nobbylon
Veteran
After getting my M9-P to go Leica digital for a year I decided to take it along on my latest dive trip to Thailand. I took a Zeiss biogon-C 35 and a Zeiss 50 Planar. I prefer both these to any Leica equivelant I have or have had. Sharp with good colour and contrast and a nice pop to the pictures.
I found that the 35 would have been enough as I only used the 50 a few times. Camera freezes have been eradicated by waiting for the red light to stop flashing before doing anything. I suppose the writing process takes up electrical resources. Nearly 600 pics and not a hiccup.
Differences between previous trips,
1/ carrying and using the camera vs my D700 was a dream, light and strangely anonymous as a picture taker.
2/ I found that I was using as a film M rather than a digital camera
3/ it's a pain in the backside waiting for the camera to write when used to instantaneous Nikon.
I took 2 batteries and power was never an issue. Humidity was very high especially on the dive boat and only time will tell if the constant damp has had an effect on the sensor glass but despite this the camera functioned normally with me dripping all over it a lot of the time!
I've decided on Aperture as my workflow partner for the M9 with subsequent tweaks in PS6 and so far I'm really impressed with the colour output. Bright reds seem to over saturate but it's an easy fix.
Would I take it and the 35 as my travel camera above my Nikons and compacts? I hate to admit it especially as I've been a digital M basher in the past but yes I would.
I'll post a link to some pics when I've finished editing them,
regards john
I found that the 35 would have been enough as I only used the 50 a few times. Camera freezes have been eradicated by waiting for the red light to stop flashing before doing anything. I suppose the writing process takes up electrical resources. Nearly 600 pics and not a hiccup.
Differences between previous trips,
1/ carrying and using the camera vs my D700 was a dream, light and strangely anonymous as a picture taker.
2/ I found that I was using as a film M rather than a digital camera
3/ it's a pain in the backside waiting for the camera to write when used to instantaneous Nikon.
I took 2 batteries and power was never an issue. Humidity was very high especially on the dive boat and only time will tell if the constant damp has had an effect on the sensor glass but despite this the camera functioned normally with me dripping all over it a lot of the time!
I've decided on Aperture as my workflow partner for the M9 with subsequent tweaks in PS6 and so far I'm really impressed with the colour output. Bright reds seem to over saturate but it's an easy fix.
Would I take it and the 35 as my travel camera above my Nikons and compacts? I hate to admit it especially as I've been a digital M basher in the past but yes I would.
I'll post a link to some pics when I've finished editing them,
regards john
Richard G
Veteran
Great. As an M9-P and C Biogon user I am not surprised by anything you've said here. Looking forward to the pictures.
nobbylon
Veteran
David_Manning
Well-known
Thanks for sharing your images.
Yes, those oranges *pop* with the M9...I have to take an eye dropper tool in Aperture, isolate those hues, and desaturate them a bit for overall balance.
I love traveling with my M9, and mostly just shoot a Biogon 2/35, but I've had lockups and even lost images during lock ups and it makes trusting the camera a bit "exciting," especially when trying to capture a couple of frames in quick succession.
I love my M9 for what it is, but it'll be my last digital Leica. My next travels and adventures will be captured with Canon dSLRs for flexibility and reliability, and I'll shoot in the city with a Ricoh GR.
Yes, those oranges *pop* with the M9...I have to take an eye dropper tool in Aperture, isolate those hues, and desaturate them a bit for overall balance.
I love traveling with my M9, and mostly just shoot a Biogon 2/35, but I've had lockups and even lost images during lock ups and it makes trusting the camera a bit "exciting," especially when trying to capture a couple of frames in quick succession.
I love my M9 for what it is, but it'll be my last digital Leica. My next travels and adventures will be captured with Canon dSLRs for flexibility and reliability, and I'll shoot in the city with a Ricoh GR.
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ktmrider
Well-known
I just came back from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand. The M9 was along as it has been for my last five or six foreign trips. This time with the 35 C Biogon, 50 Summicron and 90 Tele Elmarit M. Did everything from the US for a month without checking luggage.
Cannot imagine traveling with full size DSLR.
Cannot imagine traveling with full size DSLR.
taemo
eat sleep shoot
great shots, am I noticing lots of vignetting on your shots, was that intentional?
I initially had my mind set on bringing only a 28 and 50 on our upcoming Asia trip but kept thinking of bringing the 35 in case I wanted a focal length in between and this thread has confirmed my thinking.
Now if only Leica NJ could have my lens ready before mid-March, that would be great (been waiting since mid-Sept)
I initially had my mind set on bringing only a 28 and 50 on our upcoming Asia trip but kept thinking of bringing the 35 in case I wanted a focal length in between and this thread has confirmed my thinking.
Now if only Leica NJ could have my lens ready before mid-March, that would be great (been waiting since mid-Sept)
nobbylon
Veteran
Not intentional and must admit didn't notice. I shot a lot of these wide open and have a b&w filter on so it's possible. I took an old pentax ME with a 28 but only shot 3 rolls so i've settled on the one lens one camera from now on.
nobbylon
Veteran
I had a few lock ups when I first got it and also lost images. After doing some research I used zero'd formatted in camera cards and always waited for the red write light to stop before doing anything and so far I've not had a single recurrence. I don't think i'd ever trust it like my Nikons but so far so good.
jarski
Veteran
nice images 
I renew my diving card last June in Koh Tao. wanna go back soon!
hope I can finally get M9 this year. been a long wait
I renew my diving card last June in Koh Tao. wanna go back soon!hope I can finally get M9 this year. been a long wait
Mudman
Well-known
Beautiful colors. Looks like you had fun.
nobbylon
Veteran
nice images
hope I can finally get M9 this year. been a long wait
Our paths probably crossed as I was diving there in June also. Try the Similans on a liveaboard if you can. Best diving in Thailand. This was my 3rd year there. Plenty of giant manta and varied marine life. If you need a contact PM me. A friend of mine runs a dive shop in Bali so I'll probably head that way next.
Archiver
Veteran
David, no more Fuji X system for you? Have you considered the X-Pro 2? As much as I love the reliability of Canon DSLR's, I can't go back to their bulk after shooting with smaller system cameras.
Archiver
Veteran
John, those are some very nice images. Interesting that you've had some lock up and lost image issues, because I've had my M9 for about five years and can count on one hand how many times the camera locked up.
The Zeiss C Biogon looks wonderful; a friend has one, and I've shot some images with it, but have never got around to getting one.
The Zeiss C Biogon looks wonderful; a friend has one, and I've shot some images with it, but have never got around to getting one.
Richard G
Veteran
Lovely colour. 752, the huts on the beach is a lovely shot. The light in 455 is lovely, the guy standing on one leg at the information centre. And the last one, up high, 782, that's a beauty.
I take my M9 with me to work each day and the last couple of weeks I've had the C Biogon on it. It balances well this combination. I wouldn't hesitate to travel with it.
I take my M9 with me to work each day and the last couple of weeks I've had the C Biogon on it. It balances well this combination. I wouldn't hesitate to travel with it.