Leica M2, Enough Base-length?

[feenej]

Would an M2 have enough base-length to precisely focus the Nokton LTM f1.5 for sharp photos at f1.5? I'm having a terrible time with blurry photos at big apertures with this lens on my Bessa R. I was thinking of getting an M2 in December or January.

[ferider]

Yes. Definitely.

Note that the R should be able to handle the Nokton, too. I am guessing your Bessa has an RF issue. Check with a measuring tape ...

Roland.

[photomoof]

Would an M2 have enough base-length to precisely focus the Nokton LTM f1.5 for sharp photos at f1.5? I'm having a terrible time with blurry photos at big apertures with this lens on my Bessa R. I was thinking of getting an M2 in December or January.

While a 1.5 is relatively fast, 1.4 lenses have been around since the early 50's and are not considered difficult to focus wide open. However at close range the DOF is VERY narrow.

You need to have your camera checked, you should be able to get eyes in sharp focus at 4 feet without issues with the Bessa, even with its short base.

[feenej]

I carefully measured it at three feet and it seemed to be right on. I guess I should try it with ground glass against the film rails?

[Turtle]

feenej,

Photograph the tape lying flat on a smooth surface at an angle running away from you. Focus at a point say 3-4 feet away, make a note of what you focused on and then check the resultant neg shows that focus has fallen at this precise point. Use slow, fine grained film and a tripod. Checking the focus distance markings on the barrel match up with a measured distance wont help much

[digitalintrigue]

There is a thread on RF accuracy here (http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55500), with a downloadable spreadsheet here (http://www.digitalintrigue.net/rf_accuracy/rfs6.xls). It covers multiple cameras, focal lengths, and apertures.