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Tina Manley · 05/14/08, 11:15 PM

I've just skimmed this thread but I don't think anybody has mention the reason I use M8's and fast Leica lenses and avoid flash. Flash attracts attention to you. There is no way anybody can avoid looking at that bright light going off. That doesn't matter for wedding or event photography when you expect people to be looking at the camera, but for any kind of true candid or documentary photography, the photographer really wants to be invisible. The only way I know to be invisible is to sit quietly in a corner with a Leica M camera and fast lenses and wait until everybody forgets you are there. I used to use M3's, 4's, 6's, 7's with fast film - now I use M8's and digital. I still think Leica M's are the best cameras for low light. Have you tried using ISO 160 or 320 and underexposing by 2? For low light, you want the photo underexposed anyway. That's what I used to do with film. It's dark. It should look dark. With ISO 160, underexposing by 2 stops and the Noctilux or Summilux, the M8 can take photos in the dark. I like them better than any low light photos I get from the Canon 5D or 1DMII.

Just my opinion.

Tina Manley
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05/14/08, 11:15 PM	#48 (permalink)
Tina Manley Benutzer Join Date: 01/03/08 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 56	Re: Low light Photography, the M8 and D3 I've just skimmed this thread but I don't think anybody has mention the reason I use M8's and fast Leica lenses and avoid flash. Flash attracts attention to you. There is no way anybody can avoid looking at that bright light going off. That doesn't matter for wedding or event photography when you expect people to be looking at the camera, but for any kind of true candid or documentary photography, the photographer really wants to be invisible. The only way I know to be invisible is to sit quietly in a corner with a Leica M camera and fast lenses and wait until everybody forgets you are there. I used to use M3's, 4's, 6's, 7's with fast film - now I use M8's and digital. I still think Leica M's are the best cameras for low light. Have you tried using ISO 160 or 320 and underexposing by 2? For low light, you want the photo underexposed anyway. That's what I used to do with film. It's dark. It should look dark. With ISO 160, underexposing by 2 stops and the Noctilux or Summilux, the M8 can take photos in the dark. I like them better than any low light photos I get from the Canon 5D or 1DMII. Just my opinion. Tina Manley Tina Manley- powered by SmugMug