Very nice Wozza! Boris, this set is very lush feeling.
Ryan - Whenever you have a chance, could you do a quick test to see if your 50 Planar focuses to infinity? By that I mean set the lens to the infinity hard stop and photograph something at least a few hundred feet away through a range of aperture settings starting at wide open. Mine doesn't reach infinity wide open and at f/2.8 is still kind of soft. By f/4 the center of the frame is reasonably sharp. I have to stop down to about f/8 to get edge to edge sharpness. At the moment it's not a significant issue because I typically expose such images around f/8-11 anyway (yes, despite the onset of diffraction). And based on its MTF curves the Planar is not a great infinity lens near wide open due to the sharpness falloff towards the edges.
I mentioned the issue to the dealer where I bought my Zeiss ZM lenses and he stated that Zeiss has told him that they have noticed an increase in focus accuracy issues with digital M users. I tried my Planar on his M9 and the results were very similar, which would seem to rule out a significant issue with my M9. Unfortunately he hasn't received 50 Planar replacement stock since November, so I couldn't try out another copy.
The misfocus has been more problematic at medium working distances such as 10-50 feet, where if I want to, or need to shoot near wide open, I know the image will be front focused. The focus inaccuracy increases as the subject distance increases, so at least for portraits and closer work it has been usable.
Thanks Charles and Joe and Rosolt. Getting back shooting man. Even if it's... "anything".
Wozza , love the last two shots. Just fantasic.
Without photography I wouldnt be able to get through the day. For having a camera make me visually aware of my surroundings. people places and things in my little world.
It helps me to stay connected to the artistic/softer side of me.
Being able to see photo's in everyday things was something I wanted to do early on in my photographic journy.
and that it didnt go over to well with many that thought I should concentrate on the "making money with the camera.
If I a dollar for every time I was asked , "why are you photographing that?
I would be rich.
None really anyone of family or freinds or well, really anyone could understand why I would want to photograph everyday things and objects.
I grew up in time and place that photographers either shot portraits in a studio, photographed weddings, did advertising photography or shot for a newspaper.
No one I knew ever shot "art photography" .
Or did street photography.
For me the internet was god send. You mean there are other's out there taking these types of images as well
Just because a subject/object place or thing is common dosnt mean it can't be made into a interetesting photograph.
I would like to say that having the support and encougeagement on a forum like this from other fantasic photographer who work I respect really bolsters my resolve. Thanks for that, you guys.
"The best pictures are yet to be taking."
Nikkor 58 1.2 Nocturnal on Nikon D3
50 1.0 Noctilux @ F8 30 seconds
50 1.0 Noctilux
This last one is kind of sad.
I am doing an instructional Martail arts book in a local park. Last week If guys remember I posted a shot of Crow in tree taken my M8 and the 135 Elmarit. Nice little shot , very sharp used a little fill flash..
It was his/hers first day out of the nest and he/she was leaning to fly.
So when we where leaving the other day I looked around and I am sorry to say the little bird didnt make it. Like I said, kind of sad.
My photographer friend tried to cheer me up by saying "oh it's natures way"
Ryan, thanks
Ron, excellent shots Simple but effective composition! Just tested my 50/2 Planar this morning, and no problems with infinity stop, and it aligns very nicely with the M9 RF too. If anything there is a marginal overshoot.
Wozza, really nice shots with the Sonnar!
Boris, beautiful set of shots! Favourite here is #4
Gregory, great set of shots and story!!! My perspective with the photography is love the fact that it uses the right side of your brain, and allows you to see and experience the world from another perspective, particularly as I am engineer, and do get caught in my left brain too much
Great pics all! ron- nice! I like forest shots v much.
Greg, nice work and story! had me at the edge of the seat - phew, so glad it was not the cops or worst, gangsta's. Joe - nice pics of the Big Apple and awesome spidey pic! - must have been a great trip! Bobu- wow!
rscheffler wrote:
...quick test to see if your 50 Planar focuses to infinity? By that I mean set the lens to the infinity hard stop and photograph something at least a few hundred feet away through a range of aperture settings starting at wide open. Mine doesn't reach infinity wide open and at f/2.8 is still kind of soft. By f/4 the center of the frame is reasonably sharp. I have to stop down to about f/8 to get edge to edge sharpness.......
The misfocus has been more problematic at medium working distances such as 10-50 feet, where if I want to, or need to shoot near wide open, I know the image will be front focused. The focus inaccuracy increases as the subject distance increases, so at least for portraits and closer work it has been usable. ...Show more →
Sounds like the Planar is not reaching infinity. The hard stop is too soon and the lens assembly needs to be closer to the sensor. If this is corrected, your misfocus at 10-50 feet should go away. Leica lenses use shims, instead of any kind of adjustment screws, to correct infinity focus issues. My one ZM25 lens I got from Ryan is perfect, so I haven't the need to understand how Zeiss deals with this.
Yes Jim, that is my conclusion. I will see if I can find a local repair solution since I'm not crazy about sending it to Zeiss in the USA (added shipping cost, uncertain turnaround, etc.)
Charles, thanks for checking your Planar.
Nice sets Gregory!
KL, sorry to hear about the problems, but I wonder if anything will come of it? I also get subtle banding and have noticed it even at ISO 160.
I revisited the forest scene - I really like it a lot - and the banding popped up in a number of those images. But, it was predominantly noticeable in the images shot with the ZM21. This is logical because the coded corner color shift and vignetting correction brightens files a fair amount around the edges. Maybe over one stop. Then I applied nearly 100 points of fill light to some of the scenes in Lightroom and the banding was significant. I still believe my theory that shooting a rapid succession of images and also chimping will exacerbate the banding problem. I did both in that forest location trying to confirm composition/framing was as I saw through the finder.
Later in the day I had the camera hang again. It was during another quick succession of images that involved chimping. The camera wouldn't let me zoom in to check focus and instead showed a message along the lines of "saving file." It was the first time I ever saw that message and thought it might be something added to the new firmware. However, the red light kept blinking for a couple minutes, so I knew the camera was hung up. It would seem this could be a good hint that the camera is in trouble. Pulling the battery and card seemed to resolve the issue.
Regarding the dark lines... I wonder whether it's related to the camera, the card or card reader, seeing as how the corruption changed when the file was recopied.
More from the forest area. I plan to revisit this area (it's very close to where I live) in the fall when the sumac trees turn a bright red/orange.
ZM35C:
CV75 1.8:
ZM35C:
ZM21:
It's pretty amazing how much can be pulled from the shadows from M9 files. The above image in particular is 100 points fill light in LR. At higher rez though you can see quite clearly the corners falling apart with a lot of noise... but still, considering that the exposure was for full sun to preserve highlight detail in the clouds, it's impressive how much was lurking in the shadows.
The coding didn't take in this one above, but I like the stronger vignetting here. It's a problem I'm having all the time now with the ZM21. It would appear that the lens doesn't sit tight enough to the camera and light bleeds in and disrupts the code reader. If I jam my finger along the lens mount in the area of the reader, it usually blocks enough light to allow it to read the code properly. I seem to recall reading that Nate had problems with lens mount on either the ZM21 f/4.5 or the ZM18 leaking light and ruining images on his film bodies... The next solution for me might be to dremel the lens mount and paint the recess black... or get the SEM 21
ZM35C:
ZM50P:
CV75 1.8:
One might be interested to learn that this seemingly idyllic location is in one of Canada's oldest industrialized cities and definitely bucks the stereotype of the city. It's a nice reminder for me of what I can find within a 10 minute walk from home... and that I should get out and explore my neighbourhood more often.
Wozza604 - the second shot of the life raft is awesome! I too am not a fan of that lens but those two shots are excellent and plays to the strengths perfectly
Gregory - another nice series. My favorites are the first shot taken by the 50 Noct and the refelection of the boy in the window.
Boris - I love what you have been posting lately from the Botanical garden. Did you use the M8 or M9? Are the pics cropped? You seem to be getting closer than I would expect. #3 & #4 are great but my favorite is the last one #6. Great colors and the rendering is beautiful
Ron - will test my Planar this afternoon for you. I actually brought my camera with me today . A couple of nice series from the forest. The 2nd shot in this last one is great taken by the 75 f/1.8. Great composition there. The ZM 35 C and ZM 50 shots are also excellent. The Zeiss and Leica lenses definitely have very different signatures once you see enough pictures.
Carsten - Yes, Hamilton. In the west end, the area known as Cootes Paradise, which is owned and managed as a conservation area by the Royal Botanical Gardens. Just curious, but are you familiar with Hamilton?
This is the Waterfront Trail section at the Desjardin's Canal that connects Cootes Paradise with Hamilton Harbour:
A couple views of Hamilton Harbour (also known as Burlington Bay) taken from York Boulevard on Burlington Heights:
Just to the right outside the frame I've conveniently cropped out Hamilton's industry, making this scene very idyllic. Who says photography is truthful? I would call it selective truth.
Here you can see some of the industry:
From this vantage point the water looks great. The reality is I wouldn't want to swim in it, though it has improved vastly over the past 30-40 years. The bridge off in the distance is one anyone (including Joe) crosses when driving from Toronto to Niagara Falls. From that vantage point one gets a great view (and smell) of industry but none of Hamilton's vast green spaces to the west, which reinforces most people's views about Hamilton as an industrial wasteland. It's that too, and plenty of great photo opps, just that I'm in the west end and the green space is an easier evening walkabout destination.
ZM50P for all except the second to last which was the CV75.
I've been using the CV75 a bit more this week and like it for certain applications. At minimum focusing distance it's fairly unsharp, but given the right subject matter, I think is quite complementary. While not razor sharp, it's still very usable. More images to come...
rscheffler wrote:
Carsten - Yes, Hamilton. In the west end, the area known as Cootes Paradise, which is owned and managed as a conservation area by the Royal Botanical Gardens. Just curious, but are you familiar with Hamilton?
A bit, yeah. Not the city so much, but I lived 16 years in and around T.O. and for many of those years, my parents had a cottage in Niagara on the Lake, so I used to drive past somewhat often. I also rode my motorcycle around a lot while I was UWaterloo, and would come past from time to time.
Gregory, nice set!!
Boris, beautiful set of shots from the Botanical garden
Ron, great set of landscape shots!!! I love the first 3 shots from the first set, and #1 a 3 from the second set
Thanks Charles. It's been a slow week work-wise so I've been going out for some photowalks to enjoy the nice late afternoon light and weather. Summer doesn't last too long around here, so might as well enjoy it.
That's interesting to know Carsten. I've lived here most my life and am not surprised that most people drive past on the QEW. There really isn't anything inviting looking to get people to stop and visit. But highway 403 at the west end of the city provides a much nicer 'grand entrance' impression.
If I remember correctly, you're a bit of a cemetery fan... well Hamilton has a very nice, large, old cemetery up on Burlington Heights at the west end. Apparently it's the oldest municipal cemetery in Canada and has a great selection of 19th Century monuments. OK, maybe not as old as what can be found in Europe, but much more interesting than most of the newer North American cemeteries.
Wow, that's a gorgeous portrait Charles! Can you pls stop sending 75 lux shots --- i only budgeted for the 21 SEM for remainder of this financial year (haha).
cheers
kl
