Bobu wrote:
Charles and Ron, I agree that the ZM18 is probably not the best lens to start. The M8 is probably much easier to use with a normal lens like a 50mm. But the ZM18 is the only lens I could get at the moment.
These are the delivery times of the other lenses I would like to get:
ZM50 or ZM35: 2-4 weeks
ZM25: 2-3 month
Lux50: 6-9 month
I also agree with Lukas description where the M9 fits. But if it had liveview (and a better display) nearly all of its shortcomings where solved and it could be used as a high IQ, yet lightweight and small, alternative to a DSLR.
Its ok for me to buy a 1500€ camera (used M8) and mostly use it for walking around and taking some nice snapshots. But when I spend 5500€ on a body (M9) it has to fulfill all my needs.
Boris, have a look at some of the second hand lenses, as there are numerous ones available. You might have to be flexible as to what is available too. This is how I started, then figuring out the lense that worked well for the M9 and me. The ones that didn't I divorced pretty quickly
Luka, a belated thank you for posting your summary of the ZM 18 and the 100% crop, which I agree is very impressive. It reinforces one of the reasons I decided to try the M system - for the great wide angle lens options.
Thanks Charles - love the feel of the last set!
Thanks Joe - likewise for your last set - are you achieving that look entirely in Lightroom or are you doing additional PS work?
Joe, I have seen some strange issues here as well at several occasions. Just the other day I looked at a post in the Zeiss thread that had 3 photos but I'm pretty sure there was only 2 the first time I read the post, I also had a post of mine disappear one time. I'm using Safari on a Mac but I'm pretty convinced that this is some kind of issue on the server and not related to what browser you are using.
joe88 wrote:
KL, nice hand-held exposures at 1/12s. I haven't tried the blips and bloops for the shutter release. Does it really make a difference?
Boris, congrats on the M8 and ZM18. Very nice details on #1 & 2. Looking forward to seeing more of your pics with the other ZM lenses as well.
Tx. I think it does - using the minirelease, I can use the soft/chubby bits of my finger (As described by Tom at his site "For slow exposures you "hook" the finger over the Softie - using the second joint to squeeze it down") instead of having to 'jab' at the shutter release. This does help with reducing vibration.
Bobu wrote:
Charles and Ron, I agree that the ZM18 is probably not the best lens to start. The M8 is probably much easier to use with a normal lens like a 50mm. But the ZM18 is the only lens I could get at the moment.
These are the delivery times of the other lenses I would like to get:
ZM50 or ZM35: 2-4 weeks
ZM25: 2-3 month
Lux50: 6-9 month
I also agree with Lukas description where the M9 fits. But if it had liveview (and a better display) nearly all of its shortcomings where solved and it could be used as a high IQ, yet lightweight and small, alternative to a DSLR.
Its ok for me to buy a 1500€ camera (used M8) and mostly use it for walking around and taking some nice snapshots. But when I spend 5500€ on a body (M9) it has to fulfill all my needs.
I don't really understand the problem. You don't like the camera now and hope's the next one (m10?) will be more to your liking?
The leica M's are like this for many years now and I don't think (and hope) they will change it in the next future.
I'm really surprised there are many new M shooters here who think its the M9 is a small 5D and are disappointed with it. The M isn't a small SLR! Really nice camera and has many advantages over the slr's, but also some disadvantages. It can do most of the things a slr does, but sometimes not as good.
If it does not do the thinks you like (shooting mainly from a tripod) you're better of with a slr.
A 5D with 2 or 3 lenses can also be fitted in a shoulder bag and are good to take along. There is not that much difference in size and weight. My M8 with 18/3.8 SE, UV/IR filter and 18/24 finder is just as high and heavy as my canon slr with 24/2.8.
#1 & 3 was SilverEfex Pro for the burn and dodge. #2 was entirely LR3.
Very nice set Charles! I'll gravitate towards the B&W white shots for this one. Great shot & tones on #2 and I like the last one as well! This Elmarit 28 Asph seems do to very well in B&W. Did you take some pics with the 28Cron for comparison?
Daniel, nice shots with the 28/2 Ultron. Would be interesting to see how you find this lens as I was thinking of getting one but was worried of the focus shift.
Joakim, nice B&W, I'm guessing this is the 35CronIV?
singletrack
Tx. I think it does - using the minirelease, I can use the soft/chubby bits of my finger (As described by Tom at his site "For slow exposures you "hook" the finger over the Softie - using the second joint to squeeze it down") instead of having to 'jab' at the shutter release. This does help with reducing vibration.
Thanks, I'll probably give it a try.. could be one of the cheapest accessory on the M list
Bijltje wrote:
I don't really understand the problem. You don't like the camera now and hope's the next one (m10?) will be more to your liking?
The leica M's are like this for many years now and I don't think (and hope) they will change it in the next future.
I'm really surprised there are many new M shooters here who think its the M9 is a small 5D and are disappointed with it. The M isn't a small SLR! Really nice camera and has many advantages over the slr's, but also some disadvantages. It can do most of the things a slr does, but sometimes not as good.
If it does not do the thinks you like (shooting mainly from a tripod) you're better of with a slr.
A 5D with 2 or 3 lenses can also be fitted in a shoulder bag and are good to take along. There is not that much difference in size and weight. My M8 with 18/3.8 SE, UV/IR filter and 18/24 finder is just as high and heavy as my canon slr with 24/2.8....Show more →
I will try to explain my thoughts. I was looking for a replacement for my two Sigma DP1 with slightly higher resolution and a bit more flexibility regarding the focal length choices. I like manual focus (which I used even with the DP1 pretty often). And l like the rendering of most of the Zeiss lenses and of several of the Leica lenses (for example 50Lux, 75Cron, 90Cron). I will use this camera handheld for street photography (like my night market images of Thailand shot with the DP1), family images (mainly portraits) and on a tripod for landscape images on weekend trips or business trips, where I don't want to carry the DSLR equipment.
If possible I would like to have IQ comparable to the 5DII. There are not many choices at the moment that fullfill my needs. What I would like is a compact FF camera with a good display, liveview and the possibility to use M-lenses.
The M8/M9 has at least good IQ, the compacts size and you have the choice of good Zeiss and Leica lenses. That's the reason I bought the M8. Does this explanation makes any sense to you? What would you recommend instead?
joe88 wrote:
Daniel, nice shots with the 28/2 Ultron. Would be interesting to see how you find this lens as I was thinking of getting one but was worried of the focus shift.
I have not noticed any focus shift, I've not had any problem focusing with this lens, even in dim situations shooting wide open.
The reason I am going to replace it with the summicron is because I'm just not satisfied with the lenses optical performance, particularly in the corners. You can't see it in the photos posted because they have been downsized a lot and sharpened a tad, but on a medium sized print I think the soft corners would be noticeable. Even at f8 or f11 the corners are still noticeably soft. Aside from the soft corners, everything else about the lens is just fine! It would probably be a very good lens on an M8, where the corners would not be visible on the sensor. But on the M9 or film M, the corners are noticeably soft
The summicron is more expensive than I would like to pay for any lens in any format, but 28mm is the focal length I'll be using most often (it's the lens that stays on the camera most of the time), and I don't plan on having more than two lenses for the M (a 28, and 50), so if I'm going to pay good money for a lens, it might as well be the 28 that I'll be using most often.
Some snapshots from today (M8 with ZM18). The ZM18 seems to be pretty sharp, even wide open. In high contrast situations (for example tree branches against the sky) there are some traces of CA, but altogether this is a very good lens, at least on a crop sensor.
