Leica M8 and IR

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

Are any Leica M8 users on this forum using their M8's to produce IR images? If so I would like to hear from you regarding techniques, lenses and filters used. I started using my M8 for IR work as soon as I took it out of the box and got it going. I presently use a 15mm F4.5 Voigtlander, 28mm F2.8 Elmarit and 50mm F2.8 Elmar with the Leica IR filter and a 21mm F2.8 Elmarit with the Hoya IR 76 filter and a Lee IR gel cut to size on my 35mm F1.4 Lux. Each filter gives a different look and I'm interested in starting to experiment with lenses made by other manufacturers such as the Canon 50mm F1.2 or some of the Soviet lenses. My work can be seen here http://ronald_breeze_photography.photoworkshop.com/
on the LFI forum under windy and in the present issue of LFI.
Thanks for any replies.

 

[telluridestock]

Infocus,
Can you post some results for us to see?

 

[scho]

Are any Leica M8 users on this forum using their M8's to produce IR images? If so I would like to hear from you regarding techniques, lenses and filters used. I started using my M8 for IR work as soon as I took it out of the box and got it going. I presently use a 15mm F4.5 Voigtlander, 28mm F2.8 Elmarit and 50mm F2.8 Elmar with the Leica IR filter and a 21mm F2.8 Elmarit with the Hoya IR 76 filter and a Lee IR gel cut to size on my 35mm F1.4 Lux. Each filter gives a different look and I'm interested in starting to experiment with lenses made by other manufacturers such as the Canon 50mm F1.2 or some of the Soviet lenses. My work can be seen here http://ronald_breeze_photography.photoworkshop.com/
on the LFI forum under windy and in the present issue of LFI.
Thanks for any replies.

Several in the following gallery taken with M8, B+W 092, various CV and Zeiss lenses.
http://www.pbase.com/scho/image/80876932/original

 

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

Leica M8 and IR

Doug I'm new to this forum and not sure how to post an image that is why I provided the link. SCHO interesting image what camera settings did you use?

 

[scho]

Doug I'm new to this forum and not sure how to post an image that is why I provided the link. SCHO interesting image what camera settings did you use?

The camera settings are all given beneath each image on the pbase site (see link above). Post processing included white balance adjustment in raw conversion to remove most of red cast and red/blue channel reversal in CS3 to create false colors.

 

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

M8 IR Pics

M8 IR Pics

I hope I got the sizing correct. Here's three different looks.

 

[newyorkone]

I hope I got the sizing correct. Here's three different looks.

Nice...a little small, but...

Which IR filter did you use and how did you process them? Thanks.

 

[RichEdg]

I am very much enjoying IR with my M8

I am very much enjoying IR with my M8

I have been using a Heliopan infrarot 715 filter on a CV 21 lens. I have tried one on a Leica 35 lux but this combination produced a hot spot in the center of the image.

The CV 21 is great fun to do IR with as you can hand hold the camera at 1/24 of a second and get lovely results. I would love to be able to use my CV 15 but do not have either a filter holder or a suitable IR filter.

Best wishes

 

[LeicaTom]

Beautiful work scho!

I`d love to photograph some of my retro pinup models in some art nudes using this technique
(with some of my FAVORITE lenses like the Canon f1.5 50mm "Japanese Sonnar" and the f2.0 50mm and 85mm Nikkor in LTM)

.........does anyone have a M8 to lend out for shooting in Central Florida? (I`m serious)

Tom

 

[LeicaTom]

I hope I got the sizing correct. Here's three different looks.

Great looking work!

I wish I could get this look going in some 1950`s Sci-Fi styled pinup work.......

I`m all back to realfilm now and my IR developer/darkroom specialist has left the state 🙁

I really need to tweak something digital to IR but the M8 is out of the question unless I hit the lottery, or sell EVERYTHING I own and that would lweave me lensless......

Tom

 

[scho]

Beautiful work scho!

I`d love to photograph some of my retro pinup models in some art nudes using this technique
(with some of my FAVORITE lenses like the Canon f1.5 50mm "Japanese Sonnar" and the f2.0 50mm and 85mm Nikkor in LTM)

.........does anyone have a M8 to lend out for shooting in Central Florida? (I`m serious)

Tom

Tom,

You may be interested in this site for IR art nude studies:
http://dreamsofthegoddess.com/

Carl

 

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

IR Filter and process

IR Filter and process

newyorkone I used a Leica IR filter for all three of these and they were all processed in CS2 using the monochrome setting on channels, curves and levels. The tree and fence shot was done with the VC 15mm F4.5. I put the camera on a tripod when I use the 15 and slightly tip it back so the filter will not fall out, and use the self timer. The other two were taken with the 28 Elmarit and the Leica filter. I'll post a couple more taken with the Hoya IR and the Lee gel when I get time and I'll size them larger. I'd like to see some postings of pics taken with the other filters mentioned here. I'd also like to see some work done with the Canon 50. I'm interested in these older wides like the Canon 0.95 and the 1.2 because they are soft wide open. I'd like to see what the IR signature looks like with them.

 

[jaapv]

UV works well too...

And classic IR:

 

[gdi]

Great looking work!



I`m all back to realfilm now and my IR developer/darkroom specialist has left the state 🙁


Tom

Do it yourself in your bathroom - no problem. Plus you can get the traditional look of HIE...

 

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

jaapv give us some specifics please.

 

[Riccis]

I`m all back to realfilm now and my IR developer/darkroom specialist has left the state 🙁

Tom

Tom:

I am also in Florida, but all my film work is done by Richard Photo Lab (http://www.richardphotolab.com/) in L.A... They do great work and know how to take care of their customers.

Cheers,

Riccis

 

[jaapv]

jaapv give us some specifics please.

Yup- for UV you need a lens that is not UV filtered, like all post-1960 Leica lenses are. So it either has to be a vintage lens or a Jupiter. Here I used a 1954 Summarit 1.5/50 @ 4.0, with a B&W 403 filter. I simply clicked the grey eyedropper in C1 on a gravestone for the colour balance. Note that the focussing is off like with IR, but in the opposite direction! Infinity is correct.


For IR not all lenses are suitable, some will produce a hot spot. Again, vintage lenses are preferable. I used the Summaron 3.5/3,5 goggled here @ f 5.6
The filter was B&W 093, colour balancing using the sliders and colour wheel in C1.
In both cases I used the camera at AE and it exposed correctly.

Levels etc. in PS of course.

It is always wise to bracket focussing.

 

[infocusf8@earthlink.]

M8 IR Pics

M8 IR Pics

This was taken with a 35 Lux pre aspheric and a Lee IR gel in B&W mode.