I updated the firmware as I mentioned earlier, and took the camera out for a spin. The files seem slightly cleaner (maybe or maybe not), it may be a placebo effect. I will do more testing tomorrow when I have more time.
Just wanted to share with you a shot since I've hijacked the forum, I took it this evening.. I'm liking the M9 and 50 Cron at night.. If I sort out my issues with the M9, I may just get myself a LuxASPH like charles suggests. Though I'm still on the fence about keeping it.
adamdewilde wrote:
Zombii and jhapeman, where would one get a magnifier that doesn't break the bank?
Oh, and will it reduce my angle of view in the finder?
As in, will I still be able to see all 4 corners?
Unfortunately, the cheap ones are just that: cheap. I first bought a Match Technical and unfortunately, I didn't send it back immediately. Mistake. Maybe if you had a diopter it would be ok, but I tried to use mine for awhile and finally realized I could focus as well or better without it. Also, when I got it and saw how it viewed, I sent Match Technical an email and never heard back from them. I bought it from PopFlash and could have returned it but procrastinated too long. If anybody is interested, I'll make them a good deal.
So after reading a lot of reviews I decided to give the Japan Exposures (formerly Megapearls) a try. It has a built in adjustable diopter and it now stays on the camera all the time when I'm shooting 50mm or longer. It's more expensive but not so much as the Leica's which have no built in diopter. It's well made. My only complaint is that there's no way to lock the diopter setting. I ended up putting white nail polish marks on the fixed and moving parts to mark my preferred setting. The adjustment turns like the focus ring on a lens, no click stops like the Canon diopter. For reference, I wear contacts. I've also noticed that depending on how my eyes feel on a given day, I sometimes need to adjust it as much as a quarter turn but I have allergies so I know that's part of it. Anyway I recommend it. I got the 1.35x model but they have other magnifications. Note that buyers in the US and Germany cannot buy it for use on a Leica camera. They ask if you're going to use it on a Leica if you live in either country. They don't require anything other than a yes/no answer.
And yes, it does reduce your angle of view. On the M8, you're good as wide as 50mm to see the entire 50mm frame lines but wider than that, you'll want to take it off. I'm not sure how that will translate on the M9 but I'm guessing that it will definitely work for 75mm and up but not sure about 50mm.
Thanks, I stumbled upon that site by accident today while looking at something unrelated. Was wondering if it was any good.
A bit much still though, as I have no real problems focusing the 50 so far.
If I keep the 90, I'll consider it, as right now it's really very hard to focus!
If I get the 75Lux I'll definitely buy it.
EDIT: Haha and thanks for setting the currency to SGD, nice touch
Joakim, On the first shot, I like the color version better. On the second, I like both. Both nice but the second is my favorite. The B&W version looks more snowy but the color gives that sense of autumn transitioning to winter feeling.
Adam, I forgot to comment on your image. That VW really pops! Are the speckles in the lower right hand corner the noise you're talking about or is that just pavement texture? It's hard to tell at this size.
Thanks guys. I converted to b&w mostly because they were shot during midday and the light was harsh but I agree that they work in colour as well. Actually I'm beginning to lean towards the second in colour as my own favourite of the 4.
Joakim, I much prefer the color, but then I generally prefer color images, since I'm not color blind.
As for the shots, I actually much prefer the first one in color, and it is now my favorite. I like the contrast of the yellow and orange leaves with the grays of the stone and trees.
Nice shots Joakim! I prefer the B/W images although I would have perhaps liked a bit more contrast.
I've been busy the past week with work stuff but I had time to think a bit about the M9 today. I was in a camera store and asked if they by any chance had a 50 lux asph in stock. They laughed and said that the waiting time was about 6 months. No online retailer in Sweden has them in store nor have I been able to find any online retailers in EU that ship to Sweden that have it in store. In the camera shop they told me that Leica had a massive problem with lens supply as all their production capacity was currently allocated for producing cameras - the M9 has been a far greater success than they expected.
Anyway, this complicates things for me. I had made up my mind about the 50 lux asph which would form my kit together with a Zeiss 25/2.8 and Zeiss 35/2. As I can't get it, I've got a 50mm problem - plus I've started having second thoughts about the Zeiss 35/2.
So as it looks now:
25mm: Zeiss 25/2.8 - set. No problems there.
35mm: 35/2 Biogon or 35/2 cron. I was originally thinking Biogon but as much as I like Zeiss after seeing some comparison shots I'm not sure what to think. The Zeiss has IMO a nicer rendering but the cron blows it away when it comes to sharpness and contrast.
50mm: Here it gets difficult. I'd prefer the 50 summilux asph but apparently I'm not going to be able to lay my hands on one any time soon.
That leaves me with the following choices: Zeiss 50/1.5, Zeiss 50/2 and 50 cron. The 50/1.5 seems to be a nice portrait lens, but I dislike the idea of having to recalibrate it the first thing I do. It's also not very sharp wide open. The Zeiss 50/2 seems to be an excellent lens but is just an f/2. The 50/2 cron is also an option - I have been pleasantly surprised by its rendering style.
So what do I do? Do I go completely Zeiss? Which 50 do I pick then - f/1.5 or f/2? Do I go with two Zeiss lenses and one Leica? In that case, which Leica - the 35 or 50 cron? I could of course wait for the 50 lux to be restocked but I don't really feel like waiting. And although it's not absolutely necessary, I would not mind having at least one high quality Leica lens - just to see what all the fuss is about.
I'm not much of a portrait shooter but I primarily like landscape and nature photography. I really like the Zeiss rendering style and I love interesting and lively bokeh. I often do wide aperture landscape photography and shoot wide open most of the time.
Joakim, excellent shots! Much prefer the colour versions.
Luka, the ZM 50/2 Planar is an amazing lens and won't disappoint you. The 50 Summilux Asph, you can always buy second hand, and update as the new one become available. You will not lose any value reselling.
Luka, I have the the 35 Cron IV and even if I am a great Zeiss fan there is no way that I am going to part from this lens and replace it with another brand. The quality is just amazing in my opinion. I ordered a 50 Lux about two months ago and I have no idea when I'll get it but because of the praise it has got and since I decided that it will be my fast lens in my Leica kit I am prepared to wait.
I am however looking out for used 50mm and if I find something interesting I might buy one and just keep it until my Lux arrives. Then again I am currently in no hurry even if it is a little strange when 35 mm is your longest lens on a FF camera
Charles, the 50/2 Planar vs 50/1.5 C Sonnar - what's your opinion there? The Sonnar is a bit more compact, f/1.5 and not exceptionally sharp wide open, correct? What about the Sonnar at f/2? Does the 50/2 Planar suffer from focus shift?
Joakim, regarding the 35 cron - is it just a question of optical perfection or does it have something going for it in the rendering style department (i.e. does it have an interesting style). The 35/3 Biogon from what I can see is relatively weak wide open in terms of raw optical performance but it has a very nice OOF rendering. Another argument perhaps against getting the Biogon is the fact that I already have two 35mm Zeiss lenses.. so a Leica may be a good alternative.
Luka, my advice is to get something like the Planar 50 since they're available and not overly expensive and go ahead and get your M9 and start shooting. You're not really going to know what you'll like until you have it and use it. My lens choices have changed a lot since I first got my M8. At some point, you really need to try one of the Leica lenses because you may not find the ultra contrast of Zeiss lenses as much to your liking as you think. In any case, they're different and you need to see the difference for yourself. I started off thinking I had to have at least my basic three lenses figured out and while I still have two of them, I rarely use them.
Charles and I both tried the Sonnar 50. My experience, and I think he'll agree, was that even though they were supposed to be optimized for f/1.5, they were not. That was with two different new copies for me. I haven't used my Planar very much but I haven't seen any sign of focus shift. Charles has used his more I believe so he can answer that better. It's just too slow for how I use 50's plus that high contrast doesn't work well in low light either.
The 35, 40, and 50 Cron's are all excellent lenses. Very sharp, more contrast than the Lux's except for possibly the ASPH's. If I didn't use the speed of the Lux, I'd have a Cron 50. Since I've got the Cron 40, I don't feel the need for a Cron 35. I have a Lux 35 but I use it so little that I'm thinking about selling it to feed my 50mm habit. Based on Charles' posts, there's no way I'd choose the Biogon 35 over the Cron 35.
No online retailer in Sweden has them in store nor have I been able to find any online retailers in EU that ship to Sweden that have it in store. In the camera shop they told me that Leica had a massive problem with lens supply as all their production capacity was currently allocated for producing cameras - the M9 has been a far greater success than they expected.