teids Posted November 6, 2011 Share #1  Posted November 6, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi,  I have been reading this forum for couple of months now and found some great answers and shots (thank you). However the time has come for me to send my first post.  At the time I do not own a Leica but I am putting money aside and hopefully i sill soon be able to afford a little trip to Solms.  I am currently using a Nikon camera with most of the time a 50 mm 1.4 attached to it. I really enjoy street photography, low light situations (no flash). However I am also attracted to things such as night cityscapes, traffic trails...  I know that the Leica M9 along with a 50 summicron would be a perfect choice but I am not settled on which super wide angle I should get in order to fulfill my other needs. I thought about the Zeiss 21mm 2.8. What do you think?  I would love to see some cityscape shots taken at night in order to see how the M9 handles long exposures.  Thank you very much for your replies.  Please feel free to check out my flickr and give some advises  My favorite shots My favorite shots - a set on Flickr  My Flickr Flickr: Teids' Photostream Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 6, 2011 Posted November 6, 2011 Hi teids, Take a look here Leica and Night. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
jamesk8752 Posted November 7, 2011 Share #2 Â Posted November 7, 2011 Nothing wrong with the Summicron 50/2 (I own several) but if low-light/night photography is your thing you should really consider getting a Summilux 50/1.4 rather than the Summicron. The current ASPH version is truly outstanding but it is expensive and hard to find currently; a used pre-ASPH version 2 can be sometimes be found for about half the price of the ASPH and would be worth looking for. Faster lenses like the Noctilux 50/0.95 are the stuff of dreams unless you have lots of disposable income... Â I also have the Zeiss 21/2.8 and it's as good as its Leica counterpart IMO, and a lot less expensive... Â Regards, Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted November 7, 2011 Share #3 Â Posted November 7, 2011 This summer in Europe I probably took over 500 night shots from large cities to small villages. I used a 35 lux for many, a 18 4.0 Zeiss for many, a f2 Summicron 90 for a good number, a 135 APO Telyt 3.4 for a few and also used a Zeiss 50 1.5 for many too. Â Some of my more fun shots were in Zurich with the 18/4 Zeiss. My biggest problem on small bridges in Z was making sure no cars or heavy vehicles were going over the bridge during some long exposures to eliminate vibration even though I used a tripod for these shots. My longest M9 shots were 32 seconds (I believe that's the longest it goes) with an additional 32 seconds of "noise reduction"-that's what the screen said. Â Many times I just decided to bracket some and found at least one and often 2 shots in a bracket series I could live with. I am on long road trip now til 23 December so no way to send a Zurich River shot with my 18/4, but I will only send via pm if you want to see one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teids Posted November 7, 2011 Author Share #4 Â Posted November 7, 2011 Thank you very much for your replies! Â James I would definitely prefer a summilux over a summicron but the fact that it sells for twice the price is a bit of a drawback. However I will follow your advice and look into the used market. Â Algrove, i will send you a pm. Enjoy your trip and if you stop by Geneva there are some great shots to be taken. Â Once again than you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted November 8, 2011 Share #5 Â Posted November 8, 2011 Have a look at the book 'Paris by Night' by Brassai. He didn't use a Summilux, or a Noctilux and I doubt he even had an f/2 lens. Â Which really means you can be inventive with whatever equipment you have. The one thing that would cover the main requirement for night photography is a tripod. And if you are going to spend money a lightweight carbon travel tripod by Gitzo etc (everybody does one now) will do more for your work than any number of fast lenses. Â Steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Geschlecht Posted November 8, 2011 Share #6  Posted November 8, 2011 Hello teids,  Welcome to the Forum.  Handheld 1 sec exposures w/ an M3 w/ a 35mm Summicron w/ goggles don't look that bad. Don't forget to properly adjust your shoulder strap to brace your M against your forehead.  Also: After years of using a full size solid tripod w/ a large ballhead & cable release for long exposures I started using a small, sturdy table tripod w/ the same large ball head & cable release because of circumstance. I found the more I used this handy combination the more places I found to support it against. Walls, doorways, trees, cars w/ their engines off & even tables, etc give you as many stops as you need. Always w/ soft non-marking slippers on its feet. Holding this outfit against my chest gives me 2 stops more than handheld alone. I have rarely needed to use a full sized tripod for years.  Best Regards,  Michael  Who even uses a separate hand held meter & who's exposures are just fine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teids Posted November 8, 2011 Author Share #7 Â Posted November 8, 2011 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thanks guys. Â I do have a light weight Mafrotto tripod so that one shold be just fine for me. Â I have used Nikkor 1.8 and 1,4 and there is obviously a difference but as you said creativity can make up for the large aperture. I ll definitely check the book. Â My enquiery was actually more directed at long exposures, above 5 seconds. I wanted to know how the Leica handles them. Â Once again your help is highly appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel Posted November 8, 2011 Share #8  Posted November 8, 2011 8s I have longer, will look  Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vonheim Posted November 9, 2011 Share #9  Posted November 9, 2011 [quote name=teids;1880331 I do have a light weight Mafrotto tripod so that one shold be just fine for me.  My enquiery was actually more directed at long exposures' date=' above 5 seconds. I wanted to know how the Leica handles them. .[/quote]  Above 2 seconds (IIRC) the M9 will take a similarly exposed black frame and detract the noise from your long exposure shot. Personally I think it works very well.  Attached is one exposed for 32 seconds using M9 and 35mm Summicron ASPH.  Long exposures was one of the first things I tested and I was positively surprised with the noise-free results. I use a small flash light in front of the window that brightens the frame lines. This helps framing, but also straightening and perspective with wide angle lenses.  Hope this helps!  Cheers,  Knut Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165715-leica-and-night/?do=findComment&comment=1838881'>More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 9, 2011 Share #10 Â Posted November 9, 2011 Maybe not quite cityscapes: The first is the M8, the second the M9, both at 32 secs. Â Â Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
farnz Posted November 9, 2011 Share #11  Posted November 9, 2011 Two cityscapes with the M8.  Pete.  Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!  ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165715-leica-and-night/?do=findComment&comment=1839112'>More sharing options...
teids Posted November 9, 2011 Author Share #12 Â Posted November 9, 2011 Exactly what I was looking for! Â Thanks to all of you! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicakillen Posted November 10, 2011 Share #13  Posted November 10, 2011 The M9 on a light Manfrotto tripod at night - a new world for me! /Anders Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/165715-leica-and-night/?do=findComment&comment=1840628'>More sharing options...
bcorton Posted November 13, 2011 Share #14 Â Posted November 13, 2011 Jaapv, Â What was the lens and aperture for the second shot (the snowfield and starry sky)? I'm guessing 21mm @ f/2.8. How far off am I? Â Brent Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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