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Archive 2011 · Egypt with Leica & Zeiss
  
 
j.liam
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p.5 #1 · Egypt with Leica & Zeiss


adamdewilde wrote:
With the M9, when I see something I like, I hold the camera up to my eye, the viewfinder is so wide open that I can see things outside my frame lines (I use a 50 fyi). So no tunnel vision, which means if something doesn't work, I simply re-angle myself without removing the camera from my eye, since I can see the scene around me.

Granted there's a size factor that isn't as intrusive or threatening to subjects but a zoom on a DSLR will provide the same tool for re-framing, will it not? And without the technical challenge of achieving proper focus with a RF, even more difficult with lenses longer than 75mm.


Jan 12, 2011 at 08:59 AM
denoir
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p.5 #2 · Egypt with Leica & Zeiss


j.liam wrote:
Granted there's a size factor that isn't as intrusive or threatening to subjects but a zoom on a DSLR will provide the same tool for re-framing, will it not? And without the technical challenge of achieving proper focus with a RF, even more difficult with lenses longer than 75mm.

Well, there are a couple of things that are different. The viewfinder is essentially just a piece of glass you are looking through and the framelines are projected on it. So you have a larger field of view than the actual frame and you see quite a bit outside the frame (especially with longer lenses). This means that you see for instance when somebody is about to walk into the frame. You have a much better situational awareness than you get with the tunnel vision when looking through a lens.

This is good for street photography as it allows some planning ahead.

Another difference is that you can train yourself to have both eyes open. The M9 isn't entirely ideal for this - there are other rangefinders with 1:1 magnification - but it can be done. Then you have full stereo vision and you can make eye contact with people. This is interesting for portraits as the camera will be more to the right of your face than a DSLR and at close distances the subject will naturally look you in the eyes rather than at the lens & camera.

Focusing a rangefinder can be very easy or very difficult. Wide angles are much easier to focus on an RF camera than on a DSLR (manual focus anyway). Tele lenses on the other hand are much harder to focus as you have no DOF feedback to help you.


Jan 12, 2011 at 09:27 AM
adamdewilde
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p.5 #3 · Egypt with Leica & Zeiss


j.liam wrote:
Granted there's a size factor that isn't as intrusive or threatening to subjects but a zoom on a DSLR will provide the same tool for re-framing, will it not? And without the technical challenge of achieving proper focus with a RF, even more difficult with lenses longer than 75mm.


Yes and no, if you read what Denoir wrote, you'll get the first part of the answer. Second, I don't actually use AF lenses anymore for my critical focus work. And I've gotten quite fast and accurate with both the DSLR (from my love of ZE lenses), and the M9 simply because I've been using the 50 1.5 Sonnar, and that things a challenge and a half to use.. You actually have to mentally focus wrong, to get the focus right.
Anyway, to elaborate on why a zoom isn't the same (after Denoir's writings are taken into consideration). With a zoom, you can zoom out, see the scene as a wide, then slowly zoom in till you frame a scene as you see fit, so yes you're right. However, with a RF you're looking and seeing what's around you in real time, but yet you're aware of your frame and at any second you could snap a shot with the framing your camera is setup for. Not zooming means you have to actually walk forward and back. Getting use the the idea of moving while the camera is up to your eye is quite interesting for street photography (as long as your mindful of cars). And in that movement while actually holding the camera, your brain starts to frame the world, and while you look up, your camera looks up, and you start to see angles that you'd have not thought to shoot had you just been looking around aimlessly.
Now I'm not saying you can't do this with a DSLR (or train your eye), I'm just saying I don't for my type of work. So when I'm out shooting street scenes out of my comfort zone, the RF helps me develop this method of seeing, moving, capturing.


My longest lens is the 70-200 2.8L I rarely use it, like maybe at the zoo, even then I opt for the 100 MP ZE as I like the images it produces better, and I just stick to animals that are much closer to me. My second longest lens is the 85mm which is fantastic, but honestly I mainly use 100 MP ZE, 50 MP ZE, 35 ZE in studio. When out shooting with a RF I use 50, 35, 28 and even then it's mainly 50... Currently I have 5 50's that I'm playing with, trying to see which one I like the best. It's really funny because although all are great, I seem to gravitate towards the 50 1.5 Sonnar (maybe because I don't have the 50lux-asph) maybe because I like the challenge of hitting focus with a lens that's problematic

haha, sorry for the long explanation.

Adam
Jan 12, 2011 at 02:58 PM
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