travel report: D.R. Congo with MP+35/2

krishilife said:
Hi,

Isn't Velvia + 35/2 ASPH the most contrasty combination you can find? I like the colors on these pics, but shadows are lost in my opinion, expecially no 9 and 10. I'm curious how they would be with Astia 100F, or Reala?

Did you use any other color film on this trip?

BTW, how do you like your 35 ASPH? I think about this lens.

Kris.
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I think you make a good point. Fact is, I am mainly a b&w shooter, and for that I ended up using Tri-X.

In colour, I have not settled on anything as of yet. I now realize that most of my colour pics have been taken with a Holga (on negative film, daylight Holga slides are almost bound to be burned out). Thus I am used to pretty saturated and contrasty results. Maybe that could explain why I used this combo: I was conditioned to do so ;-). I should also mention that I personally do not look for as much shadow-depth in a colour picture, as I do in a b&w one --maybe that is strange.

The summicron is as good as everyone says, but I can only compare it to one other RF 35 lens: the 35/2.5 Color-Skopar P Type II from Voigtlander, which for 319 USD new is really great in my opinion. (It just doesn't get used since I got the Leica lens.)

Thanks for the interest, you might want to check back later to have a look at the b&w results.

And here is one more pool shot for those who liked it. (You can also see what I meant with framing problems: I am absolutely sure that I included more foreground and less sky...)

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Bonobos are sooooo cool to observe......if I remember correctly, they share like 98% of our genes....I studied them when I was in college, it was for an anthropology class......anyways, thanks for the photos....I like #10 the best.....please post more photos (tri-x?)if you get a chance (any bonobo photos?) and yes, it is true...we don't get to see a lot of photos from this part of the world on rff.......cheers....Michael
 
Just thought I'd let you know I am leaving for the weekend. I will be able to scan and put up some Tri-x results on Monday. Testing your patience just a little more...
 
I love these photos! I'm just starting to experiment with tri-x and I'd be really interested to know what speed you rated it at and how you developed it? Did you use any noise reduction software post scanning?

Thanks for posting these images.
 
MikeTinsley said:
I love these photos! I'm just starting to experiment with tri-x and I'd be really interested to know what speed you rated it at and how you developed it? Did you use any noise reduction software post scanning?

Thanks for posting these images.
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Thank you.

Well, I gave in to laziness and had everything developed by a lab. They did my Velvia as well, and I love the convenience of getting a contact sheet. The b&w development I could have (and should have) done myself, but I moved to another home and have not gotten to putting up my darkroom yet... Do I feel like I would have done a better job myself? I'm afraid I do. I'll take it as a lesson. No noise reduction software. I have only read about Noise Ninja and others, never actually used it.

Numbers 1 and 2 were pushed to 800, all others are rated at the standard 400. Here is another one from the 800-roll, with a bit less harsh tones because no sky is involved. This results straight from the scanner, no tweaking whatsoever:

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maddoc said:
Did you use some filter in the forest ?
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A UV-filter. I have a yellow-green filter for the summicron, but it would have slowed me down a bit, and light conditions in the forest are already pretty difficult. I usually was at 1/50, 1/30 or 1/15 at f2-f4. Sometimes 1/8. If I had to go slower or wanted a larger depth of field, I used a tripod. Looking back, I think a sturdy monopod would have been nice as well (although different).

Thanks for the interest.
 
amoz, thank you for the information about using filter, it was helpful for me !

On a side-note one more question ... 🙂 As I understood all photos were taken with a 35mm lens (35/2 ASPH). Did you bring / use only this one lens ?
 
Thanks for the comments again.

maddoc said:
amoz, thank you for the information about using filter, it was helpful for me !

On a side-note one more question ... 🙂 As I understood all photos were taken with a 35mm lens (35/2 ASPH). Did you bring / use only this one lens ?
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I also brought my Holga, and used it to take a roll of (flashed) nightly shots.

For my MP, I only have the 35 summicron. I think it is incredibly versatile, and suits almost all my needs.

I must say that I look forward to acquiring a 75, but don't have the money (yet). Also, under these tropical conditions it is a very bad idea to start changing lenses; it can give way to fungi or algae to colonize your lens elements or shutter blades. Therefore, I think I would only take a second lens with me if I had a second M body as well.

Cheers
 
amoz said:
I only have the 35 summicron. I think it is incredibly versatile, and suits almost all my needs.
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This is very nice to hear.


amoz said:
but don't have the money (yet).
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Same here, I'd love to have a 35 summicron, too. But have to save a few month before being able to get a used one.
 
Florian1234 said:
Same here, I'd love to have a 35 summicron, too. But have to save a few month before being able to get a used one.
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i saw on the other thread that you talk about summicron. have you considered 35/2 biogon. i think you can buy it new for less money than summi and also it is zeiss. i think zeiss is best manufacturer of those wider angles.
 
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