denoir wrote:
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Regarding renting an M9 - I would except for some reason camera/lens rental doesn't really exist here in Sweden. It's really strange and a lot of photographers are complaining but currently that option doesn't exist.
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I just found this thread (but I don't own a Leica...). You have posted some stunning photos of Stockholm! We lived there for about 15 years before moving to Norway in 2004, but sadly that was before I got into photography.
Anyway, I'm posting to tell you that a friend of mine has rented cameras, lenses and recently a scanner from Scandinavian Photo in Stockholm. I doubt that they have a M9 for rent though...
Jeff: Beautiful shots with the Noctilux! It's really something special. In theory the DOF wide open should be about the same as you get from a Rokkor 58mm f/1.2, but in practice there is really a significant difference. The nocti has a much more elegant rendering.
I also like your shots from DC - #1 is my favorite. I think that the M9 may be the ultimate walk around camera. Unlike a big vulgar DSLR it does not shout 'tourist' from a mile away.
Rod: The X1 fulfills a slightly different purpose - it's really compact and even fits (a relatively tight fit) into a trouser pocket. It's main benefit is portability. My favorite allround focal length is 35mm on FF so the 24mm lens is just right. The only complaint I've got there is that it's an Elmarit (f/2.8) so it's not brilliant for low light photography.
So an M8 is too large to be a substitute for it - so I'd have to get a significant benefit in IQ to go with a larger camera and as I see it the M9 is the only real choice there.
Helena: Thanks for the information. Scandinavian Photo's store here in Stockholm is not far from where I live so I'm pretty much a regular customer there. I wasn't aware that they rented equipment though. I'll have to check what they have. There are a couple of rental services here in Stockholm but they cater to professionals with a large budget. I thought about renting a Hasselblad H4D-60 from such a company but it turned out that renting one for a week would cost about $20,000 - half the price of the camera. So they are not reasonable alternatives. I'll have to check with Scandinavian - it would really be cool to be able to rent. Apart from the M9 there are a couple of digital medium format cameras I'd love to try.
Luka: The M9 is definitely a perfect walk around camera, but it does attract attention from camera lovers, who recognize a Leica. I don't mind as its always fun to chat about cameras.
jhapeman wrote:
Luka: The M9 is definitely a perfect walk around camera, but it does attract attention from camera lovers, who recognize a Leica. I don't mind as its always fun to chat about cameras.
+1
Yes I have spoken to many photographic students, or photographers who are fascinated with the M9.
Jeff, I would appreciate if could you detail the link to your blog.
I think Charles said he would study the matter in the case of the M9
I also suppose that a Leica draws a different kind of crowd from those that are impressed by a large tele lens on a large DSLR. I have not gotten any particular attention with the X1 - and I'm happy with that. Generally however the nfph metric also varies by country and compared to the rest of the world people here in Stockholm are pretty shy and reluctant to talk to a photographer. My gear usually gets much more attention abroad.
Luka, very nice shots from your last two posting. Tough to pick a favorite as they are all different. Like all of them. You live in a very beautiful city, wonderful sights and beautiful light and you capture them very well!
Jeff, great shots shots with the Noct 0.95 and from DC! Again, tough to pick a favorite, all different and nice. The Noct 0.95 is a very special lens and for the 50mm focal length, the rendering is out of the world. Thanks for sharing! Zurich is another beautiful city. I travel there for work and always enjoy the sights. I thought Boston had the most expensive cab fares but Zurich is even pricier!
I totally agree with Rod, you don't always need the newest glass for Leica, yes the new glass resolve better and are amongst the best 35mm lenses out there, but even the old Leica lenses have tons of character (I'm talking about 50-60 year old lenses or even older .. and you don't necessarily need to rob a bank to get these ). Can't remember if it was W Eggleston or someone else who said in an interview, along the lines that you can talk about gear all you like but 20 years later, all that matters are the images you keep.
Also agree with Jeff and Charles, its nice to be able to handhold and shoot at 1/15 or even 1/8s with the Leica (or other RF) camera in low light. Not as good as the DSLRS but good enough for many shooters. Add the small form factor with IQ close to a D3x (please don't start another debate on this thread! ) or as good as other FF DSLRs (actually better ), without having to lug around all those monster lenses, that alone, to me is worth the price of the Leica M
Sometimes we have to give credit back to Leica, they create some of the best 35mm camera and lenses out there for us to enjoy, not cheap but its available.
Yes I have spoken to many photographic students, or photographers who are fascinated with the M9.
Jeff, I would appreciate if could you detail the link to your blog.
Sure. I've just started posting stuff on the DRF experience in the past few months. I've got a review of ultra-fast 50mm lenses on the M9, comparing the Voigtlander Nokton and the new Noctilux:
Next up will be a review of 75mm lenses on the M9. I have the Leica 75mm APO-Summicron ASPH and the 75mm Summilux-M, and the Voigtlander 75mm f/1.8 Heliar Classic and 75mm f/2.5 Color Heliar. I'm also working on a review of a number of "slower" 50mm lenses, including the 50mm f/2.8 Elmar-M and the Voigtlander 50mm f/2 Heliar Classic. The 75mm review will be up later this month.
Robert, welcome to the thread! Very nice B&W pics with your M8. The second last picture is my favorite, so many stories to tell. Can't wait to see more from you.
I think Charles said he would study the matter in the case of the M9
I also suppose that a Leica draws a different kind of crowd from those that are impressed by a large tele lens on a large DSLR. I have not gotten any particular attention with the X1 - and I'm happy with that. Generally however the nfph metric also varies by country and compared to the rest of the world people here in Stockholm are pretty shy and reluctant to talk to a photographer. My gear usually gets much more attention abroad.
The M9 does draw a different crowd. In fact, it's predominantly Asian; Leica has a very strong brand in Asia and Japan in particular has a "camera culture" that really values older designs. I used to shoot with a 600/4 and that definitely drew crowds, but they usually weren't camera people.
Hmmm, I like the nfph metric. For the M9, it would be lower than some--maybe 4-5.
I think Charles said he would study the matter in the case of the M9
Despite having read a lot about the supposed low profile of Leica's, I've found quite a few people who know they're looking at a Leica and are excited to see one in person. So far, most are younger and haven't been shooting for long but apparently have seen enough images with Leica's to know they'd like to try one out. The attention level caught me off guard because I thought it would be less than with the 5D2 but if anything, it's more.
Robert, great shots! Love the first one - beautiful use of geometry and contrasts.
Jeff: Interesting reading
Joe, really nice shots! I really like the B/W conversion. Do you convert them manually or use some software?
A question for you M-mount experts: Zeiss 35/2.8 vs 35/2 Bigon - any opinions? The 35/2.8 seems very compact but I seem to remember some negative things about it. There are two other Zeiss lenses that seem interesting: the 85/2 and the 50/1.5. Any thoughts?
Robert, excellent shots Welcome also to the thread! You have presented of a variety of lenses to compare.
Joe, great shots!!! Love them Excellent conversion and rendering!
Jeff, thank you for the links to your blog. Great contribution and reading
Luka, I would steer clear of the ZM 35/2 Biogon, as I had this as one of the original lenses, and did not perform typical of the Zeiss family. I was disappointed with it. I ended up with the 35 Summicron Asph instead. No comparison IMO.
The ZM 35/2.8 is meant to be excellent and very compact. Martin and Dan have experience with this lens.
The ZM 85/2 is meant to be exceptional lens, still made in Germany, second to none and rumour is that it is meant to be better than the 90 Summicron Asph APO.
The ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar is a great lens, but you have make absolutely certain that the calibration for the lens is set for sharp focus at f/1.5 at MFD, and not f/2.8 which is the norm. There is a lot of the frustration in the forums, I would safely assume is the result of the wrong calibration setting. This lens has beautiful rendering, a more classic style and very unique.
I'm surprised by your experience with the 35/2 Bigon. Lloyd Chambers compared it to the 35/2 cron asph and although he did not want to make absolute statements due to focusing & calibration issues in his test the samples showed the Bigon as being significantly better. Sample variation?
What's up with this calibration thing I keep hearing of? Is it that the camera has to be calibrated for one specific lens or is it the lens that is to be calibrated for the camera?
Luka, the ZM 35/2, I really did not like with the M9. Just did not compare to any of the other lenses. I sold this lens virtually brand new. The lens I found lacking contrast and was prone to flare. I have read in the reviews, this lens should have been left as a f/2.8 and is lacking in this respect.
The ZM 25/2.8 and ZM 50/2 Planar are exceptional lenses IMO. My landscape shots are generally with the ZM 25/2.8 and portraits with the ZM 50/2 Planar.
If the M 8/9 range finder mechanism is accurate, there is no need to calibrate the body. I did however find the M9 was back focusing marginally, so it was recalibrated no cost, and just took 3 days.
The ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar lenses being sent out from Zeiss are usually set at f/2.8 for accurate focus. Problem being when you are at f/1.5 the lens will be OOF. Of course you can adapt, but just get the lens optimised for sharp focus at f/1.5, and f/2.8 will look after itself with the increased DOF.
), without having to lug around all those monster lenses, that alone, to me is worth the price of the Leica M 
