zhangyue wrote:
+1 Great shots again.
Edward, you really find your camera I feel the passion from your photos. I especially like the smiles from those kids. Beautiful, bring smile on my face.
Thank you very much Zhangyue! I think it's rather my camera found me
I was very touched when I was shooting these photos, practically walking through their homes, and they were welcoming and cheerful despite the poverty. Amazing people.
Love your last set by the way. The symmetry of the first 2 shots, yet counterbalanced with the people. The third one is outstanding.
Ron, love the play of light with the CN Tower and building. The 28Cron version is my favorite but I might be biased towards the 28Cron The photowalk set is also excellent. Actually I can learn a lot by just observing your post, always stellar.
Edward, is that guy riding a bike on a sidewalk? More excellent shots. #1, 2 & 6 are my favorites on the first set. The sets with the ZM35/2 are superb, especially the first 3 shots and the shots of kids on the bicycle(s). The demeanor of those people and kids is really touching and you captured them well.
Michael, very nice set with the ZM21. Last one is my favorite from the first set. I actually find the motion blur on #3 interesting, with the dark tones and movement making me wonder what's going on. The door shot on the last post is also excellent, resembling someone's eyes and mouth?
wstam, nice shots of the dragon and temple! zhangyue wrote:
Now question for you guys, I use 'soft' setting, even with that, I feel I need push it quite hard to fire,(make the images easily get blur) however, if I use timer, a light touch is enough to fire the shutter. Do you guys have the same feeling? or my M9 need some service?
The sound is also loud compare NEX7 I had. What a pity. Leica's shutter is no longer discrete even compare to most P&S camera. I think HCB won't use Leica M on street.
I wonder M240 has any improvement on this?
I use discrete in quiet settings; shoot, bring the camera down, maybe inside a jacket or camera bag to damp the shutter re cock, else I use the normal shooting mode mostly. Never tried the soft mode. I was equally disappointed with my NEX7 shutter sound, still too loud. Hope the M240 is much quieter. You might want to check out the Sony RX1, its even quieter than a film M and it doesn't give up much in terms of IQ to the M9, except maybe the lack of RF focusing and discrete distance scale for zone focusing. If Sony could implement a snap focus function or a memory setting for manual focus on the RX1 (similar to the Ricoh GR), I'm prepared to ditch my M9 for street shooting since I use the 35FL most often.. but the Monochrom, that's a different story
Thank you very much Joe! The motorcycle was in a walking street, but it is common in Bangkok for motorcycles to drive on sidewalks.
As for the M9 stiff shutter button, it seems to be more common with the M9P and most recent M9 batches. The way to avoid movement IMO is to keep the index completely flat in horizontal position. This way I actually can't feel any resistance point in the shutter button.
edwardkaraa wrote:
As for the M9 stiff shutter button, it seems to be more common with the M9P and most recent M9 batches. The way to avoid movement IMO is to keep the index completely flat in horizontal position. This way I actually can't feel any resistance point in the shutter button.
+ 1 Trough I can't really feel any difference between the M8 and my M9P.
If pressing the button gets to hard to keep the camera still I think it might need a good clean. The leica's I used didn't feel that way.
Bijltje wrote:
+ 1 Trough I can't really feel any difference between the M8 and my M9P.
If pressing the button gets to hard to keep the camera still I think it might need a good clean. The leica's I used didn't feel that way.
Edward, I think you put it right than my description. It exact like you said, I always feel the resistance, I can't remember it is behave the same as this before. But it is definitely start concern me with hand shake. Nikon D700 has slap but I don't need to push it hard so at least I can concentrate with holding camera during shooting. But leica is become part of whole image capture process as you really need push it.
Bijltje, you might be right that my camera is due for CLA. which I just did 4 month ago. I don't feel it concern me like this before, and I can hold my 90mm at 1/30sh to get decent results before.
Edward, excellent street images. Great to showcase how good the ZM 35/2 can perform. Love the warm, indirect lighting in these shots
Ron, love your WA shots with the 21 SEM. Nice comparisons with the 50 and 75 Lux
Michael, the shot of your kids in the field of flowers is wonderful! Nice images on p641 too I have found the M9P is marginally harder to depress, than my older M9(now sold), and I do use the discreet mode for night shots, as it forces me to change my technique. The M-M has the best shutter release, very smooth and light
Ron, loving the abstracts lately, especially the use of bokeh and shadows on the last page.
Edward, keep them coming!
zhangyue, love everything on the last 2 pages from you, especially the light shining through the crack in the door.
And now for something completely different. I bought a Nikon AIS to Leica M adapter so I could use my 8mm fisheye on the MM. Obviously no focus or finder, but infinity focus is just past 1m and I've found over the years that the best way to compose is to worry about where your feet are planted and where the centre of the lens is pointed. It also has built in yellow, orange and red filters, so it's perfect for the MM.
Insanely sharp @ f11, which is great because I was worried about tolerances on the adapter.
Robert, my M9 has a noticeable 3 stops shutter detents, with the hardest one when you take the shot. If you put it on soft, it gets slightly better, but not as good as it was on my M6 and Zeiss Ikons. However placing my index flat on the camera top plate reduces the resistance quite a lot.
Here's a photo taken by Helimat during our photo outing. It shows what I'm talking about
Zhangyue, wow! What a lovely shot of your kids and the classic rendering of the lens is amazing.
Charles, thank you so much for your comments. Definitely the ZM 35 is a great performer even wide open.
Ryan, thanks for the comments. Appreciated! What a front heavy set up, but the photos are worth it. Very nicely executed.
Sebboh - thanks a lot for your filter experience.
As it happens I took delivery today of a CV 90/3.5 APO, sold here by dpap1978. It came with a B+W 39mm UV+IR filter. I tried it on my Cron 50 Type 4 and it fits, so problem solved - I just have to swap the filter between lenses!
Edward - far from being boring or repetitive, your Bangkok street shots have immense pathos and to me they speak of the dignity of the human spirit. As somebody posted, you seem to be able to make the subjects relax. Such a series could be the subject of a book. Some of my favourites: p639 2nd shot, 641#7(1, 3, 5), 641#10 (2, 3), 641#17 (1, 3)
The M9 and those Zeiss wides give such wonderfully saturated colours and typical Zeiss crispness.
Ron - I love those buoy shots and greatly prefer the Lux, however my preference is purely academic
Airfrogusmc (Allen) thanks for the rocking comment I love your hospital doctor portrait.
Ryan - p639 2nd portrait is wonderful
Zhangyue - focus with those three shots was based on my judgement of the fixed distance (3m) and I just got lucky!
I have always found the shots of your kids wonderful, as I do many of your Chinese coast /waterway scenes
Winston - take more temple dragon photos please
Charles.K - love many of your MM and M9 shots
...I am riding my motorbike with friends this weekend and I hope to have portrait and other opportunities to use my 50 Cron during our overnight stay in the NSW Snowy Mountain region.
edwardkaraa wrote:
Robert, my M9 has a noticeable 3 stops shutter detents, with the hardest one when you take the shot. If you put it on soft, it gets slightly better, but not as good as it was on my M6 and Zeiss Ikons. However placing my index flat on the camera top plate reduces the resistance quite a lot.
I tried it again today and noticed I also have my indexfinger flat on the shutter. I also don't use the tip of my finger but the first Sesamoid bone (hop this is the good translation) making it really easy to press the shutter.
Using the top of my finger really makes it harder to press the shutter.
zhangyue wrote:
Bijltje, you might be right that my camera is due for CLA. which I just did 4 month ago. I don't feel it concern me like this before, and I can hold my 90mm at 1/30sh to get decent results before.
In 4 months it should not get so dirty. Edwards flat finger technique () might be the trick
90mm at 1/30 sounds good to me.
Thanks for comment, guys. I think I have been using flat finger technique on and off for a while. If I really concern about shake, use 2s timer whenever it is possible before I send in my M9 Again, since my 50lux is off in mid range again.
Now a new question: I tested my 50mm lens on hand yesterday lunchtime. I bought another 50cron Rigid during recent camera fair. since it is even earlier with different focus ring. more prettier, similar with DR version. I will upload a pic for both of them to make it clear later.
I notice: with 1M range,focus is about right. Infinity is also about right. (my lux always slightly pass infinity even after adjust from Leica NJ) but 3M range, all of them back focused. Is that possible? I think it might lead to body problem since all three lens have similar behavior. Any comments?
One thing might interesting you is I almost get exact performance between two 50cron, That is definite something you want expect from Leica. You expect almost exact performance even after 50 year. What a impressive quality control.
I also confirm that 50lux is incredible sharp infinity. sharper than 50cron at f2. I see alias/moire WO on the roof infinity within 12mm cycle. That is match their published MTF. but not in 1M range, it has about the same sharpness as my 50cron. Both 50cron rigid is also very good center at f2, has moire in center as well at f2, but only 4-5mm cycle. At f5.6-f8, they are slightly worse than 50lux overall(very minor), but at 3/4 frame 50lux FC dip zone, 50cron actually better.
To surmise a little based on my personal experience along with Ron's feedback, if you think 50lux can do wonder WO during normal shooting,(.7-2M range portrait) you will be disappointed. it will not perform much better than 50 sonnar, pre-ASPH or even sharp 1.4 lens from other manufacture. Unless you shoot f1.4 landscape or do art reproduction in dark museum. its in focus plane seems cover 10-12mm cycle, bigger than most lens I have, that is huge plus to me. it also has very smooth Bokeh, smoother than almost any other lens I have seen.
I feel its outstanding performance really show up with the distance increased. so it will be very good after 3M range give you nice isolation and low light performance. a MedFomat look. I also like its Bokeh at that range much better since it give a little more background shape than blur blur and blur.
Ryan, another exotic lens from you. It is a incredible setup. Love that flare.
Airfrog, nice portrait!
Edward, love to see you in action. That is very 3D. must be from some fancy glass!
Winston, Another wonderful BW.
lenticular, thank you
Allen, very nice portrait!
Edward, caught in the act
Winston, nice image from Jakarta harbour.
Michael, wonderful images! The colours and composition are amazing
Zhangyue, thanks! Nice portrait of the kids and architectural shots esp no. 1 and 2.
Ryan - artistic fisheye shot! Love photo #1!
Edward - nice to see you in action
airfrogusmc - good shot of the doctor
Charles - many thanks, Sir!
I feel the passion from your photos. I especially like the smiles from those kids. Beautiful, bring smile on my face. 
The photowalk set is also excellent. Actually I can learn a lot by just observing your post, always stellar.
I love your hospital doctor portrait.
