Please recommend a first lens

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andrew00

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Hey,

I've been offered a M9 in a good deal so will prob be picking it up soon, which is a thrill.

I was wondering if peeps could recommend what lens to get as my first as, for now, I'll only be able to afford one.

I like the photography of Venetia Scott atm. Afaik she uses a Contax G2 so I'd imagine she either uses the 35mm or 45mm predominantly. She takes some nice full body/half body shots, as seen below.

I suspect therefore I should get either a 35mm or 50mm but it's hard to know which would be most suited to the below.

I.E. Will the 35mm not be able to get close enough w/o distortion, will the 50mm be impractical to get the full bodies (getting far enough away).

Likewise, within the recommended focal length, can anyone recommend which lens would be suitable, i.e. which profiles a more organic/cinematic look vs perhaps a tack sharp but somewhat unforgiving one (unless one should get the latter and always tweak the image but still)

Here's some images of hers for comparison:

http://i.models.com/feed/i/2012/10/Centrefold_724-700x495.jpeg
http://www.malemodelscene.net/wp-co..._william-eustace-club-monaco-fall-2012-01.jpg
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vuqD86jkSg8/TpovgB27F-I/AAAAAAAABhg/MKDZOUMk0rM/s1600/another-2.jpg
http://art8amby.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/a-p-c-fw-2011-aline-weber-styled-venetia-scott.jpg
http://www.iainclaridge.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/venetia_scott2.jpg
http://iamphotograph.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Venetia_Scott-3.jpg
http://www.thetodayexperience.com/w.../Hilary-Rhoda-Venetia-Scott-Paule-Ka-S131.jpg
http://images5.fanpop.com/image/pho...le-fanning-31282797-303-400.jpg?1360626141912
http://pret-a-porter.tv/mode/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/UNe-KA-950x712.jpg
 
Based on those samples, you need a 50mm lens, something more vintage. Perhaps a 3rd generation Summicron?
 
A 35mm or 50mm Summicron. Or if you want to save money, I 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.4 Canon lens. Or 35mm UC-Hexanon. Or a 35 or 50mm M Hexanon. Or a 35mm f/1.8 Nikkor (if you can find one) or a 50mm f/1.4 or even f/2 Nikkor.

There are so many good options out there that all have different characteristics and all will add something to your photo. You really can't go wrong if you get a clean sample of any 35mm or 50mm lens that can be fit on your Leica with RF coupling.

Phil Forrest
 
To me, Contax G2 look means more modern, higher contrast. Something along the lines of the Zeiss 50mm F2? If you want to go cheaper the options get rather varied quickly. :)
 
Regarding the Contax, is it possible you're thinking of her former boyfriend, Juergen Teller, who was known for his blown out flash photography with the G2?

In terms of the references you've posted, I think it's great that you have a clear idea of what inspires you, but, to me, Scott's work is not about focal length. The portraits are great because she has exceptional talents for styling, location selection, lighting and directing charismatic subjects (who happen to be gorgeous models). I'd imagine there's also a substantial crew assisting her with make-up, hair, wardrobe and lighting. In terms of her retro chic aesthetic, I'd guess that she's using a variety of film cameras, perhaps even purposely using older, funkier lenses for a dated look. Once she's set up one of her beautiful scenes I'd think that a $10 yard sale rangefinder might well finish the job of putting it on film.

To get a pseudo-vintage look on my M9, I like to use the old, low-contrast LTM lenses. RAW files from a 50mm Summar yield flat images that look strikingly different from modern lens results.
 
To give an idea of the M9's look with old lenses, here's an example of an M9 file with a 1940's Elmar 90mm. The first is unprocessed, the second shows a possibility for color correction.

8466382213_9cdc398509_c.jpg


8467475356_497239cd54_c.jpg
 
My first lens for my M6 TTL was a Soviet made 50mm Jupiter-8 f/2 lens. Works well on my M9 as well. You can put together a nice set of inexpensive lenses that will serve you well, or you can buy one amazing lens. I'd recommend the single amazing lens. By the time I'd gotten my M9 I had several inexpensive lenses, and a 90mm Summicron f/2 (e55). The images with it compared to any of the other lenses I had at that time were 'magical'.

Personally I'd recommend the current 35mm Summicron f/2 ASPH if you're going to start with a single lens. Though I don't have one myself, I have a Voigtlander 35mm Nokton f/1.4 MC. Right now my good Leica glass is 24/50/90.
 
snausages said:
Regarding the Contax, is it possible you're thinking of her former boyfriend, Juergen Teller, who was known for his blown out flash photography with the G2?
Click to expand...

Hey, yeah she certainly has a different style to him but in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8hqd0wqdFA she seems to be using a G2 so I guessed she picked it up from being with him, even thou she doesn't have the same direct flash feel.
 
Hi,

It really depends on how rich you are but the basics would be a 28 or 35 which are a wider and wide angle. Many survive with just the 35mm. Then a 85 or 90 for portraits. Then fill in the gap with the 50mm.

Almost any of them will do with the bayonet mount; assuming you like or don't mind a bit of work afterwards. They all have signatures and here it's up to you. What their signatures are with the M9 is not a question I can answer.

And how your style will end up is another interesting question...

Regards, David
 
She uses this camera later in the video as well. I've seen versions of it in the classifieds here, but I forget what it is. Mamiya Press?

8467210973_cfbdcc409b.jpg
 
If you can find a Summitar with no cleaning marks/haze, it should give you a nice vintage feel, but also with plenty of sharpness. At least, it does with film. No experience with the M9, personally.
 
hipsterdufus said:
If you can find a Summitar with no cleaning marks/haze, it should give you a nice vintage feel, but also with plenty of sharpness. At least, it does with film. No experience with the M9, personally.
Click to expand...

The center is quite sharp on the M9. Nice lens. Depending on what I'm trying to accomplish, I'll go with one of my Summar's (uncoated nice, uncoated trashed, coated nice), the Summitar, or a Summicron (I now have v1 and v4).

The Summitar lacks a little of the personality of the Summar, but not much and is sharper wide open. When shooting digitally, it's easy to bump up the contrast of the Summar and the Summitar, making both very nice lenses on the M9. One note, my Summitar can have some nasty, strange flare.

The Summicron v4 is flat out fantastic. I've only taken about a half dozen photo's with the v1 (got it last week). I think its focus is off slightly, but it seems top notch at f/8. I plan to use it on my M6 TTL rather than the M9 anyway.

Here is a shot with the Summitar that has a vintage feel.

1949 Leica Summitar f/2 lens by Zane's Photography, on Flickr

This shot shows the problems I've had with the Summitar, though not a great example as the post processing made the flare go all 'sparkly'.

The downside of the Summitar by Zane's Photography, on Flickr

Basically it doesn't like a bright light in front and above it.

Here is a fun Summar shot. Yes, I like to use the flag for testing.

Gimme that ole Summar Swirl! by Zane's Photography, on Flickr

I believe all three shots were processed in Capture One, and had their contrast boosted. You can search my flickr photostream for other Summar and Summitar photo's with the M9.
 
Although you're asking about lenses, based on the samples, I think you can get very close to her look w/lighting & post-processing. Either a 35 or a 50 could do most of the shots & personally, I believe it would be better to get a more modern lens, i.e., something from the 1970s forward as it's easier to make a modern lens look vintage than the other way around (assuming you don't always want the vintage look). If she is using the G2, those Zeiss lenses produce a very modern & contrasty look, so any "glow" is added.

andrew00 said:
Hey,

I've been offered a M9 in a good deal so will prob be picking it up soon, which is a thrill.

I was wondering if peeps could recommend what lens to get as my first as, for now, I'll only be able to afford one.

I like the photography of Venetia Scott atm. Afaik she uses a Contax G2 so I'd imagine she either uses the 35mm or 45mm predominantly. She takes some nice full body/half body shots, as seen below.

I suspect therefore I should get either a 35mm or 50mm but it's hard to know which would be most suited to the below.

I.E. Will the 35mm not be able to get close enough w/o distortion, will the 50mm be impractical to get the full bodies (getting far enough away).

Likewise, within the recommended focal length, can anyone recommend which lens would be suitable, i.e. which profiles a more organic/cinematic look vs perhaps a tack sharp but somewhat unforgiving one (unless one should get the latter and always tweak the image but still)
Click to expand...
 
Ifyou want to shoot people in casual portrait mode, as almost all those shots are, you should get a 50. You can almost always take two steps backward to fit what a 35mm would have fit where you're standing.

Used, the v2 Summicrons and the Zeiss Planar f/2 can both be found for ~ $700. Use a reliable supplier (if on eBay, someone with many sales and super high ratings who is a camera dealer primarily and who goes into some detail about the condition of a lens); also keep an eye on KEH and Tamarkin. Others know of other sellers as well. With an M9 I'd lean toward the Zeiss Planar but you can never go wrong with a clean Summicron.
 
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