A Request of an M8 Owner

[dave lackey]

I hope this is not too pretentious, but I need a little assistance regarding an M8.

Four months ago, I started the first in a series of photographic essays documenting small town life in our region. I selected a small, untouched town as the first subject and the book will be ready to print next week. In keeping with the character of the town, I selected black and white film as the medium using my M3 and Tri-X for portraits and indoor use with the R4 and Delta 100 for outdoor use. Both using only 50mm lenses.

In July, I need to start the second in the series with the subject being a small town again but one that has recently found redevelopment and notoriety with a film production company locating in town. IMO, this town is much newer and the character is different. Trying to decide whether to shoot in film or digital. Also, color or BW?

If I decide to go digital, I would like to use the Summarit 50mm 1.5 on an M8 (possibly can figure a way to buy a good used one).

Here is where I need help. Can anyone provide some good examples of images using an M8 with a Summarit 50mm 1.5 lens? I know the crop factor is in there and I love the character of the Summarit but I really need to decide on the results with the lens on an M8.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!🙂

 

[Keith]

Dave ... I don't understand why you would consider switching mediums just because the character of the town seem different and it's somewhat newer. Surely the medium that's appropriate should be a reflection of you as the photographer rather than what may seem suitable for the subject material.

In your boots I'd be sticking with film because that's where your heart appears to be from my perspective. 🙂

 

[dave lackey]

Dave ... I don't understand why you would consider switching mediums just because the character of the town seem different and it's somewhat newer. Surely the medium that's appropriate should be a reflection of you as the photographer rather than what may seem suitable for the subject material.

In your boots I'd be sticking with film because that's where your heart appears to be from my perspective. 🙂

Good question, Keith. There are numerous reasons I am at least considering it.

1. In my recent experience with the first book, I tried mixing some images made in September with a D40 and some with either of the Leicas and Tri-X or Delta 100 film. Not only did they look completely different, the film did look much better and I wanted the images to be consistent. The digital had a look that was too sharp and BW conversions were simply awful compared to the film images. The old town and it's abandoned buildings shot in film really fit the mood. The newer town may or may not look more modern with an M8 digital file using the Summarit. I just don't know yet.

2. I really do prefer using the film for the final results. But I am trying to decide on black and white or color. If color, I may like the M8 better. Maybe not.

3. I have about $1000 invested in the first book including film, developing, scanning, etc. Since it is a limited edition book, I hope only to recover part of the out of pocket expenses. With digital, I can save that cost but in the end, it doesn't appear to much of a cost savings with having to buy an M8.

Not even sure if the 50mm lens with a crop is good or bad at this point.

Most likely I will stick with the tried and true M3 + R4 combination but it would be good to question my own thoughts before getting started.🙄

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

If I decide to go digital, I would like to use the Summarit 50mm 1.5 on an M8 (possibly can figure a way to buy a good used one).

I don't understand why you would use blue ink when a no. 2 pencil suits writing perfectly fine. It couldn't possibly be because that's what you want to do, would it?

Did you find this comment helpful? 😱


Oh...and...I actually just realized that I've posted hardly any Summarit + M8 shots online. Well, here are two; my copy is exceptional --in that it has no scratches or fog, and it's super-clean. Also, these shots were taken without (OMG!) a UV/IR-cut filter (I have since acquired a chrome 40.5 mm (which you can use on the Summarit, btw) UV/IR-cut filter.



Leica M8 + 50mm f/1.5 Summarit-M w/o UV/IR-cut filter




Leica M8 + 50mm f/1.5 Summarit-M w/o UV/IR-cut filter

 

[ChrisC]

Hi - You are used to working with a 50mm on film, but a 50mm on an M8 is a different experience, and not only because of the 1.33 factor which 'crops' the field of view to an equivalent lens of 66.5mm focal length. I find the tunnel experience of using the M8 50mm framelines disturbing to my image making, and tend not to use the 50mm focal length on the M8 [yes, there are options like magnifiers I know]. For me an added frustration of the 50m/M8 combo is that I find the framelines to be hopelessly innacurate and an unwelcome irritation when I'm working.

For what it's worth, my Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon seems permanently fixed to my M8, this gives me an effective FOV of a [approx] 46.5mm lens. For this I have a Japan Exposures 1.15 variable dioptre magnifier attached which gives a good view of the 35mm framelines [which I find fine to use - unlike those for 50mm. The 35mm frameline has a clear view, whilst the 50mm frameline has the distraction of it's paired frameline plonked in the field of view of your composition.

I hope the above is useful and worth your consideration.

.............. Chris

 

[dave lackey]

I don't understand why you would use blue ink when a no. 2 pencil suits writing perfectly fine. It couldn't possibly be because that's what you want to do, would it?

Did you find this comment helpful? 😱


Oh...and...I actually just realized that I've posted hardly any Summarit + M8 shots online. Well, here are two; my copy is exceptional --in that it has no scratches or fog, and it's super-clean. Also, these shots were taken without (OMG!) a UV/IR-cut filter (I have since acquired a chrome 40.5 mm (which you can use on the Summarit, btw) UV/IR-cut filter.



Leica M8 + 50mm f/1.5 Summarit-M w/o UV/IR-cut filter




Leica M8 + 50mm f/1.5 Summarit-M w/o UV/IR-cut filter

Thanks, Gabe...

Just returned from late coffee at a coffee shop in the little town. While driving around, I was trying to sort this out so I can begin to prepare for the project.

I am thinking that I just might shoot nothing but Tri-X. While color would be interesting, I would have to buy an M8 which is possible but difficult right now.
If I change the perspective of the essay a bit, then black and white film images with a bit of grain would be something different than the images I saw at the coffee shop.

In the meantime, please give me some more images like Gabes! Thanks so much.:angel:

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I have not used the Summarit with the M8 much as the IR cut filter not as easily found. For outside color, it makes a huge difference in the color of vegetation. A 40.5mm filter can be used on a Summarit with a few strips of teflon tape used for plumbing fixtures. For monochrome: the low-contrast and high color-correction make a great match. The Summarit has an IR index within the F2 DOF marks, do the image is not softened, great for B&W.

 

[Rob-F]

Summarit on M8.2 at ISO 640. The one with the rabbit ears/peace sign is at f/1.5. The one with the coffee cup is at f/2.8.

I wish I could post these larger. I think I have a flickr account, but I never used it and don't know how. And I need to learn the HTML for accessing the image. I can post to the gallery, but I think we are limited to 600 pixels there too, aren't we?

 

[Rob-F]

For some reason this thing won't show both pictures in one post. here's the f/2.8 shot (I hope).

 

[Jubb Jubb]

I would stay shooting film for the second half. Plus it'll save you some money!

 

[dave lackey]

And the decision has been made to stick with TriX as the only film. That being the case, I now need to decide on the M3 with the Summarit; the R4 with the Summicron or like the first essay, a combination of both.

I suppose I can wait a bit longer for that M8/M9 but acquiring one of those will be dependent on need for a paid project. These documentaries I am currently producing do not require color, soooo.... film it is.

Thanks for the responses, folks. Amazing resources.:angel:

 

[dave lackey]

dave, your r4 lens is a summicron -- summaron is a 35mm M lens

That is correct! Thank you... Spelling is no longer my forte when a 3-hour night's sleep is the norm. Summi ron cron crum crap whatever the hell you want to call it ...😛 Crazy Germans.

I challenge anyone to keep the Peachtree roads in Atlanta straight even with a normal schedule....😎 I gave up on that in the 70's. Crazy Americans.

 

[dave lackey]

Hi - You are used to working with a 50mm on film, but a 50mm on an M8 is a different experience, and not only because of the 1.33 factor which 'crops' the field of view to an equivalent lens of 66.5mm focal length. I find the tunnel experience of using the M8 50mm framelines disturbing to my image making, and tend not to use the 50mm focal length on the M8 [yes, there are options like magnifiers I know]. For me an added frustration of the 50m/M8 combo is that I find the framelines to be hopelessly innacurate and an unwelcome irritation when I'm working.

For what it's worth, my Zeiss 35mm C-Biogon seems permanently fixed to my M8, this gives me an effective FOV of a [approx] 46.5mm lens. For this I have a Japan Exposures 1.15 variable dioptre magnifier attached which gives a good view of the 35mm framelines [which I find fine to use - unlike those for 50mm. The 35mm frameline has a clear view, whilst the 50mm frameline has the distraction of it's paired frameline plonked in the field of view of your composition.

I hope the above is useful and worth your consideration.

.............. Chris

Points well taken. Going from the M3 to an M8 may be problematic for me. The VF is one of the reasons I like the R4. Large, bright and accurate framing.