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Venice with M9 which lens


wooferdog

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The 90mm is not my preferred lens at all, I don't even have one (my longest lens is the 75mm), but if I would have one, and would travel to Venice, I would bring it with me, without doubt.

There are many broad vistas, when the channels open up and become wider, or when you are on a bridge and catch some channels intersecting, or when looking from Venice to Giudecca, etc, etc, that call for a tele lens.

The tele is sometimes the only way to photograph an interesting statue or painting as well.

Don't forget to dress adequately, the humidity is extreme.

Enjoy your time!

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I was in Venice for the Leica One Challenge with Carl too and like him used a 35 Summicron much of the time. I found I used a 90 AA quite a lot too for shots down the canal or from the Vaparetto (river taxi) to the shore. I also had a 50 Summilux and 21/2.8 with me but the 35 and 90 were the most used.

 

Pete.

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Don't forget to dress adequately, the humidity is extreme.

 

Not only that...Venice in winter can be dark and foggy, so I'd bring fast lenses. But hey, with global warning who knows, you may get spring weather and plenty of light! At least I hope for you, although the winter atmosphere - which adds mistery to an already fascinating place - is what many love about Venice.

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Yes, the lens question keeps popping up but everywhere is different. I'm a fan of the 2.8/24 Elmarit ASPH. It's an incredibly versatile lens -- wide enough for architectural interiors but also great for general street scenes. Converging verticals are easier to control than they are when using a 21. The 24 is the lens I'd keep on the camera most of the time in a city like Venice. Followed closely by the 35. It's also very handy and light. A fast lens will be useful as dusk falls which will make for moody shots in the Piazza San Marco, especially if it floods. It might also be worth taking a lightweight tripod. The 90 or a 50 would be handy for masks or details. Beware of taking close-ups of shopfronts: shopkeepers think you are pinching their designs.

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I was in Venice for eight days last month. For most of the time I was using the 28-35-50mm TriElmar and it was rarely set to other than the 50mm position. I did find my 90mm Elmarit handy when shooting aquatic scenes on the Grand Canal, but I don’t recall ever using my 21mm.

 

Best regards,

 

Doug

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Whereas the Elmarit 24 is a superb lens, basically you are making an argument for a Summilux 24 here:p

 

Looks like an amazing optic. You'll have to make the most of it. Sounds like you are making a good argument for visiting Venice! :)

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I found the MATE to be a very versatile lens in Venice - as in most other urban environments - as long as the light is reasonably good.

However, for dusk/night scenes and for conveying the atmosphere of the city, I was glad I had my Noctilux with me.

Make sure you don't leave your fastest lens at home: at this time of the year, even daytime can be fairly dark in Venice.

Sample pictures taken with the M9 and both lenses (and a few with M8+Lux 21) here:

Venezia - a set on Flickr

Enjoy your trip!

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...just 3 pics from Venice (December 2010) - all with Summicron 28mm...

Enjoy!

 

panoreserve

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...just 3 pics from Venice (December 2010) - all with Summicron 28mm...

Enjoy!

 

panoreserve

 

Love that first shot as it so reminds me of Venice in winter. Nice mood.

 

Assume if one does not have a 28, a 24 or 35 would cover that FOV requirement? Perhaps a stupid question, since we all see shots differently.

 

Was that the entire frame or a crop? Hand held? What f stop?

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In my experience, 'FOV requirements' sensu stricto arise only in some kinds of technical photography, way out of M territory. This is not what we do. You mount an XXmm lens, you put on 'XXmm eyes' and make your pictures accordingly. I don't doubt that during a walk through an autumnal Venice, I would have taken some interesting pictures – interesting to me, at least – with my 35mm Summilux.

 

In the Leica book I referred to (Leica M, the freedom to capture the decisive moment, Solms 2011, brochure order no. 91603 for UK English) Alex Majoli shows 32 pictures, taken with the 21mm Super-Elmar, 24mm Elmar, 35mm Summilux, 50mm Noctilux, 75mm Summicron and 90mm Macro-Elmar. Of these, 14 were taken with the 35mm Summilux, and these were not the least striking.

 

Mr Majoli seems to be a 35mm man, just like I am. It can be equally valid to be a 50mm man, a 28mm man or whatever. Whatever you are, follow your instincts. There is no single lens that is 'best for Venice' or 'best for Paris' or 'best for portraits' or 'best for landscapes'. There may be a lens that is best for you when photographing Venice, or Paris, or portraits, or landscapes. But that is for you to find out. Bon voyage.

 

The old man who strolls with a camera

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Love that first shot as it so reminds me of Venice in winter. Nice mood.

 

Assume if one does not have a 28, a 24 or 35 would cover that FOV requirement? Perhaps a stupid question, since we all see shots differently.

 

Was that the entire frame or a crop? Hand held? What f stop?

 

 

Thank you, algrove!

 

It was the entire frame (of course...) and hand held, too.

Some technical notes: 28mm wide open (2.0), 1/30 second, Iso 800, DNG developped in Lr 3.5, no noise reduction, Velvia preset ( @ medium level).

 

That's all!

panoreserve

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When I look at my 1/60, 1/30 shots I do not like their sharpness since I either hit the shutter too hard (instead of squeeze) , cannot hold the darn thing steady, miss focus, etc., etc., or all of the above. I marvel at these hand held shots I keep seeing. Must practice MUCH more.

 

Perhaps based an ISO 1250 thread I should go higher in ISO. I have been a 160 guy, but that will change on my next low light outing for sure.

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In my experience, 'FOV requirements' sensu stricto arise only in some kinds of technical photography, way out of M territory. This is not what we do. You mount an XXmm lens, you put on 'XXmm eyes' and make your pictures accordingly. I don't doubt that during a walk through an autumnal Venice, I would have taken some interesting pictures – interesting to me, at least – with my 35mm Summilux.

 

In the Leica book I referred to (Leica M, the freedom to capture the decisive moment, Solms 2011, brochure order no. 91603 for UK English) Alex Majoli shows 32 pictures, taken with the 21mm Super-Elmar, 24mm Elmar, 35mm Summilux, 50mm Noctilux, 75mm Summicron and 90mm Macro-Elmar. Of these, 14 were taken with the 35mm Summilux, and these were not the least striking.

 

Mr Majoli seems to be a 35mm man, just like I am. It can be equally valid to be a 50mm man, a 28mm man or whatever. Whatever you are, follow your instincts. There is no single lens that is 'best for Venice' or 'best for Paris' or 'best for portraits' or 'best for landscapes'. There may be a lens that is best for you when photographing Venice, or Paris, or portraits, or landscapes. But that is for you to find out. Bon voyage.

 

The old man who strolls with a camera

 

Very nicely put; agree 100%.

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Hello algrove,

 

You might try a small sturdy table tripod w/ non-marking soft slippers on its feet. Also a large ball head. Also a cable release. You can put this combination against a wall, a doorway, a tree or a rock, etc. Also against a car w/ the engine off. Even on a table. Against my chest it gives me 2 stops.

 

I actually use 2 different cable releases @ different times dependent on circumstance. A Kodak #1 w/ a "T" setting & a Linhof 25cm w/ a "B" setting. The Kodak #1 also has a "B" setting but it is too short for many "B" setting situations. Short is often preferable w/ "T".

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

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