cschollmd Posted March 12, 2010 Share #1 Posted March 12, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hey folks - I'm new here - and new to Rangefinder photography in general. But I took the big plunge on an M9 and a 35mm Summicron. I am absolutely loving this combination. What a thrill! And I'm improving my focusing skills every day. It perfectly suits my style of photography, and although I am not planning on selling my Canon system, I don't expect to be taking it out again any time soon. By way of introduction, I'm a television news producer - not a pro photographer (although I am dating one) - but I've been an avid photographer for 25 years. As I see it, the Leica is a natural evolution in my own style of photography. I started off shooting landscapes and abstract/nature years ago - and these days focus almost entirely on what some label "street photography." (i'm not a fan of the term). Anyway, I would be curious to know what presets any of you might have programmed into your M9s. I realize these are very personal things and would differ greatly among everyone, but on the Leica I find them much easier to use than on my Canon. A very quick way to change several settings at once. So if you care to share any details on how you've set up your presets I'd love to hear them. In the meantime, best to everyone. I look forward to being around here for a while. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 12, 2010 Posted March 12, 2010 Hi cschollmd, Take a look here Newbie. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
diogenis Posted March 12, 2010 Share #2 Posted March 12, 2010 Chris, welcome and may you love your new camera! As you become more and more familiar with the camera, you will understand that it's philosophy is the exact opposite of your Canon dSLR. Obviously the end result is the same, they both take pictures, but the procedure is different. As for presets, until you get more familiar with the way you photograph, I would avoid them to help simplify things even more. Besides in your camera, everything important you can reach it directly, it is not buried in several menus, and even the menusystem is also very simple. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted March 12, 2010 Share #3 Posted March 12, 2010 Diogenis is right, experience will show you in good time what combinations of settings you use most often. Until then, don't use the settings menu -- and for Chrissake, keep out of the 'snapshot' setting! Also, resist the impulse to quickly collect lenses (their price will be very helpful in this). Presuming you have started with one of the two 'standard focal lengths', 50 and 35mm, you should be completely familiar with the camera before you start expanding. The frame preselector lever will come in handy here; you can try out focal lengths from 28 to 135mm without even borrowing them. It seems that especially people who have experience of SLR cameras with various zooms imagine that you have a need for many different lenses. This is not so. As I have stated before, you learn what kinds of pictures the lenses take, and when you mount a 35mm lens for instance, you also put on '35mm eyes'. You see the 35mm pictures before even raising camera to eye. Just three lenses, 35, 50 and 90mm, would handle 95% of my needs easily, and 100% in a pinch. Your choice could be completely different, of course! The old man from the Age of Glass Plate Negatives Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgenper Posted March 12, 2010 Share #4 Posted March 12, 2010 I did try to make presets for each of my uncoded old lenses; it is faster to select a preset than to work through the long lens list each time I change. Only, it turned out that as soon as I changed a single setting (e.g. the EV compensation - a frequent necessity in the Swedish snow), the preset I had selected was cancelled. So I stopped using them (I code my lenses with a Sharpie pen instead). The thing is to take back control from the camera, and to train oneself to be aware of what settings you actually use; then you don´t need any presets. Another thing NOT to use IMHO is the auto ISO: get into the habit of actively selecting ISO according to the light level and subject motion, and to check it each time you turn the camera on. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschollmd Posted March 12, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted March 12, 2010 And to think the whole reason I bought the camera in the first place was to use that nifty snapshot setting! (kidding) Seriously, what's up with that? Kind of goofy if you ask me. Thanks all for that advice on the presets. I will avoid them for now and focus on learning my way around manually. Still, I find Leica's implementation of the preset option much better than it was on my Canon. For now...I have just one lens...the 35mm Summicron. Amazing lens. And I plan to keep it and learn to master it long before my next glass purchase. Thanks all. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lars_bergquist Posted March 12, 2010 Share #6 Posted March 12, 2010 And to think the whole reason I bought the camera in the first place was to use that nifty snapshot setting! (kidding) Seriously, what's up with that? Kind of goofy if you ask me. [ ...] Well, the important thing is to avoid as many 'autos' as you can. The M9 is a descendant of a long line of manual cameras, but with one sensible auto setting (A exposure) that is sensible as long as you understand *exactly* what it is doing. The M9 is a 'stick shift camera': YOU control it, hands on. And because you know what you are doing, you can become a more proficient photographer (and it can open up your creative vistas too). T.o.m. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJP Posted March 12, 2010 Share #7 Posted March 12, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) t.o.m. of double clutching:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 12, 2010 Share #8 Posted March 12, 2010 Double declutching. Until you learn to shift gear without touching the clutch pedal you are not admitted into the ranks of experts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef63 Posted March 12, 2010 Share #9 Posted March 12, 2010 Double declutching. Until you learn to shift gear without touching the clutch pedal you are not admitted into the ranks of experts M3 also has double clutch ...without the pedal. Also produced in Germany, in Munich. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 12, 2010 Share #10 Posted March 12, 2010 Which M3? The one from Wetzlar had double stroke for a while, although a number have been converted. The Munich ones - pretty hairy machines.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted March 13, 2010 Share #11 Posted March 13, 2010 Welcome, Chris. I don't have an M9 (M8.2), but grew up with film Ms. If you want some great tips on using the camera, be sure to search all the fora for earlier threads, including the ones on M8 and film. M cameras have worked basically the same way for many decades. For example, you'll find tips on focusing (keep the focus tab set at infinity between shots so that you always know which direction to turn), tips on steadying the camera (using the strap as a support), tips on metering, etc, etc. The great thing about the camera, however, is that even if you don't read anything, you'll learn well just by practicing...and having lots of fun. Enjoy. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Posted March 13, 2010 Share #12 Posted March 13, 2010 Diogenis is right, experience will show you in good time what combinations of settings you use most often. Until then, don't use the settings menu -- and for Chrissake, keep out of the 'snapshot' setting! Also, resist the impulse to quickly collect lenses (their price will be very helpful in this). Presuming you have started with one of the two 'standard focal lengths', 50 and 35mm, you should be completely familiar with the camera before you start expanding. The frame preselector lever will come in handy here; you can try out focal lengths from 28 to 135mm without even borrowing them. It seems that especially people who have experience of SLR cameras with various zooms imagine that you have a need for many different lenses. This is not so. As I have stated before, you learn what kinds of pictures the lenses take, and when you mount a 35mm lens for instance, you also put on '35mm eyes'. You see the 35mm pictures before even raising camera to eye. Just three lenses, 35, 50 and 90mm, would handle 95% of my needs easily, and 100% in a pinch. Your choice could be completely different, of course! The old man from the Age of Glass Plate Negatives Great advice concerning lens acquistion. I acted quickly and purchased 50 ASPH lux, Wate, 75 ASPH Cron, 35ASPH lux and 90Cron within three months of receiving M8. Whew was it adjustment. However, they are terrific. Jet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
diogenis Posted March 13, 2010 Share #13 Posted March 13, 2010 Welcome, Chris. I don't have an M9 (M8.2), but grew up with film Ms. If you want some great tips on using the camera, be sure to search all the fora for earlier threads, including the ones on M8 and film. M cameras have worked basically the same way for many decades. For example, you'll find tips on focusing (keep the focus tab set at infinity between shots so that you always know which direction to turn), tips on steadying the camera (using the strap as a support), tips on metering, etc, etc. The great thing about the camera, however, is that even if you don't read anything, you'll learn well just by practicing...and having lots of fun. Enjoy. Jeff Oh yes. 1. Focus tab to infinity after shot, 2. Begin shooting with A-mode and adjusting EV, but then move to fully manual so that you can select aperture or shutter priorities and indirect EV setting (no need for menus anymore) 3. If lighting conditions are steady however A-mode is still the fastest. 4. Don't wait for the led to stop blinking, the camera can still take a pic -try it! 5. Auto power off to save power by letting the camera go to sleep is what pops in mind Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschollmd Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share #14 Posted March 14, 2010 Thanks, all, for the kind and useful advice. I particularly like the focus-tab-to-infinity idea. It seems a very smart habit to develop. I'd welcome any other tips. I read someone suggest focusing with both eyes open makes it easier but I tried that and found it pretty difficult (anyone else use that method?) My approach with Leica is to take it slow and have a lot of fun. I'm done buying equipment for now...the camera body and lens were plenty! So I'll just concentrate on learning what this beautiful camera helps me to do. It really is so elegant - just a perfect piece of machinery for helping me make photographs. Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschollmd Posted March 14, 2010 Author Share #15 Posted March 14, 2010 Well, the important thing is to avoid as many 'autos' as you can. The M9 is a descendant of a long line of manual cameras, but with one sensible auto setting (A exposure) that is sensible as long as you understand *exactly* what it is doing. The M9 is a 'stick shift camera': YOU control it, hands on. And because you know what you are doing, you can become a more proficient photographer (and it can open up your creative vistas too). T.o.m. Did I mention I drive a stick shift car for that very reason? --Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted March 15, 2010 Share #16 Posted March 15, 2010 Did I mention I drive a stick shift car for that very reason? --Chris Enjoy while you can... trend apparently toward paddle shift, clutch-less alternatives:( Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheewai_m6 Posted March 15, 2010 Share #17 Posted March 15, 2010 Enjoy while you can... trend apparently toward paddle shift, clutch-less alternatives:( Jeff it's a disgrace isn't it? paddle shift isn't even fun. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
diogenis Posted March 15, 2010 Share #18 Posted March 15, 2010 Ok there are limits. Who would want crack axles to return to the automobiles? Paddles, especially that devil DSL gearbox from audi/vw is amazing... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 15, 2010 Share #19 Posted March 15, 2010 Is there anything else than a stick shift then? Synchromesh is a despicable modernism imo. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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