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Taking photographs with the LEICA CM
The LEICA CM is a fully automatic camera. With automatic set-
ting of the distance and therefore the focus (autofocus), fully
automatic, programmed exposure control and, if required, auto-
matically activated flash, it is ideal for uncomplicated, reliable
and quick photography. When the camera is switched on, these
functions are always active immediately, unless you have pre-
viously stored a different mode (see the section “Storing flash
modes/the set exposure compensation” on p. 108).
In addition, the LEICA CM allows you to use aperture priority ex-
posure control mode to determine the desired depth of field by
specifying an aperture and/or to set the distance manually at
any time, to realize specific picture composition ideas.
Several other functions are available to make the most of any
subject or situation.
Distance setting
The LEICA CM has a distance metering system with a range of
0.7m to infinity. When using the autofocus mode, it ensures a
high-precision automatic setting. Particularly with the fast LEICA
SUMMARIT 40mm f/2.4 at full stop, this is crucial for optimum
focusing. For manual focusing, it allows extremely sensitive
work, with displays in the viewfinder and the data panel providing
precise information about the correct setting and the specified
distance.
When positioning your main subject in the picture, note that the
distance metering system in the LEICA CM records exclusively
the center of the image, i.e. the area indicated by the frame in the
center of the viewfinder image.
Notes:
• The passive distance metering system in the LEICA CM relies
on contrasts, i.e. light/dark differences in the subject, and
therefore on a particular minimum brightness. In poor lighting
conditions, an auxiliary light (3) with a range of approx. 5.1m
is therefore turned on automatically (in autofocus mode only).
•
For physical reasons, some subjects are difficult when it
comes to distance metering, e.g.:
– Those with no or only slight contrast (sky, white walls etc.)
– Those with a textureless surface or exclusively horizontal
structures
– Fast moving objects
– Very dark objects and light absorbing surfaces
– Subjects with regular patterns
– Sources of bright light in the picture (spot lights, ceiling
lights etc.)
For these subjects, you should therefore either use the focus
and exposure memory (see “Storing focus and exposure set-
tings, p. 86) or set the distance manually by estimation (see
“Manual distance setting”, p. 81).
• The autofocus system takes into account the aperture set
either automatically or manually and adjusts the distance setting
to the respective different depth of field range (see “Aperture
priority exposure control mode”, p. 85). When using aperture
priority mode, you can therefore selectively optimize the accu-
racy of the distance setting for critical subjects by selecting as
large an aperture as possible (low value).
English