phancj Posted October 10, 2010 Share #121 Posted October 10, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) CJ, The last year I had my Canon SLR I used Zeiss MF primes. Using a 'real' MF lens like a Zeiss is much better than manual focussing an AF lens (turning the ring through the AF motor, instead of driving the lens elements directly etc.). But this still a long way from focussing and shooting with an M. And the size, feel, silence, unpretentious appearance and IQ are not to be set aside. These are essential elements of M photography. I don't know what else I can say or describe than what I already did. And thousands of others in their own words. I think what it comes down to is this; If the 'M thing' doesn't catch you fairly quick, It probably never will and M ownership is not for you. Words of my dealer but they seem very true. Hundreds of posts and opinions on forums and in reviews can't learn you what a few days of shooting will make very clear. Try it and see if it works for you is the best I can say imo. Richard. Richard, Thanks. I may still buy an M only because of its IQ and discrete size. For me that is enough. Whats left is to ascertain the IQ advantages over an X1 which shouldnt be difficult. As for the "M experience" you are probably right, I may like it or I may not, but I can live with RF focusing so long as it delivers the type of image quality I want. CJ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted October 10, 2010 Posted October 10, 2010 Hi phancj, Take a look here Should I take the M9 jump!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
RichardM8 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share #122 Posted October 11, 2010 OK, another day of shooting with the M8. I ran into a few problems with the crude/simple(?) metering of the M8. It doesn't have the more advanced multi-zone/evaluative metering of the X1. The metering of the M8 is strongly centre weighted. You have to be very careful to lock exposure on the right portion of the frame or you end with either blown highlights, blocked shadows or both. I think this is a matter of learning too but I don't find this very easy yet... Is the M9 better or different at this? Below two shots from yesterday when I visited an old castle near Amsterdam with my son. Richard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardM8 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share #123 Posted October 11, 2010 Two images from this morning. The first has got some obvious post processing but some images ask for it. This one has very little pp done. At ISO 160 and 320 the results are excellent. The OOC sharpness and level of detail captured by the 'modest' 10MP sensor and little Elmarit is simply stunning... Richard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #124 Posted October 11, 2010 nice pictures, Richard! Nice to see how it captures the darknes with your son on, really good. And also nice pictures the 2 last ones, and even though the first of the last one at first seems more interesting, perhaps I like the last and honest one a bit more, and like you are not fanatic about shallow DOF, which sometimes just can be a gimmick in itself. Here is it the way, the dramatic way, of looking at the things that create the interest, and the sharpnes comes to its own right, instead the shallow-dof trick (which can be used well, but not allways, as I think the tendency are overall at present time) Thorkil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina Manley Posted October 11, 2010 Share #125 Posted October 11, 2010 OK, another day of shooting with the M8. I ran into a few problems with the crude/simple(?) metering of the M8. It doesn't have the more advanced multi-zone/evaluative metering of the X1. The metering of the M8 is strongly centre weighted. You have to be very careful to lock exposure on the right portion of the frame or you end with either blown highlights, blocked shadows or both. I think this is a matter of learning too but I don't find this very easy yet... Is the M9 better or different at this? QUOTE] I guess it's because I learned photography using the film M's, but it just comes naturally to me to meter off of something that is about zone 5 and then recompose. Outside, I almost always meter off the grass. I never could get used to the multi-zone metering on the Canons and was so glad to get back to my rangefinder metering! The M9 is the same center weighted. Practice a lot and you won't even think about it. Tina Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #126 Posted October 11, 2010 yes...that was also my expirience on the M6, just moving the camera a little around and look at how much the metering altered (how the sweet litle arrows went pale..) and then just let the mind take the average decision, one get quickly used to that.. thorkil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardM8 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share #127 Posted October 11, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you Thorkil ! Just playing around as you know from this thread. I agree with you on the shallow DOF thing. It's a way isolate a subject that works very well on some images but it shouldn't be a purpose by itself as it seems to be the case sometimes. I don't consider myself a bokeh-junkie. But it's nice if a lens offers it so you can use it you want/need to. To be honest, I find myself opening the lens up more often than I want to as I like low light images. Below is a shot from my girlfriend. I believe this was f/5.6 but I could have set it wide open too. But I think the scene didn't asked for it. BTW, if I look at images 'from the old masters' for inspiration I don't see that many bokeh-shots... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardM8 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share #128 Posted October 11, 2010 Thank you Tina! Somebody else suggested me 'pavement or grass metering' too. I'm gonna try that. I don't have a film and/or M background. Only a list of P&Ss, a Canon SLR and now the X1 so this is quite a leap into the unknown & un-masterd for me... But I'm enjoying the journey a lot! Richard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #129 Posted October 11, 2010 nice shot richard!, even though she has to find an ashtray very soon.... agree, when there is a mening and a special power in isolating the object, then.... and else to find the drama, or anti-drame in the lines, shadows etc and let them play(yes, also a fan of low-light pictures...thought of the picture from the bridge would have been even stronger if you had waited half an hour or so, perhaps?) thorkil Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #130 Posted October 11, 2010 ps...my own vision is to try to take pictures when moving, and there the Leica M will be the only tool I think, preset aperture, time, distance, walk passing by people and have the camera pointing bakwards at say..1 meters distance or les..and shoot Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD700 Posted October 11, 2010 Share #131 Posted October 11, 2010 I feel like a patient in a hospital, hearing the doctors discussing his fate, so I thought I'd jump in. This is like the "Close to a decision" forum on MV Agusta.net; running into almost 2000 replies. Yes, of course Richard should get an M9 (with 35 and 50 Summicrons). Not for any rational reason, but because he wants to. Oh, and the guy I was showing my D700 doesn't smile a lot; nothing to do with the camera and I wasn't taking a picture either. Look here for more D700 pics Willkommen bei Facebook The older posters here (the majority I gather) may also note that I actually managed to lift the D700 with one hand; and I didn't have to take a nice liedown afterwards either. Go for it Richard; that M9 is yours! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardM8 Posted October 11, 2010 Author Share #132 Posted October 11, 2010 Now this is nice. A very good friend that decides to twist my arm here on greed and gear-ism while I'm going at great lengths to make this a somewhat rationally founded decision. Or at least trying to make it look like one... Tnx a lot Mike! Beware though, this is a dangerous neck of the woods for passionate Nikon full frame shooters... even if they focus manually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mboerma Posted October 11, 2010 Share #133 Posted October 11, 2010 Now this is nice. A very good friend that decides to twist my arm here on greed and gear-ism while I'm going at great lengths to make this a somewhat rationally founded decision. Or at least trying to make it look like one... Tnx a lot Mike! Beware though, this is a dangerous neck of the woods for passionate Nikon full frame shooters... even if they focus manually. Before you know it Mike also wants (or "needs") an M9. I can tell him the advantages since I use both a D700 and an M9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD700 Posted October 11, 2010 Share #134 Posted October 11, 2010 Neck of the woods it is... I treat my D700 like a digital FE2. That means you don't use 90% of its myriad functions, but who cares? I'm an SLR man, not an RF man, I like the IQ, I like the workmanlike quality of the camera, never failed me in 7 months of use, I like the Zeiss glass, and I'm still fit enough to carry the thing around. I'm a happy man! P.s.: if you've got an itch, scratch it! You know you want to.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD700 Posted October 11, 2010 Share #135 Posted October 11, 2010 Before you know it Mike also wants (or "needs") an M9. I can tell him the advantages since I use both a D700 and an M9 If you'd care to take a peek at my fb page Maarten, you'd see why I don't need an M9... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #136 Posted October 11, 2010 a shame one is not on facebook, but my D3 has only taken around 4.000 shots in 2 years, but what a heavy metalbox with its 14-24mm..! you are not pointing around for many hours with one hand (and all the people has just runned frightened away) MV Agusta...hmmm (have an 850 commando which I builded in a Norton wideline featherbed-racing frame several years ago...but thats another story...well rusted in the garage) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThorkilB Posted October 11, 2010 Share #137 Posted October 11, 2010 nice......to be a happy man... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD700 Posted October 11, 2010 Share #138 Posted October 11, 2010 a shame one is not on facebook, but my D3 has only taken around 4.000 shots in 2 years, but what a heavy metalbox with its 14-24mm..! you are not pointing around for many hours with one hand (and all the people has just runned frightened away)MV Agusta...hmmm (have an 850 commando which I builded in a Norton wideline featherbed-racing frame several years ago...but thats another story...well rusted in the garage) 850 Commando, nice! The D3 was taking it a bit too far for me; to many functions I don't need. And I moved away from zooms as well; just primes (35, 50, 85) and usually one at a time only. Art follows from selfimposed limitations, or something like that Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mboerma Posted October 11, 2010 Share #139 Posted October 11, 2010 If you'd care to take a peek at my fb page Maarten, you'd see why I don't need an M9... I did look at your Facebook page before writing the comment, but still I'm sure you will want an M9 eventually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeD700 Posted October 11, 2010 Share #140 Posted October 11, 2010 I did look at your Facebook page before writing the comment, but still I'm sure you will want an M9 eventually. Somehow I knew you were going to say that... There is a big difference between wanting and needing though. Camerawise, I'm not in need! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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