Low light. M8.2+35 lux asph or M9+35cron V4

[Roel]

I am looking for a way to better the low light performance of my m8.2 and 35mm cron V4.

What do you guys think. Should I look into a M9 and boost low light performance (also my 24mm 2.8 and 50mm cron) or should I invest.. in a 35mm summilux ASPH and keep shooting with the M8.2.

I'm interested in your views.

 

[twopointeight]

I have am M8.2 and a 35mm lux asph and it is a very good combo for me. A normal angle of view with a little extra depth of field, and I can really dig into the shadows at 640 asa @ 1.4. But usually i'm @320 asa and f2. The shutter is easy to hold to 1/8 of a second, so that's a lot of low light capability.

 

[jsrockit]

1) Are you happy with the crop sensor and 10mp resolution?
2) Would you like to use your lenses at there native focal length?

If you are only buying the M9 to gain higher ISO, I think you will be disappointed.

 

[Turtle]

M9 + CV 35 1.2 II. This will give you about 2.5-3 stops improvement. A stop or poss a bit more from the M9 over the M8.2 (simply down to larger sensor and so reduced enlargement factor for noisy shadows and a stop and a half of aperture from the CV lens.

 

[f16sunshine]

I would want to have the corners of my lenses. Sounds like finances are not the deciding factor. I agree with Turtle in this case. M9 and CV f1.2/35mm for low light. Keep the cron v4 around for a smaller kit when you don't need the light gathering capability of the Nokton. The 35 asph is really very difficult to find.

 

[Shade]

Yep the M9 plus vc 35/1.2 v2 sounds like a very nice idea.

 

[rdeleskie]

If resources are limited, ALWAYS spend the money on the better or higher capacity lens, IMO. If you purchase the M9 you may (will) want a M10 or M11 one day. If you buy the 35 Summilux asph you may never need another lens, and if you do decide to sell it some day it will retain much, much more value than the body.

If resources are not an issue, buy the M9 and the Summilux.

 

[Roel]

Wow already lot's of replies. Thanx guys.

Well unfortunatally money is an issue. I have to stretch to get to a solution and buying a M9 and lux is not an option.

So I have to choose and was wondering how a m8'2 and 1.4 lens at 640 iso would compare to the M9 + cron at 1250 iso. Is it comparable or does the M9 combi blow away the M8.2?


Some how I think a more light sensitive lens would be smarter to choose now and wait what happens with m10/11 and perhaps get a M9 later for a lower price.

To be honest I already looked at the VC 35 1.2 as an option. Probably the smartest option is to keep the m8.2 and get the VC.
(I have the 40mm VC 1.4 . Liked it on the m6ttl but on the M8.2 it has a heavy back focus wide open so it doesn't give me much confidence as the solution..)


At the same time I think about all the money invested in the Msystem and not having the M9..Why wait to have the Full frame option..

To make the decission even more complicated I still have my M6ttl and want to also shoot more film again.

 

[35mmdelux]

We need to learn to stretch what we have to its fullest capacity. Anything less is a waste of money, similar to driving a Bugatti at 50 KPH, as they say.

 

[rodl]

My M9 performs noticeably better at high ISO than my M8. You do need to consider the difference in the lens behavior. I found that some lenses I'd used a lot with the M8 are not getting used with the M9.

 

[Turtle]

I just got my 35 1.2 II today and it is not as big or ungainly as expected. If it performs as well as other peoples seem to be, I will have no desire for the 35 lux FLE. The price of the latter I cannot justify and the CV appears to be an absolute winner with everything from great build to tremendous IQ.

I think it is important not to be seduced by this notion that a lens that is less than the best cannot be more than enough. I have no trouble making photos that look leave nothing to be desired with my CV 25P instead of the 24 lux I also own. The issue here is speed and I use the Leica when I will need it but leave it at home when I wont. The CV 35 1.2 II is faster than the 35 lux and the image quality is superb. If you can live with the size, I don't think it leaves much else to be desired.

 

[jaapv]

What postprocessing software do you use? The most spectacular improvement in low-light performance of the M8 in the last few years has come from Adobe...

 

[hteasley]

So I have to choose and was wondering how a m8'2 and 1.4 lens at 640 iso would compare to the M9 + cron at 1250 iso. Is it comparable or does the M9 combi blow away the M8.2?

The M9 does *not* blow away the M8 in low light performance. It is a bit better in low light. If IR cut filters and crop sensors bother you, the M9 blows away the M8; otherwise, the M8 is pretty great already, and the investment in a Summilux is a good long-term investment.

 

[Roel]

What postprocessing software do you use? The most spectacular improvement in low-light performance of the M8 in the last few years has come from Adobe...

HI Jaap,

I just started with Lightroom 3.5 last week. For processing I started to use Raw Photo Processor a few weeks ago. Before that everything on Iphoto.

 

[mls64]

If resources are limited, ALWAYS spend the money on the better or higher capacity lens, IMO. If you purchase the M9 you may (will) want a M10 or M11 one day. If you buy the 35 Summilux asph you may never need another lens, and if you do decide to sell it some day it will retain much, much more value than the body.

2nd that. I'm going through the same process myself, and leaning towards an M8u or M8.2, as they are certainly more depreciated at this point than the M9, whereas the lenses seem to keep going up in value. So, from a financial point of view only, the M8.2 and Leica glass is the way to go. If finances are not an issue, well then you might as well go full-frame sensor.

 

[ramosa]

Personally, I would stick with what you have until fall 2012--and then trade up the M8 for not an M9, but an M10. That's my plan at least ...

 

[Frank Petronio]

Spending money to gain only one or two stops seems silly when you could gain four or five stops with modest prosumer camera. Why not enjoy the film Leica and nice glass in moderate light and get a nice fun Nikon or even an m4/3s for shooting in the dark?

If you get the M9 you'll always pin for the 35 Lux ASPH and if you keep the M8.2 you'll always be frustrated. If they cause you angst kick em both out.

 

[maddoc]

I also think that the difference between full-frame / cropped sensor is of higher importance than the gain of one stop. If you have the M6TTL and would add the M9, lenses behave similar (almost) regarding field of view and dof, which allows to more easily swap camera bodies without thinking about that.

That said, the 35/1.4 ASPH is an outstanding lens but not that outstanding that I would spend the actual prices for one ...

 

[35mmdelux]

Spending money to gain only one or two stops seems silly when you could gain four or five stops with modest prosumer camera. Why not enjoy the film Leica and nice glass in moderate light and get a nice fun Nikon or even an m4/3s for shooting in the dark?

If you get the M9 you'll always pin for the 35 Lux ASPH and if you keep the M8.2 you'll always be frustrated. If they cause you angst kick em both out.

I'm with you Frank.

Gabor, which would you prefer instead of the 35 Summilux ASPH?

 

[maddoc]

I'm with you Frank.

Gabor, which would you prefer instead of the 35 Summilux ASPH?

In my case, I still have my 35mm Summilux-M pre-ASPH, so the experience using the ASPH version was great but an "upgrade" at the actual prices is a no-go for me without selling my pre-ASPH ... and that lens I would miss more than the ASPH. 😉