denoir wrote:
Yes, well Rod, you don't get to decide what this thread is or is not. You may not like my contributions but there are others that do. You are of course free to say what you want, I was just pointing out the irony of you moaning about discussions instead of pictures through posting stuff that has zero to do with Leica or pictures.
The solution to your issue is trivial - look at the pictures and don't bother with the text.
Anyway, I'm done with this discussion. You Dan and Carsten have made your position clear and I think I have made mine clear as well so there is nothing more to add. You are of course free to continue it, but it will be a monologue on your part I'm afraid. Although I like discussions about cameras and lenses, I'm not all that into discussions about discussions about cameras and lenses. So to quote Carsten: Carry on.
Luka, I enjoy your photos *and* analysis. If we just post photos and ooh and ahh, then we might as well close shop and go home. I suspect your initial negative reaction will change as you discovered more and more to work with the lens idiosyncrasies. I found your postings are useful even though you ranked the lens per your personal taste which is different from mine (I sold off Zeiss 100mm MP ZE, 35mm f2 ZE, 35mm f1.4, 21mm f2.8 ZE, 50mm 1.7 for Leicas). Continue the analysis please :-)
I don't remember what I had in mind when I took it but it was the rendering of the texture that caught my eye as well when I was processing the images from that day. It's actually just as sharp and detailed at 100%.
cuonghuutran wrote:
Luka, I enjoy your photos *and* analysis. If we just post photos and ooh and ahh, then we might as well close shop and go home. I suspect your initial negative reaction will change as you discovered more and more to work with the lens idiosyncrasies. I found your postings are useful even though you ranked the lens per your personal taste which is different from mine (I sold off Zeiss 100mm MP ZE, 35mm f2 ZE, 35mm f1.4, 21mm f2.8 ZE, 50mm 1.7 for Leicas). Continue the analysis please :-)
Thanks Cuong! I will.
I suspect you are right, getting to know and like a lens is often for me a process that takes time. One of the lenses that took me the longest to work out and learn how to use is the Zeiss 21/2.8 Distagon - now my favorite lens. Other lenses I've really loved from the start (such as the formerly yours Rokkor) but the 75 Cron seem to fall into the "grows on you" category - at least for me.
But I'm determined to give it a full workout - as a matter of fact according to my Lightroom database it's my most used lens for the M9 (followed closely by the Sonnar). The reason is rather simple - I already know how to operate a Zeiss lens and know what I'll get from it. The 75 Cron is different though and I feel I need more time and experimentation to learn its strong and weak points and see how to fit it in with my current photography or to discover new possibilities with it.
cuonghuutran wrote:
Luka, I enjoy your photos *and* analysis. If we just post photos and ooh and ahh, then we might as well close shop and go home. (...) Continue the analysis please :-)
How true. Luka, thanks for sharing both your wonderful photography as well as your very interesting analyses and writings. Keep up the good work.
I agree with Cuong and Morten. Also, I love that picture of the red wall. I just might have to travel to Stockholm sometime to check up on my national history and the old parts of the city.
Luka, it seems Sweden has very kind light. In your recent tests I notice less golden hour shots but the light seems kind. Thanks for continuing to post and for the discussion to all..I find the pictures and conversations to be very helpful.
Morten, Rasmus and Edward, thanks! I really appreciate it.
Edward, yes during winter the light comes at an oblique angle most of the day (which is very short) which is good for photos. The days are however exceptionally short - the sun goes up about 9 AM and goes down about 3 PM. So apart from weekends it's difficult to find any opportunity for photography.
Interesting Luka.. here it is such hard light, most of the day.. and when the day is over and the light may be right - nothing but cloudless, characterless skies. I believe I am going to take a weekend trip in a week to get out of here and have a chance to shoot some things new to me.. and more interesting. If I haven't sold the x1 by then (probably not) i'll give it one more try.. but to be honest, it seems like I like it less every time I shoot with it now... it's bloody frustrating - more blurred shots at 1/60 tonight and I tried to be careful, although I forgot the string monopod by accident (too little time and ran out)
Here are some shots of a newly born foal, named "Emily". Also shots of a yearling named "Jemima". All the shots again with 50 Lux Asph. Last time I used the ZE 50MP for similar shots. I definitely prefer the 50 Lux for these shots of horses
My perspective it is so important for positive critique and evaluation to be part of the thread. There is so much to be learned about the Leica lenses and cameras, and I feel personally, that I am only scratching the surface and truly enjoying the process of learning. There are other threads such as GetDPI, Leica forum and Range Finder forum that also contribute knowledge data base too. To date there have been some great contributions.
Excellent horse shot Charles! The B/W photo is my favorite. There is definitely something about that Lux rendering. I'm can't put my finger on it exactly but there is a certain pastel-like quality to it. It's very evident in #2, #3. I love it in #2 but find it perhaps a bit overwhelming in #3 but still nice. The 75 Cron has a similar trait but IMO both lenses can take it a bit too far or occasion. I've found that in those cases doing a B/W conversion usually works.
Nice use of the light in that last photo Luka and overall a lot of impressive photos with the 75 cron.
Great set Charles! For me the first one is perfect example of what you can accomplish with the 50 Lux besides from being a very nice photo Apart from the first one, the fourth and the last are my favourites. I am not going to analyse the second one where the horse's butts are in focus but their heads are out of focus, maybe it's a cultural thing
Thank you Luka The 50 Lux has definite unique signature. I remember prior to knowing anything about the specifics of Leica rendering, I do recall this was the look that I loved in the portraits from the forums
Charles, love the first shot. As for the second, I have to agree with Joakim, perhaps it's a culture thing
I think unfortunately that I really need to send in my M9 for calibration. I've done more careful tests and basically all my lenses front focus to varying degrees. It's easiest to encounter in practice with the 75 Cron due to its thin DOF but the Zeiss 35/2 Biogon is actually worse. The thing is that I think there is more to it than calibration. When I adjust the rangefinder horizontally (with a hex key) for correct focus near MFD it won't converge at infinity (the rangefinder patch won't overlap the viewfinder image and I'm getting a double image at mechanical infinity). So I think the problem may be more serious.
The reason why I have not sent it in is because I have a hard time parting with it but also because I need it back relatively quickly as I'll be doing some travelling in December. My coming Egypt trip was one of the factors why I finally decided on the M9 so it would be exceptionally silly not to have it along. Six or even four weeks of repair time simply isn't acceptable. I also need to send my 50/1.5 Sonnar for focus adjustment to Zeiss and possibly the 35/2 because of front focus. I can't do that until I know that the M9 is focusing properly.
I cannot agree more, just have the M9 and lenses calibrated. For me, the M9 and 50 Lux Asph being able catch focus wide open 99% of the time is fun, and just concentrate on composition.
Also be clear on your time constraint, and see if this can be met in your time frame. To date they have been very accomadating for me, and most cases just 3 weeks complete turnaround
charles.K wrote:
Here are some shots of a newly born foal, named "Emily". Also shots of a yearling named "Jemima". All the shots again with 50 Lux Asph. Last time I used the ZE 50MP for similar shots. I definitely prefer the 50 Lux for these shots of horses
Wow, shots number 2, 4 and 5 really show this lens off, and the B&W conversion also looks great!
