Ron, thought I recognized Cathedral of our Lady of Angels. All your LA shots are bringing back wonderful memories of my many trips to LA.
All these wonderful images all you folks are posting makes me glad I am busy with school, it would take a lot of effort to match what you are all posting.
Rene, although photographs of tethered boats on a placid lake abound, I never tire of seeing good ones, and yours is a good one.
Ron, the weather in Toronto may have been dreary, but you captured it beautifully. After all, we can't all live at the beach. I really like your Hop Louie shot. What a nice mixture of colors and textures! Great job with the architectural geometric shots, as well. I keep vacillating about use of the EVF, but so far, I find that for me, at least, it diminishes the "Leica experience."
Vince, your shots with the Petzval are intriguing, but stop it! What I don't need is another lens; Piper needs dog food.
Thanks to everyone for making this a most interesting thread.
Cuong - it's only inevitable to want more glass. IIRC, you have a 35 Lux, so maybe 21 or 24 is more logical than 28? As luck would have it, the 21/3.4 and 24/3.8 are two of the best 'bargains' available from Leica, especially now that the new 2.4 Summarit lenses have considerably increased in price. Both lenses are superb, if a bit slow. I don't find it so much of a problem with the 21 and it's no hindrance if primarily shooting outside in reasonable light. Alternatively, you could consider the ZM 25/2.8. It's also a fantastic lens. Super sharp and you can probably find it used for under ~$850. Or you could buy it new from Japan for around the same amount. The hassle with the system is that wider than ~24mm and you're looking at an external finder, too. And the Leica ones are very expensive. Here's where the M240 and EVF are a better solution, IMO. One external finder for all, with exact framing.
Maybe a nice shopping trip somewhere with your wife (and daughter)? You know, Tokyo is really nice with the USD exchange rate right now. Some good deals at the camera shops too, however, unfortunately not on Leica. But you can save 20-30% on Zeiss and Voigtlander compared to US retail. But if you want Leica, then a detour through Hong Kong. Apparently you can get the 21SEM for ~$2200 USD new: http://forum.hklfc.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=163535&extra=page%3D1
Anyways, I'm kind of joking as I realize you're going to be occupied with other things in the near future.
Great work with the 90AA at such a slow shutter speed! I already run into problems under 1/250 if I'm not careful.
Charlie - yes, thank you!! I remember that video from somewhere. You're absolutely right, we just need to find someone to make a few of those tubes. Heck, even one that we could mail around to each other as the need arises.
Joakim - love the rendering and for some reason I get a bit of a nostalgic feeling from these. Not really sure why.
Robert - thanks! Unfortunately I ran out of time and didn't get very far south through downtown.
Robert (relms) - thanks! I agree about the EVF, but for static building details, and similar, it works OK. It does the job and I end up taking just one or two images rather than 'composition bracketing' with an OVF to be sure I have what I want. But for anything with people moving around, fluid situations, etc., then it's RF & OVF. When I'm shooting fluid scenes with the 21 and wider, I don't even bother with an external finder and guestimate framing. Even with the EVF, if it's 50mm and wider, I tend to focus with the RF and then compose with the EVF. Only with the 90 do I tend to double check focus in the EVF for peace of mind (and lately with the 50 Lux too because it came back from Leica back focusing).
^ Ron, I blame my GAS on your (and other's) super images
I know that it is not easy to take great photos with wide angle lenses. People here are very talent! I have a very nice Leica elmarit-r 19mm V2 but I hardly use it because I must use liveview to avoid mirror clearance issue on my Df. I always tell myself I have enough lenses, no more buying but each lens has its own character that I want to explore (my excuse to buy more gear again ).
Please talk me out that 21SEM. It is so nice and the price is great too
Cuong, you could probably trade the 19R close to even for a 21SEM. But I'd bet the character/rendering will be different. Think of how much more you might use it, because it's so small and light.
But I do think it's an easier lens to use on an M240 because of the live view/EVF option. Well, you could actually buy an R to M adapter and use the 19 on your M9. Just get the (pricy) Zeiss 18mm finder (or a 21 finder might also be OK). You'll have to zone focus and possibly shim the adapter for infinity (depending on brand and how well it is made).
Thanks Ron for your suggestion. The 19R has nice rendering and more classic compared to the 21SEM (from the samples I see). I may wait for a bit longer till I can afford it or another M lens. I should spend more time to learn about the system and to improve my skill
Lieutenant Z wrote:
Edward, Uhoh7, Ron, Robert thanks for kind words and encouragement to buy the M. Actually what I need to be a better photographer is talent and not sure the M can help me... -)
Robert, the biker set is superb, like all of them but #2 is my fav.
Yeah it can. Here's how... If you buy the M and find a lot of joy from using it, and are more incline to take it out. You'll A) get more practice and B) when you're having fun doing something, you don't overthink it as much, and generally end up producing results you enjoy.
clmusic, gorgeous shot with the AA and excellent PP
Edward, wow the signature of the Sonnar is really something, especially in your first shot
Sorry, I need to amend my earlier comment after watching that video. It took one tube tool and one screw to fix my lens. It was gone 7 almost 8 weeks.
Oh jesus I hate Leica repair times. That's 3 weeks per screw Edward
Ron - Just to elaborate, it's just out of warranty this month (unless Leica doesn't count the 3 months it spent away that one time). It's my original 50APO not the replacement (which I have sold, after the original came back the second or third time). Anyway, it was just wobbling a bit at the base where the aperture DOF scale is. Also, the aperture ring and lens hood were really loose. Focusing was tight, but had a slight kink around 1.2m which got really annoying. It also light dust inside somehow.
To be fair, I've used it almost 99% of the time. It's a daily user and also a work lens. HOWEVER, it's been away 4 times for a minimum of 6 weeks and a max of 16 weeks.
Seems that the only thing they fixed this trip was the wobble in the base (DOF scale part), I'm a bit annoyed. Since clearly it could have been done by me, the techs here, or anyone else with a sun-glass hut cleaning kit which includes a tiny screw driver
As I said in the PM, sometimes items go to Germany, and come back without so much as being looked at. I guess that's the issue with only having one semi-competent service centre, to service the world over. #wishingleicahadaservicecentreineverymajorcity
Some oldies with the 21sem. I've been wanting to downsize my stuff but maybe this isn't the right one to sell, I bonded really well with it in the last trip.
Adam, one has to wonder what a single trip to DAG would have done for your APO. What a nightmare. I would never send a lens to them. Shutter or sensor, I think you have no choice.
Rocky, all are great, but #2 is outstanding to me. I find SEM 21 great partner to a good 35
rirakuma - Yeah you shouldn't sell.. Great images!
uhoh7 - I'm starting to think I should teach myself how to repair lenses. Maybe I'll start with something a little less pricey though And yes surprisingly the Q looks good. Will check it out tomorrow if I have time.
joakim - So yeah, you're practically using the Q right there, with all those clean high iso files and that 28mm.. I somehow suspect that you're getting sharper results though.
adamdewilde wrote:
rirakuma - Yeah you shouldn't sell.. Great images!
uhoh7 - I'm starting to think I should teach myself how to repair lenses. Maybe I'll start with something a little less pricey though And yes surprisingly the Q looks good. Will check it out tomorrow if I have time.
joakim - So yeah, you're practically using the Q right there, with all those clean high iso files and that 28mm.. I somehow suspect that you're getting sharper results though.
Yeah, the Q is of more academic interest to me. I find it interesting how much this camera will tell us about the future of M series and what if any of the DNA of the Q will be in the next iteration of the M or if it is even so that it is the Q that is the future but with interchangeable lenses. Hopefully Leica will not abandon the rangefinder, maybe to parallel series with a more expensive M and a less expensive Q where the Q also takes M lenses.
On a very, very different topic (well a little rangefinder related actually), I am trying to use my right eye for focusing instead of the left that I have always used but I am progressing slowly. I find it much harder to see the patch and the frame lines and the whole focusing process is much slower. Anyone else that has done the change, any tips?
Right eye selfie from this morning, Monochrom-2, ZM 50 Planar + orange filter
I like how the big L carefully let the 246 out of the bag, and I think they sold quite a few (it looks fantastic, of course); and now the Q. Looks to be a brilliant reporters machine, and nothing on earth is more versatile than a fast 28: it does everything
Charlie - thanks - great colors again.
Rocky - excellent set! My favourite is the one of the kids fishing. The 21 SEM is such a great performer especially considering the price.
Joakim - love the tones of the first in particular. Nice selfie. I tend to shoot right-eyed with the M - it feels more comfortable/natural, due to the viewfinder position. But my left eye is better for critical focusing and I will use it instead in such situations.
I agree the Q looks really promising. Both in itself and as Joakim mentioned, as a possible preview of future M capabilities. If it takes off, I could see Leica release versions in other focal lengths. 50mm would be logical. Maybe also 35mm. Or, they could go the Fuji route with add-on lenses. But that doesn't seem Leica-like. And will certainly add to the overall size.
We should also amend this thread's title to include the Q camera! I guess Paul has to do that.
To coincidentally continue in the 28mm spirit, here are a bunch all with the 28 Cron:
Still in LA, this time around the Ahmanson Theatre and Mark Taper Forum.
I really like your Hop Louie shot. What a nice mixture of colors and textures! Great job with the architectural geometric shots, as well. I keep vacillating about use of the EVF, but so far, I find that for me, at least, it diminishes the "Leica experience."
).
Monochrom-2 with 28 cron and an orange filter.
