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Storing focus and exposure settings
The exposure control and metering system in the LEICA CM is
center weighted, i.e. the entire image field is recorded but the
area marked by the autofocus frame is given a significantly great-
er weighting. This design means that the parts of the subject po-
sitioned in the center are normally in focus and correctly ex-
posed without any additional settings.
If, for composition reasons, the main subject is to be positioned
outside the center of the picture (picture A), the focus and expo-
sure memory-lock function that is always activated when the
shutter release button is pressed to its pressure point in autofo-
cus mode and for aperture priority and programmed automatic
exposure control modes can be used for this purpose.
Aim the camera so that, when you look through the viewfinder,
the main subject or the part of the main subject you want to be
in focus and correctly exposed is in the autofocus frame (picture
B). Then press the shutter release button to the pressure point.
To indicate that the measurements have been made and stored,
the red dot and the corresponding shutter speed and/or aper-
ture values appear in the viewfinder display.
If you keep the shutter release button pressed in this position,
you can change the framing as you wish. The displays remain the
same even if the distance to the subject and/or its brightness
change.
Then press the shutter release button all the way down to take
the photograph (picture C).
If any of the physical conditions described above might prevent
autofocusing: First of all, measure the distance and exposure for
another object at about the same distance and in the same light,
and then store these values.
Important:
• The distance and exposure measurements are erased from
memory as soon as you let go of the shutter release button.
• You can repeat the measurements as often as you like before
taking a picture.
• If you keep the shutter release button pressed, as long as the
flash is not switched on, the camera will continue taking pic-
tures with a frequency of around 0.7 fps. This series exposure
mode makes it possible to record sequences of movement, for
example.
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