New M8.2

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m8point2

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Got my first Leica today - m8.2 and a 50mm summilux. Never used a rangerfinder before. I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. Nice and quite shutter. Can't wait to get out there and try. What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?

El
 
the Noctilux is very big for stealthy shooting and it gets noticed by everybody. it is also heavy (carrying it around all day) and very slow to focus accurately....

i love mine, mind you, but it is not a great street lens, especially if you're new to rangefinders. i would consider getting a wider lens initially (28 or 35) and save thoughts of the Nocti once you've gotten used to the RF -- and, even then, realise what the Nocti's strengths are: low light shooting when no other lens will do.
 
I have seen a couple of good street shots with this combination (M8/Noctiux) but the lens doesn't work for everybody. That said, if you have the $$$ and don't mind to spent it for that lens... Why not ? 🙂

For street shooting people usually choose a fairly wide lens, which stopped down has a quite large depth of field and allows for scale focusing. On the other hand, with the Noctilux you can isolate objects in dim light but only if your focusing skills are very good.
 
m8point2 said:
Got my first Leica today - m8.2 and a 50mm summilux. Never used a rangerfinder before. I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. Nice and quite shutter. Can't wait to get out there and try. What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?

El
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This has to be a joke? If you want to shoot like HCB get an old screw mount RF, and some film.

Richard
 
maddoc said:
I have seen a couple of good street shots with this combination (M8/Noctiux) but the lens doesn't work for everybody. That said, if you have the $$$ and don't mind to spent it for that lens... Why not ? 🙂

For street shooting people usually choose a fairly wide lens, which stopped down has a quite large depth of field and allows for scale focusing. On the other hand, with the Noctilux you can isolate objects in dim light but only if your focusing skills are very good.
Click to expand...

you know i love this lens but, after using it as my walkaround to get to know it, i do think it's a PITA to use on the street -- especially with the crop factor. too long, too little DOF. people notice this slab of glass it's near impossible to get stealthy shots on the street (well, in focus at least). and then there would be the need for ND filters if you wanted to shoot wide open during the day..... even you have to admit that the 35 pre-asph is a better street lens for everyday use. (he's just starting out for goodness sake!)
 
First of all congratulation for your new kit. The summilux 50 is a great lens which I also love. Wide open at close distance the dof is of course narrow and focusing requires some training for moving objects. This is even more valid for the Noctilux which is a superb lens for night photography. For street shots I prefer my summicron 28 which allows to add some of the surrondings to the picture. There are some new wider lenses out soon which I will look at.
So with the summilux 50 already in your pocket I would recommend to look for these, i.e. summilux 21 or 24 instead of looking for a Noctilux. I you do not need the high speed there are other good wide angle lenses. Have a look on the Leica site.

Regards
Steve
 
m8point2 said:
Got my first Leica today - m8.2 and a 50mm summilux. Never used a rangerfinder before. I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. Nice and quite shutter. Can't wait to get out there and try. What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?

El
Click to expand...

Why not try what you've just got? After a month or two, you may or may not feel the need supplemental lenses.
 
cam said:
..... even you have to admit that the 35 pre-asph is a better street lens for everyday use. (he's just starting out for goodness sake!)
Click to expand...

That's my opinion, sure ! Especially with the slightly cropped sensor of the M8/M8.2 and the more with the Epson R-D1s. But ... if the OP likes the 50mm FL on his M8 and is keen to shoot with this focal length in dark ...
On the other hand the new 24/1.4 or 21/1.4 look very promising and with the M8/M8.2 it would make a killer combo for street shooting. So - next to my favorite 35mm Summilux pre-ASPH - there are some interesting alternatives if money isn't a problem. 🙂
 
m8point2 said:
I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. [...] What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?
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If you want to shoot like Bresson, go shooting lots of pictures instead of worrying about what lens to shoot with and posting on the Internet about it.

If there's one thing Bresson probably never did, it's worrying whether he should use a f/1.0 or a f/1.4 lens in street shooting.
 
28 Cron ASPH is nice for street shooting, captures a nice field. Quick and easy to focus too. The wide field of view lets you crop as well (though HCB didn't crop his as I recall... but I am no HCB 😛)
 
m8point2 said:
Got my first Leica today - m8.2 and a 50mm summilux. Never used a rangerfinder before. I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. Nice and quite shutter. Can't wait to get out there and try. What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?

El
Click to expand...

I know people have said it before, but I think it's got to be said succinctly: you've bought the wrong lense for street-shooting on the M8.

What you've got there is the ultimate 50mm street lense for a FILM M. On the M8 (which has a 1.33x crop factor), you've got yourself a very fast portrait lense.

If you want the camera for street shooting with a "Cartier-Bresson" 50 (this may or may not be right for you, depending on how you find you shoot), you'll want to trade the 50mm Summilux for a 35mm Summilux. When the 35 is on the M8 it is the equivalent of 46.55mm on a film M - close enough.

Forget about the Noctilux for now (and that comes from someone who has one and adores it). You have to really 'get' rangefinder photography to be able to even start using it. Cut yourself some slack and learn the ropes first...

Anyway, congrats, and we'd love to see some photos (don't worry, we know they won't look that great yet!)
 
'advanced' stealth mode

'advanced' stealth mode

urban_alchemist said:
...What you've got there is the ultimate 50mm street lense for a FILM M. ...
Click to expand...

Better find something like this:

3336203132_6bca619031.jpg

W. Acall Kyoei 35mm 3.5 (here on Leica m5, for size)

I have taped my M8, and with this on it, it looks like an old camera that hardly can do any harm. Another trick: use a collapsible rubber hood, for that true seventies 'Kodak Instamatic' look. Or, a hippie neck strap 🙂

Since its possible you're not exactly on a budget, you might wanna consider a 35mm Summilux.

Advice free of charge, just marry your 50mm off to my M5, no trouble😛
 
I wish my threads generated such a number of opinions so quickly. I'm either dull or don't start with such provocative posts, maybe both. Wiyum and jaapv, I sense the OP was hoping for some heated responses, and will be pleased... swoop picked up on that quickly.
 
m8point2 said:
Got my first Leica today - m8.2 and a 50mm summilux. Never used a rangerfinder before. I wanna do street shooting like Bresson. Nice and quite shutter. Can't wait to get out there and try. What do you think a noctilux instead for street shooting?
Click to expand...

If this isn't trolling, I don't know what is.
 
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