Modern Leica glass and Film

[stump4545]

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I was thinking about getting back into film and was wondering in general how does modern Leica glass like for ex. 50mm asph, pair with black and white film?

 

 

For black and white film, can modern Leica lenses be perceived as too sterile as some say with the MM?

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[sblitz]

i bought my m9 + assorted lenses first. coming from years of film (50 to be exact, going back to brownie days) i wanted to try these lenses with film and bought an m4. since then i got an m6 -- get where this is going? :-) i have a developer in nyc who scans the negatives (color and bw) into 20mb tiff files. the results? i love it and whenever i return from someplace where i took m9 and film, i prefer the film by a wide margin. m9 is faster and gives me more latitude for different light so i won't get rid of it, it is a wonderful camera. but i also won't step up to spend more on the mm or m240. no point, i am getting what i like.

[stump4545]

subjective for sure, but what is the general feeling of modern Leica glass and black and white film?

[Jeff S]

...can modern Leica lenses be perceived ...

 

Perceptions vary.

 

Styles and preferences vary.

 

Subject matter varies.

 

Etc.

 

Make some prints and judge for yourself. There's a lot more to the print workflow than the lens, up to and including papers, lighting and display. Same concept whether film or digital.

 

Jeff

[ola.fiske]

I shoot film (most Tri-x in Rodinal) with 35 and 50 ASPH Summilux, and scan negatives on a Epson 750 scanner.

For example have a look at:

http://www.stephenbartelsgallery.com/blog/ola-fiske-photography.html

[ola.fiske]

with the exception of the picture with the man in front of the boat. It is made with 50mm pre ASPH

[Jeff S]

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... can modern Leica lenses be perceived as too sterile as some say with the MM?

 

Here is a timely post to illustrate my point about print workflow, subject matter, etc in post #4. Click on the large version of the "Couples along Seine, Paris" photo (taken with the MM and a 35 Summilux ASPH lens), and tell me how sterile you find it.

 

And I'm positive that the screen shot doesn't come close to the subtle beauty of the actual silver print (which is how the print is being sold).

 

I doubt if he used a film M that you'd have a clue. Nor would you have a clue if you just saw the print without any information about gear or technique.

 

Enough talk. One has to do the work to really answer the question.

 

Jeff

[cpclee]

Steve (Blitz): Would like to know which lab in NYC you use. I used to use A&I's mailers for processing, but recently switched to Dwayne's as A&I doesn't seem to be doing the mailer thing anymore.

[250swb]

I was thinking about getting back into film and was wondering in general how does modern Leica glass like for ex. 50mm asph, pair with black and white film?

 

 

For black and white film, can modern Leica lenses be perceived as too sterile as some say with the MM?

 

The film type makes more of a different than a lens. And in any case while I think it is true that some lenses are more clinical than others ultimately sterility comes from how the photographer uses the lens and process/prints the results. Zero emotion in = zero emotion out. I think it might be true to say that the 'perfect' 50mm Summicron APO will rarely be used with Tri-X uprated to 1600 ISO simply because people buy it to demonstrate its sharpness, not for being a 50mm lens that can do everything thrown at it, including Tri-X.

 

So choose a film with the characteristic curve you prefer, favouring contrast or mid tone, then the grain, large or fine, decide how you want to expose and develop it, and the result will knock all clinical lenses into submission.

 

Steve

[sblitz]

sure, i use color house on lafayette st, between spring and canal. they do the work there themselves and turnaround is 24 hours. i guess i could pay for quicker, but its not like i am on a deadline. they also do the work by mail and have a number of professional photographers as clients.

[pico]

Only you can answer that question. Can you lease or rent some lenses to try them out?