M9 vs D700

[aboudd]

Buying equipment should be driven by need for an RF or DSLR, not brand, or price (except for not buying what one cannot afford). If we all were honest we would admit that there is not that much difference in the final image that most viewers would perceive whether a Leica, Nikon, Canon or Pentax is used unless a side by side comparison were made. Even then, the judgement would be subjective.

 

[jke]

I think there are plenty of stories about famous Leica photographers who used Nikons or some other SLR at various times throughout their careers. For street photography even.

In NYC, I have found people often to be more amenable to being photographed when I am using a big "pro-look" SLR, because they are all itching to be famous or show up in Bill Cunningham's street fashion features or are just plain vainglorious. Of course, with the Leica, I can often take their photo without them registering what I am doing, but I can do that with my Canon digital P&S too. Sometimes though, the SLR makes it more fun. Just sayin'.

My wrestling match is whether a D700 (I have a ton of ancient Nikon fast primes, like a 58mm f1.2 and similar, and the Nikon F4 is my favorite SLR) or a Canon 5DmkII (it will do Nikkors fine with an adapter and stop down metering, & what a great sensor in that thing!)

I also like the 5D's movie quality better. 🙂

 

[dfoo]

I've watched lots of street photographers in action at some popular destinations in Shanghai. What I observed is that there were two basic types. The first was the in-your-face style, using a smaller focal length lens. The second was the guy who would stand at a distance with a big zoom. It doesn't come as a big surprise (to me at least) which type of photographer used which type of camera.

 

[rya]

anyone who says you can't do proper street photography with a 4x5 is a _____.

 

[Tracnac]

From what I've read, Leica has committed to supporting the M9 for 20 years, and will offer potential sensor upgrades as they come along.

Hi it's not enough for me Leica must support us for 20 years and replace all parts for free for the same period. As I see with the M8 it's not really the case.

Yvan.

 

[erik]

Nothing proper about street photography if it's being done right 😉 ... back on topic, I will probably get an M9 sometime after the M11 comes out. I make money using my 5D, the M6 is to practice my art, at this point the expense would be too dear for an activity that is break even at best, no matter how enjoyable it is for me. From an image quality standpoint MF is very impressive, and much lower cost. Lots of good MF gear out there for a decent price.

 

[emraphoto]

What's with this $10 a roll business? All in, chemicals and all I pay about $3.00-$3.50 a roll of 24 tri... I mean arista.

For what it's worth the d700 is a brilliant camera. Haven't tried an m9 yet however I suspect it is brilliant in it's own right.

One more thing, anyone who thinks you need a specific type of camera to shoot street well is delusional.

 

[Merkin]

What's with this $10 a roll business? All in, chemicals and all I pay about $3.00-$3.50 a roll of 24 tri... I mean arista.

For what it's worth the d700 is a brilliant camera. Haven't tried an m9 yet however I suspect it is brilliant in it's own right.

One more thing, anyone who thinks you need a specific type of camera to shoot street well is delusional.

I use ten bucks a roll as an average. Home developing Arista premium is going to be cheaper than shooting Velvia 50 and sending it off for processing.

 

[emraphoto]

Well you can't shoot street well without tri-x (insert best sarcastic tone here)

 

[emraphoto]

I use ten bucks a roll as an average. Home developing Arista premium is going to be cheaper than shooting Velvia 50 and sending it off for processing.

I suppose this demonstrates how relative the math is. For someone who shoots velvia 50 it might make a whole load of sense. For the cheap b+w film crowd not so muh.

 

[dfoo]

I guess my film + processing costs me about $3 a roll. I never really calculated, but its not very expensive.

 

[emraphoto]

Yeah, if I had the patience to bulk load I could probably drive that cost down even more.

 

[jtm]

...

The focus confirmation, and AI work if the lens is a true AI lens, and the firmware is desigend to put the correct aperature information in the EXIF if the correctet settings are entered. This is a fully manual process, and must be set each time a lens is changed.

If you use a few different manual focus lenses on a D700, you can enter the lens data (focal length and max aperture) once for each lens. Then, when you use one of these lenses, you just pick the right one from the list.

You can assign the lens selection to one of the camera's buttons -- I like the second one by the lens (the one that's not the DOF preview button). That way, when you put a different manual lens on the camera, you just push the button next to the lens and turn the wheel to pick the right lens info. Very fast.

 

[jtm]

Also, for manual focus lenses, the exposure still work fine even if you don't tell the camera which lens you're using. The only extra benefit to maintaining the lens info is that it will show up in the files when you look at the pictures later.

 

[dfoo]

Is there a split prism finder?

 

[Merkin]

katz eye optics make one, costs about 100 bucks for the basic one.

 

[furcafe]

Have to partially disagree here. All of the full-frame dSLR bodies are considerably larger than an M9 body & all of the lenses are larger on a straight focal length + speed basis. Whether that fact is significant to an individual user & his/her ability to take photos is another matter, of course. It's the photographer, not the camera, yadda, yadda, yadda.

All of this was true w/film bodies, too. Personally, I'm a little surprised that manufacturers have only recently been able/willing to start shrinking the workings of a full-frame dSLR into something smaller. I'll consider getting a dSLR when they're the size of a current Rebel or an old OM-1.

Some say it is too big, too obtrusive. This depends more on the lens you use than the camera. If you are shooting with a 50 1.8 or a 45 2.8, it is plenty unobtrusive.

 

[djonesii]

My wrestling match is whether a D700 (I have a ton of ancient Nikon fast primes, like a 58mm f1.2 and similar, and the Nikon F4 is my favorite SLR) or a Canon 5DmkII (it will do Nikkors fine with an adapter and stop down metering, & what a great sensor in that thing!)

I also like the 5D's movie quality better. 🙂

The 55.12 on my d300 is sweet! I cant really justify the canon AF fast 85, so the MF nikon it is .....

Dave