First photos from a RF newbie

[ssmc]

I don't know whether I ought to be posting these links at all, the results were so dire. Except for the first couple, the weather was overcast and dull for the whole weekend:

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/m6ttl&page=all

When I compare these to what I was getting with B&W in my old SLRs, I feel a bit ill:

http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/utah09&page=all
http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/ynp_09
http://www.pbase.com/smcleod965/bozeman_bw&page=all

I am sure the M6 TTL + Zeiss combo are capable of outstanding results - but perhaps not in my hands... however, I went camping in the Tetons this weekend and shot a couple of rolls under much more favorable lighting conditions. Should have the scans back early next week and maybe I will feel differently about the whole thing. I seem to have got the hang of framing and RF focusing reasonably well, I just wonder if this sort of camera (and lens) is wasted on the type of photography I do and better suited to the sort of awesome portraits and environmental shots I see on these forums.
The camera itself and the Zeiss lens are a joy to use which makes me feel even more self-doubt.

I dunno, these results just left me feeling rather flat... anyone else had some difficulty adjusting their style to get the best out of a RF coming from years (or decades) of SLR use? Or am I just expecting too much too soon given the shooting conditions?

TIA,
Scott

 

[hans voralberg]

Those photos look good mate, you're being overcritical when trying out new things that's all, take it easy.

 

[payasam]

Scott, Leicas and Contaxes were used for all kinds of work before the birth of the Exacta. A RFDR camera is just another camera. Use one, know them all.

 

[BillBingham2]

Scott,

The camera is a unique tool that allows us to capture, interrupt, create and other sorts of magical things as "artists". Each camera and lens has it's unique feel, strengths and weakness will come out different for everyone picking up the combination. Do not look for everything you shoot with a new and better combo to be great. You are a strong photographer, you stuff shows it. Do not get down on the camera or yourself. There is no magic chunks of glass, no mystical cameras bodies that produce magic every time they go it. It is your interaction with the camera and lens. It is you listening to vision and allowing it to expressed through that camera and lens.

Heck, folks have been shooting crap with 4x5 views from the beginning of time. Now days it's phone cameras, same crap, different day and format. With the exception of macro stuff, the RF is just as capable as an SLR for what you shoot, perhaps more. SLRs give you tunnel vision, what you see is what you get. An RF/VF often gives you more around the edges to look at and evaluate framing. Heck 4x5s are just a big SL (Single Lens) camera, no reflex viewing, direct only thank you very much.

As mentioned earlier, perhaps you're being a bit over critical. It takes more than 36 exposures to develop a relationship. Give it time and some rolls, the bond will develop and grow. Go shot some more stuff this weekend and share the results.

B2 (;->

 

[elshaneo]

Take it easy mate, you're doing very well, and it's your very first roll with this camera and lens combo, give them more time, I'm sure that You'll be smiling afterwards 😛

 

[nzeeman]

Hey those shots are really good - dont know why do you feel that way. i think you maybe had too high expectations - rf is just a camera - it will bring you same results as any other...
just keep up shooting those nice landscapes - i enjoy watching them.

 

[Brad Maestas]

All great advice! The crossover definitely takes some time. It's a relationship. I became very attached to framing with the relative absoluteness and perceived-security of an SLR and it was hard to ween myself off of it and start getting used to visualizing what the photo would look like after it was developed. Many of my favorite subjects and the way I shot them hinged upon the fact that I was able to see through the lens and get critical framing. Shooting architecture and other large symmetrical objects is notoriously difficult with a RF but can be improved upon with practice. If something turns out unexpectedly bad, I'll work on it until I get better at it. Shooting all the things an RF is not supposed to be good for is a great challenge and a joy for me.

You obviously have a great eye. It's just a matter of transferring it to the RF and getting used to its peculiarities. Of course, if exact framing is everything to you, you'll inevitably be disappointed (for that kind of shooting) but I like that sometimes a happy accident creates something special that I might not have captured otherwise. I like to think of it as being able to accept chaos and order equally - to have a harmony in your life.

 

[ssmc]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice!

Thanks to everyone for all the advice!

There is a lot of good, thoughtful advice (and some unexpected praise - many thanks!) in these replies.

I realized I've been looking at this all wrong. It will definitely take more than 1 roll on a rainy, windy weekend to come to grips with a new way of seeing the subject and getting the best out of it (well, my best, anyway!)

I will keep shooting and post more samples when I get the next 2 rolls back, and just generally try to chill out a bit and enjoy the M6 my own way rather than how I imagine it should be used. Thanks again for getting my head back where it belongs - behind the camera!

Best Regards,
Scott

 

[robklurfield]

Scott,

Those a very nice images. Enjoy yourself. You do really nice work.

If you don't like the shots you've taken so far, take more. We all enjoy them.

If you don't like your M, play with it some more or get something else. Life is far too short to trouble over any of this.

Have fun, take more pictures.

Oh, and don't forget to keep posting these lovely images here!

 

[robinsonphotography]

There is a lot of good, thoughtful advice (and some unexpected praise - many thanks!) in these replies.

I realized I've been looking at this all wrong. It will definitely take more than 1 roll on a rainy, windy weekend to come to grips with a new way of seeing the subject and getting the best out of it (well, my best, anyway!)

I will keep shooting and post more samples when I get the next 2 rolls back, and just generally try to chill out a bit and enjoy the M6 my own way rather than how I imagine it should be used. Thanks again for getting my head back where it belongs - behind the camera!

Best Regards,
Scott

It brought some recent memories back for me as well to read this thread--I bought my first rangefinder (an M2 with a CV 35/2.5) all of a few months ago.....when I got my first roll back, I was disappointed, I doubted all the Leica praise I'd read, that the camera was right for me; basically I had some thoughts very similar to what you wrote out in the beginning of this thread.

But I decided it was worth shooting some more, I got a good deal on the camera but not on the lens (bought it new so that I'd have it when the camera came to test it out, so selling it meant I'd lose money--wanted to wait on doing that if I could help it). I now love my Leica. Shooting it is so easy and fun, it really inspires confidence when in the hands. I still do the majority of my photography in digital and with a D700, but whenever I'm just photographing for myself (and not using artificial light), it's the Leica. Bear with it, you'll love it. And if that doesn't work, you can just give it to me 🙂

 

[Jasper Street]

I'm an RF newbie too, and my first rolls were shocking; everything was out of focus and exposed all wrong. I'm still producing crap, but now I'm able to produce crap that's in focus! 🙂 It takes time to get used to the new style of focusing and framing. I'm just excited when I see the improvement because I know it'll keep getting better. Don't be so hard on yourself!