Luka, another nice set with the 35Lux! #3 is my favorite.
Charles, that light house shot is beautiful!
Joakim, nice winter shots, like the first one with the back lighting on the trees.
Gregory, nice set!
Robin, yes, taken in the vicinity of Chinatown Kuala Lumpur.
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Its probably not that cold here compared to Sweden but I think we have accumulate over 60 inches of snow this past few weeks in Boston. Crazy weather system.
h00ligan wrote:
Charles, your shots are making me want to visit - I'd love to live there.. simply lovely.
Gregory, I like the construction worker shadow shot.. good stuff!
Doug - I'm already past the point of feeling it's inevitable. I'll either find one used or buy new from europe though.. as it's $800 less straight away and another 700 or so in taxes saved... though I'm not sure about import duty to the us on an item of that price....
The spreadsheet is out though.. I may have to switch to ramen aside from selling on gear.
There shouldn't be import duty on photographic equipment (meaning cameras and lenses) but your state probably requires payment of a 'use tax' in place of sales tax. Of course, it's up to you to declare it. If you're doing this as a hobby, then I guess it might be easier to hide it, but I have heard of some states targeting/auditing businesses. One would expect businesses to be sales tax exempt, but that probably depends on the state.
Digital cameras are in chapter 85 and appear to be under heading 8525.80.40 and are listed as duty free. Lenses are in chapter 90. I'm not familiar with all of the codes for duty free import from specific regions, but from personal experience in Canada, lenses were also duty free (of course it might be different in the US). I'm not an expert in this matter, so you'd be best to contact the CBP for a clear answer.
The other possible concern is warranty coverage here in the Americas... Does Leica North America honor international purchases? Considering the somewhat questionable out-of-the-box consistency of the digital Ms, it could be a concern.
I'd hold out for a used camera. You should be able to get one for $5500 in reasonable condition. Leica needs to release a 9.2 to drive a fresh round of upgrades and force down the used M9 value another $1K or so. At that point for me, deciding between another M or a 1D body would be easier.
rscheffler wrote:
I'd hold out for a used camera.... Leica needs to release a 9.2 to drive a fresh round of upgrades
Amen to that. As much as I really (really) enjoyed using my buddy's M9 for a whole day, for 7k...low-res screen, poor battery life, an absolute dog of a processor, the inability to (losslessly) compress DNG in the camera, funky fringing on UWAs, plus the "bottom plate" battery/card access.
Not that the M9 isn't an absolutely seminal camera for Leica. Not that I don't want one "reeeeeal baaaaaaaaad", like a b!+$%h who wants a pony for Christmas, but...
Ron, thanks for the info! I have been looking at some used but only one person would go to $5500 and the shape it was in..well, it didn't inspire confidence. I believe second hand warranty is not honored by leica USA. I'll double check on both.
Siri, I just finished typing that exact point over on l-cam...
Leica has cut corners on screens and controllers..the m9 and x1 operational speeds should be faster and the screens should be better.
At least, most of us can agree on this point: "it's all about the glass" and on that front, everything I've touched with a li'l' Red Dot, has been very good.
Or simply, downright exceptional, in comparison to many other offerings form other manufacturers, though at a much lower price point.
A few quick snaps - the lens is looking to be quite sweet.
[through glass windows]
[through glass windows]
God of fortune on his Blackberry | Chinese New Year celebrations
Just for the bokeh | Nat's keyboard
Can anyone also share with me how to test that my M9 is calibrated well with the 90mm? What kind of test should i run ? Currently getting approximately 60-70% shots in focus without the magnifier (at f2).
KL, congratulations on the 90 Cron AA. #4 is great, that's a different kind of contrast
Gregory, nice set. I'm especially fond of the Noctilux photos, it would be really cool to try that lens some day. Anyone have a cheap copy?
KL, looks very nice! I'll defer advice on how to check focus to those who have more experience with long lenses on the M.
Nice set Gregory! I decided to pick up the CV 15mm in part due to your 12mm & 15mm photos. I've been curious about the 12 and might still get one eventually, but I got the feeling that it will be a more specialized lens than the 15 for most of the things I will encounter. Thanks for sharing.
h00ligan wrote:
Ron, thanks for the info! I have been looking at some used but only one person would go to $5500 and the shape it was in..well, it didn't inspire confidence. I believe second hand warranty is not honored by leica USA. I'll double check on both.
Leica USA might not officially cover used items under warranty but they seem to be flexible on that matter. I bought my M9 used and it's currently there because it's not keeping the correct date & time. Apparently they're replacing a circuit board and based on the paperwork I received from them, will probably be done without charge. Of course, there is no guarantee that they'll always do that.
singletrack wrote:
Can anyone also share with me how to test that my M9 is calibrated well with the 90mm? What kind of test should i run ? Currently getting approximately 60-70% shots in focus without the magnifier (at f2).
Congratulations on the lens! Nice shots too!
Two things could be wrong: rangefinder calibration and repeatability. Try taking various easy to focus subjects and focus on them repeatedly, making perhaps 15-20 shots, each time defocusing to infinity or the near limit, and then re-focusing. If there is no systematic error in one direction, it is probably just repeatability, and thus either a question for practice or for a viewfinder loupe.
Thanks RS, Very cool about you getting the 15 ASPH. I think you right about the 12 being more speailized. It's "really" "really" wide. My 15 and my M7 are with a Pal right now. He is seriously considering getting into Leica M and me thinks the alone time with the Lecia M7 35 1.4 summilux/15 4.5 ASPH will send him over the edge.
With all due respect, and I like your images, yet I thought this was a thread/repository showing Leica digital capture, as shot by an M9/M8/X1 or the like.
sirimiri wrote:
Phil, did you ever ascertain what the "deal" was with the focussing on your Heliar 15mm and (erstwhile) M8?
Thanks for remembering that issue Sirimiri,
Yes I was told that I can use it on the M8 / M9 using the focus zone method, meaning f8 and infinity @ anything past 10 feet or more. Please elaborate if you have any tips for me while using the 15mm, haven't really used it yet
Phew, the only thing I can think of is learning how to use CornerFix. People who use an M9 regularly will have better advice than me, that's for sure. jojomon11 wrote:
Please elaborate if you have any tips for me while using the 15mm...
carstenw wrote:
Congratulations on the lens! Nice shots too!
Two things could be wrong: rangefinder calibration and repeatability. Try taking various easy to focus subjects and focus on them repeatedly, making perhaps 15-20 shots, each time defocusing to infinity or the near limit, and then re-focusing. If there is no systematic error in one direction, it is probably just repeatability, and thus either a question for practice or for a viewfinder loupe.
+1
KL, very nice shots! Love the 90 Cron It is an amazing lens. Yes, test it fully, and you should be getting about 90 - 95 % keepers with good technique. The M9 and 90 Cron, must be accurately calibrated as there is a lot less leeway for error. If you are not getting the hit rate, send the lens and M9 to a service centre to be sync'ed. Although the M9 maybe fully in spec as per Leica's master calibration, but you may miss focus marginally at MFD, as the lens may just need to be tweaked within the focus zone without affecting the mid to far distances.
Gregory, very nice shots!!! Love the variety and technique.
Phil, congratulations on your M9 Love the second shot, the colours and rendering
Love the rendering of the xmas light with the 35 Lux!
