Nice shots with the Rokkor by the way. The Voigtländer 75 certainly has an interesting rendering style.
How does the M6 feel compared to the M9? It's somewhat smaller and thinner, right?
Although I value the end results a lot, how a camera feels to use is very important to me as well. For instance the X1 takes 1-2 seconds to (auto) focus and it feels like an endless shutter lag. Although it may in fact be faster than I would manually focus with a DSLR it still feels very sluggish and unpleasant. When I focus a DSLR manually I still have the feeling that I'm in control and that the camera responds directly.
Anyway, I suppose I should post an image:
Edit: A question - do you guys use the Zeiss 25/2.8 with an external viewfinder or just do the composition approximately? Having to focus and compose in separate viewfinders seems a bit awkward so I'm wondering if it is practical to use focal lengths near 28mm without an external viewfinder.
If coded, the ZM 25 brings up the 24mm framelines which are accurate. I've got an external viewfinder for my CV 15 but I think I used it about twice and decided to wing it using the full viewfinder frame. That's still too small but unless the framing is critical, it works well enough. I found the external finder awkward and fairly distorted. I'd use it for something like the indoor restaurant shots I did where framing was more important but I don't care for it. If I shot ultra wides a lot, I think I'd invest in the Frankenfinder or at least see if I could find one to try out to see how well corrected it is.
Nice shot Luka!
With the ZM 25/2.8 on the M9, you have 28mm frame lines. I have the voigtlander 21/25 view finder which is a lot better than the Leica, and about 1/4 of the price. It is so bright and clear, and so easy to use with ZM 25/2.8. Some people don't even use the external finder, as it so close anyway. Personally for landscapes using the voigtlander 21/25, I find it great for composing landscapes, and the horizon is normally is straight and horizontal.
My workflow on the M9 for landscapes, is I generally set the M9 at iso 160, on a gitzo 0531 tripod with timer/or remote shutter. Set the ZM 25/2.8 between 5.6 -8, using hyper focal distances, I don't have to touch the MF rarely. For water, if needed, I add a ND B&W filter. It is very light/fast work flow and maintains the max DR with Zeiss renedering.
So in effect, you are not re focusing and composing again, using the 21/25 viewfinder.
Out for lunch today with my wife and took the M9 + Minolta Rokkor-M 40mm f/2 CL. I am really enjoying this lens--super-sharp at f/2.4 (and almost as sharp wide open). The colors are rich and warm, and I like the bokeh, although I know some won't. Just a quick snap.
Yes you are right Carsten! Maybe this is why I like the lens so much The ZE 100MP is my favourite of the Zeiss lineup. The 50 Lux Asph, has a very unique look about the shots.
Another shot this evening, just under lamp lighting with the 50 Lux ISO 1000 at f/1.4 and 1/30s.
denoir wrote:
I'm thinking about perhaps getting a dedicated device where I would just plug in the memory card but they tend to be overly complicated or have to little space and I'd need two of them.. sigh.. nothing's easy.
Perhaps one solution is to use a large number of SD cards, simply filling them and storing them, and backing them up via the Camera Connection Kit to an iPad. I just bought the CCK today and will see what the transfer speed is like.
Carsten: There's too little space on an ipad (64 gb). This summer during my vacation I shot about 200 GB of images during four weeks. When I was in South Africa earlier this year on a week long safari, I averaged about 30 GB/day!
Having said that, I'm interested in hearing if the CCK works well. I thought about it as a possible solution for shorter trip - I think I'm currently using about 2 gb of the total 64 so there is definitely room for some photos.
I have been out of the loop for a week or two. Luka...considering Leica...you feeling ok
To answer a few questions, the Zeiss ZM 35 f/2. I used it on an M8. I felt that it was a very clinical look with excellent sharpness. It was missing personality. Like I said, sharpness was excellent, bokeh was excellent, just didn't 'wow' me, thats all. The contrast seemed to be lacking as well. The shot you posted from one of those sites...Steve Huff maybe...was far better than anything I could get out of that lens.
The Zeiss ZM 25 f/2.8 is probably the most perfect lens I have ever used. It is the sharpest lens I have ever used even wide open. The bokeh is excellent for a 'slower' lens and the results are what I was expecting coming from ZF glass. The 24-35 focal length is where I like to stay for most shots and this was my favorite.
I think the thing that bothered me most with the M8 was the crop factor and the minimum focus being .7 in most cases. The viewfinder though is a thing of beauty. Money being no object I would get a Leica M9 & ZM 25 f/2.8 without a question. I bought the Planar 50 f/2 but never received it. Charles has posted great images with it. That would also be on my list. Like you, I missed the live view, especially when trying to focus the 75. Anything over 50mm for me was just a guess and I didn't like that too much. My eyesight isn't perfect.
ZM 35 f/2
I think my favorite thing about the Leica was how well it did B&W...which I don't think you are actually much of a fan of.
oh yeah, forgot to mention. I too am subscribed to Diglloyd and then subscribed to Reid Reviews. What a cluster&%^$ that site is. Luka, you want to see facts/numbers/detail etc where Reid (don't even try reading Steve Huff's site ) likes to cater to the masses that only care how it performs for typical users.....not of Luka caliber. Lloyd is far more your type discussing abberations, focus shift, etc.
rsolti13 wrote:
I have been out of the loop for a week or two. Luka...considering Leica...you feeling ok
Actually Ryan, I've been home for a week with a horrible cold and fever - so that may be the explanation
Fantastic shots! That 25 is definitely special. Outstanding rendering. It definitely looks like a must have lens for an M.
rsolti13 wrote:
I think the thing that bothered me most with the M8 was the crop factor and the minimum focus being .7 in most cases. The viewfinder though is a thing of beauty. Money being no object I would get a Leica M9 & ZM 25 f/2.8 without a question. I bought the Planar 50 f/2 but never received it. Charles has posted great images with it. That would also be on my list. Like you, I missed the live view, especially when trying to focus the 75. Anything over 50mm for me was just a guess and I didn't like that too much. My eyesight isn't perfect. ...Show more →
So it was primarily because the M8 wasn't a FF that you returned to the DSLR world? Yes, the poor minimum focus sucks. I love to experiment with bokeh and that usually requires close focus - especially for wide angle lenses. Still, if I get the M9, I'm definitely not getting rid of my DSLR + Zeiss glass. No way. So I'll still have a camera with that capability.
So should I get an M9, I have two lenses pretty much nailed down: the Zeiss 25/2.8 and the 50/1.4 Summilux asph. The big question is the 35 mm, which is the most important FL for me. I'd love to have a Zeiss 35/1.4 but that doesn't exist. I don't like the 35 summilux samples I've seen. So then what remains is the 35 cron or the 35/2 Bigon...
denoir wrote:
Thanks Charles. Nice shots with the 'lux!
Carsten: There's too little space on an ipad (64 gb). This summer during my vacation I shot about 200 GB of images during four weeks. When I was in South Africa earlier this year on a week long safari, I averaged about 30 GB/day!
Having said that, I'm interested in hearing if the CCK works well. I thought about it as a possible solution for shorter trip - I think I'm currently using about 2 gb of the total 64 so there is definitely room for some photos.
Ugh, 200GB! Is that really necessary? At 16MB per shot for the 5DII that is around 1 photo every two minutes, 16 hours a day, 7 days per week, 4 weeks. A bit nuts. If you could cut that in 3, you could use the iPad. Until that time, you will need lots of CF cards and a harddrive.
Luka, there is a new 35 Lux ASPH. The old one is really nice in some situations, I have a chrome copy. It isn't a Zeiss though. The Leica boke and sharpness is more subtle than the Zeiss Pictorial Sledgehammer I love the Zeiss look, but sometime it is really nice to return to the subtlety of Leica. It lets the subject dominate, rather than the rendering.
denoir wrote: rsolti13 wrote:
So it was primarily because the M8 wasn't a FF that you returned to the DSLR world? Yes, the poor minimum focus sucks. I love to experiment with bokeh and that usually requires close focus - especially for wide angle lenses. Still, if I get the M9, I'm definitely not getting rid of my DSLR + Zeiss glass. No way. So I'll still have a camera with that capability.
I simply can't afford the glass I would want on the Leica AND a Nikon system with the glass I want . I can't switch to 100% Leica and that is what I would have to do in order to get the glass I would want and the camera deserves. There are far more shortcomings on the Leica system than Nikon for my needs so I will stick with Nikon for now. If I came home with a camera and lenses that don't AF my wife would kill me . I'm only able to justify my hobby by taking pics of the kid once in a while and that just wasn't fun with the M8.
The M8/M9 to me is best summed up as a short length landscape/street camera only. Obviously the lens lineup isn't there on the long end due to how the system is built. That being said, it is a VERY fine system for that type of shooting. It really was a joy to use.
So should I get an M9, I have two lenses pretty much nailed down: the Zeiss 25/2.8 and the 50/1.4 Summilux asph. The big question is the 35 mm, which is the most important FL for me. I'd love to have a Zeiss 35/1.4 but that doesn't exist. I don't like the 35 summilux samples I've seen. So then what remains is the 35 cron or the 35/2 Bigon...
Joakim: Nice colors!
I agree with your two mentioned above. The ZM 35 f/2 Biogon seemed to be a fantastic lens for film, but not as much for digital. I really like what I have seen with the 35 f/2.8 Biogon-C...although it is a little slow. The 35 that I was interested in was the Summilux ASPH, it seems much improved over the older Summilux. On the longer end the Leica 75 Summicron ASPH looks like a very fine lens also. I think Dan has it and has put out some excellent shots.
The ZE 100MP is my favourite of the Zeiss lineup. The 50 Lux Asph, has a very unique look about the shots.
I love the Zeiss look, but sometime it is really nice to return to the subtlety of Leica. It lets the subject dominate, rather than the rendering.