What to expect from M3 and 50mm

[Rodluvan]

As maybe some of you might have seen I just started shooting with a M3 and a 50mm summicron Rigid type 1 (my first ever rangefinder).

I haven't finished my first role of film yet, and only having used it for a short while I'm not that comfortable with it and I'm feeling a growing anxiety over what I can expect when I have the film developed.

I'm much into controlled DOF-photography. Emphasizing a subject with shallow DOF. Hence a 50mm 2.0 with a minimal focus distance of 1m (pretty much!) leaves me a bit in a slump.
I'm not at all concerned about moving on and developing a new style of shooting when I use this set up (I mean, heck that's mainly why I bought it). as I understand it Leica has for a long time been associated with photo-journalism and as such artistic preferences (in this aspect) may not be primarily what has been targeted.

However, I would very much like to know if some other feature in this set up will make up for what I loose in that respect. It's a bit of a tough question and one I think of as not very 'important' as I'll soon find out anyway, but it would be great to hear what you expect when you pick it up and what you use it for.

Cheers,
Daniel

 

[Solinar]

Once you see the smoothness of the out of focus areas with this lens, you won't be disappointed. I often treat the Summicron as a short telephoto. My other favorite with the M3 is my 85/2 Nikkor.

 

[Rodluvan]

Once you see the smoothness of the out of focus areas with this lens, you won't be disappointed. I often treat the Summicron as a short telephoto. My other favorite with the M3 is my 85/2 Nikkor.

I guess the 12 (?) blade aperture helps.
I'm trying to find examples on flicker but when searching on summicron 50mm I mostly find photos taken on the lens not with the lens.

 

[Windscale]

As maybe some of you might have seen I just started shooting with a M3 and a 50mm summicron Rigid type 1 (my first ever rangefinder).

I haven't finished my first role of film yet, and only having used it for a short while I'm not that comfortable with it and I'm feeling a growing anxiety over what I can expect when I have the film developed.

I'm much into controlled DOF-photography. Emphasizing a subject with shallow DOF. Hence a 50mm 2.0 with a minimal focus distance of 1m (pretty much!) leaves me a bit in a slump.
I'm not at all concerned about moving on and developing a new style of shooting when I use this set up (I mean, heck that's mainly why I bought it). as I understand it Leica has for a long time been associated with photo-journalism and as such artistic preferences (in this aspect) may not be primarily what has been targeted.

However, I would very much like to know if some other feature in this set up will make up for what I loose in that respect. It's a bit of a tough question and one I think of as not very 'important' as I'll soon find out anyway, but it would be great to hear what you expect when you pick it up and what you use it for.

Cheers,
Daniel

It sounds like that your first roll was negative film. And really I can't tell you what to expect as there can be so many variables in the processing stages. However, what I can tell you is the the Summicron 50/2 is not famous for being a high contrast lens. But you do get a creamy effect with your lower contrast pics. Skin tones and shadow areas will come out very different from your Nikon or Zeiss. I like it very much besause I like lower contrast and shadows. And I even use Fuji 160S with it for prints. It is a lens with its own character and one which you will either love or hate. Also my D&P man knows my requirements so the prints always came out the way I liked. However, I do urge you to try a roll of slide film, the ordinary Kodak Elite will do, and you will appreciate what your lens can really do. On the other hand, A minimum focusing distance of 1m will do. The RF is not really designed for macro photography although a CF version (with glasses) is available but more expensive and this lens produces higher contrast. Also, your 50/f2 is excellent at B&W.

Happy shooting.

 

[Ronald_H]

The first real Leica lens for my M2 was a DR Summicron.

Let me say I have a LOT of lenses for the F-mount and a few CV's as well. They range from very mediocre (Sigma 20mm f1.8 for Nikon) to very, very good.

But nothing comes even close the Summicron. The scan detail at pixel peeping levels reveals resolution I never even thought possible with 35mm. Although it is often tauted as a medium contrast lens, I do not find it 'flat'. Contrast is easy to manipulate in post processing anyway.

 

[hans_s]

what to expect

what to expect

Here's a link to what you can expect:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/LeicaSummicron50mmf2.0rigid
😀

 

[payasam]

Many will tell you that an M3 with a 50mm lens is about as close as you can get to an ideal combination. I sometimes think that too much is made of relatively minor differences between different lenses: it is the subject that counts, after all, and lenses are mere tools. Then there is the skill of the photographer. I suspect that Cartier-Bresson would have done work of the same quality if he had used a Zeiss lens in place of a collapsible Summicron.

 

[Rodluvan]

Here's a link to what you can expect:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/86731438@N00/pool/tags/LeicaSummicron50mmf2.0rigid
😀

Thanks!

Those do however strengthen my 'fear' that creative dof-photography is seldom used (or possible?) with this set up. They are all very similar in that aspect. Just a handful photos in 13 pages had an outspoken 'bokeh' (not saying anything about their quality in general). Well, it'll be a chalange and I'll probably have fun trying.

 

[thomasw_]

Loads of photos for comparison here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/m-mount/

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Daniel,

When I pick up my M3 with a collapsible Summicron, I expect the following:

A nice experience of seeing the world through a viewfinder that leads me to believe I have a wide-angle lens on the camera.

The security that the camera controls will do what I want them to do (open or close the lens or the shutter curtains, as I wish).

The notion that I will produce photos, not take snapshots.

The peace of mind that I'll be inobtrusive and unnoticed.

The certainty that the results will match my expectations.

I usually don't like 50s that much. My modern 'cron 50 doesn't get a lot of use. My favorite focal length is a 35, so much that it took me a while geting used to the 28mm field of view. My M3 makes me feel reassured that the 50 is a very good focal length. In fact, it's made me feel like a genius on ocassion... See below in case you doubt. This image was done on slide film (IIRC, Ektachrome 200), indoors, at the Contemporary Art Museum in Chicago, which has a nice looking staircase.

 

[Rodluvan]

Daniel,
In fact, it's made me feel like a genius on ocassion... See below in case you doubt. This image was done on slide film (IIRC, Ektachrome 200), indoors, at the Contemporary Art Museum in Chicago, which has a nice looking staircase.

Hi!

To be very truthful I don't see the genius in that particular photo (genius can however occasionally be too genius for me to understand). Can you explain?

Thanks for your reply!
/Daniel

 

[robbert]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the exact same setup.

Here's a shallow DOF shot

Don't mind the silly expression of my father, he always puts on funny faces 🙂

M3 - 50 Rigid Cron - Tri-X - ID-11

I guessed the exposure

Aperture probably f/2, but it might have been f/2.8 I don't remember

 

[Rodluvan]

A couple of weeks ago I purchased the exact same setup.

Here's a shallow DOF shot

I can't see any photo. Edit: Sorry, now I can!

 

[Tim Gray]

I just looked at my photos on flickr taken with my newer 50mm cron. Here's one that was taken relatively close and most likely close to wide open.



You can get blurry backgrounds. Pick up a 50/1.4 or a 75 or a 90 if you *need* shallow DOF. Or the Zeiss 50/1.5 sonnar. And shoot close. A 50/1.4 on an M is going to look like a 50/1.4 on any other 35mm camera in terms of DOF with the exception of that fact that rangefinders have less close focussing ability.

I think you see less of this kind of shooting with rangefinders because rangefinder users typically don't walk around with their new 85/1.2 L (or 135/2, etc.) and see how shallow a DOF they can get. Well, we would if we could all afford a Noctilux, but we can't 🙂

 

[tomasis]

M3 with 50mm kit is best I ever know of all available cameras.

Dont worry about dof. That kind of pictures doesnt make great photography 😉 Just look at photos of old time photographers

 

[Rodluvan]

Hello again!

Had my first film developed (TX400 pushed to 800). Got the online digital preview back and wasn't that impressed (not helping: a lot of the frames were bad because of lagging shutter-curtains). However, yesterday I picked up the paper-copies and HOLLY ****!
They are scanned at much higher resolution and depth before printed and that really made a big, huge difference. Now, I just have to sort out the curtain-problem.

Here's me (and Nikki):

Thanks for your input in this thread.

 

[maddoc]

Hello again!

Had my first film developed (TX400 pushed to 800). Got the online digital preview back and wasn't that impressed (not helping: a lot of the frames were bad because of lagging shutter-curtains). However, yesterday I picked up the paper-copies and HOLLY ****!
They are scanned at much higher resolution and depth before printed and that really made a big, huge difference. Now, I just have to sort out the curtain-problem.

Here's me (and Nikki):

Thanks for your input in this thread.

That's a nice one ! What kind of bird is that sitting on your shoulder ?

 

[mfogiel]

The rigid or DR Summicron aren't as sharp wide open as today's lenses, but they are sharp enough for most things, and they exhibit a very paintery bokeh, which really differentiates them from other lenses. Look at these shots - mostly done around f 2.8-4.0:

However, in case you are not satisfied with the f2.0 1 meter shots, you could take a look at photos done by these other amateur users of the same combo: Henri Cartier Bresson, Ralph Gibson, Gianni Berengo Gardin, etc...

 

[payasam]

Fine picture, Francisco.

 

[Rodluvan]

That's a nice one ! What kind of bird is that sitting on your shoulder ?

Thank you 🙂

It's a Senegal Parrot:

(while looking at a big photo of another bird).