TacTZilla Posted November 3, 2009 Share #1 Posted November 3, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi there. My first post here even though I've been lurking for a short while. I innocently went to a short talk by a Leica user, aimed at other Leica users a few weeks ago just wanting to get an idea what all the fuss was about and hopefully, the opportunity to handle an M9, which I did. I'm a photography (fairly) newbie having been at it for 3 years. I have been using Nikon D3 for the last couple of years and although I've been happy with the results, something didn't feel right. The M9 felt right, so I decided to make the move. I would have liked to keep the Nikon gear, but as I'm 'financially challenged' or 'skint' as we say up north, it had to go. I knew that, if I sold everything off that wasn't nailed down I could just about afford an M9 and possibly 2 lenses. I'm now sat here with 3 lenses and my name on the waiting list - GULP! I keep having these 'what have I done?' moments. Manual focus? I must be crazy. 2 frames per second vs. 9 FPS on the D3. I know I won't be able to do the sports action stuff any more, but I was doing less and less of that any way. I found myself doing lots more street photography and mainly using my Nikkor 50mm F/1.4. The D3 just gets in the way for street. Too big and heavy and I get hassled by security guards or the police for being a terrorist. I'd like a camera that gets out of the way rather than in the way. The lenses I got were........ 28mm F/2 Summicron 50mm F/1.4 Summilux & 90mm F/2.8 Elmarit .....based on advice on Ken Rockwell's site. Having made this move, today someone gives me a copy of Amateur Photographer with the M9 review in it. Not exactly a glowing review so I'm feeling a little nervous now, especially since I'm going to have to sell my body on the streets to make up the shortfall because of getting 3 lenses Please tell me everything is going to be ok Cheers Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 Hi TacTZilla, Take a look here Please help settle my nerves..... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
stunsworth Posted November 3, 2009 Share #2 Posted November 3, 2009 Everything's going to be ok.The lenses you chose are all excellent - though if you relied on KR that was by luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidigital Posted November 3, 2009 Share #3 Posted November 3, 2009 Bob, calm your fears, be patient as you learn the nuances of rangefinder shooting and I'm certain you'll feel happy that you'll have tried something different. Rangefinder shooting will help you become more thoughtful about how you view photography and the subjects you photograph. If you find out you don't like the kit, you can always sell it and move on ... but you'll have gained a better understanding of what and how you photograph. If you find it's to your liking ... you might not pick up a DSLR for a long while. Kurt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danyves Posted November 3, 2009 Share #4 Posted November 3, 2009 I Having made this move, today someone gives me a copy of Amateur Photographer with the M9 review in it. Not exactly a glowing review so I'm feeling a little nervous now, especially since I'm going to have to sell my body on the streets to make up the shortfall because of getting 3 lenses Please tell me everything is going to be ok Cheers Bob Everything will be ok, do not care of superficial test such as Amateur Photographer. The M9 is a great tool. You did make a real good choice for your 3 lenses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacTZilla Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share #5 Posted November 3, 2009 Thanks guys. I'm feeling better already. My feeling is that the M9 will make me a better photographer. I know in my heart it's the right move. I may have to part with one lens if I'm struggling to raise the funds. I intend to pay for the M9 before the VAT rise in the New Year. I'm sure the Universe will provide something for me. The magazine review said it was very prone to collecting dust on the sensor. The D3 was like that. Is this the case. The sensor looks easy to get to for cleaning. I noticed the method that Leica use to clean sensors in the video here........ Assembling The Leica M9 on Vimeo (13 mins 23 seconds in) Has anyone seen these sticky lollipops available to buy anywhere? Regards Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacTZilla Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share #6 Posted November 3, 2009 Steve. I think you must be very near to me if you are photographing the Bacup Coconutters. I'm in Foulridge near Colne. Cheers Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 3, 2009 Share #7 Posted November 3, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) People tend to fall into one of two camps when it comes to their most used lens. Either they favour a 35mm lens or a 50mm lens. This is a generalisation, but it probably applies to the majority of people using Ms. If you need to jettison one lens and you're a 50mm person then it's easy, keep the Summilux and lose the 28mm. If on the other hand you are more of a 35mm person then I'd suggest replacing the 28mm and 50mm lenses with a 35mm ASPH Summicron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted November 3, 2009 Share #8 Posted November 3, 2009 Steve. I think you must be very near to me if you are photographing the Bacup Coconutters. I'm in Foulridge near Colne. I'm not too far away, I'm in Atherton near Bolton. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 3, 2009 Share #9 Posted November 3, 2009 Bob - looking at your website (some lovely things here) I reckon you're going to be very happy with the results you can get in the People / Local interest areas you have here - but you're going to miss the D3 for the wildlife / whippets and the rest. I suppose the good news is that you can get a DSLR body inexpensively once you're in funds again ... Did you sell your lenses? If yes, then you could look at Sony - very competititive prices, or shop around and get either Canon or Nikon and good used pro lenses .... A lot of us need to use two (or more) systems - economically tough, but it seems to be the name of the game if you want to cover a lot of fields. In the meantime - have fun with the M9 - it's a lovely tool. Best ... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacTZilla Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share #10 Posted November 3, 2009 Hi Chris. Many thanks for the kind comments. I only did some wildlife stuff in the early days. It doesn't really light my fire and there are so many much better at it than I could ever be. Whippets (my own dogs) have been shot to death (so to speak). Not to bothered about doing that any more. I think that if I really had to shoot some action my mate would lend me his D700 which can manage about 8 fps with the battery pack on. Of course he would want to borrow the Leica Hands off matey. I did sell all my lenses and lots of other things too. I've never had so little clutter in my house. That's the really liberating thing. They don't call possessions 'trappings' for nothing. All I'll need is one small bag to go out shooting instead of two or three. Can't wait. Regards Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 3, 2009 Share #11 Posted November 3, 2009 All I'll need is one small bag to go out shooting instead of two or three. Bob - if that's the way you're thinking then you've made the right decision. I have a friend who's a wonderful fine art / documentary photographer who's been using an M6 and one 35 summicron as her only lens for around 10 years. Her work just keeps on getting better. Less can really be more... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLV Posted November 3, 2009 Share #12 Posted November 3, 2009 Bob, I think you really did the right move. The M9 is a fantastic camera and "less is more.." I only have 2 lenses wich are 35 cron asph and 75 cron AA and a small bag is enough to carry the gear almost everywhere I go. I have my camera with me most of the time and this never happened when I had a dslr and plenty of lenses. All the best, Jean-Luc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fotografr Posted November 3, 2009 Share #13 Posted November 3, 2009 Look at it this way: You've probably heard of the slow food movement? The M9 will bring you into the slow photography movement. This is not a bad thing. Rather than having autofocus that allows you to bang off shots as quickly as you can get your camera to your eye, you will start seeing and making images with more deliberation, more thought about composition, exposure and lighting. And you'll be doing this with the best lenses in the world. Ultimately, you will find yourself enjoying the whole process much more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevem7 Posted November 3, 2009 Share #14 Posted November 3, 2009 You so did the right thing, unless you are really stuck on telephoto zooms, high FPS and blazing AF. The three lenses you chose are excellent though I would have chosen the 35 Cron, 50 Lux and 90 Elmarit. Still, the 28 is superb. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted November 3, 2009 Share #15 Posted November 3, 2009 Well, I'm completely gobsmacked. You read Ken Rockwell and Amateur photographer, and you end up with an M9 with a 28 'cron, 50 'lux and 90 elmarit. Totally bizarre. But . . . . My D3 and D700 and the 24-70, 70-200, 14-24 . . . all went, I have to own up to a couple of other lenses (notably the WATE), but for me, the meaning of photography is the M9 with the 28 'cron, 50 'lux and 90 elmarit. I'm sure there will be tears before bedtime, but in my opinion you've stepped from boring completeness to invigorating minimalism. Don't change one of those lenses!!!!! Don't expect an easy first few weeks, just a blissful next few years Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_tribble Posted November 3, 2009 Share #16 Posted November 3, 2009 Interested why people don't like the 90 cron asph. I'm so impressed by the one I have (after years with a Canadian pre-asph cron. Is it just the weight / size? It's a big lens - but hardly any more than the 75 cron... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted November 3, 2009 Share #17 Posted November 3, 2009 Interested why people don't like the 90 cron asph. I'm so impressed by the one I have (after years with a Canadian pre-asph cron. Is it just the weight / size? It's a big lens - but hardly any more than the 75 cron... Hi Chris Nothing against it - just that, if you don't need the f2, then the elmarit is small and slimmer and lighter and very very good!.. (and secondhand it's about 1/3 price). If you need that extra stop . . . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TacTZilla Posted November 3, 2009 Author Share #18 Posted November 3, 2009 Well, I'm completely gobsmacked.You read Ken Rockwell and Amateur photographer, and you end up with an M9 with a 28 'cron, 50 'lux and 90 elmarit. Totally bizarre. Hey Jono. If it wasn't for Ken I wouldn't have even looked at Leica. I take what he says with a pinch of salt really, but I have found his site very useful sometimes. I only got given the AP magazine today. I don't read the mags myself usually. My wife work in the hospital and so takes them in for the waiting room. Helps to spread the germs Cheers Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spersky Posted November 3, 2009 Share #19 Posted November 3, 2009 Hey cool, I just sold $11,000 worth of Canon gear it all weighed 38 pounds. That was just enough to get a 50mm Lux and a M9. I have no camera yet, but the lens in on order and should be here this week. I have used Leica before, so it was a very easy decision for me. I regret that I boycotted the M8 for various reasons (buggy, not full frame, idiotic IR filters) and expected to never come back to Leica. The M9 is exactly what I want in a camera, so now I am back and to stay in Leica. All, my best photography has been with a Leica. You really think about your shots, and you should improve a lot when you just slow down, and stop worrying about how to carry all that gear. BTW, the reason Amateur Photo hated the M9 is because they like all that AF cameras with Program/portrait/Landscape mode. Good luck. BTW, I owned a 90mm APO summicron in the past. Now I will need to buy another. That is the sharpest lens I have ever seen. The images are amazing and truly special. Regards, Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonoslack Posted November 4, 2009 Share #20 Posted November 4, 2009 Hey Jono. If it wasn't for Ken I wouldn't have even looked at Leica. I take what he says with a pinch of salt really, but I have found his site very useful sometimes. I only got given the AP magazine today. I don't read the mags myself usually. My wife work in the hospital and so takes them in for the waiting room. Helps to spread the germs Cheers Bob HI Bob I was only kidding about (even though Ken Rockwell does drive me crazy). I just think you've made a decision that will make you very happy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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