Why am I leaving my Leica cameras home?

raid

raid

Dad Photographer
Local time
2:35 AM
Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Messages
36,569
I have been using two outfits for some time this year.
Camera Bag 1:
M8 with Canon 17/4 or Zeiss G 45/2 or Rigid Summicron
M9 with pre-asph Summilux 35/1.4

Camera Bag 2:
EP2 with Zeiss 85/1.4
EPL1 with Zeiss 35/1.4

I am using Bag 2 more often than Bag 1.
Why? The cropped view gives me 170mm and 70mm.
These are irregular focal lengths. Why am I favoring the second set-up?

I suspect that there are several factors:
1. The lenses are superb. I love using them so much that I adjust my photography for these focal lengths.
2. The EP cameras have IS in addition to 8x focus aid.
3. The sensors stay clean.
4. The cameras are light.


I just bought a Leica 1.25 magnifier to assist with critical focus with the M8 and M9. Maybe this will encourage me to use the first bag more often?

Do you have such a situation too?
 
I know that Amedeo has modified the QBM Zeiss 50/1.4 to M mount in the past. I wonder if he can modify also my 35/1.4 and the 85/1.4 to M. This would make these lenses fit both camera outfits.

My favorite travel outfit is the M9 with the EP2 , side by side. Each lens will have "two focal lengths", depending on the camera the lens is used with.

Dies there exist a QBM-M adapter on the market?
 
The RAW inages from the EP2 and the EPL1 come out beautiful. These cameras allow quick back to back photos without a lag. Good luck getting this with the M8 or the M9.
 
I think you are worried too much about it Raid. I'm not carrying any bags but my winter coat has two deeeeep pockets. In one I have been carrying my Leica Null while the other has the Kiev 4a. Or perhaps one is carrying my Leica MA and the other my ZI. Then there is the Bessa R2C and the Leica IIIg. Or perhaps...well, you get the idea. I think I am ADHD. I haven't been able to settle on a single camera for several months now. And don't get me started on lenses.

So, enjoy your bags and grab whatever one grabs your fancy at the time. Unless you are in the middle of an assignment and need a specific camera then enjoy!
 
Raid
It happen to me as well, but with my Nikon equipment, I have a E-P3 and a Panasonic
GX-1 both with Pana lenses on them, my Nikon equipment just sat at home I used
the Nikon twice this year. the Raw images from both those cameras are terrific as
you said and yesterday I sold my Nikon Stuff, I have a SB800 and a 20mm f2.8
lens left that I think I'll use on either the micro 4/3rd's or the Fuji XE-1 camera
I just ordered. I'm just enjoying the Mirrorless cameras.

Range
 
I find my M8 to be a struggle these days. My eyes are older and the viewfinder requires magnification and proper diopter correction to even have a chance of composing and focusing well. The mechanical rangefinder is also old fashioned and quirky by comparison with a modern digital rangefinder making focusing a crap shoot. The sensor is pretty basic and no matter that it can turn out good images in perfect lighting conditions at any other time it struggles. All in all while I still use it as a matter of principle I too tend to use other cameras in preference to it simply for ease and convenience. I have to be in the right frame of mind to even bother.

One of my favourite small format digitals is an old Panasonic GF 1 which turns in lovely images either with a native 4/3 lens or with a legacy lens on an adapter and feels "right" in my hands. I have three lenses for it - the Sigma 30mm f2.8, the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and the Olympus 60mm macro. All perform superbly. I also have an Olympus EPL 2 but prefer the rendering of the Panasonic.

My absolute best in terms of image quality in difficult lighting is a Sony NEX F3 which turns in lovely images up to 1600 ASA with little noise. I use it either with a Sony 50mm f1.8 lens or Sigma 30mm f2.8. Or again with legacy lenses. Its only disadvantage is that I have no EVF for it and have to rely on the LCD which I do not enjoy doing especially in bright sun when these things are damn near worthless. But other than this it works fine and focuses easily.

Possibly my main gripe about the M8 is that it performs dreadfully in poor light. This is where Leica Ms are supposed to perform well but the old sensor design is so poor than anything over ISO 640 is a waste of effort - just too much noise for my liking. This is compounded by the fact that I find the thing hard to focus accurately (not helped by its tiny 0.68 magnification) which means that it is difficult to use fast lenses wide open to compensate for its poor ISO performance.

All in all I perfectly well understand why you leave your Leicas behind.
 
Pioneer said:
I think you are worried too much about it Raid. I'm not carrying any bags but my winter coat has two deeeeep pockets. In one I have been carrying my Leica Null while the other has the Kiev 4a. Or perhaps one is carrying my Leica MA and the other my ZI. Then there is the Bessa R2C and the Leica IIIg. Or perhaps...well, you get the idea. I think I am ADHD. I haven't been able to settle on a single camera for several months now. And don't get me started on lenses.

So, enjoy your bags and grab whatever one grabs your fancy at the time. Unless you are in the middle of an assignment and need a specific camera then enjoy!
Click to expand...

It is not a real worry. I feel being fortunate to have such excellent options available to me. The quality of colors with the M9 and the 35 Lux are amazing. The M8 gives beautiful images too. I am never on any assignment. The Olympus M 4\3 cameras are not quiet, and using them will wake up my daughters when I use them for photos as they sleep. The M cameras don't disturb them.
 
Range-rover said:
Raid
It happen to me as well, but with my Nikon equipment, I have a E-P3 and a Panasonic
GX-1 both with Pana lenses on them, my Nikon equipment just sat at home I used
the Nikon twice this year. the Raw images from both those cameras are terrific as
you said and yesterday I sold my Nikon Stuff, I have a SB800 and a 20mm f2.8
lens left that I think I'll use on either the micro 4/3rd's or the Fuji XE-1 camera
I just ordered. I'm just enjoying the Mirrorless cameras.

Range
Click to expand...

I used to look down on M4/3 cameras as being amateurish and sub par, but I don't this anymore. I will read up on new M 4/3 models.
 
peterm1 said:
I find my M8 to be a struggle these days. My eyes are older and the viewfinder requires magnification and proper diopter correction to even have a chance of composing and focusing well. The mechanical rangefinder is also old fashioned and quirky by comparison with a modern digital rangefinder making focusing a crap shoot. The sensor is pretty basic and no matter that it can turn out good images in perfect lighting conditions at any other time it struggles. All in all while I still use it as a matter of principle I too tend to use other cameras in preference to it simply for ease and convenience. I have to be in the right frame of mind to even bother.

One of my favourite small format digitals is an old Panasonic GF 1 which turns in lovely images either with a native 4/3 lens or with a legacy lens on an adapter and feels "right" in my hands. I have three lenses for it - the Sigma 30mm f2.8, the Olympus 45mm f1.8 and the Olympus 60mm macro. All perform superbly. I also have an Olympus EPL 2 but prefer the rendering of the Panasonic.

My absolute best in terms of image quality in difficult lighting is a Sony NEX F3 which turns in lovely images up to 1600 ASA with little noise. I use it either with a Sony 50mm f1.8 lens or Sigma 30mm f2.8. Or again with legacy lenses. Its only disadvantage is that I have no EVF for it and have to rely on the LCD which I do not enjoy doing especially in bright sun when these things are damn near worthless. But other than this it works fine and focuses easily.

Possibly my main gripe about the M8 is that it performs dreadfully in poor light. This is where Leica Ms are supposed to perform well but the old sensor design is so poor than anything over ISO 640 is a waste of effort - just too much noise for my liking. This is compounded by the fact that I find the thing hard to focus accurately (not helped by its tiny 0.68 magnification) which means that it is difficult to use fast lenses wide open to compensate for its poor ISO performance.

All in all I perfectly well understand why you leave your Leicas behind.
Click to expand...

It seems that we share challenges with M focusing. I wonder if I should try out other cameras. It is great that M4/3 cameras are quite inexpensive. Brian mentioned the possibility of making the M8 a 16 bit camera for excellent low light photography.
 
Hi Raid - it happens to all of us in one form or another. It's nothing to worry about. As an amateur, it's the love of photography that keeps me going, regardless of gear. Sometimes it's the CSC-body that does it for me; other times, it's the film SLR. Lately, it's been the D800e and my Nikon primes. My Zeiss ZI hasn't seen much use for a few months now, but no worries. At some point, if/when the mood strikes to shoot a film RF body, I'll pick it right up. It's just a hobby; I do whatever allows me to continue to enjoy the hobby. When I start measuring utility, it starts to erode the fun.

-Keith
 
Hi Keith,
You are right about enjoying it all as amateurs. One day, I will use film again.
 
I carry my Leica/Panasonic D-Lux 6, my Fuji X10 and X100 more than my M8.2. I'm not sure I need the M8.2.
 
I'm increasingly confident with long glass on the M9. The secret? Serious practice. I grab my 135/3.4 which has a front focus, and step in to yard. I pick a target and fire. I pull up the shot on the LCD, zoom and check. If i miss I repeat that shot till I get it, then move to another target. One session like this, about 25 mins, and the lens imprints itself pretty well on my memory.

I don't hit at 100% but I hit at a higher rate than with Sony A7 mag.

It helps that the focus throws are nearly identical on the modern glass.

AF is just not satisfying to me.
 
The same situation arose for me with the Ricoh GXR, the Olympus EM-5, and more recently the Panasonic GM1. I find myself carrying these much smaller, lighter cameras as much as, or even more than, my M9 or M7.

The GM1, particularly, has a look to the images that I find very attractive. Colours are excellent, especially when using a Lightroom preset I based on the Ricoh Positive Film look in the GR. With the very small Olympus primes, it is easy to drop in a bag or hang around your neck and shoot to your heart's content.

GM1 with Olympus 45/1.8

GM1 - My Name is Chan by Archiver, on Flickr

GM1 with Olympus 25/1.8

GM1 - Beats [explore 2014 07 05] by Archiver, on Flickr

I also love using the Ricoh GR, which moves from small sensor backup camera to aps-c primary camera.

GR - The Deconstruction of Ancient Architecture by Archiver, on Flickr

When I want that extra image quality, or the rangefinder experience, I use the M9. When I want the pure shooting pleasure of the M7, no other camera I have gives that experience. But I have to say that the Leica M rangefinders stay home about half the time because the Panasonic GM1 and Ricoh GR give me acceptable results in a much smaller and lighter package. I would have loved the X Typ 113 to have image quality at the level of the Ricoh GR: had that been the case, I would have bought one right away.

The M9 comes out for overseas trips where I know I want the best image quality, though.

M9 - Chi Lin Rockery by Archiver, on Flickr
 
Range-rover said:
Have any of you guy's try the Leica/Panasonic prime lenses? maybe with those we'll
be leaving more stuff at home.

Range
Click to expand...

My m43 collection contains a number of primes and zooms, but the lenses I enjoy the most, especially on the GM1, are the primes.

Olympus 17/1.8
Olympus 25/1.8
Olympus 45/1.8

The Panasonic 14/2.5 is a very nice lens, but redundant if I am carrying the Ricoh GR. I also have all the Voigtlander primes but I use those for video, not still images. The Olympus 75/1.8 is also in my collection but I find that focal length kind of limiting, as it is longer than I generally like.

With the Ricoh GR and the Panasonic GM1 + 25/1.8, I have my 28/50 combo covered at a level of quality that really pleases and surprises me. If I add the Oly 45/1.8, I have the classic 28/50/90 combination. Adding the GR wide angle adapter gives me 21/28/50/90 in a system that is weighs only a touch more than a M9 and 50mm Summicron. It's not the same level of image quality, but it's perfectly acceptable for me in day to day shooting.
 
Raid, The Olympus cameras are small and produce excellent images. The E-PL1 in particular produces lovely colors. But after getting an E-P5, I've retired my E-PL1 and may sell it. Why? The E-P5 has lightening fast autofocus and much better high iso results, and Olympus finally made the controls user friendly. This is the first digital camera I really enjoy shooting, and it's becoming a companion body for my M or Barnack Leicas. So my bag has digi and film bodies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom