Millberg Posted December 31, 2010 Share #1 Posted December 31, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi all, My name is Lars and I'm a newbie here at the Leica forum. There is something with the Leica pictures I see around.. Something different than the mass produced pictured I take with my camera. I currently use a Canon and I recently bought a Panasonic GF1 and that camera opened my eyes somewhat. It feels like the Leica owners put more thoughts into each picture.. I guess the lack of AF automatically demands more time and with that time are you framing more carefully. So tell me... Did the first Leica change anything for you? I'm in Leica M9 buying mode.. Kind regards Lars http://www.larsmillberg.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted December 31, 2010 Posted December 31, 2010 Hi Millberg, Take a look here Leica shooting. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shade Posted December 31, 2010 Share #2 Posted December 31, 2010 Yes, it changes the way I frame and compose each shots that I take. And whats more important, I take my M9 much more often to almost anywhere compared to lugging a huge dSLR around with some big lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasrancher Posted December 31, 2010 Share #3 Posted December 31, 2010 Lars - You will not regret acquiring an M9, only the decisions about which of many superlative lenses to add to your arsenal. I have spent over 45 years looking through Nikon and Canon lenses, but nothing compares to the pleasure of seeing your finished photo drawn by the incomparable Leica glass. The composition is somewhat different, as I tend to leave a little more room around the edges of the frame with the M9 than I do with my Canon 1DsII. The biggest difference is the fact that the camera is always with me. Somewhat like the golf putting axiom against leaving it short "Never there, never in," the corollary in photography is "No camera now, no picture later." While rangefinder cameras are simply not well suited to macro and long telephoto work, the M system cameras all excel at capturing the essence of the moment in close quarter people photography, and they are imminently portable on the often strenuous treks to position the photographer for that spectacular landscape shot. The Leica M wide angles, in particular, just blow away the offerings from Canon for their capable, but overly large DSLRs. Welcome to the forum and good luck with your quest for an M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pico Posted December 31, 2010 Share #4 Posted December 31, 2010 [...] So tell me... Did the first Leica change anything for you? I'm in Leica M9 buying mode. Yah, my first Leica left me broke for three months. Oh, and as long as you are buying, I'll take another MP and M9. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millberg Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted December 31, 2010 Yah, my first Leica left me broke for three months. Oh, and as long as you are buying, I'll take another MP and M9. Thanks. Thanks...I'll keep that in mind. Problem is the funding but I do my best to get you another one. I keep you posted on the progress. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aesop Posted December 31, 2010 Share #6 Posted December 31, 2010 Hi all, My name is Lars and I'm a newbie here at the Leica forum. There is something with the Leica pictures I see around.. Something different than the mass produced pictured I take with my camera. I currently use a Canon and I recently bought a Panasonic GF1 and that camera opened my eyes somewhat. It feels like the Leica owners put more thoughts into each picture.. I guess the lack of AF automatically demands more time and with that time are you framing more carefully. So tell me... Did the first Leica change anything for you? I'm in Leica M9 buying mode.. Kind regards Lars Millberg's Photos | SmugMug ...nothing wrong with being in Leica-buying mode, Lars, but please, there are other manual focus options out there capable of producing comparable results. If you doubt this assertion, take a "blind" test. Images produced (and published) by owners of Leica equipment range from the breath-taking to the downright embarrassing. Just like any other brand. Including your current brand. When I was learning to play trumpet, I put my lack of progress down to the instrument - until my music teacher picked it up and showed me what it was capable of producing. In the right hands. I love my Leica equipment, but please don't believe the hype. Good luck in your endeavours and have a glorious 2011. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted December 31, 2010 Share #7 Posted December 31, 2010 Advertisement (gone after registration) Lars, personally speaking purchasing my Leica M8 meant a sort of returning home. I mean I grew up with a rangefinder camera, an LTM Canon of the '50s which mimicked the Leica IIIf of the time. I literally mean growing up, as my dad allowed me to use it since I was 12 and that camera has been in service until I could afford my first reflex 12 years later. Several other reflex cameras came later but truth to be told I quite never got accustomed to them. It was and still is totally a different way to see. I longed for a rangefinder camera but when I was younger Leica were already obscenely expensive and I could not afford it, plain and simple. I later relieved my craving with a Voigtlander Bessa equipped with the 101st anniversary Heliar 50/3.5. And then the digital wave came and I caught it, but still no affordable rangefinder digital cameras for me. Went through a couple auto-everything Nikon reflex cameras but finally gave up and bought a 2nd hand M8. Finally I had it all. The digital, the rangefinder, the manual focusing, the aperture and time rings which are finally where they are supposed to be, the feeling of handling gears made of solid metal instead of plastic. I'm finally back in control of the picture taking process. It's again me to take the pictures with my camera and not anymore graciously holding Nikon Chief Engineer's camera, focusing where he thinks it's better to at the exposure values he deems fit. If you never used a rangefinder camera, you might feel at odds at the beginning. What are obvious advantages to me could be inconveniences to you. The viewfinder is smaller, manual focusing is slower than autofocus and you can't always rely on hyperfocusing. Sometimes you'll have to deal with focus shift issues. You'll have to decide instead of letting the camera do it for you. Also forget about macro and nature photography unless you start using a Visoflex, which is a quirky way to circumvent these issues. My personal suggestion is that instead of going straight for an M9 you'd better to first wet your feet by going for a good 2nd hand M8 and a basic combo, say a 35 or 50mm to start. It is cheaper to purchase now and is however a great machine. You'll see then if you like it or not and will decide accordingly. Don't buy the M9 thinking "Maybe I could get accustomed to it". The rangefinder way doesn't allow for compromises. You'll love it or you'll hate it. A rangefinder will naturally lead you to taking pictures as a form of craftsmanship. And there are good, average and bad craftsmen. If the picture's not good you can't make excuses anymore. It'll be your fault and responsibility. Are you prepared for this? Good luck, Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millberg Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted December 31, 2010 ...nothing wrong with being in Leica-buying mode, Lars, but please, there are other manual focus options out there capable of producing comparable results. If you doubt this assertion, take a "blind" test. Images produced (and published) by owners of Leica equipment range from the breath-taking to the downright embarrassing. Just like any other brand. Including your current brand. When I was learning to play trumpet, I put my lack of progress down to the instrument - until my music teacher picked it up and showed me what it was capable of producing. In the right hands. I love my Leica equipment, but please don't believe the hype. Good luck in your endeavours and have a glorious 2011. That is so true.. I dont expect a Leica to do wonders with my photography, its just that I know myself pretty good and I develop with challenges and I just love to go really deep in to the details of things and hence... A new camera might be the thing. But you are so right.. A Leica will not mean that I automatically turns in to a guy in a beret and it is all over sudden 1930 again and I walk around in Paris shooting fantastic documentary pictures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millberg Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share #9 Posted December 31, 2010 Lars, personally speaking purchasing my Leica M8 meant a sort of returning home. I mean I grew up with a rangefinder camera, an LTM Canon of the '50s which mimicked the Leica IIIf of the time. I literally mean growing up, as my dad allowed me to use it since I was 12 and that camera has been in service until I could afford my first reflex 12 years later. Several other reflex cameras came later but truth to be told I quite never got accustomed to them. It was and still is totally a different way to see. I longed for a rangefinder camera but when I was younger Leica were already obscenely expensive and I could not afford it, plain and simple. I later relieved my craving with a Voigtlander Bessa equipped with the 101st anniversary Heliar 50/3.5. And then the digital wave came and I caught it, but still no affordable rangefinder digital cameras for me. Went through a couple auto-everything Nikon reflex cameras but finally gave up and bought a 2nd hand M8. Finally I had it all. The digital, the rangefinder, the manual focusing, the aperture and time rings which are finally where they are supposed to be, the feeling of handling gears made of solid metal instead of plastic. I'm finally back in control of the picture taking process. It's again me to take the pictures with my camera and not anymore graciously holding Nikon Chief Engineer's camera, focusing where he thinks it's better to at the exposure values he deems fit. If you never used a rangefinder camera, you might feel at odds at the beginning. What are obvious advantages to me could be inconveniences to you. The viewfinder is smaller, manual focusing is slower than autofocus and you can't always rely on hyperfocusing. Sometimes you'll have to deal with focus shift issues. You'll have to decide instead of letting the camera do it for you. Also forget about macro and nature photography unless you start using a Visoflex, which is a quirky way to circumvent these issues. My personal suggestion is that instead of going straight for an M9 you'd better to first wet your feet by going for a good 2nd hand M8 and a basic combo, say a 35 or 50mm to start. It is cheaper to purchase now and is however a great machine. You'll see then if you like it or not and will decide accordingly. Don't buy the M9 thinking "Maybe I could get accustomed to it". The rangefinder way doesn't allow for compromises. You'll love it or you'll hate it. A rangefinder will naturally lead you to taking pictures as a form of craftsmanship. And there are good, average and bad craftsmen. If the picture's not good you can't make excuses anymore. It'll be your fault and responsibility. Are you prepared for this? Good luck, Bruno Thanks for a very good answer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ulev Posted December 31, 2010 Share #10 Posted December 31, 2010 Welcome Lars, Being new here, I'm still able to share my initial experience A year ago I was able to try an M8 for a few days. I am a "Canonian" so I loved the compactness of the Leica and their lenses. I did not really enjoy the M8 being that slow in showing results on it's lcd, neither did I like the (low) ISO values that were available. Not that long ago I decided to shoot analog and went for an M6. It took me a few days before I stopped looking at my lcd ( that wasn't there ! ) and the urge of taking 3.524 pictures/hour vanished rapidly after changing the first film as well. So yes, realising that you only take one, two ... pictures of a certain scene, subject ... makes you think twice about composition, light ... Using black and white film makes you soon realise that certain moments are not worth capturing because of uninteresting (dull) light conditions. I used to take a number of digital pictures ( which I had to delete hah). Seems that I've learned to "select" on the spot. It already reflects in my "digital" behaviour. I shoot far less and have more "keepers". So in my case, I "needed" an analog Leica to change my behaviour. My initial experience with the M8 did convince me of the built quality of it's bodies and lenses. I kinda got disappointed by it's digital "behaviour". But that's because I wanted it to adapt to mine ! Regarding the "Leica pictures" on the internet, IMO the quality varies. Some make me think if they're special because they are taken with a Leica (!?) but others make me want to sell my gear Off course, the nature of a rangefinder (small size, discrete) partly offers a different kind of photography, compared with a DSLR and a 400mm. And the lack of autofocus kinda "force" you to take your time. Might sound strange but it kinda brings some "rest" ! In a nutshell ... I love it's built quality, it's feel. Being compact but not cheap in weight. It's a tool you can count on and can grow with/in. You can buy a " Toolbox with 200 tools" for 19.99 Euro and the first time you want to unscrew a tight one ... there goes screwdriver #1 ... ... or you can buy a 19.99 Euro screwdriver that lasts a lifetime Happy Newyear ! Ulev Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christakis Posted December 31, 2010 Share #11 Posted December 31, 2010 I second trying out an M8 first because you will either hate RF or feel at home with it.If you like the M8 you will LOVE the M9. A good dealer will let you buy a used M8 and then return it to buy an M9 without loosing any money on it (Arrange it from before with him). Get a 35mm lens with it which you can keep for the M9 later. I like it's lightness and retro look. I feel more comfortable using it than any other camera but that's where it ends. Canon, Nikon or any other camera is capable of taking the same pictures when combined with an equivalent lens. I try not to influence how people look at my pictures by saying it's shot with a Leica. That's why I hide exif data on Flickr and don't put camera info on my blog. If they ask, I tell them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
57andrew Posted December 31, 2010 Share #12 Posted December 31, 2010 One thing to think about is what you will use it for. I was (still am) a Canon man and use a 1d mk IV with a 300mm F2.8, 400mm F4 and an 800mm F5.6 and best of all my 100mm F2.8 macro. These are my birds and bugs lenses - moths, butterflies, dragonflies, birds in flight, distant waders etc. A Leica cannot replace any of these IMHO. On the other hand I had a whole load of Canon lenses for less specialised photography that once I acquired an M9 and a nocti 0.95 I have never touched. I added a 'lux 28mm F1.4 and a 'cron 90mm F2 and that's it. Finito. Except I may be tempted by the new 'lux 35mm. It is horses for courses and I see the 2 sets of kit as complementary not mutually exclusive.And yes, the M9 doesn't automatically make me a better photographer but using the rangefinder makes me slower and more thoughtful and I believe I am more rigorous now about what is a keeper. I still keep things then days later regret it. Some I have posted here that I regret. They don't meet my own thresholds and I reset that benchmark regularly. If you really believe in the Leica look do some blind testing but my guess is if you want the Leica for what it is best suited then you'll never regret it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ockie50 Posted December 31, 2010 Share #13 Posted December 31, 2010 Lars, I have been using the excellent Fuji Finepix S5 Pro for a few years, especially for macro shots of flowers. Bought a M9 and Cron 50/2 a few months ago and I am "in love" !! I bring it along almost wherever I go and the quality of the images blows me away. Have not regretted the purchase one minute. I am now waiting for my Lux 35/1.4 and I will then be content for the forseeable future..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christer Posted January 1, 2011 Share #14 Posted January 1, 2011 Your site banner describes you as: "a simple man with simple needs". Either it is untrue or you do not need an M9. Köp dej en M6 och ha ett gott nytt år! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Millberg Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share #15 Posted January 1, 2011 Your site banner describes you as: "a simple man with simple needs". Either it is untrue or you do not need an M9. Köp dej en M6 och ha ett gott nytt år! My site banner maybe needs a touch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
arminw Posted January 1, 2011 Share #16 Posted January 1, 2011 5 Leica M's later and with an arsenal of lenses , I would say yes it does change the way you photograph. You get hooked on the pleasure of taking pictures in a more natural way . You are the one who is in control .... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
christakis Posted January 1, 2011 Share #17 Posted January 1, 2011 Your site banner describes you as: "a simple man with simple needs". Either it is untrue or you do not need an M9. Köp dej en M6 och ha ett gott nytt år! I don't see how that relates to your comment. Even, the M9 is the simplest camera you can get so it's the perfect camera for a simple man. Now if the op wanted an Canon 1Ds mkIII then I would agree with you. Price has nothing to do with simplicity. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted January 1, 2011 Share #18 Posted January 1, 2011 Lars, paid a visit to your site. Kind of lovely images you took! Keep up the good work and if you ever decide to jump on the Leica wagon pls post on this forum too. Cheers, Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cronico Posted January 3, 2011 Share #19 Posted January 3, 2011 Although I have spent my whole life with cameras around me, I consider myself a rookie. A year ago I bought my first SLR and a month ago I've changed to an M9. It was like going back to my childhood and find that this is the kind of picture you want. I could have achieved with Canon, but the M9 with a 50mm Cron led me directly to what I want. My pictures will be just as poor as before, but now I think it communicate more. This is my first post after six months reading everything I can. Thanks to all who write here to share your opinion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
!Nomad64 Posted January 3, 2011 Share #20 Posted January 3, 2011 Welcome aboard, Cronico. Bruno Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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