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M9 As a Landscape Camera


Seeingeye

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I think it makes a grand package for landscape

 

 

It makes a great package - full stop!

 

I suppose my main concern about using a M8 or M9 for landscape is the dynamic range required for such work. Which is not to say I have never used my Leicas for such work nor that it is not an issue for other makes of camera. That means a choice of getting it right in camera, which in turn most likely results in a tripod and ND grads, or post processing the RAW files to combine exposures. Or a mixture of the two.

 

None of the examples shown in the article seemed to demonstrate excessive dynamic range, though I suspect that "Pointing Tree" was probably at the limit at what most cameras could comfortably sustain. But if I am going out to shoot landscapes with all the other paraphernalia that could be required, the M9 makes a slightly less convincing case over the DSLR than with other subjects.

 

Mike

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I've been using the M9 on a tripod to shoot various City of Chicago landscapes, particularly at night. It is great. I might also add that I have been playing around with HDR and for those who are interested in that (many don't like the technique), the M9 is better than my Canon Mark II, 5D, because it allows up to 7 bracketed shots.

 

I have been showing large prints (17" by 22") of some of these photos to friends. What intrigues me is that people can't distinguish the ones done with HDR from the single exposures, including me. The color rendition in the straight shots is fantastic.

 

Jack Siegel

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I've been using the M9 on a tripod to shoot various City of Chicago landscapes, particularly at night. It is great. I might also add that I have been playing around with HDR and for those who are interested in that (many don't like the technique), the M9 is better than my Canon Mark II, 5D, because it allows up to 7 bracketed shots.

 

I have been showing large prints (17" by 22") of some of these photos to friends. What intrigues me is that people can't distinguish the ones done with HDR from the single exposures, including me. The color rendition in the straight shots is fantastic.

 

Jack Siegel

 

My experience is very similar. I have even shot several 5 bracketed shots series out of hand, and most of those come out great (Photomatix Pro). An example: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/landscape-travel/129203-seascape-m9-hdr-camera.html#post1359920

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Hi Mike

Thanks for the link

No surprises here - I think it makes a grand package for landscape - and there are many fine exmples on a thread at GetDpi

 

all the best

 

There are many fine examples here... :rolleyes:

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I have sold many landscape prints from my M9, up to 20X30 in size and they look phenomenal. Most of them were taken with the "cheap" 35 Summarit lens.

 

The M9 is not just a street camera. The small size mixed with the fabulous glass makes for some of the best landscape images I have seen from ANY digital.

 

Steve

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I believe it is the combination of the Leica glass, very weak AA filter, full frame sensor w/ 18 MP and ease of transport that make it a great landscape camera. I still prefer my large format setup for the really serious stuff, but I damn sure are not going hiking any distance with it.

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I have printed some 30X40 landscapes on canvas that are so fabulous that they lasted about 15 minutes at home before my wife took them to her office.....I use HDR on them but do not "over cook " the process....

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As a further contribution I've just got back from a week's walking in the English Lake District taking with me as my base kit an M9 + 28 cron asph / 50 lux asph / 135 Apo Telyt. A selection of images can be seen here: The English Lake District - June 2010

Slightly larger resolution examples are given below. I've printed these at 13" x 19" / A3+ on an Epson 2880 and they are fully appropriate for exhibition or sale. My experience with M9 files is that I'd be confident to go to A2 (16.5" x 23.4"). This is as large as I need to go. The M9 doesn't do everything you might want as a landscape camera (tilt/shift being a major limitation) but it's the only camera I'd carry all day when I'm trekking.

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A question from a M9-newbi: What is the preferred method in order to print the M9-file on, say, A3+ or A2 paper? I have an EPSON 3800, and for my MF-film scans, I downscale the file and print at a resolution of 360 dpi. For the M9-file; do you upscale the file or lower the printing resolution when you print at A3+/A2? (preferred software for the upscaling?)

 

Thanks a lot!

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Delete mine Andy, I don't care.

 

Steve

 

+1

 

A question from a M9-newbi: What is the preferred method in order to print the M9-file on, say, A3+ or A2 paper? I have an EPSON 3800, and for my MF-film scans, I downscale the file and print at a resolution of 360 dpi. For the M9-file; do you upscale the file or lower the printing resolution when you print at A3+/A2? (preferred software for the upscaling?)

 

I've found that 240 ppi works very well for A3+

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