jeedegee
Newbie
Wonderful pics! Very inspiring post you made! Congratulations with your new camera..!
I'm a new M8 user myself and LOVE the character of pictures this camera can make....
Keep up the good work!
Greetzz...
I'm a new M8 user myself and LOVE the character of pictures this camera can make....
Keep up the good work!
Greetzz...
deirdre
Well-known
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Not that thread ... the particular pics I'm thinking of were in colour and in a fairly remote landscape. They were absolutely breathtaking!
SolaresLarrave
My M5s need red dots!
I always stop to look, at least, at these threads by Colin. Your work is most enjoyable and I'm glad you got a tool like the M8. Keep them coming! And thanks for posting too! 
deirdre
Well-known
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
That's them ... absolutely stunning! Those pics really live in my mind for some reason and it was nice to see them again.
He's a hell of a photographer IMO and I don't care what camera he uses as long as he keeps posting here.
Thanks for searching out that thread ... much appreciated.
hamustar
Member
Great writeup, Colin, and cool shots as usual. Hey u just managed to ramp up the prices for M8s
I've also just gotten mine over Film M choices, basically because of difficulty in getting good labs for colour, and also coz i don't self develop my b&w.
I've also just gotten mine over Film M choices, basically because of difficulty in getting good labs for colour, and also coz i don't self develop my b&w.
R
rpsawin
Guest
Colin,
Congrats on the M8! I really enjoyed your post and look forward to seeing more of your work....really wonderful.
Best regards,
Bob
Congrats on the M8! I really enjoyed your post and look forward to seeing more of your work....really wonderful.
Best regards,
Bob
BishT
Member
Colin,
This is one of the best posts I've seen in a very long time, thank you. You are a gifted artist, please post more photos. Any thought about releasing a book?
Best regards,
Tim
This is one of the best posts I've seen in a very long time, thank you. You are a gifted artist, please post more photos. Any thought about releasing a book?
Best regards,
Tim
deirdre
Well-known
He's a hell of a photographer IMO and I don't care what camera he uses as long as he keeps posting here.
Thanks for searching out that thread ... much appreciated.
No -- thank you for mentioning it!
Colin's a fabulous photographer. He could use soda cans and it'd come out grand.
I think my favorite of this thread's photos is the first one.
robklurfield
eclipse
Colin, this was well worth the wait based on your gorgeous images. Use it in good health and keep sharing your work here.
peterm1
Veteran
I have just received, like the originator of this thread, an M8 - 4 years on and I am pretty impressed.
I may as well ask people here something that's been interesting me - How well do you think the M8 handles contrasty situations. I have been shooting mainly with a 1980s era Summicron 50 and Summicron 35 and my impression (with these lenses at least) is the M8 handles high contrast better on average than my Nikon (D70s and D200) or my Panasonic L1 / Leica digilux.
Any one else have thoughts on their impressions regarding this?
I may as well ask people here something that's been interesting me - How well do you think the M8 handles contrasty situations. I have been shooting mainly with a 1980s era Summicron 50 and Summicron 35 and my impression (with these lenses at least) is the M8 handles high contrast better on average than my Nikon (D70s and D200) or my Panasonic L1 / Leica digilux.
Any one else have thoughts on their impressions regarding this?
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Krosya
Konicaze
This once again proves that it doesnt matter what cameras you use - its the photographer. I enjoyed these just as much as your film series from China. Digital or not - you just take great photos, Colin. Keep'em coming!
kemal_mumcu
Well-known
Very nice Colin. I've enjoyed your posts before. Good to see you around.
You actually made me want to get an M8 - something i never ever think about.
You actually made me want to get an M8 - something i never ever think about.
Avotius
Some guy
Thanks to everyone who commented, and those who looked. I am afraid I am late answering because our internet, as well as the internet all over here has been quite slow recently getting on sites outside the domestic walls. But anyway.....
Is your husband from Asia?
I am glad you sold the camera to me too! I was quite worried about buying a used digital camera like the M8 but I figured if I found the right one on RFF I would be ok. Looks like it all worked out. The camera fits my style just fine, and as soon as I can get out and take more photos I will put more up.
Indeed, obviously the camera is not capable of taking photos of anything but IR infested purple stuff as proved here.
Nice IR photo, I am playing around with the other photos I already snapped still, I am a little surprised at how easy it is to take IR photos. How are you focusing? I found if I use the IR focus mark on my lens it is way out. If I just use the RF to focus without compensation its fine.
I also think I will get a less aggressive IR filter as well, just for fun.
Yeah gear talk, lots of that, after writing it I was a little surprised how techy it was but its also a explanation of how I use it so....guess its ok though.
I like to take "environmental portraits" I think it gives the subject more context.
I would agree with that. The best landscape photos I have taken were with 50mm or more, even up to 320mm. The best portraits however were with 50 and wider.
How hard can it be?
All part of my post process look. I am not big on the whole huge saturation color whatever, but since I am into contrast, that does kick saturation up a lot, so I tone it down.
I want to post more too, take more photos, do more stuff. Frankly however the last two years have really sucked. Working 3 sometimes 4 part time jobs, coming home and not wanting to go out again, then there was the very big photo project for a certain yellow rectangular magazine that fell through, etc etc etc and so on. All culminating in depression that just sapped the life out of me.
I use the Leica IR/UV filters on my 35, 21 and 28 mm lenses. And I use a B+W on my 50mm. I always have them on. It is not nearly as much trouble to leave a filter on as people said, except my 21 and 28, which share a 46mm thread and I only have one filter.....
Contrast, levels, and then a color mask desaturated the entire image by however much I wanted, usually 30-40%. I used the contrast and levels adjustments to give the photos a kind of color burn look like I used to burn photos in the dark room. That and the sharpening and what not. On the ISO 2500 photos I did apply serious chroma noise reduction, but luminous noise I am ok with so I didnt make an effort to deal with that. I find Photoshop's Camera Raw noise removal to be very very effective in removing chroma noise from the M8's photos without effecting overall details or colors, ie. no color shifts from applying large amounts of chroma reduction as I have seen from time to time with other raw files from my Canon's, Olympus or Ricoh's.
I still have that camera sitting here, I have not used it much in the last few years im afraid.......but that was my first rangefinder, and it cemented me into this style of camera for good.
Thanks for taking a look!
I will post more photos as soon as I have a chance to edit them up. Unfortunately I am of the type that takes photos and cannot touch them until a later time.
I have though of trying a book from time to time, my wife is writing a book right now, about me and her in fact, and in time I hope I will be able to break this depression and get into it as well.
I found the M8 as a sensor and a metal body to handle contrasty situations just fine, as good as my other cameras I guess. But what really pushes is over the edge is the Zeiss lenses, which are contrasty but are very very good at retaining bright details before they get blown out. Compared to my Canon lenses I would say I get about 1.5-2 stops extra headway with the Zeiss lenses before the histogram goes off the right end and the bright details look like hell.
That said however, I am not one of those people who "exposes to the right" because I am more interested in the contrast and look of the image. If you always expose to the right sometimes the light exposed is not appropriate for the photo you are taking. Most of my histograms are in fact exposed to the left, but that is part of my high contrast look too. Extra noise is there comparatively though....but I am fine with that, and the M8 digs dark details out better than other cameras I have used, so its win win for me.
Is your husband from Asia?
Wonderful stuff Colin ... those images are just beautiful and make me extremely happy that I sold my camera to you.
I never missed it until just now ... I always figured your style of shooting was made for an M8 and this confirms it!
Cheers ... Keith
I am glad you sold the camera to me too! I was quite worried about buying a used digital camera like the M8 but I figured if I found the right one on RFF I would be ok. Looks like it all worked out. The camera fits my style just fine, and as soon as I can get out and take more photos I will put more up.
Indeed, obviously the camera is not capable of taking photos of anything but IR infested purple stuff as proved here.
M8 in good hands, thanks for sharing! China is also so rich with photo opportunities, makes me envy
Nice IR photo, I am playing around with the other photos I already snapped still, I am a little surprised at how easy it is to take IR photos. How are you focusing? I found if I use the IR focus mark on my lens it is way out. If I just use the RF to focus without compensation its fine.
I also think I will get a less aggressive IR filter as well, just for fun.
Yeah gear talk, lots of that, after writing it I was a little surprised how techy it was but its also a explanation of how I use it so....guess its ok though.
I like to take "environmental portraits" I think it gives the subject more context.
Slightly OT, but: the more photos I take, the more I've come to the (personal) conclusion that powerful portrait are the domain of (moderate) wide angles, while powerful landscape photos are best taken with (sometimes not so moderate) tele lenses. Portraits seldom work without context for me, and landscapes seldom work with too much context
I would agree with that. The best landscape photos I have taken were with 50mm or more, even up to 320mm. The best portraits however were with 50 and wider.
Great article, thanks for sharing your story, one can really feel the emotions and the spirit of falling in love with the M8.
And I LOVE your signature!
How hard can it be?
I didn't knew Leica M8 shot Polachrome.
All part of my post process look. I am not big on the whole huge saturation color whatever, but since I am into contrast, that does kick saturation up a lot, so I tone it down.
I want to post more too, take more photos, do more stuff. Frankly however the last two years have really sucked. Working 3 sometimes 4 part time jobs, coming home and not wanting to go out again, then there was the very big photo project for a certain yellow rectangular magazine that fell through, etc etc etc and so on. All culminating in depression that just sapped the life out of me.
I use the Leica IR/UV filters on my 35, 21 and 28 mm lenses. And I use a B+W on my 50mm. I always have them on. It is not nearly as much trouble to leave a filter on as people said, except my 21 and 28, which share a 46mm thread and I only have one filter.....
Contrast, levels, and then a color mask desaturated the entire image by however much I wanted, usually 30-40%. I used the contrast and levels adjustments to give the photos a kind of color burn look like I used to burn photos in the dark room. That and the sharpening and what not. On the ISO 2500 photos I did apply serious chroma noise reduction, but luminous noise I am ok with so I didnt make an effort to deal with that. I find Photoshop's Camera Raw noise removal to be very very effective in removing chroma noise from the M8's photos without effecting overall details or colors, ie. no color shifts from applying large amounts of chroma reduction as I have seen from time to time with other raw files from my Canon's, Olympus or Ricoh's.
I still have that camera sitting here, I have not used it much in the last few years im afraid.......but that was my first rangefinder, and it cemented me into this style of camera for good.
I always stop to look, at least, at these threads by Colin. Your work is most enjoyable and I'm glad you got a tool like the M8. Keep them coming! And thanks for posting too!
Thanks for taking a look!
I will post more photos as soon as I have a chance to edit them up. Unfortunately I am of the type that takes photos and cannot touch them until a later time.
I have though of trying a book from time to time, my wife is writing a book right now, about me and her in fact, and in time I hope I will be able to break this depression and get into it as well.
I found the M8 as a sensor and a metal body to handle contrasty situations just fine, as good as my other cameras I guess. But what really pushes is over the edge is the Zeiss lenses, which are contrasty but are very very good at retaining bright details before they get blown out. Compared to my Canon lenses I would say I get about 1.5-2 stops extra headway with the Zeiss lenses before the histogram goes off the right end and the bright details look like hell.
That said however, I am not one of those people who "exposes to the right" because I am more interested in the contrast and look of the image. If you always expose to the right sometimes the light exposed is not appropriate for the photo you are taking. Most of my histograms are in fact exposed to the left, but that is part of my high contrast look too. Extra noise is there comparatively though....but I am fine with that, and the M8 digs dark details out better than other cameras I have used, so its win win for me.
ali_baba
Well-known
great frames.
you'll get the feel of the metering with time.
cheers,
you'll get the feel of the metering with time.
cheers,
Xherion
Member
Wow, those photos are really inspirational, good eyes and very nice PP.
Makes me want to get an M8 when i am already decided i won't get it
Great work!
Makes me want to get an M8 when i am already decided i won't get it
Great work!
deirdre
Well-known
Colin, my husband's American, but as a child he lived in Hong Kong.
