I must say I`m mightlity impressed with many of the images posted in this thread. There is great skill in evidence, plus a magical quality about these images. I`d like to come close to achieving this with my current camera, but need some advice and guidance on how to do so (if possible).
I have a nikon d3x and have just bought a leica R 100/2.8 macro lens, though I haven`t had chance to use it as the adapter hasn`t arrived. If I bought large aperture R primes for my d3x, would I be able to produce similar images to those done with an m9/8? I had the following summicron r lenses in mind: 35/2, 90/2, and 180/2
Do M and R lenses have similar qualities?
How much of the leica image quality is due to lenses, and how much is due to the sensor?
Ideally I`d buy an m9, but at the moment this isn`t an option
Hi all,
Starting a new series on my lil’old blog called the “+Photographer Interviews”. Given my M9’s trip to Germany for a tune-up, I needed writing therapy instead of my usual shutter therapy.
Here’s the first interview with Charles Kalnins, who is a business owner + amazing photographer:::hope it’s a good read! Next up, Chemist + Pentax Photographer!
And interesting to read that Charles' first camera was an Agfa Optima, which was also my first camera. I got it from my parents when I was ca. 10 years old.
Thx! Charles is a real sport for subjecting himself to the questions - thx Charles, owe you one buddy! Have a chemist, a travelling salesman and a corporate ladder climber (x-pro) lined up in the coming weeks. Cheers
kl
mortyb wrote:
I really enjoyed reading the interview with Charles. Great idea. Looking forward to more.
I must truly thank KL for taking the time and believing in me I must say the challenging questions made me think about photography and how I felt about it.
Great B&W shots with the M7!! Love that first shot
Boris - very neat art there. I really like how you framed #2
Joakim - Nice shots....but they misspelled Bus
Todd - welcome to the thread and yes, please post more from the wedding. I saw you are selling off other gear to fund the M9....welcome to it
Joe - nice clean shot from MOMA...I'm hoping to get up there in a couple of months myself
KL - Great idea and interview of Charles. Great read. And Charles, you make for a great subject. Reading the interview brings back the photos I have seen of yours over the last year or so, great work
KL - nice photos as well. The framing on #2 is excellent and the portrait looks great. I'm no film expert but Tri-X is supposed to be one of the most flexible films...go for it
More with the 90 Macro Elmar
I wish I had a 100% crop handy of some of these shots..especially the dragonfly. The detail at 100% is as good as a 35mm lens gets, simply amazing. And most of these are wide open. f/4 is a number that messes with your head. You think its too slow but when you actually use the lens in the field at the MFD f/4 is almost as open as you would want it anyways. I'm very pleased with this lens
hi all,
I've almost completed the idiot's guide training for learning C1Pro 6 totally from scratch ... I really like C1Pro after struggling through the interface (very steep learning curve). This badly lit shoot was one that LR3 had much difficulty salvaging but with C1Pro I am pretty happy with the results.
KL and Charles, thanks for sharing the interview and pictures. Great read!
KL, nice film shots. #2 is my favorite. Is that a Pentax film camera on your friend's hands? Excellent portrait with the 90Cron. These 90Cron AA portraits are giving me a huge dose of gear envy!!
Ryan, the 90M Elmar looks like a very nice lens. Nice set. I like #1 best. Do check out the MOMA's photo exhibits while you are there. They have an excellent rotating display/collection of photographs.
Heinz, very nice! #1 is superb!
Todd, nice wedding pictures. Thanks for sharing. How do you like moving from a dSLR to the M9 for your wedding work?
Thx Joe- 90 cron is pure magic. yes, my friend is a Pentax man. i think he has 2 pentax camera bodies. Basically, i am surrounded by Pentax users for some reason. But they do like the pentax range for somewhat similar reasons us leicanauts like our M gear - smallish (for dslr) and well built metal lenses (for dslr).
Should have added too- Ryan, nice shots - Heinz, really like the shots you posted too - somehow my colour film shots are pretty 'off' (blaming my develooper and scanner hahaha).
Todd, nice pics - hope to see more.
Joe, really love that MOMA shot.
kl, that portrait is amazing. Besides that you really captured the moment very nicely, there is some technical quality that I cannot describe but it is very strongly there in this image as well as in Charles' portraits. There is some transition between sharpness and smoothness at the same time in his face and on his shirt that I only see in Leica glass and is pure magic.
Film: unfortunately those where developed by the lab that I used before and I thought it was a very good pro lab. I worked with them since over 20 years, also for some pro work. I switched recently to a lab which is considered THE best pro lab in Germany and the difference is unbelievable.
singletrack wrote:
I think i prefer a more grainy look. Does anyone know if i can push it to 800 easily?
Yes, it pushes to 800 quite easily. It really doesn't get much grainier though with a one stop push. If you want more grain, you might try T-Max 3200. Shoot it at 800 or 1600. If that's too much grain, I'd suggest Tri-X or HP5+, though honestly, I find Tri-X reasonably fine-grained.
It might also help to develop in developer like Rodinal and/or scan it on a minilab-style scanner. Both will help accent the grain.
Tx Morfeus - if only colour film development were more consistent and in its heyday !
Kidtexas -thx for the tips! i LOVE tri-x 400 shot at 200. Was just hoping to get a faster film to use with the same grain structure but I guess that was wishful thinking. I'll try your suggestion to go with 800. How about 1600 on the TMAX? it's quite a digital looking film to my newbie eyes!
I must say the challenging questions made me think about photography and how I felt about it. 
