M9 - Voigtlander nokton 35/1.2 Appreciation

I agree this lens is something special and definitely a cut above the other voigtlander 35mms imo. I very nearly got this lens myself, and still may one day.

If I were to be so bold, may i offer some advice on your outdoor shots based on purely my own experience. Feel free to ignore them if you feel they don't apply. For me these could be rather nice shots, just like your indoor ones are. The problem with them is primarily one of exposure, ie, they are overexposed. I'm going to hazard a guess that you are exposing by the methods you learnt when shooting negative film? Metering for the important midtones and letting the highlights bloom out. In digital, this works well only if the highlights are tame or are a very small part of the image. Due to the linear way digital clips, this doesn't look so good when large parts of the image are blown. Especially doesn't help that you were shooting dark skin in open shade with full sunlight in the background. If you instead try exposing as if you were shooting slide film - meter for the highlight detail you want to keep, letting them go no more than 2 stops over, and simply let the shadows fall where they may. Don't be afraid of letting your subject go a little underexposed if they are in shadow. Although if its more than 2-3 stops under, they might be in too much shade to get a good shot - try and get them into the sun in that case. The good thing with the m9 is it costs you nothing to experiment :) Hope this helps!
 
Quite Fab Indeed..not just the Lens but the 'Framing'
an d the Whole Vibe...Their is a Cinematic Lushness & Charm

its 1.2.& 3 that Turn my head and make me SMILE...:)

Cheers & Best ( and good to hear You are Alright) - H
 
DubilUC said:
I agree this lens is something special and definitely a cut above the other voigtlander 35mms imo. I very nearly got this lens myself, and still may one day.

If I were to be so bold, may i offer some advice on your outdoor shots based on purely my own experience. Feel free to ignore them if you feel they don't apply. For me these could be rather nice shots, just like your indoor ones are. The problem with them is primarily one of exposure, ie, they are overexposed. I'm going to hazard a guess that you are exposing by the methods you learnt when shooting negative film? Metering for the important midtones and letting the highlights bloom out. In digital, this works well only if the highlights are tame or are a very small part of the image. Due to the linear way digital clips, this doesn't look so good when large parts of the image are blown. Especially doesn't help that you were shooting dark skin in open shade with full sunlight in the background. If you instead try exposing as if you were shooting slide film - meter for the highlight detail you want to keep, letting them go no more than 2 stops over, and simply let the shadows fall where they may. Don't be afraid of letting your subject go a little underexposed if they are in shadow. Although if its more than 2-3 stops under, they might be in too much shade to get a good shot - try and get them into the sun in that case. The good thing with the m9 is it costs you nothing to experiment :) Hope this helps!
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Thanks for the advice. You are correct at what you are saying I was 'aiming' to do and feel comfortable with the blown highlights, as those areas are not important to my final image. They were just grab shots anyway. I shoot portraiture for a living and wile you have some good pints I gave up on the 'rules' a long time ago ;-)
 
helenhill said:
Quite Fab Indeed..not just the Lens but the 'Framing'
an d the Whole Vibe...Their is a Cinematic Lushness & Charm

its 1.2.& 3 that Turn my head and make me SMILE...:)

Cheers & Best ( and good to hear You are Alright) - H
Click to expand...

Thanks Helen, I felt I was taken back in time and just had to capture something off set with the Leica. Luckily I got through the accident fine, but it was close, and could have been a very different outcome if not for a lot of luck. Cheers
 
Sometimes I read peoples comments about other peoples images and I can't believe they said that. I liked your images, shoot what you shoot and remember those other people who are laying the meh on you weren't there shooting with you. So go your own road, read the comments if you like, but don't worry about it too much. Good on ya.
 
@RAnder4370:
I agree. The "meh" seems rude. Entirely without grace. Or, maybe i misunderstood the purpose of the OP's post. What does it mean, exactly? That the commenter doesn't believe there's any "meh" material in his own online portfolio?

If you want to be critical, and especially where critique was not solicited, at least be constructive.
 
RAnder4370 said:
Sometimes I read peoples comments about other peoples images and I can't believe they said that. I liked your images, shoot what you shoot and remember those other people who are laying the meh on you weren't there shooting with you. So go your own road, read the comments if you like, but don't worry about it too much. Good on ya.
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Yeah, it can appear that way but any feedback that makes me think of 'another way' to shoot is a good thing. I'm always looking to improve, and sometimes shooting professionally I forget how to shoot naturally, trying 'too hard' with my images. Thanks for your comments
 
CK Dexter Haven said:
@RAnder4370:
I agree. The "meh" seems rude. Entirely without grace. Or, maybe i misunderstood the purpose of the OP's post. What does it mean, exactly? That the commenter doesn't believe there's any "meh" material in his own online portfolio?

If you want to be critical, and especially where critique was not solicited, at least be constructive.
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It's ok, I'm happy for people to speak the truth about my images. If I give it (Helen will know ;-)) I have to be able to take it, right? :D
 
... in the eyes of the beer holder

... in the eyes of the beer holder

Clearly beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I must be alone liking #5 so much.

I do not mind the blown highlights of the grass because to me they form an abstract, almost surreal, aura around the timeless and very real moment captured in the center of the frame. I'm not sure how much the clothes are influencing my reaction, but the whole works quite well in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing.

What a great match of two wonderful photographic tools!

Out of curiosity, is there any viewfinder intrusion with this combo?
 
froyd said:
Clearly beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I must be alone liking #5 so much.

I do not mind the blown highlights of the grass because to me they form an abstract, almost surreal, aura around the timeless and very real moment captured in the center of the frame. I'm not sure how much the clothes are influencing my reaction, but the whole works quite well in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing.

What a great match of two wonderful photographic tools!

Out of curiosity, is there any viewfinder intrusion with this combo?
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Hi thanks for your feedback, photography is so subjective when it's not your own, and for me, totally objective, which is why I love to hear differing opinions cause I don't believe in having 1 style of shooting. I like to vary my style to match the subjects and always looking for new ways of seeing things and then translating it differently.

In terms of viewfinder intrusion, about 15% of the bottom right corner is blocked but it doesn't bother me. If you're used to using lenses that barely intrude it might bother you, but I love the flexibility of this lens and feel the size is worth it, especially when you consider what it does for so little money, relatively.

I enjoyed this lens on film and am enjoying it the same no on digital. In terms of sharpness wide open it is brilliant with lesser contrast compared to the Leica and softens more so towards the corners, but is fabulous in the center as you can see here. This time converted from RAW. B+W conversion was fast and not perfect :eek:

f/1.2
L1003934_full.jpg


100% crop
L1003934_100.jpg


f/1.4
L1003897_full.jpg


100% crop
L1003897_100.jpg
 
emilsand said:
This is an image I would be proud to have on my wall. You have managed to do something I don't consider to be easy: To use the Nokton on a digital camera and make it look stellar. Amazing.
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Thank you. This is my favourite and sums up the young boy perfectly.
 
I have been after a fast 35 for some time and was saving for the new asph lux but to be honest I have found the rendering not really what I am looking for and think the 35 Nokton will be my choice. It will compliment the tiny 35 summarit too, as that lens has a rendering as smooth as a baby's botty... and also the 24 lux I have which is also incredibly smooth in the rendering department. I was sad to see that the new Leica 35 lux did not appear to have the smoothness and classic balance of the 24 lux. Thats lens is beautiful... truly.

And I will save $3700. I can carry a few hundred more grams for that saving.
 
Turtle said:
I have been after a fast 35 for some time and was saving for the new asph lux but to be honest I have found the rendering not really what I am looking for and think the 35 Nokton will be my choice. It will compliment the tiny 35 summarit too, as that lens has a rendering as smooth as a baby's botty... and also the 24 lux I have which is also incredibly smooth in the rendering department. I was sad to see that the new Leica 35 lux did not appear to have the smoothness and classic balance of the 24 lux. Thats lens is beautiful... truly.

And I will save $3700. I can carry a few hundred more grams for that saving.
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I agree 100%. The Nokton's look is very similar to the Summarit, except the Summarit wide open is already contrasty. The Nokton stopped down to 2.5 should be of similar look and contrast though I imagine that you'd only be shooting the Nokton under 2.5.
 
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