Results with M8 + Bibble Pro 4.9.8c

[etrigan63]

I got a chance to swing by Dale Labs today to take some photos with an M8 for a white paper I am publishing. Due to the available lighting I had to shoot ISO 640 and 1250. I shot DNG and processed the images in Bibble Pro 4.9.8c and I have to say that I am impressed as to how well they cleaned up as opposed to Lightroom.

Technically these would be my first ever M8 photos. Pity I haven't bought it yet (still saving).

 

[MartinL]

I spent a lot of time with the Bibble trial version and liked it a lot. Then, because I already had a new version of Noise Ninja I sprung for the PS upgrade to CS3. (Bibble's NN "light" slider is/was very attractive). Anyway, I'm OK with where I'm at, but I've been recommending that people get a look at Bibble.

 

[etrigan63]

Martin, I see you have the CV 40 mm. How is the framing on that? From what I've read, it brings up the 50mm framelines. Any issues with those framelines? I've heard that you can field adjust (ie: take a file to the bayonet) to bring up the 35mm frame lines. Is it worth the risk of ruining the lens? What are your experiences with framing the 40mm?

 

[MartinL]

Martin, I see you have the CV 40 mm. How is the framing on that? From what I've read, it brings up the 50mm framelines. Any issues with those framelines? I've heard that you can field adjust (ie: take a file to the bayonet) to bring up the 35mm frame lines. Is it worth the risk of ruining the lens? What are your experiences with framing the 40mm?

Here's a semi-responsive answer. Best I can do.🙂 First, I'm a cropper. I rarely go for prints larger (or less than) than 8 x 12, rarely run out of resolution even if I tweak the frame. This comes from years of digital in which the available time (between wanting a pic and shooting it) is best spent (for me) paying attention to what I want in focus and getting the exposure I want. If the frame is off big-time, I see it and snap again.

At 1.4, the 40 is my designated lens for when there's really too little light to sensibly take the photo. I've enjoyed it for that purpose. Of my 4 lenses it's the least used. Big surprise is the CV 75 which I use a lot.

If the lens filing were a sure thing and cheap and convenient, I might. But in practice I'm not perturbed by the frame.
Martin

 

[etrigan63]

I asked because I want to get a fast "walkabout" lens for trade shows and such. My 1DMk2 works great, but weighs a ton and I cannot bring myself to use a point and shoot (no RAW). I was thinking the CV 35mm Pancake II 2.5, but the 40mm is way faster. However, with cleanup like I am seeing in Bibble Pro, I could just get the 35mm Color Skopar Pancake II and push the ISO.

 

[MartinL]

I asked because I want to get a fast "walkabout" lens for trade shows and such. My 1DMk2 works great, but weighs a ton and I cannot bring myself to use a point and shoot (no RAW). I was thinking the CV 35mm Pancake II 2.5, but the 40mm is way faster. However, with cleanup like I am seeing in Bibble Pro, I could just get the 35mm Color Skopar Pancake II and push the ISO.

Well-lit showroom floor probably doesn't require 1.4, especially shooting RAW. OTOH, I like to keep the pushing as a last resort.

The problem with the 1DMk2 is not just the weight that makes it unpleasant to walkabout with, it's the fact that it's so darn good that it makes you dissatisfied with nearly anything else. I'm totally delighted with my M8, but it just can't substitute for the Canon for some shooting.
Martin

 

[etrigan63]

I hear you there. I have no plans to get rid of my 1DMk2, I'm looking at the M8 for travel, trade shows, and photos for photography's sake. I'm just questing to find a good starter lens (CV's are priced for that) that would meet my needs. The current CV lineup offers limited choices:

40mm Nokton - fast, light and small. Doesn't bring up proper framelines and cannot be coded.
35mm Color Skopar Pancake II - Light, small brings up proper framelines, can be hand coded. Not so fast as Noktons
35mm Nokton - Fast, brings up proper framelines, can be hand coded. Large and more expensive. Can get a Zeiss Biogon 35mm f/2 for the price.

 

[etrigan63]

Well, just to update this thread: I wnet ahead and purchased the 40mm Nokton from CameraQuest. Excellent service and prompt delivery. I carefully marked and removed the bayonet flange and it is on its way to John Milich for modification. I am having both the coding recesses and frameline adjustment done. $35 well spent, I hope.

I will update as I get more news.

 

[etrigan63]

Update from John: milling is done and the flange has been mailed back to me. I eagerly await it's return. Have to talk to Dave Farkas at Dale Labs to let me test it on his demo M8. I should talk to him about buying that one off of them.

 

[etrigan63]

Further update: The flange is back on the Nokton and I just coded it as a 35mm Lux (per Stephen Gandy's recommendation). I have to say that remounting the flange was way trickier than getting it off the lens. The flange does not sit snug against the knurled ring below it. Make sure you have good alignment marks made when you remove it. It does help getting it back on.

Stay tuned for test shots in the near future.