Is the M9 a serious Landscape Camera?

[jaapv]

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Of course it is a serious landscape camera. Since landscapes usually do not have regular geometric features, the lack of an AA filter cannot trigger artifacts, and results in sharper images. Leica lenses are great and 18 mp is more than enough for brilliant 24 X 36 prints if well handled in PP.

 

Regards .... H

 

I do not see it as a serious problem, but it is perfectly possible to get moire on foliage, and colour aliasing on any regular contrast transition.

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[jaapv]

Of course it is a serious landscape camera. Since landscapes usually do not have regular geometric features, the lack of an AA filter cannot trigger artifacts, and results in sharper images. Leica lenses are great and 18 mp is more than enough for brilliant 24 X 36 prints if well handled in PP.

 

Regards .... H

 

I do not see it as a serious problem, but it is perfectly possible to get moire on foliage, and colour aliasing on any regular contrast transition.

[jaapv]

I find this an extremely narrow interpretation of the concept of landscape photography. It is quite silly to suggest a tilt- shift lens is needed for each and every landscape photograph. Quite apart from the fact that there are plenty of adapters out there to allow the M9 to take SLR T-S lenses. The leisurly pursuit on a tripod makes framing checks on the Lcd simple on a digital camera, making the frameline point moot and the filter size point is even stranger. Dont large format cameras have diferent lens diameters?

Whoever saw the world on a ground-glass of a view camera knows that neither a DSLR nor a M9 is a considerable camera for landscape . Deep of field (from nearest to farthest point/Scheimpflug/etc..), for instance, an important feature required for landscape photography. The lack of tilt/shift may perhaps be compensated by DSLR cameras and certain lenses but not by a Leica M.

 

And whoever saw the world on a 4 by 5 inch slide (or better bigger ) on a light table will be convinced that a M9 or DSLR isn't the right camera for landscape

 

A really annoying thing with a M cameras is the unreliable view finder frame. It can't be use for exact compositions - another feature strongly required for landscapes. The handling of filters another point. Usually you'd use pol- and density filters. For the first one you need a special one because you can't look through the lens. Another annoying point is the difference in filter sizes with different lenses. So you'd need adapter, etc...

 

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

[jaapv]

I find this an extremely narrow interpretation of the concept of landscape photography. It is quite silly to suggest a tilt- shift lens is needed for each and every landscape photograph. Quite apart from the fact that there are plenty of adapters out there to allow the M9 to take SLR T-S lenses. The leisurly pursuit on a tripod makes framing checks on the Lcd simple on a digital camera, making the frameline point moot and the filter size point is even stranger. Dont large format cameras have diferent lens diameters?

Whoever saw the world on a ground-glass of a view camera knows that neither a DSLR nor a M9 is a considerable camera for landscape . Deep of field (from nearest to farthest point/Scheimpflug/etc..), for instance, an important feature required for landscape photography. The lack of tilt/shift may perhaps be compensated by DSLR cameras and certain lenses but not by a Leica M.

 

And whoever saw the world on a 4 by 5 inch slide (or better bigger ) on a light table will be convinced that a M9 or DSLR isn't the right camera for landscape

 

A really annoying thing with a M cameras is the unreliable view finder frame. It can't be use for exact compositions - another feature strongly required for landscapes. The handling of filters another point. Usually you'd use pol- and density filters. For the first one you need a special one because you can't look through the lens. Another annoying point is the difference in filter sizes with different lenses. So you'd need adapter, etc...

 

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

[hoppyman]

Hi Mike, I took a look at the on-line versions of the work you have done with the Linhof TK. I'm sure that they are magnificent on a lightbox.

Of course shooting on 4x5 film composed upside down on the groundglass is a very different exercise to shooting with any 35mm format camera. Kudos to you for the dedication and effort. Perhaps there is an S2 in your future

 

Just a couple of remarks from me regarding the frame lines ansd filters that you mention. I don't see anything in those few recent ones on your blog where composition could not readily be managed with a rangefinder camera.

 

In any case instant feedback for composition is available and I think that digital capture (with available LCD preview) has a unique advantage regarding composition.

 

On filter sizes my 24,28,35 and 50 are all 46mm. Better than paying for much larger sizes for a dSLR surely. The Leica polariser works fine and fits all of them. Of course conventional designs can be used with a little thought. There is a model of the external frame approach suitable for RF too.

 

I understand your remarks on Tilt and Shift of course and the comment elsewhere in the thread regarding parallax limitations.

Still an M9 with best lenses and a good tripod can certainly be a rewarding choice for nature photography and does have some remarkable advantages too.

Scenery and nature Photo Gallery by Geoff Hopkinson at pbase.com

 

 

But then this remark mystifies me altogether in a post about landscape photography

 

...... I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams..... but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

I don't know if you have had an opportunity to visit some of the areas where Ansel worked or look at good prints from his negatives. Both ought to be required pilgrimages for anyone enthused by landscape photography.

Yosemite Photo Gallery by Geoff Hopkinson at pbase.com

 

 

Here is another quote from Ansel Adams for you. This from The Negative and made shortly before 1981 debut of the IBM PC.

"I eagerly await new concepts and processes. I believe that the electronic image will be the next major advance. Such systems will have their own inherent and inescapable structural characteristics, and the artist and functional practitioner will again strive to comprehend and control them"

[hoppyman]

Hi Mike, I took a look at the on-line versions of the work you have done with the Linhof TK. I'm sure that they are magnificent on a lightbox.

Of course shooting on 4x5 film composed upside down on the groundglass is a very different exercise to shooting with any 35mm format camera. Kudos to you for the dedication and effort. Perhaps there is an S2 in your future

 

Just a couple of remarks from me regarding the frame lines ansd filters that you mention. I don't see anything in those few recent ones on your blog where composition could not readily be managed with a rangefinder camera.

 

In any case instant feedback for composition is available and I think that digital capture (with available LCD preview) has a unique advantage regarding composition.

 

On filter sizes my 24,28,35 and 50 are all 46mm. Better than paying for much larger sizes for a dSLR surely. The Leica polariser works fine and fits all of them. Of course conventional designs can be used with a little thought. There is a model of the external frame approach suitable for RF too.

 

I understand your remarks on Tilt and Shift of course and the comment elsewhere in the thread regarding parallax limitations.

Still an M9 with best lenses and a good tripod can certainly be a rewarding choice for nature photography and does have some remarkable advantages too.

Scenery and nature Photo Gallery by Geoff Hopkinson at pbase.com

 

 

But then this remark mystifies me altogether in a post about landscape photography

 

...... I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams..... but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

I don't know if you have had an opportunity to visit some of the areas where Ansel worked or look at good prints from his negatives. Both ought to be required pilgrimages for anyone enthused by landscape photography.

Yosemite Photo Gallery by Geoff Hopkinson at pbase.com

 

 

Here is another quote from Ansel Adams for you. This from The Negative and made shortly before 1981 debut of the IBM PC.

"I eagerly await new concepts and processes. I believe that the electronic image will be the next major advance. Such systems will have their own inherent and inescapable structural characteristics, and the artist and functional practitioner will again strive to comprehend and control them"

[Paul986]

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Denoir

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Thanks.

[Paul986]

Denoir

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Thanks.

[diogenis]

Denoir

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Thanks.

 

Exactly: Trully amazing work

[diogenis]

Denoir

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Thanks.

 

Exactly: Trully amazing work

[pico]

Just a couple of remarks from me regarding the frame lines ansf filters that you mention. I don't see anything in those few recent ones onthe bog where composition could not readily be managed with a rangefinder camera.

 

I could not disagree with more. You don't know what you are talking about.

 

In any case instant feedback for composition is available and I think that digital capture (with available LCD preview) has a unique advantage regarding composition.

 

Only if you do not how to use LF.

 

[...]

 

I understand your remarks on Tilt and Shift of course and the comment elsewhere in the thread regarding parallax limitations.[...ignorance snipped...]"

[pico]

Just a couple of remarks from me regarding the frame lines ansf filters that you mention. I don't see anything in those few recent ones onthe bog where composition could not readily be managed with a rangefinder camera.

 

I could not disagree with more. You don't know what you are talking about.

 

In any case instant feedback for composition is available and I think that digital capture (with available LCD preview) has a unique advantage regarding composition.

 

Only if you do not how to use LF.

 

[...]

 

I understand your remarks on Tilt and Shift of course and the comment elsewhere in the thread regarding parallax limitations.[...ignorance snipped...]"

[denoir]

Thanks Paul, diogenis.

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Most of the shots were between f/5.6 and f/8 to get the best performance out of the lenses. By f/16 diffraction seriously compromises the image quality. The general principle I use to have enough DOF is only to include foreground objects when I shoot with wide angle lenses. When I use normal or tele I try not to include any objects that are close enough for DOF to become a problem.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Sure. I import the DNG to Lightroom and make any necessary adjustments (such as curves, fill light etc). Then I open the modified image in Photoshop and make fixes there if necessary (such as removing dust spots should there bee any). Finally I run a resize & sharpen for web script (if that is my intended output) that looks like this for landscape mode pictures:

 

[attach]269800[/attach]

[denoir]

Thanks Paul, diogenis.

 

This is some of the most stunning landscape work with the M9 that I have seen. The clarity and depth of field appear greater than I would have expected for mostly f5.6.

 

Most of the shots were between f/5.6 and f/8 to get the best performance out of the lenses. By f/16 diffraction seriously compromises the image quality. The general principle I use to have enough DOF is only to include foreground objects when I shoot with wide angle lenses. When I use normal or tele I try not to include any objects that are close enough for DOF to become a problem.

 

Are you able to discuss briefly your processing workflow, including sharpening amounts.

 

Sure. I import the DNG to Lightroom and make any necessary adjustments (such as curves, fill light etc). Then I open the modified image in Photoshop and make fixes there if necessary (such as removing dust spots should there bee any). Finally I run a resize & sharpen for web script (if that is my intended output) that looks like this for landscape mode pictures:

 

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[250swb]

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

I'm not saying he wasn't a tough guy (anybody who can get up that early in the morning is), but in his days in the Yosemite he could drive to many of the locations up rough tracks, get out the car, lift his camera onto the roofrack tripod platform, and make an exposure. When driving wasn't an option mules and assistants took much of the load. So his remarks do need a factual context to be understood.

 

As regards your comments on the quality of a 4x5 transparency or the need for extreme DOF, well, thats what you need for a certain style of landscape photography, but all those f64 practitioners knew they couldn't make a universal rule about it other than to practice it for themselves. It was the product of an age and Adams knew that new ways to record images were around the corner and this would change the types of image that could be made. He was a fan of new technology and wouldn't have dismissed digital capture.

 

Steve

[250swb]

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

I'm not saying he wasn't a tough guy (anybody who can get up that early in the morning is), but in his days in the Yosemite he could drive to many of the locations up rough tracks, get out the car, lift his camera onto the roofrack tripod platform, and make an exposure. When driving wasn't an option mules and assistants took much of the load. So his remarks do need a factual context to be understood.

 

As regards your comments on the quality of a 4x5 transparency or the need for extreme DOF, well, thats what you need for a certain style of landscape photography, but all those f64 practitioners knew they couldn't make a universal rule about it other than to practice it for themselves. It was the product of an age and Adams knew that new ways to record images were around the corner and this would change the types of image that could be made. He was a fan of new technology and wouldn't have dismissed digital capture.

 

Steve

[brill64]

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

for many ppl, that would be the leica m9.

 

btw..my guess judging from the pinky hues of the rocks, pic. #1 is from the 1ds mk2 and pic. #2, stronger greeny/yellow hues with more contrast detail is from the leica m9.

[brill64]

I'm not a fan of Ansel Adams but ones he was asked about which camera would be the best and he answered: "The biggest one you can carry."

 

for many ppl, that would be the leica m9.

 

btw..my guess judging from the pinky hues of the rocks, pic. #1 is from the 1ds mk2 and pic. #2, stronger greeny/yellow hues with more contrast detail is from the leica m9.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[Zelig]

With all due respect an non ofense animous.

 

I think this is a joke-post.

[Zelig]

With all due respect an non ofense animous.

 

I think this is a joke-post.