Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
p.247 #1Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Boris, I tried the 35 Nokton too and also returned it for exactly the same reason....very soft outside dead center. I found it pretty much not useable until about f/2.8. It looked so bad to me that it seemed like there was really something wrong with the lens. I had the 35 Cron ASPH at the time and the differences were night and day.
Apr 20, 2011 at 02:05 PM
p.247 #2Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
joe88 wrote:
Ron, wonderful color shots from you, as always. Have you been using the CV15 lately? What are your thoughts so far?
Hi Joe,
I have not used it much since I find 21mm is suitable for most of my wide needs.
My issue with the CV15 on the M9 is primarily the heavy color shift and vignetting. When I first got it I experimented with a number of coding options, and I would have to look through those to see which worked best. But because I wanted to ID it with the closest possible EXIF focal length, I coded it as the Tri-Elmar, which apparently is not necessarily the best option. Anyway, I made some Cornerfix profiles for it, but those have resulted in OK fixes, but not perfect, and given certain subject matter, reveal uneven color across the image. Also the strength of the vignetting, means that CF opens up the borders of the image significantly, resulting in a lot of noise, but also greatly changes the character of the files. I always end up adding vignetting back in through LR. I wish CF would allow only color shift correction and not vignetting correction for the batch process, but even in single file adjustment, my CV15 profile looked really bad when trying to only fix the color shift.
At the moment I use it when I need really wide, and if it's a darker environment where the vignetting and color shift can be masked, such as some indoor use, it works quite well. Otherwise I might just use it for B&W applications.
It's been some time since I've looked at my initial test images with it, and in hindsight, I think it looks better than I remembered...
But another challenge with the lens, if photographing anything with straight lines, is convergence/divergence, assuming you want to control it to some degree. It's just really difficult to line things up perfectly. For more organic scenes it's not such an issue.
The lens though is quite nice. Small, light and image quality is very good. Some CA but that can be fixed in post. It can flare, but I haven't used it enough to figure out which situations will trigger that. There are some samples below to illustrate this.
I'm curious about the M module for the Ricoh GXR and might investigate that system as a back up to the M. Considering the APS-C sensor, I will keep the CV15 for wide applications, though the unknown at the moment is how bad the color shift and vignetting will be on that sensor. Based on NEX users and wide angle M lenses, it seems it might be an issue..
I have read that the CV12 is less prone to the vignetting and color shift issues on the M9. Perhaps some day I will try one, but it's not high on my list of priorities at the moment. I'd prefer the older LTM version since it's much smaller without the new integrated hood design, so maybe if I find a used one at a reasonable price...
Here's a recent example where the environment masked the vignetting and color shift issues. Hand held 1/8 second wide open at ISO 2500 - yeah, it was dark in there
Some samples showing pre and post Cornerfix. Note my contrast and clarity settings are bumped up somewhat from the LR default. You can see in the CF files that there is a section right along the edge of the frame that shifts magenta. I'm assuming a better profile will resolve that. Or, I should investigate using a different lens code. Or shooting it uncoded... All of the images are coded as the Tri-Elmar and the CF'd images have all had some degree of vignetting reintroduced.
Here's an example where CF's vignetting removal destroyed the character of the sun flare. In the corrected image it was really blown out and trying to recover it in LR looked artificial. It might still be possible to rescue it in PS by layering both images...
Also, a few uncorrected images that I decided to process as B&W. With all thses lines, the 15mm focal length was really fun to work with to exaggerate the perspective effect. Sorry if I've posted these before:
Carsten: Doh!
Ron, wonderful color shots from you, as always. Have you been using the CV15 lately? What are your thoughts so far?
Hi Joe,
I have not used it much since I find 21mm is suitable for most of my wide needs.
My issue with the CV15 on the M9 is primarily the heavy color shift and vignetting. When I first got it I experimented with a number of coding options, and I would have to look through those to see which worked best. But because I wanted to ID it with the closest possible EXIF focal length, I coded it as the Tri-Elmar, which apparently is not necessarily the best option. Anyway, I made some Cornerfix profiles for it, but those have resulted in OK fixes, but not perfect, and given certain subject matter, reveal uneven color across the image. Also the strength of the vignetting, means that CF opens up the borders of the image significantly, resulting in a lot of noise, but also greatly changes the character of the files. I always end up adding vignetting back in through LR. I wish CF would allow only color shift correction and not vignetting correction for the batch process, but even in single file adjustment, my CV15 profile looked really bad when trying to only fix the color shift.
At the moment I use it when I need really wide, and if it's a darker environment where the vignetting and color shift can be masked, such as some indoor use, it works quite well. Otherwise I might just use it for B&W applications.
It's been some time since I've looked at my initial test images with it, and in hindsight, I think it looks better than I remembered...
But another challenge with the lens, if photographing anything with straight lines, is convergence/divergence, assuming you want to control it to some degree. It's just really difficult to line things up perfectly. For more organic scenes it's not such an issue.
The lens though is quite nice. Small, light and image quality is very good. Some CA but that can be fixed in post. It can flare, but I haven't used it enough to figure out which situations will trigger that. There are some samples below to illustrate this.
I'm curious about the M module for the Ricoh GXR and might investigate that system as a back up to the M. Considering the APS-C sensor, I will keep the CV15 for wide applications, though the unknown at the moment is how bad the color shift and vignetting will be on that sensor. Based on NEX users and wide angle M lenses, it seems it might be an issue..
I have read that the CV12 is less prone to the vignetting and color shift issues on the M9. Perhaps some day I will try one, but it's not high on my list of priorities at the moment. I'd prefer the older LTM version since it's much smaller without the new integrated hood design, so maybe if I find a used one at a reasonable price...
Here's a recent example where the environment masked the vignetting and color shift issues. Hand held 1/8 second wide open at ISO 2500 - yeah, it was dark in there
Some samples showing pre and post Cornerfix. Note my contrast and clarity settings are bumped up somewhat from the LR default. You can see in the CF files that there is a section right along the edge of the frame that shifts magenta. I'm assuming a better profile will resolve that. Or, I should investigate using a different lens code. Or shooting it uncoded... All of the images are coded as the Tri-Elmar and the CF'd images have all had some degree of vignetting reintroduced.
Here's an example where CF's vignetting removal destroyed the character of the sun flare. In the corrected image it was really blown out and trying to recover it in LR looked artificial. It might still be possible to rescue it in PS by layering both images...
Also, a few uncorrected images that I decided to process as B&W. With all thses lines, the 15mm focal length was really fun to work with to exaggerate the perspective effect. Sorry if I've posted these before:
Carsten: Doh!
Apr 20, 2011 at 03:05 PM
p.247 #4Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
rscheffler wrote:
Carsten: Doh!
I guess you mean about the German thing No problem, my mother is Danish, and Carsten is also used in Denmark, so it is a common mistake here.
Carsten: Doh!
I guess you mean about the German thing
No problem, my mother is Danish, and Carsten is also used in Denmark, so it is a common mistake here.Apr 20, 2011 at 03:22 PM
p.247 #5Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Thanks for the comments guys
Ryan, awesome shots of the pier! The last two shots are my favorites
Boris, the 35/1.2 may not be sharp, but the examples you've posted look really good bokeh wise - especially the last one.
Ron, those last three shots are just fantastic!
--
Mixed stuff:
Ryan, awesome shots of the pier! The last two shots are my favorites
Boris, the 35/1.2 may not be sharp, but the examples you've posted look really good bokeh wise - especially the last one.
Ron, those last three shots are just fantastic!
--
Mixed stuff:
Apr 20, 2011 at 04:12 PM
p.247 #6Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Ron, thanks for sharing and nice pics.. think its probably too much hassle for me if I shoot color. The B&W shots look stunning though! I don't normally shoot that wide, but was thinking of adding this lens just for the occasional travel or group shot.
Luka, nice set, #2 is my favorite.
Luka, nice set, #2 is my favorite.
Apr 20, 2011 at 04:39 PM
p.247 #7Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Lovinglife, Ryan and Joe, thank you guys
Ryan, stunning pier shots! I definitely prefer the mood of the B&W shots! I will try and present both shots, later on today with and without Lab PP. I did print both shots and found the Lab PP had the detail and presentation needed for printed shots.
Boris, hope your leg is healing well!!! Nice presentation of the Nokton 35/1.2. I did have the 50/1.1, and found it be a very good lens, but it lacked character IMO, so it has been since sold. Your shots are very nice!
Ron, those B&W shots are excellent!!! Love them, great composition and angles
Luka, great shots! I really do like the rendering of the grass reeds with the 50 Lux
Ryan, stunning pier shots! I definitely prefer the mood of the B&W shots! I will try and present both shots, later on today with and without Lab PP. I did print both shots and found the Lab PP had the detail and presentation needed for printed shots.
Boris, hope your leg is healing well!!! Nice presentation of the Nokton 35/1.2. I did have the 50/1.1, and found it be a very good lens, but it lacked character IMO, so it has been since sold. Your shots are very nice!
Ron, those B&W shots are excellent!!! Love them, great composition and angles
Luka, great shots! I really do like the rendering of the grass reeds with the 50 Lux
Apr 20, 2011 at 06:56 PM
p.247 #8Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Nice set Luka - and here in the Toronto area it still feels and looks like a wet, gloomy, snowless winter without green on the trees.
Thanks Charles!
Joe, one thing about the CV15 is the price is very tempting, though of course the additional finder adds to the cost (unless you buy the old uncoupled (?) LTM version with finder from Cameraquest). And it's quite small.
If you're looking for something really wide with less hassle, then the ZM18 might be a consideration, though at over 2x the price without finder. As Luka has shown, it's a fine lens. It will have color shift issues that need to be fixed in CF, but not nearly as bad as the CV15.
Random shot from Lausanne, I think with ZM35C:
Thanks Charles!
Joe, one thing about the CV15 is the price is very tempting, though of course the additional finder adds to the cost (unless you buy the old uncoupled (?) LTM version with finder from Cameraquest). And it's quite small.
If you're looking for something really wide with less hassle, then the ZM18 might be a consideration, though at over 2x the price without finder. As Luka has shown, it's a fine lens. It will have color shift issues that need to be fixed in CF, but not nearly as bad as the CV15.
Random shot from Lausanne, I think with ZM35C:
Apr 20, 2011 at 07:02 PM
p.247 #9Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Ron, I did consider the ZM18 but with the finder its almost 3x the price of the CV and I'll probably skip it for now. I think my kit is more or less complete with a 28/35/50/90 setup, although I'll want to add a more modern looking 90 lens to the collection at some point. The 90 Tele-Elmarit I have is great for B&W but the color rendition is not the best match to the other ASPH lenses I have. For a 3 lens walkabout that covers almost all shots for me, the 28/50/90 can't be beat, and the 35Lux ASPH makes for a great single lens setup or a workable 35/90 2 lens setup. In fact, I can also fit all four lenses: 28Cron,35Lux,50Lux,90Tele-Elmarit, the M9, spare batt and a few filters in my Domke 5Xb bag and its still lighter than my previous D700 setup with 2 prime lenses.
Apr 20, 2011 at 07:54 PM
p.247 #10Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Bobu: I like it!
Denoir: Lovely set. #1 is my fav!
Two with my M2 and Cron 50 with some Velvia 50
1
2
No 2 is a tad blurry but I like it anyway
Denoir: Lovely set. #1 is my fav!
Two with my M2 and Cron 50 with some Velvia 50
1
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No 2 is a tad blurry but I like it anyway
Apr 21, 2011 at 04:37 AM
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p.247 #11Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Thanks for comments all.
Ron - great examples with the CV 15. That is definitely a lot more work than the ZM 18 is. That would annoy me too much
Luka - great shots....new spot? I like #2
Charles - that is a HUGE difference...WOW! I could see how the Lab mode would work much better for prints. I love that shot
Malkovic - like them both....I think film handles #1 better than digital would have
50 Lux II...if I can complain about anything on this lens it is the 1m MFD....I hate it. I might sell my 50 Lux II e43 for an e46
Min focus distance wide open:
For comparison to the one above...here is the 90 elmarit-m at MFD wide open
Ron - great examples with the CV 15. That is definitely a lot more work than the ZM 18 is. That would annoy me too much
Luka - great shots....new spot? I like #2
Charles - that is a HUGE difference...WOW! I could see how the Lab mode would work much better for prints. I love that shot
Malkovic - like them both....I think film handles #1 better than digital would have
50 Lux II...if I can complain about anything on this lens it is the 1m MFD....I hate it. I might sell my 50 Lux II e43 for an e46
Min focus distance wide open:
For comparison to the one above...here is the 90 elmarit-m at MFD wide open
Apr 21, 2011 at 05:48 AM
p.247 #12Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Nice comparison Charles.
Malkovic, nice color shots with the Velvia.
Ryan, nice work with both the 50Lux and 90 Elmarit! Rendering on the 2nd track shot with the 50Lux is beautiful!
Malkovic, nice color shots with the Velvia.
Ryan, nice work with both the 50Lux and 90 Elmarit! Rendering on the 2nd track shot with the 50Lux is beautiful!
Apr 21, 2011 at 07:11 AM
p.247 #13Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Thanks Joe....I actually meant to post the color one as I like it better:
Apr 21, 2011 at 07:19 AM
p.247 #14Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
The color one looks just as good, beautiful rendering! How old did you say this lens is? 
Apr 21, 2011 at 10:32 AM
p.247 #15Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
joe88: Thanks
rsolti13: Thanks. Great set you posted, I think that the color version is slightly more appealing to my eyes. Though I like both
M2 + Cron 50 + Velvia 50
rsolti13: Thanks. Great set you posted, I think that the color version is slightly more appealing to my eyes. Though I like both
M2 + Cron 50 + Velvia 50
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Apr 21, 2011 at 01:10 PM
p.247 #16Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Great pics Luka! Charles, that's my favourite shot of the Bali series, really striking portrait.
Ryan, the jetty shots are amazing!
I tried taking some shots of my buddy's new ride - defintely need to try this again, taking cars is another ballgame it seems - all in the name of a fun session.
Cheers
kl
50 Lux ASPH
21 Zeiss Biogon
21 Zeiss Biogon
50 Lux ASPH
50 lux ASPH
28 Elmarit
28 Elmarit
50 Lux ASPH
Ryan, the jetty shots are amazing!
I tried taking some shots of my buddy's new ride - defintely need to try this again, taking cars is another ballgame it seems - all in the name of a fun session.
Cheers
kl
50 Lux ASPH
21 Zeiss Biogon
21 Zeiss Biogon
50 Lux ASPH
50 lux ASPH
28 Elmarit
28 Elmarit
50 Lux ASPH
Apr 21, 2011 at 01:31 PM
p.247 #17Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Malkovic, nice B&W conversion and composition.
Thats a fun set KL! Like the 3rd shot with the ZM21 and the vertical comp with the 28 Elmarit. Probably time to take out some wireless strobes or SF 58s for these type of shots?
Thats a fun set KL!
Like the 3rd shot with the ZM21 and the vertical comp with the 28 Elmarit. Probably time to take out some wireless strobes or SF 58s for these type of shots?Apr 21, 2011 at 02:13 PM
p.247 #18Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Thanks guys
Ron, nice shot - but it doesn't have quite the drama of the CV15 shots.
Malkovic, I really like the colors in the second shot.
Charles, excellent example of LAB mode processing. It's really amazing how good the method is at increasing color separation.
Ryan, nice set with the 50 Lux II. It definitely has a more defined bokeh than the 50 Lux ASPH..
KL, cool car set - I think you succeeded very well with it. My favorites are the second 50 Lux shot and the second 28 shot.
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And a couple of ducks for good luck
Ron, nice shot - but it doesn't have quite the drama of the CV15 shots.
Malkovic, I really like the colors in the second shot.
Charles, excellent example of LAB mode processing. It's really amazing how good the method is at increasing color separation.
Ryan, nice set with the 50 Lux II. It definitely has a more defined bokeh than the 50 Lux ASPH..
KL, cool car set - I think you succeeded very well with it. My favorites are the second 50 Lux shot and the second 28 shot.
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And a couple of ducks for good luck
Apr 21, 2011 at 02:48 PM
p.247 #19Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Wow, that bridge really pops, Luka. If I didn't know that this was a Leica lens, I would say it had 3D
Apr 21, 2011 at 04:48 PM
p.247 #20Leica M/X/T/S/Q/CL/SL Picture Thread
Agree, very 3D looking on that bridge. Excellent ppand nice composition as usual! The 75Cron appears flat next to the 35Lux and 50Lux.
Apr 21, 2011 at 06:11 PM