Nice shots Luka. I really like the rendering in #4 and 5.
Excellent portrait Wilfredo
rsolti13, I know Makten has tried both the ZM 35/2 and 35/2.8, so he may be able to help. I purchased the ZM 35/2 because the ZE 35/2 is my favourite travel lens. Makten prefers the ZM 35/2.8 feels that this is a better lens. I would prefer the speed of a 35/1.4, but I will wait until I have learned more about the camera and how to use it properly.
I with you on this one, Philippe. This entire Alternative thread has cost me
rsolti13 wrote:
Thats it! I can't take it anymore. I am off to find an M8.
rofl!! I think charles and luka are evil!! They make ppl buy zeiss and leicas. I'm doing my best to hold off as much as I can(although I have few watching M8s on ebay.. <.<
This is a great thread as it shows the IQ differences between these various Leica systems and both Leica and Zeiss M glass. For what I want out of a system like this the X1 is not it. I wonder if the NEX5 with the APS-C sensor will suffice for the narrow DOF type of shooting I would want to do a lot and not P&S wide DOF shooting all the time. Looks like the Zeiss M glass does not compete well against the Leica M glass especially wide open against the fast ASPH lenses IMHO. I really love the M8 shots Psquared and Wilfredo took with the 50 Lux Asph, that is a sweet lens. Anyway, need to win the lottery before I could afford a second system based on a M9 and fast ASPH Lux lenses. !
You are right Wayne, very hard to beat the 50 Lux Asph, as well the 35 Lux Ashp. In time, I hope to pick up one second hand. For the moment the limiting factor is me and I am on a steep learning curve.
I have looked at the NEX 5 and like the images, but I feel the lenses, aren't quite there yet. Maybe the NEX 7.... I had a similar problem when the EP-1 when it first came out. I still have the EP-1/pana 20/1.7, which I am sure my son will inherit shortly.
I feel now, that I am confident, for travel to remote countries, that I will be happy to just take the M9, with a few lenses. I have done this recently with 5DII and ZE's, and weight and size for me is an issue when travelling. Still love the 5DII combo.
The most important factor, is that my fiancee, now approves of the size and form factor of the M9.
Nice side-effect of the Rangefinder design, people who look at you when you take the picture don't look like they're staring down the barrel in the resulting shot.
I really, really like how the C-Sonnar rendered the first photo
philber wrote:
I will be re-testing the X1, this time in DNG. All your fault, Luka!
I would still hesitate to recommend it. While I have on occasion been impressed by its rendering style its shortcomings are not insignificant. I'm getting an excessive amount of unusable shots from it (perhaps as much as a third of all shots). The X1 version of the 24 Elmarit lens is a mixed bag - very good at f/5.6 and at infinity but not all that brilliant at f/2.8 (at infinity). The colors are much weaker than what you get from a 5DII and a 35mm Zeiss. The dynamic range is also noticeably worse on the X1.
Also, unlike with Zeiss glass, the images typically need post processing. The exposure is almost always wrong (the metering system is not very good) but the RAW files have a huge amount (definitely more than Canon, I'd say) of latitude so compensating for it in post is not a problem. I often need to increase the contrast and on occasion saturation of the image as the raw files are very neutral and flat.
Having said that, what I'm posting here isn't exactly the typical use for the X1. It's not a good landscape camera but it is actually very good for portraits and intermediate distance shots.
So it's a mixed bag. Still, while I would never recommend it over a full frame DSLR when it comes to image quality, one has to take size into consideration. It is really compact.
Charles: Thanks! Very nice rendering of the motorcycles by the way. The Voigtländer has an interesting rendering style - more like Zeiss than Leica, I'd say.
PSquared63: Excellent shot! Everything from composition, background, light and rendering style is just right.
sangdabom73 wrote:
rofl!! I think charles and luka are evil!! They make ppl buy zeiss and leicas. I'm doing my best to hold off as much as I can(although I have few watching M8s on ebay.. <.<
Hehe Well, while I can recommend Zeiss glass without hesitation, I have more reservations about Leica, especially when considering performance/price.
Thanks Luka Yes I agree, I am liking the Nokton 1.1 a lot. It has the rendering of zeiss, and yet some ways similar to the Canon 50L, but better.
Excellent shots!
!
