Hey guys and gals, Sorry I have been so absent lately but I have been so freak'n busy. There are some just amazing images in this thread. Work and this next Friday evening have been taking a lot of my time. Well, here's what going on this Friday and you are ALL invited http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=4e329e7d42e0074b9f0340081&id=89500e46c6&e=3adc9261b8
The following picture was taken at f/1.4 with the Summilux-35 ASPH/FLE that I picked a couple of days ago. Although I am not certain about the bokeh of this lens I couldn't resist getting it because the price as well as the lens condition were so good that I could easily sell if I end up not liking it.
What concerns me about the bokeh is particularly about shooting into the light. I believe Adam uses this lens a lot and would be interested in how he, and others, shoot with it.
M9-P | Summilux-35 FLE | ISO 160 | f/1.4 | 1/1000 sec Paris
Mitch Alland wrote:
The following picture was taken at f/1.4 with the Summilux-35 ASPH/FLE that I picked a couple of days ago. Although I am not certain about the bokeh of this lens I couldn't resist getting it because the price as well as the lens condition were so good that I could easily sell if I end up not liking it.
What concerns about the bokeh is particularly about shooting into the light. I believe Adam uses this lens a lot and would be interested in how he, and others shoot with this lens.
........
I have not shot with this lens on my M-E but decided to purchase the previous version of this lens, Lens model 11874 (35 Summilux ASPH) as I prefer its "bokeh" from that of the newest FLE version.
Mitch - I generally use the lens close up and wide open. I find that if I'm at mid distances, I'm a lot more comfortable framing with a 50. And the bokeh of 50mm lenses are usually a lot more pleasant at medium distances.
When shooting weddings, I use the 35FLE when I'm in the thick of things, or need to add a little more of the environment to my subject shots. Even with groups, I try to use the 75APO and just back up if possible.
Although at first I disliked the bokeh, the more I used the lens, the more I preferred it over the older 35ASPH. It did take a LONG time for me to feel that way though. But the colors are just so amazing, it's worth the switch. Again, not to say I don't like the 35ASPH, it's a great lens, and one of the few lenses I do regret selling.
One thing to note. I have used it to shoot architecture in cities I've visited. I find it gives me the same sort of rendering I get from the SEM lenses when I use it in that way. But of course @ 1.4, its far more flexible for night scenes.
Adam and Pandorf, thanks. I considered the previous version (Summilux-35 ASPH) but couldn't find one here in Paris — I like to see and try a lens before buying it — and the price and condition were compelling.
Also, I was impressed by Anton Kuster's book, Yakuza, which was shot entirely with the 35FLE on the M9. You can see 30 shots from the book here and a somewhat "floating" leaf-through the whole book here: Apart from the fascinating story of the book, Kuster handles the bokeh and the colors beautifully.
Not to be compared with Kuster's book I have just completed the first edit of a book project called Alone in Bangkok (95 pictures) of which you can download a pdf file of a 31-image "essay" here.
The title, “Alone in Bangkok”, echoes the English title of Hans Fallada's German wartime novel, "Alone in Berlin". As one reviewer wrote, this masterpiece has "its emphasis on the solitude in which moral choices are made".
My book reflects the current situation in Thailand whose capital, Bangkok, has grown exponentially in recent decades through migration of people from the countryside.This massive inflow has created the current economic and political upheavals in a huge, chaotic, tropical city — one that has experienced rapid economic and social change under the impact of modernization: The village mentality of personal relations and deference of the earlier traditional and static society is being transformed and eroded by the more anonymous life of a mega-city, in which the the interaction of social classes becomes less fixed and more brittle, as the position of individuals in the society can change in directions that for many people are stressful and not easily identifiable or predictable.
I visited a camera flea market today and since it is Sweden and the end of February it took place indoors and it was really crowded. Didn't find anything to buy, not even the Leica clock, but I came home with some photos.
This question might be answered long time ago, but as a new Leica M user (M9) I'd like to know what are better SD cards to use on M9 (I am currently have Sony SD cards). Thanks.
clmusic wrote:
This question might be answered long time ago, but as a new Leica M user (M9) I'd like to know what are better SD cards to use on M9 (I am currently have Sony SD cards). Thanks.
I am using both SanDisk and Lexar with my M9, not the fastest versions though with any of the brands. I have one 32 Gb card I use but the rest are 16 or 8 Gb.
joakim wrote:
I am using both SanDisk and Lexar with my M9, not the fastest versions though with any of the brands. I have one 32 Gb card I use but the rest are 16 or 8 Gb.
I have just completed the first edit of a book project called Alone in Bangkok (95 pictures) of which you can download a pdf file of a 31-image "essay" 
