Few questions..

[bruniroquai]

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Hi guys!

 

I'm thinking to jump into MF world, just as an amateur.

 

I sold my MM and M9 and lenses and just keep my beloved X2. So I want a MF system just for portraiture work, mostly outside and natural light.

 

I'm using a Hassy H3DII 31 friend's camera, so gorgeous and big files! Never seen even with the M9 nothing equal.

 

What about the S2 and the lenses? Probably the best ever made, but.. Are not Schneider LS as good?

 

Always wanted a P1 system but it's very expensive.. What would be a good price for a second hand S2 and 70mm? Is the summilux 50 of the S system?

 

I feel the 4:3 format pleasant for portraits, more than 3:2, and if I crop I will lose megapixels..

 

Thaaaanks!

 

 

By the way, I would love to learn how,to use lights, flash and good post processing as Joey Lawrence, for example.

Edited June 20, 2013 by bruniroquai

[alainD]

Just like you I sold both my M9s and lenses and got into the S bandwagon. In my case, this is for landscape work. I got the new S and a few lenses. Love them!

 

For portraits, you might want to consider the 120mm, a really really nice lens.

I've seen S2 in great conditions as low as $10-$12k and the lenses between $3.5k and $5k.

 

Alain.

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[bruniroquai]

Thanks Alain!

[albertknappmd]

I have had a marvelous experience with my S2 and have used the 35, 70, 120 and 180 lenses extensively and in all conditions and climes.... They are amazing! I agree that the 120mm is a star for portrait work and this is actually unsurprising as it is the descendant of the legendary 100mm MACRO R lens. That being said, the other lenses are also fantastic. I particularly enjoy my 35mm for landscape work.

Albert :)

[alainD]

I agree that all the lenses are fantastic.I have 24mm, 35mm, 70mm and 120mm. For landscape, the one I use the most is the 24mm... Just plain amazing. No distortion, except in the extreme corners...

 

That said, I got surprised by how little depth of field one gets. Even at f/11, there is not that much DoF on the 24mm... Medium format + high pixel density, I suppose. I now use focus stacking to get everything in focus when I need to.

 

Alain.

[Jack MacDonough]

A used S2 runs as low as $10,000 from the right dealer, or as low as $8000 if directly from a user. I see higher prices on ebay, but as the S gets delivered, more S2s will hit the market.

A 70mm is pretty available used and not as expensive as other lenses, two are on ebay now for about $4,000, which is not that far from the new price.

I agree with others that the 120mm S is fantastic.The used price is holding stronger and runs at about $6,000 used.

 

For portraits in available light, the 120 is a much better choice than the 70.

I skipped purchasing the 70mm, and only rarely do I miss it. My first lens for a year was the 35mm.

I have a 24mm, 35mm and 120mm. So far, the secondary prices of S lenses is holding stronger than some M lenses. I would argue that anyone who buys Leica lenses is making a good decision. Optics really don't depreciate fast. Different story on the camera bodies. The bodies are electronics, and electronics depreciate.

 

Regarding cropping, you have so many pixels, cropping is not an issue.

 

As you try to learn more about the S system, I recommend you also follow the reddotforum.

The forum has the most S users of any forum I know.

Users are identified on that forum as S owners, which reduces trolling.

http://www.reddotforum.com/forumdisplay.php/1-Leica-S-System

[spoons]

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I have the S + 24 and 30-90 and grip. Its amazing but heavy as I found out yesterday in the jungle in Cambodia 100 or so metres up in a tree.

 

I have just put my name down for the M and have found a tri elmar late version as the S really is quite cumbersome on the move. Probably best on a tripod.

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[erlingmm]

I have the S + 24 and 30-90 and grip. Its amazing but heavy as I found out yesterday in the jungle in Cambodia 100 or so metres up in a tree.

 

I have just put my name down for the M and have found a tri elmar late version as the S really is quite cumbersome on the move. Probably best on a tripod.

 

You are probably one of the first to carry a medium-format camera in a tree 100m above ground in the jungle. I find the S very versatile, even traveling , but that may be stretching it a bit ;-)

 

With the M, you would need both hands on the camera (for manual focus), how would you hold on to the tree, 100 m above ground?

Edited June 26, 2013 by erlingmm
Added a sentence

[spoons]

good point, however I haven't used the manual focus on the S. I have recently moved from a 1ds 3, which I miss for it's handling but the S is really amazing and after all these years I am learning new tricks. The M will be the biggest curve. I bought the M8 when it first came out and hated it but now I think the M will be good for me.

 

I'm still debating whether to sell the ads. ID's been such an old friend and I regret like mad getting rid of my Gandolfi way back. That's another story though.

 

It was freeking scary up there and next time I'll take a strap for the S.

[alainD]

I have the S + 24 and 30-90 and grip. Its amazing but heavy as I found out yesterday in the jungle in Cambodia 100 or so metres up in a tree.

 

I have just put my name down for the M and have found a tri elmar late version as the S really is quite cumbersome on the move. Probably best on a tripod.

 

 

I use my S mostly on tripod. First I tried on a gitzo 2 series, it was not quite strong enough. I have it now on a 3 series systematic + leveling platform + arca swiss D4 head, it is very stable and not too heavy.

 

Btw, how do you like the grip?

 

Alain.

[spoons]

hi Alain

 

I have the D4 geared head too and a Gitzo 5542. See my earlier post about the QR plate I have for it. The grip is great and in fact when it was away having the plate made, I really missed it, even though it makes the camera heavy, its much sturdier. The only real complaint is that as the batteries drain together ( despite what a previous poster claimed about switch on order ) you have to take it off to get at the body battery once it's dead. They last forever though. I am away and have been shooting all day, every day since Sunday, with GPS on and they are still about 80%

 

Although having the Leica has changed the way I take pictures, it being slower and more precise, I do miss the rather throw away days of the ds1 3 I used before.

Edited June 26, 2013 by spoons
added a comma,

[spoons]

good point, however I haven't used the manual focus on the S..

 

 

I mean't AUTO focus.

[erlingmm]

I mean't AUTO focus.

 

I think autofocus on the rear button is very useful, with the option of manual override.

[Jeff S]

I bought the M8 when it first came out and hated it...

 

Why?

 

Jeff

[alainD]

hi Alain

 

I have the D4 geared head too and a Gitzo 5542. See my earlier post about the QR plate I have for it.

 

Thanks for posting. I have the RRS L-bracket. Works great for vertical shots on top of the Arca Swiss D4, with enough clearance for the cable release.

 

The grip is great and in fact when it was away having the plate made, I really missed it, even though it makes the camera heavy, its much sturdier.

 

I am concerned about the extra weight...

 

Although having the Leica has changed the way I take pictures, it being slower and more precise, I do miss the rather throw away days of the ds1 3 I used before.

 

I used to go shooting several hundreds frames a day and had a few ok keepers. Now I shoot sometimes less than 10 frames and have a good keeper. It's like shooting large format. I think more about the shot, and having such a nice and large viewfinder really helps!

 

Alain.

[alainD]

I think autofocus on the rear button is very useful, with the option of manual override.

 

Yes! All my cameras (Nikon D4, Olympus OM-D and Leica S) are set-up this way.

That said, I've found the autofocus on the Leica S to be very precise and I rarely need to manual focus.

 

Alain.

[spoons]

Why?

 

Jeff

 

because I was so used to the DSLR that I wanted it to replace that i just couldn't get used to the focus and other stuff. anyway, I am willing to learn and hope that it will the last system I ever buy. Also, as a travel and life style photographer, I am keen to keep the weight of my gear down and am tweeking my gear and shooting methods to accommodate this need. This shoot, I have carted all my stuff from NYC to London then to Cambodia and maybe I'm just getting too old, but I didn't enjoy throwing the cases onto a bobbing little boat and hope that my new M, when it arrives will help. The S, although amazing is just a little too heavy to hold all day long....thats why.

[Jeff S]

because I was so used to the DSLR that I wanted it to replace that i just couldn't get used to the focus and other stuff.

 

I suggest that you rent or buy an M8 or M9 while you wait for an M to see if you can get comfort with the M RF approach; some do, some don't. 'Hate' is a strong reaction to the M8, and the M provides basically the same RF experience, with other viewing and focusing features as secondary IMO.

 

Jeff

[spoons]

'Hate' is a strong reaction to the M8, and the M provides basically the same RF experience, with other viewing and focusing features as secondary IMO.

 

Jeff

 

OK Jeff, disliked.

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[Jeff S]

OK Jeff, disliked.

 

Same recommendation.

 

Jeff