New Leica User

[Jess T]

I have entered the never ending world of Leica M!
I am 16 and I just got my first Leica M, a M5. I think that I got a good deal on it at $300. The meter is not working though, not really a problem for me as I have an external one, plus I am not bad at "guessing". Just a little history of my short time in the photographic world. I started photography when I was 13. I bought a Nikon D50 + kit lens and was off to the races. I then managed to collect some more lenses, such as a Nikon 180mm f2.8 and a Tamron 35-105mm f2.8. Then I discovered film with a Nikon FE. I moved from that to an Nikon F100. Before I knew it I was lugging around a whole lot of gear, and pretty soon I just stopped taking my SLRs and just brought point and shoots (be it digital or film). I then went on a search for small prime lenses to pair with my SLRs. This brought me to a Nikon 50mm f1.8 and a 28mm f2.8. Smaller but still bulky. I sold my D50 (I almost never use it) and bought the Leica M5. A bigger M but it fits better in my hands than the smaller Ms. I have the M5 paired with a Russian 50mm f2.0, Jupiter 8 I believe. I love the Leica so much I am ready to go all out. I will be keeping most of my SLR gear, just letting go of the Tamron zoom and a Nikon 14mm f2.8 I have. I have $800 (I am putting some money away for latter) I am looking to spend building my Leica kit. I am a portrait shooter, impromptu, formal, studio, just about any kind. I was thinking about getting a Panasonic G1 to pair the M lenses with. Just to have a small digital camera for "fun" stuff. I was also looking at a 135mm Hektor or a 135mm Elmarit. And maybe a 90mm of some kind. I do not shoot a lot below 50mm. At least not enough to warrant a wider lens. What are your thoughts?
A new Leica user, with a relatively limited budget.

Thanks

Jess

 

[cmogi10]

It is my opinion, but I don't think the G1 does the leica lens's justice, the G1 with the M4/3 lens's are much better.
I say keep saving and wait until M8's are dirt cheap in a year,

most M users are the opposite of you, with a 50 being the longest lens they use. You might find your opinion of wide angles change in time, the M is an elegant intimate camera(yes, even the M5), you might find yourself working closer and closer. Don't rule a 35 out for the future.

Enjoy the camera, you definitely got a great deal.

 

[Jess T]

I might just wait. I actual like to work very close, tight portraits are something I find my self gravitating to. I actual never have never owned a 35mm prime lens (except for the zoom). I might actually enjoy one if it did not have to much distortion close up. That is the reason I don't like wide lenses.

 

[matt335]

Tight portraits. Get a 50mm lens and walk up closer to people. Wider portraits, walk backwards a bit. You will get slight distortion up close with a 35mm lens. But most leica 35's shortest focusing distance will stop any major distortion I think. Good luck with it all.

 

[davelam]

Congrats on the M5 purchase!

i'm rather new to the Leica world myself, and find myself inundated with it's quality and feel.

 

[Brian Legge]

If you're sticking with a 50mm, shouldn't you just stand at the same distance you would with something tighter and crop the shot?

Personal crusade perhaps, but the whole walk closer/further bit simply doesn't give you the same shot. The FOV changes, the background changes, the bokeh characteristics change, foreground distortion changes, etc.

Do you have access to a digital camera with a zoom? If so, you can check out the focal distance of shots you've taken with it. Convert it to full frame if necessary and you can get a sense of the distances you like shooting.

All that said, having at least one near-normal lens (something in the 40-55mm range perhaps) is useful. You never know when a space you want to shoot in doesn't give you enough working room for the composition you want. Or when you want to take the camera out as a general 'walking around' camera.

Edit: I'm new to Leicas but shoot a IIIc so take anything I say with a grain of salt. 😉

 

[Jess T]

Thanks. I got the 90/135 focal length from lookig at my shots. And I do have my Jupiter 8, the 50mm. Because 50mm is my favorite focal length. Just sometimes I need to have less depth of feold and/or longer working distance. Hence why I want a 90/135 lens. I may get one of those then put the 35mm on the wish list. I have heard that the 135 hektor mas a good protait lens, sort of dreamy?

 

[cmogi10]

35-50-90

Word on the street is that's the kit. You seem to be on the right track.

 

[Rico]

135mm is just the ticket for tight portraits (no bulging noses). The FL is out of fashion, so the price is nice, even for Leitz lenses. Skip the Elmarit, and look for a slower Hektor/Elmar/TeleElmar. The TE, in particular, is awesome and goes for stupid money ($300). Don't forget the many, many LTM options - eBay is awash in them. For added framing comfort, budget a good external 1:1 VF (Leitz SHOOC or equiv). TE135 lens head on FF Canon 1Ds, uncropped, f/5.6:

 

[Jess T]

Why should I skip the Elmarit?

 

[Jess T]

One more question how did you use a Leica M lens on your Canon?

 

[Rico]

Why should I skip the Elmarit?

It's a heavy sucker for RF. The eyes allow you to use the inbuilt 90mm frame, but that is still small. Much as external VFs are dissed by some, the bright 1:1 view is marvelous, and your face is unobsured - the better to connect with your subject. Finally, a head shot at f/2.8 leaves much out of focus. I prefer f/5.6 at the widest.

 

[Rico]

One more question how did you use a Leica M lens on your Canon?

The classic long lenses (LTM or M) can be unscrewed to allow the optical head to remount for reflex use. The Leitz system was called Visoflex, but modern DSLRs also serve with appropriate adapters. Below is the "repurposed" 3-element Elmar 90. 🙂

 

[Jess T]

Neat! I'll have to get a lens that can do that. Do they make an adapter for Nikon?
Thanks for all of the help... Everyone.

 

[Wcarpenter]

It's awesome to see another 16 year old Leica shooter! I just got my M6 about a month ago and love it to death. Film is indeed a fun change from digital.