migrating to m9...

Well i will be down to my M4 :
35summicron v4, 40 summicron /my FAVorite lens

hah helen you shopaholic (like me ;) )

I could move all my nikon gear (d700 and many lenses) and scrape together maybe enough to get a used m9, but ive never touched or used one not ready yet. Going to wait till i can get one under $5000, yea i know maybe long time from now
 
hah helen you shopaholic (like me ;) )

I could move all my nikon gear (d700 and many lenses) and scrape together maybe enough to get a used m9, but ive never touched or used one not ready yet. Going to wait till i can get one under $5000, yea i know maybe long time from now

Well I don't have one yet...
Probably not till Summer really

I will try and see what the Actual M9 image
Really looks like PRINTED
If its as near to what I Love about Film
Than its a Done Deal
 
if i sell my car...

Any body parts going spare Joe? Kidney etc... :)


I keep thinking I'll move to digital just for the instant feedback and the ability to easily share images but I love everything about shooting B&W film, except the long hours spent scanning it!

I look forward to having a bunch of film to develop and setting up in my little darkroom. Hanging the film up to dry and having a quick look over the still wet film to see if there is anything that really stands out.

Once the images are imported into Aperture it surprises me just how little I have to do to produce my final image, remove spot's and dust and sharpening, normally that's all. That's when my interest in a digital camera wain's again... The memory off hours spent at a computer sorting, converting and manipulating all those images. For me to get pleasing images with B&W there is very little work to do on the computer, my experience with a 5D (and good glass) was that it took a bit off work.

But still, there is an itch there...
 
I bought an M9 the other day, but it hasn't arrived yet. I prefer film, I could have bought an M9 the day they started shipping and probably should have, but I liked shooting film better. Two years later I want more resolution, am tired of spending $400 a month in film, etc. We'll see what pans out. I thought I was prepared for all of the M9s issues, but I only realized over the weekend that Leica in sheer stupidity made the shutter dial rotate the wrong way.

One thing is for certain, I'll still be shooting film at least until I've depleted the 1000 rolls or so in my fridge.
 
You have to hand it to Leica ... $6500.00 for a digital camera body that a lot of naysayers said had priced itself out of the market. Can't say I've noticed that particular trend and apart from which it's their market!

There is a perception on some other forums that this place (RFF) is largely populated by people with short attention spans and too much disposable income!

I definitely own up to the short attention span ... but the only way I'll ever own an M9 is when they get down to RD-1 prices! :D
 
Any body parts going spare Joe? Kidney etc... :)


I keep thinking I'll move to digital just for the instant feedback and the ability to easily share images but I love everything about shooting B&W film, except the long hours spent scanning it!

I look forward to having a bunch of film to develop and setting up in my little darkroom. Hanging the film up to dry and having a quick look over the still wet film to see if there is anything that really stands out.

Once the images are imported into Aperture it surprises me just how little I have to do to produce my final image, remove spot's and dust and sharpening, normally that's all. That's when my interest in a digital camera wain's again... The memory off hours spent at a computer sorting, converting and manipulating all those images. For me to get pleasing images with B&W there is very little work to do on the computer, my experience with a 5D (and good glass) was that it took a bit off work.

But still, there is an itch there...

I'm a bit worried that its been a while since I shot digital that I forgot how much work will be involved with the dumb M9. Shooting is not the work, sitting behind a stupid computer, cloning out hot pixels, dust, etc is work. Having to shoot RAW because the camera is a pile of uncoordinated circuits instead of a well-integrated camera that gives me beautiful JPGs like any recent Nikon would.
 
I'm a bit worried that its been a while since I shot digital that I forgot how much work will be involved with the dumb M9. Shooting is not the work, sitting behind a stupid computer, cloning out hot pixels, dust, etc is work. Having to shoot RAW because the camera is a pile of uncoordinated circuits instead of a well-integrated camera that gives me beautiful JPGs like any recent Nikon would.


When ever I get the itch to move to digital I dig out some off those old Canon raw files and spend some time processing them... 20 to 30 min's top's and I've had enough. However, I sold the 5D in 2007, technology has moved on quite a bit since then, maybe...
 
behind the computer is not so bad...better than a chemical filled smelly darkroom, bumbling about in the dark.
i have music here and cold or hot drinks...no temp worries, have heat or air conditioning...5 minutes per image and i am usually done and i don't proof every image...just the interesting looking ones.

but i should stop thinking about an m9...i love the rd1 and already have a drf!
 
When ever I get the itch to move to digital I dig out some off those old Canon raw files and spend some time processing them... 20 to 30 min's top's and I've had enough. However, I sold the 5D in 2007, technology has moved on quite a bit since then, maybe...

Ha ha, no way. The M9 is every bit as archaic as the 5D and probably almost as capable too. The difference is the 5D had glorious JPGs. I never shot a single raw file on my 5D and only twice on my D700.

My film scans off the CD, aside from the resolution are exactly what I want. Only maybe 1-2 shots a roll get any work at all. Hopefully I can mostly automate the process with the M9.

I tried an M9 at Fujiya when I was just in Tokyo wasting a few hours before meeting up with Jon and Shintaro. I was impressed and that's where my resistance started to crumble. Anyway, we'll see what happens. I've had some funny messages in response to my purchase.
 
My modest talents are no match for the quality and capability of the Leicas, but it's comforting to know that the deficiencies are all mine!

My sentiments exactly. Regardless of my own deficiencies, I'd hate to be held back by the shortcomings of my gear ;)
 
behind the computer is not so bad...better than a chemical filled smelly darkroom, bumbling about in the dark.
i have music here and cold or hot drinks...no temp worries, have heat or air conditioning...5 minutes per image and i am usually done and i don't proof every image...just the interesting looking ones.

but i should stop thinking about an m9...i love the rd1 and already have a drf!

Ha ha ha, tell that to my back. I work 12-16 hours in front of the computer each day. I don't want to spend another minute behind it than I have to. While I've developed film I certainly don't care to develop anymore as developing and scanning is even more tedious than processing RAWs. I shoot my film and mail it around the world for NCPS or PCV to work their magic on it.
 
I threw the 10.5cm F2.5 in LTM on the M9 yesterday. The focus was perfect...

I'll try the 135/3.5 next weekend.
 
Gunston Hall, home of George Mason. One of our local Historic Spots, and in general a nice place to spend a few hours walking around.



Dogwood, Nikkor 10.5cm F2.5 Wide-Open on the M9.

Cherry trees are way past their prime.

 
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Stopped down to F4.

Gunston Hall Itself, home of George Mason. Beautifully preserved and maintained.





You get a lot of DOF for these distance shots. The color from the M9 is beautiful.
 
The Cemetary is on the grounds, but very few people seem to visit it.

Nikkor 105, wide-open at F2.5. Out of focus areas really tame down at moderate range.



George mason and Ann, his First Wife.
 
George Mason and Ann had 12 children. So they hired a teacher and built their own schoolhouse.

Nikkor 105, 1/30s, F2.5, hand-held. No problem hand-holding the M9 with the 105 on it at this speed.



Out of focus areas indoors do not go wild like they do outdoors.
 
I might be coming to my senses...
maybe just a ricoh GXR or Fuji X100 :p

and a new Scanner for Film... :D
 
Nice photos Brian.

And Helen, you have till May 14 on the 600 price (if you are thinking of staying >$200) You are planning on keeping your M4 right? You need a scanner eventually, unless you do get an m9 and do film so rarely you can keep doing your same method of scanning.
 
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