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Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder

  
 
Seabassius
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p.1 #1 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


I loved my M10 when I owned it but struggled with getting critical focus. I thought this was interesting other than being a little fugly. Curious on others opinion.

https://apple.news/AJIOXhhZ-SeyiN46ojUThpw




Jan 27, 2026 at 06:48 PM
Seabassius
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p.1 #2 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


Here’s the original article if you can’t access through Apple News

https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/photography/photo-technique/this-usd5-diy-hack-helps-me-get-critical-focus-on-my-leica-every-time



Jan 27, 2026 at 06:49 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.1 #3 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


Interesting. I've heard some people put Kapton tape on the patch window, not the main viewfinder.


Jan 27, 2026 at 06:59 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.1 #4 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


Here is a post about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogCommunity/comments/1iwo5t5/boost_your_rangefinder_contrast_instantly_with/







Jan 27, 2026 at 07:01 PM
Marcus Stein
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p.1 #5 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


This is not new, people with old Leica with fainted rangefinder patch have been doing that for long time.
I have a 70 year old barnack, I did same thing and the result is acceptable. It’s more useful when you have separate viewfinder and rangefinder windows like barnack
I guess it’s new technique for people who never shoot a barnack



Jan 27, 2026 at 07:28 PM
 


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Seabassius
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p.1 #6 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


Fred Miranda wrote:
Here is a post about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogCommunity/comments/1iwo5t5/boost_your_rangefinder_contrast_instantly_with/


That actually make sense with amber color. Same concept for ski goggles to increase contrast on cloudy days. Not sure I’m ready to jump back in yet but good to know there’s choices now: ev1, colored tape, or lasik!



Jan 27, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Fred Miranda
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p.1 #7 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


For anyone considering this, I tried it by applying a custom cut piece of Kapton tape to the small rangefinder window. I didn't see any improvement in focusing. If anything, it actually got worse and harder for me to see the exact point of focus.

Not sure why some people recommend this. Maybe putting the tape on the viewfinder window instead would work better (As the article above wrote), but I’m not interested in experimenting further since my rangefinder is already accurate enough as it is.



Jan 27, 2026 at 11:30 PM
ftllens
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p.1 #8 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


They have those pre-cut rangefinder window screen protectors. Putting mild ND gel patch in the center cleanly in one of those would look much better and provide some luminance delta if you're having trouble seeing the patch move. Wouldn't cover the actual patch window cause it would just dim it.


Jan 27, 2026 at 11:53 PM
markhout
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p.1 #9 · Interesting article on improving critical focus with range finder


Fred Miranda wrote:
I didn't see any improvement in focusing. If anything, it actually got worse and harder for me to see the exact point of focus.


Same here on M10-R. For me, it made focusing more difficult.



Jan 28, 2026 at 04:24 AM







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