[KOML] Ebay and Hyperfocal length

["Kotsinadelis, Peter (Peter)" <peterk@lucent.com>]

My two cents to the group.  First, ebay is as good as you make it.  If you
buy junk, you will receive junk.  Know what you are buying.  Although the
KO/ROs are sturdy, when abused the rangefinders will go out and they are a
pain in the neck to adjust.  Unless you are mechanically inclined, only buy
one on ebay if it is in mint shape, less problems that way.  Remember these
were (and for some of us still are) workhorses so many photogs have pounded
the heck out of them.  I would avoid buying a well used KO unless there was
a return policy.

As to HYPERFOCAL settings, I think I've used thes once or twice and was not
pleased with the result.  IMHO, why bother when you can set distance with
the rangefinder.  If you can't spend the time to better approximate the
position of your subject, guesstimate and then use at least F8.  Medium
format is much more forgiving for this than 35mm.  A slightly out of cous
6x7cm negative will produce a better 8x10 than a comparable 35mm negative as
the smaller negative amplifies the problem (out of focus) as you enlarge it.

Anyway. I leave the other trivia to the scientists in the group.  As for me,
I would much rather be shooting than discussing circle of confusion, DOF
calculations, Maxwell's diffraction theory, etc.  Sometimes thinking less
will produce more in the photograph.

Peter K