Leica M - a failed experiment?

[David Hughes]

Finding a good lab and paying for film to be done is probably the answer. Best not to take on too much and many people who are brilliant in the studio are duffers in the darkroom.

Luckily film can be cheap. Compare the cost of (say) the M9 outfit with the M2 or M6 outfit and film.

Regards, David

 

[thegf]

i successfully loaded up 4 rolls of film (without headache!), and developed two. i am going to buy a scanner tomorrow.

in other words, i am stoked to give film a second chance!

it's kind of too bad i sold all my lenses in haste. i am just glad there were no takers on my m6. i'm not quite at square one, but i'm close enough. i've got a nokton 35 coming soon!

i tried out both a 5d mark ii and a d7000. i just couldn't get over the fact that all i wanted to do was pixel peep. and i was never happy. RF lenses seem to be much sharper than any SLR lens i've owned. i doubt i'll be getting any Leica glass any time soon, but even the Zeiss and Voigt stuff i've used has been stellar.

 

[Paul Jenkin]

When digital became the "norm" interms of user volume, I believed that I would end up "going digital" and that would be an end to my film usage of over 30 years. That, in itself, didn't bother me at the time as I mistakenly kidded myself that a photo is a photo, however it is taken.

I now use a mix of film and digital Leica M, Kinon SLR, Rolleiflex TLR, Hasselblad, Wista 4x5, Nikon D700 and a Panasonic Lumix LX3. I love using all of them as I see fit. It's fun. If it ever stops being fun, I'll sell the lot and take up something that is fun.

 

[thegf]

that's basically what i came to. i'm about to buy an x100 to fill the digital void.

 

[Ronald M]

A digital camera needs the same careful use as a film camera, from holding steady, good composition, good exposure,and proper focus . A massive number of frames will not make up for the lack of attention to above. If you work the same, the results are the same. Do not rely on auto functions 100% so they become a crutch.

 

[philosomatographer]

Ha! You should have tried switching to 4x5in (large format) film, now that is a labour of love. A baby can use a Leica M. In the beginning, I almost gave up many times. But, because it's so radically different (the process) from a DSLR, I stuck with it, slowly got better and better, and the images are in a completely different league to what any DSLR or 35mm camera can produce. I'm not that into "street" or spontaneous people photography, so 4x5in suits my vision well.

When the images have a unique look and quality, one tends to be willing to put much more effort into it. A Leica produces images that look just like any other 35mm camera, no big deal.

I also use a Leica (M3) and I will admit they are very nice cameras, with among the best image quality available in 35mm (but not universally so). But not even nearly in the same class as a decent $200 twin-reflex 6x6cm camera - such as even a Yashica - for example. I found the magic of film in larger formats, and ended up augmenting it with 35mm for when you have to go small and nimble.

Glad you made a decision that you are happy with though - I will close by saying that there probably isn't a photographer alive that doesn't believe that film is a pain in the backside. Some people just really like the results 😛

This is one of my favourite sheets to date:

​

 

[paradoxbox]

maybe i'm odd but i don't get how people can complain about the time black and white photos take.

developing black and white film takes literally 10 minutes. it's got to be one of the easiest photographic things you can do. i go outside, expose a roll, come back in, turn off the lights in my bathroom to change the film out and 15 minutes later i have the roll of film drying from a clothespin. pretty quick.

 

[philosomatographer]

I agree, paradoxbox - it really is simple, and the results very consistent. But still, many are not prepared for the discipline, and even 15 minutes of work is too much for those fully engrossed with digital's instant convenience.

I shoot B&W purely because the results are visibly different (not better, different). I've grown to mostly dislike digitally-desaturated monochrome imagery - it all looks the same.

maybe i'm odd but i don't get how people can complain about the time black and white photos take.

developing black and white film takes literally 10 minutes. it's got to be one of the easiest photographic things you can do. i go outside, expose a roll, come back in, turn off the lights in my bathroom to change the film out and 15 minutes later i have the roll of film drying from a clothespin. pretty quick.

 

[RBruceCR]

Keep them both, the M6 my dream camera (or the M3) and the digital. Shoot black and white and EIR with the Leica, get a lab to develop both and use the digital for color. Ask them to scan the negatives and play with your computer. Enjoy life, it is short!

 

[RBruceCR]

The only way I can explain it is that taking pictures is important for me. The mental de-acceleration which culminates in capturing an instant is more rewarding than the final image. I find it difficult to achieve this zen of photography with a digital camera.

Your journey is very interesting to read. It is different than mine, and that is good that way.

This is a great analysis!

 

[mathomas]

Why not use both? Like others, I've swapped back and forth a few times. I've landed on this (for now):

Digital for convenience, film for 'art'.

If I go out to "do photography", I generally take a film camera (and usually it's a medium format rig). I'm a "hybrid process" guy, so I scan and print digitally. I just love the slower process of hand-metering and using older film cameras. It's contemplative and exacting.


100 strangers: brian (22/100) by mike thomas, on Flickr

But recently, there was a big fire in the foothills near my city and the smoke blew in near sunset and created amazing photographic conditions. I took my Sony A55. I captured HD video and stills. I posted them within an hour or so, to YouTube and flickr.


Lower North Fork Fire by mike thomas, on Flickr


Horses for courses, IMO.




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