Adams Rand47

[Ron Lacy]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #5 on: July 5, 2019 at 10:39 am

Rand

The app is called OptimumCS.  A guy named George Douvos is the developer.  It is on the Apple app store site.  Probably available other places too.  Simple and easy to use, and accurate. The basic version is free and that is the one I use.  The Pro version costs $9.99.  I haven’t used the pro version but apparently it give much more detail and options relative to creating a sharp image.  Hope this helps

Ron

 

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Ron Lacy.
• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Christopher Sanderson. Reason: Edited out the HTML after signature

[Jeff Griffin]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #6 on: July 7, 2019 at 6:09 am

Not  a MF user but here is my approach to focussing.

Now that we are in the digital age I set my camera to manual focussing and use the peaking feature in live view combined with depth of field preview together with a loupe for viewing on the monitor.

Also good for flowers & architectural shots as well.

 

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Jeff Griffin.

[Dave Chew Silver Member Posts: 64]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #7 on: July 7, 2019 at 4:05 pm

I have a new focus process I’ve been playing with when using tilt:

1. With the lens wide open, dial in 1 degree of tilt, regardless of focal length.
2. Zoom in and focus on the thing up close in the frame (usually at the bottom). Note where the helical is.
3. Zoom in and focus on the thing in the distance (usually at the top). Note where the helical is.
4. Set a new focus point right in between the two focus points (i.e. split the angle in half).
5. Zoom back into the thing in the front (at the bottom).
   1. If you had to dial out to a farther distance for that thing in the distance (at the top), add more tilt until the thing in front comes in focus.
   2. If you had to dial in to a closer distance for that thing in the distance, subtract tilt until the thing in front comes in focus.
6. Check the thing in the distance. It is usually spot on. If not, repeat.
7. Set the lens at the f-stop you want and shoot!

The easy way to remember Step 5 is, “Focus out, tilt out; focus in, tilt in.”

Except for macro work or the camera very close to the ground, I haven’t found a case yet where I had to repeat or fine tune anything. There are a few reasons why I think this works regardless of focal length: First, even though 1 degree has a much lower Scheimpflug line with longer lenses, the longer lens’ narrow view doesn’t see the ground until way out in front of the camera, so there is plenty of room for the plane of focus to penetrate up through the ground by the time it enters the field of view. Second, since more tilt decreases DoF, it helps to have as little tilt as possible.

Dave

 

How glorious a greeting the sun gives the mountains! - John Muir
https://www.davechewphotography.com
Find legacy Schneider-Kreuznach Apo-Digitar lens data here: https://www.davechewphotography.com/skdata/

[Hugh Sakols Silver Member Posts: 80]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #8 on: July 11, 2019 at 4:59 pm

Based on the concept of hyperfocal distance, I have focused at my near noting where it is followed by focusing on the far.  I will then manually focus to the middle point.  This may not be perfect but had worked well for others.  Still, it is nice to have a hyperfocal chart but I rarely pull one out in the field.

[Brad Smith]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #9 on: July 19, 2019 at 11:55 pm

Hugh, using your method…….

OK.  Near = 5 ft, far = 10 ft.  Focus to the middle = 7.5  That will work.

On the other hand……..Near =5 ft.  Far = Infinity.   Now where will you focus using your method?????

 

Brad

 

 

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Brad Smith.

[Hugh Sakols]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #10 on: July 21, 2019 at 7:12 pm

Brad,

You are right.  However, I’m coming from a landscape background where I don’t pull out charts.

On the other hand……..Near =5 ft.  Far = Infinity.   Now where will you focus using your method?????Shooting a 24mm lens at f16 this works pretty well, but no it is not perfect. I typically take multiple exposures using different focus points to find what works best.

• This reply was modified 5 years ago by Hugh Sakols.

[Graham Welland Participant Posts: 3]

Re: Focus technique for MF landscape work. . .

Reply #11 on: July 22, 2019 at 2:38 am

In my experience, focus on the most important element in the scene and let everything else fall where it may.

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