Bobu wrote:
The MTF charts are measured at/near infinity, I've tested at 2m, which is far from infinity. Therefore you can not directly compare my result with these MTF charts.
Boris, that's true and given that the 100 MP is a macro lens with floating elements, one would expect it to be more optimized for close up use. However that doesn't change the fact that the 90 AA crops you provided look weak - at f/2 but especially at f/5.6.
I've used the 90 AA with tubes as a macro lens on a NEX. And sure when you stack them up to reduce the MFD to 10-20 cm, there is definitely a drop in contrast. It's pushing the lens too far. I have however not noticed any dramatic changes in quality in the 1-10m region compared to infinity.
Makten wrote:
Nope, I'm not paying 200 Euros for that, so I use Cornerfix. It means that I can correct the cyan shift without correcting vignetting, which I don't want to do. I also don't use an UV/IR filter.
€200? Why? You can use a marker pen to do the coding. Or if you want to make it more permanent, just dremel it. I've done it on my Zeiss ZM lenses:
denoir wrote:
€200? Why? You can use a marker pen to do the coding. Or if you want to make it more permanent, just dremel it. I've done it on my Zeiss ZM lenses:
Sure, but I'm not rich enough to lower the resale value of an $1800 lens by using a Dremel.
And I still don't want correction for luminance falloff since the M8 sensor is way too noisy for that. I bought a CV 28/1.9 with the camera that was coded as a Summicron, and the corners looked terrible at everything above ISO 320.
I find Cornerfix to be a very good solution that is fast and seems to do everything I want. Next step is to make a better overall color profile for ACR and perhaps buy an UV/IR filter.
@ Charles - thanks for the diopter tip… Lovely 24 Lux shot!
@ Thanks, LL. Great shots with the Noct .95! I like the first one best.
@ Henrik - will check out camera shops in town for diopters. Thanks! I hope the one camera shop here in town with very minimal Leica inventory have some diopters for me to try out.
Steve and Ty, thanks
Boris, comparing with the same LR PP'ing settings for the 90 AA and 100MP, may not be comparing on the same level. I have noticed the RAW file output from the M9, for want of a better description, it appears subdued. The fine detail and subtly is still there, and is easily developed with further PP'ing. With my now older 5DII/100MP files, I don't have the latitude or the detail there available for PP'ing without introducing artefacts. Of course, the comparison here are with two brilliant lenses. In reading the forums, and my experience, the forte of the 90AA is the mid to far for sharpness and detail, and the MFD is great for portraits, so long as the focus calibration is spot on.
charles.K wrote:
Luka, cool usage graph I have to say mine went from 95% 5DII, to 1 -2% after the M9!
Just another follow up from the other day, the composition overlay tool, by PhiMatix has now incorporated root, 2, 3, 4 and 5 rectangles for design and composition. I spoke to Gary from PhiMatrix, and he has now incorporated this feature in the program.
More shots from last night 24 Lux
These shots are absolutely amazing. I was offline for a few days so I couldn't comment on them earlier. Thank you for sharing.
h00ligan wrote:
Do youreally use your non Leica glass anymore? Seems like most of what you post these days is Leica. Narly a total convert?!?
Well, yes and no.
The ZM 18/4 gets regular exercise - I really like it. The only disadvantage is that it requires an external viewfinder.
I use the ZM 35/2 for stopped down landscape shots - it's the only 35mm lens that I've used that I consider to really excel in that department. The 35 Lux is however more useful - it's much better wide open, has a larger max aperture and is still very good for landscapes. So when I don't feel like carrying around two 35's, I go for the Lux.
The ZM 25/2.8 doesn't see much use because I prefer the rendering of the 28 Cron which I can use without an external viewfinder.
I don't use the ZM 50/1.5 much as the 50 Lux ASPH is much better in every respect. The only advantage is that it's much smaller and lighter - but that doesn't make up for the optical shortcomings.
It's funny you should mention it though, because I did actually take the 50/1.5 for a spin the other day. I had not used it for months and I thought I'd try it out again. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the results though so I did not bother to post anything. However, here are some of those shots:
I think in a way the 50 Sonnar makes more sense on a NEX than on an M. It can produce interesting bokeh, but you really need live view in order to be able to include it in the composition. On the M9 it becomes too unpredictable - sometimes interesting and sometimes just busy.
Having said that, I the ZM 50/1.5 was one of the first lenses that I got for the M9 and when I look at the first sets I took, I'm pretty pleased with what I see. It was a new camera and a new lens and it really inspired me. The shots above would not have been redeemed by the use of a 50 Lux. So I'll take inspiration over a good lens any day. Of course, the best thing is inspiration and a good lens
As a contrast to the first compositionally stronger set and the colorful but pointless second set, here's something a bit different. I've tried to capture some of the Swedish late fall gloom. It gets dark very early, the ground is covered by dead leaves and there are few people outside...
Luka, what is the strange banding in the upper right of the last shot?
Regarding the zeiss fifty, I'm clearly not as picky. Those shots look great.
I am at a point now where I have four l lenses and one non l lens, if I am still feeling the way I do at present with the 5 d I am going to say screw it and buy an m9. But I will be limited to a 2-3 lens kit and maybe one will be a Leica lens, so I'm really going back through this thread now.
Anyway 5d2 gets a bit more time, but honestly when out shooting with the 35L I was discouraged at how soft the corners are even stopped down.
Also, complaining about good gear helps me justify the unthinkable!
Luka, I think you captured the mood of the season and the gloomy weather really well. Lets hope for something else to capture soon or else we'll have to resort to the summer pictures from our mates down under that I'm sure will start arriving anytime now
Since there are some Summilux 24 shooters here, please allow me to ask a question in this thread:
I got myself a Summilux 24 last week and want to use a neutral density filter and my Singh Ray polarizing filter (thread 77 mm) with this lens at the same time. Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution for this problem.
I understand that I could buy a series VII neutral density filter.
Furthermore, I could get the Leica 14479 filter holder which I would have to attach on the lens after unscrewing the lens hood. As the filter holder has a diameter of 72 mm, I would have to buy a step-up ring (72 mm to 77 mm) to use my existing polarizing filter.
Seems quite complicated to me but would be my choice if there are no other options.
What I don't understand is how I could use the neutral density filter (series VII) AND the polarizing filter (77 mm) at the same time. I assume this is not possible at all because the 14479 filter holder only fits if the lens hood is unscrewed and the lens hood is needed to hold the series VII filter.
It is my understanding that the only solution for using both filters would be to get the filter holder 14479, the step-up ring and a neutral density filter 77 mm. Then I could attach the neutral density filter to the polarizing filter and screw them onto the filter holder. I don't like that because sometimes I want to use the lens with the neutral density filter and without the polarizing filter. Using the lens with the filter holder and a neutral density filter 77 mm makes it very large though. To avoid this I would have to get the series VII neutral density filter for sole use. Very complicated and another item to carry.
I love the Summilux 24 but it is a shame that Leica doesn't offer the lens with a "normal" mount for the use of filters.
Is someone aware of a better solution or can make some recommendations?
Luka/Joakim; today my colleague and me said to each other at lunch break that it feels like living in a Roy Andersson movie... Today was a very grey day. The color slider for Sweden was set down to roughly 20%.
Charles; I love the way you work that 24 and I prefer it to the 28 Cron. I miss Currumbin beach, I've been there a few times and it almost always looks nice.
seekuh wrote:
Since there are some Summilux 24 shooters here, please allow me to ask a question in this thread:
I got myself a Summilux 24 last week and want to use a neutral density filter and my Singh Ray polarizing filter (thread 77 mm) with this lens at the same time. Unfortunately, I haven't found a solution for this problem.
I understand that I could buy a series VII neutral density filter.
Furthermore, I could get the Leica 14479 filter holder which I would have to attach on the lens after unscrewing the lens hood. As the filter holder has a diameter of 72 mm, I would have to buy a step-up ring (72 mm to 77 mm) to use my existing polarizing filter.
Seems quite complicated to me but would be my choice if there are no other options.
What I don't understand is how I could use the neutral density filter (series VII) AND the polarizing filter (77 mm) at the same time. I assume this is not possible at all because the 14479 filter holder only fits if the lens hood is unscrewed and the lens hood is needed to hold the series VII filter.
It is my understanding that the only solution for using both filters would be to get the filter holder 14479, the step-up ring and a neutral density filter 77 mm. Then I could attach the neutral density filter to the polarizing filter and screw them onto the filter holder. I don't like that because sometimes I want to use the lens with the neutral density filter and without the polarizing filter. Using the lens with the filter holder and a neutral density filter 77 mm makes it very large though. To avoid this I would have to get the series VII neutral density filter for sole use. Very complicated and another item to carry.
I love the Summilux 24 but it is a shame that Leica doesn't offer the lens with a "normal" mount for the use of filters.
Is someone aware of a better solution or can make some recommendations?...Show more →
I have the same issue with the 18 SE with also takes a filter holder, only with 77mm thread.
My choice would be a lee filter system. So you can quickly add and remove filter and you can, by taking off the filter holder and holding it before your eye, see what the effect is from the polafilter.
– How does the M9 work with long exposures? My M8 drains the battery very quickly when the post-exposure noise reduction kicks in, which you cannot turn off. At ~10°C I can't take more than like 5 images with 5-15 seconds exposure time before a newly charged battery just dies. I works flawlessly for short exposures, so I suspect it's the NR that consumes A LOT of power after the actual image is taken.
I'm asking because I'm once again considering an M9 since I like the M8 so much that I don't use the D700 anyway. But at this time of year the M8 is almost unusable without a tripod because of the terrible noise and unusable WITH a tripod because of the above issue with long exposures. I really like how easy it is to focus in low light and I don't mind the lack of live view for now.
