One M one Lens?

[imsilly]

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Well, you actually can. It depends on what you want to achieve. I suggest using different focal lenghs and read a lot of books and decide then. You won't achieve Winograndish results with a 35 for instance.

 

I highly recommend the M4-P instead of the M6. Same thing minus the meter. You learn A LOT if you use handheld meters and sunny16. It pays off to go the hard way here, trust me. And you will have more correct exposures after some months of practice than the meter will give you.

 

Cheers.

 

I shoot most of my street stuff with either my 28mm Ricoh GR1V, or 20mm with my Nikon FM2n. So I get what you mean about Winograndish stuff not being the stuff of 35mm. Though it's a good focal length for head and shoulder shots in the street. I feel you can't really get much context with either a 35mm or 50mm, but it's better for people.

 

I already shoot a lot with a separate exposure meter, but a TTL meter is useful in some situations. I will always keep a meter with me for flash stuff anyway. TTL meters are useless when flash comes into play.

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[findranger]

but a TTL meter is useful in some situations.

 

Yes, there are different approaches to metering, but in my experience manual metering, once mastered, is superfast. I loose a lot of time compensating automatic metering in my head. With manual metering my exposure is set when I lift the camera to my eyes. Then it's "only" focussing and composing. It also helps a lot improving your estimation of lighting conditions.

 

My photography improved a lot when the lighting meter on my old Oly Rangefinder broke during a trip

 

Cheers.

[imsilly]

I bought an M6 in the end. I would have loved an MP, but it would have been for the looks alone and I'm not rich enough to but a body for the looks alone. Though that black pain finish is dam sexy!

 

I'll try and find the sharpest, smallest wider then 35mm lens I can find to match with it.

 

Any suggestions in terms of lenses between 24mm and 35mm that are sharp and compact? Speed is not so important, 90% of the time I'm shooting at F8.

[madNbad]

28 Elmarit. Your original post indicated you wanted a 28 mm lens. The Elmarit is small and sharp at f8. There is a very good thread in the Lens section about the pros and cons of the Summicon and the Elmarit 28. Good luck with your M6. MAD

[Nick_S]

If you like the 28mm focal length then the Elmarit 28mm f2.8 ASPH is really compact and highly regarded. The only real downside being having to compose with the built in 28mm framelines of the M6 camera which can be something of strain to see all at once.

 

Personally, I prefer 35mm as a single lens to carry around so I would go for the Summicron 35mm f2 ASPH which is still pretty small.

 

Nick

[Landberg]

I would say the M2 because it is cheaper, and i would also recommend a zeiss 35, spend your cash on som fun instead of a camera and an overpriced lens. Buy film! You can read the light with a light meter or your smartphone. It's not the gear that matters, it's the photos.

 

Have a nice trip!

[madNbad]

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Any decision yet or have you been overloaded with choices?

[imsilly]

Any decision yet or have you been overloaded with choices?

 

Right now I'm waiting for a Leica Elmarit 28mm to appear for sale at a reasonable price. It might be a fools errand, but I saw a mint Leica Elmarit ASPH got for under £600 on eBay recently, so I will hold out as long as I can looking for another bargain like that. If I can't get a cheap Elmarit, I'll panic buy a Zeiss Bigon 28mm, before I head off. I'm not so worried about the IQ differences between Leica and Zeiss, more the size difference. The compact Elmarit ASPH would be ideal for my purposes.

 

I'll most likely sell my Hasselblad kit as it's the stuff that will likely get the least use. It also means I'm shooting all 35mm film.

 

I might go buy a cheap Yashica TLR in Asia if I want a medium format camera. They are plentiful and decent enough stopped down.

 

P.S.

 

On a related note I've used up all my film and developer stock. I usually just shoot Tri-X and develop in Xtol, but I was going to try out something different. Something with a higher acutance for a generally sharper look. I was thinking either Tri-X in Rodinal, or T-Max in T-Max developer. Any better film and developer combinations?

 

Looking for a higher contrast, higher sharpness and not really worried too much about grain.

[semi-ambivalent]

...Any better film and developer combinations?

 

Looking for a higher contrast, higher sharpness and not really worried too much about grain.

 

I don't use it much right now but you might try D-76 1:3 for the Tri-X. The higher dilution reduces the solvent action and produces a cleaner edge to the grain; something I could see in the focuser. Of course, you can control contrast by agitation regimen. I used to do three inversions every 30 seconds but have gone to two with HC-110 and Rodinal and the quality of my images' highlights is much better.

 

Nice to see another film user here.

 

s-a

[imsilly]

I don't use it much right now but you might try D-76 1:3 for the Tri-X. The higher dilution reduces the solvent action and produces a cleaner edge to the grain; something I could see in the focuser. Of course, you can control contrast by agitation regimen. I used to do three inversions every 30 seconds but have gone to two with HC-110 and Rodinal and the quality of my images' highlights is much better.

 

Nice to see another film user here.

 

s-a

 

I'm going to try using Rodinal and stand development for the time being. It's very dark and gloomy here in London at the moment. It makes shooting conditions difficult and quite often it's impossible to shoot at the same speed.

 

As I see it I'll need to make sure I don't loose shadow detail. If I get lucky and get some sun I'll try D-76.

 

I'm trying it a bit difficult to track down a Leica Elmarit 28 2.8 Aspherical.

[semi-ambivalent]

I'm going to try using Rodinal and stand development for the time being. It's very dark and gloomy here in London at the moment. It makes shooting conditions difficult and quite often it's impossible to shoot at the same speed.

 

As I see it I'll need to make sure I don't loose shadow detail. If I get lucky and get some sun I'll try D-76.

 

I'm trying it a bit difficult to track down a Leica Elmarit 28 2.8 Aspherical.

 

I like the grain Rodinal gives with Tri-X, but I think its mid-tones are just lovely. I bought the 28 Elmarit ASPH because I wanted new and couldn't bring myself to pony up for the Summicron. So far I'm really glad I did. Try one if you can before you buy; it's still expensive. (It *is* Leica, right?)

 

s-a

[imsilly]

I like the grain Rodinal gives with Tri-X, but I think its mid-tones are just lovely. I bought the 28 Elmarit ASPH because I wanted new and couldn't bring myself to pony up for the Summicron. So far I'm really glad I did. Try one if you can before you buy; it's still expensive. (It *is* Leica, right?)

 

s-a

 

Yeah, my girlfriend is visiting Harrods and they have a shelf full of Leica lenses. I'll take some film and do some test shots. They are usually quite helpful there because I guess they just get rich tourists all day who don't really care about photography, so last time I had a chat with one of the sales people about shooting film they let me try out a Monochrome to compare.

 

I'll have to sell a lot of gear to fund the Elmarit ASPH, but I think it will be worth it as it's probably the only high contrast, sharp and compact 28mm M lens about. I really want to up my sharpness and contrast on my black and white 35mm shots.

[SoeWuest]

Yes it works very well. I use only one body and one lens - Leica MP with 35mm Summilux (FLE)

[marcg]

I went off travelling for a couple of years - some time ago. I ended up dumping kit or sending it back home.

 

Half way through, I downsized again and bought a smallish lightweight two part frame rucksack. A few months later I cut the bottom part off the rest of the rucksack, attached straps to it and threw the rest away. That was about right.

 

I agree with the people who are surprised at the amount of photo kit you are taking - in terms of quantity as well as variety.

 

As your kit is predominantly Nikon, I would buy another backup Nikon body so that the two film bodies and the D700 can all use the same set of lenses.

 

Actually, I wouldn't even take the second body with me. I would have it packed and ready to send to me in case I needed it - which would most likely be because the first one had been stolen. I'd leave a couple of spare lenses at home as well - for the same reason.

[imsilly]

I went off travelling for a couple of years - some time ago. I ended up dumping kit or sending it back home.

 

Half way through, I downsized again and bought a smallish lightweight two part frame rucksack. A few months later I cut the bottom part off the rest of the rucksack, attached straps to it and threw the rest away. That was about right.

 

I agree with the people who are surprised at the amount of photo kit you are taking - in terms of quantity as well as variety.

 

As your kit is predominantly Nikon, I would buy another backup Nikon body so that the two film bodies and the D700 can all use the same set of lenses.

 

Actually, I wouldn't even take the second body with me. I would have it packed and ready to send to me in case I needed it - which would most likely be because the first one had been stolen. I'd leave a couple of spare lenses at home as well - for the same reason.

 

I don't backpack.

 

I'm going to be working, so I'm not going to lumping around with all my stuff on my back. I'm going to have a house and go to work everyday like usual. Nothing will get stolen and I won't carry any loads that aren't comfortable.

 

Right now I suspect I'll use a Leica M6 and 28mm Elmarit ASPH as a walk around daily shooter. I'll carry it on me all the time as I look to shoot street as I go about my daily business. Right now I shoot a Ricoh GR1v as a daily shooter, but I miss having manual control over focus and exposure. Still can't find a decently priced 28mm Elmarit, but I haven't been looking long. I think I might be reduced to sniping on eBay.

 

Each kit will stay at home until I need it for a specific job.

[marcg]

I don't backpack.

 

I'm going to be working, so I'm not going to lumping around with all my stuff on my back. I'm going to have a house and go to work everyday like usual. Nothing will get stolen and I won't carry any loads that aren't comfortable.

 

Right now I suspect I'll use a Leica M6 and 28mm Elmarit ASPH as a walk around daily shooter. I'll carry it on me all the time as I look to shoot street as I go about my daily business. Right now I shoot a Ricoh GR1v as a daily shooter, but I miss having manual control over focus and exposure. Still can't find a decently priced 28mm Elmarit, but I haven't been looking long. I think I might be reduced to sniping on eBay.

 

Each kit will stay at home until I need it for a specific job.

Ah, sorry.

 

I thought you had said you were going travelling.

 

Yes, I am sure that your choice will be the right one.

[jaques]

hmmm... If you only want one lens... then I would suggest you find yourself a wonderful Olympus SP or SPn camera... These cameras have better rangefinders than the XA or Canonet cameras and have center weighted or spot meter! Leica never managed that in a film camera. They are also well made and a joy to use- the Zuiko 42mm 1.7 lens is SUPERB and a nice balance between a standard and wide lens...! Loading film is easier than on a Leica- the camera has full Auto exposure - Aperture/Shutter priority- as well as fully manual functions without the need for a battery. Finally a mint Cla'd example will cost you less than a Leica lens.

If your heart is set on Leica then I recommend either an M6, M3, M2 or the M4! all good. For one lens only the M3 or M4 would be good as the view through the finder is less cluttered with less frames... if you want to use a 35mm get the M4- a 50mm the M3.

 

to see images from the Sp/SPn look here:

 

https://secure.flickr.com/groups/olympus35sp/

[imsilly]

hmmm... If you only want one lens... then I would suggest you find yourself a wonderful Olympus SP or SPn camera... These cameras have better rangefinders than the XA or Canonet cameras and have center weighted or spot meter! Leica never managed that in a film camera. They are also well made and a joy to use- the Zuiko 42mm 1.7 lens is SUPERB and a nice balance between a standard and wide lens...! Loading film is easier than on a Leica- the camera has full Auto exposure - Aperture/Shutter priority- as well as fully manual functions without the need for a battery. Finally a mint Cla'd example will cost you less than a Leica lens.

If your heart is set on Leica then I recommend either an M6, M3, M2 or the M4! all good. For one lens only the M3 or M4 would be good as the view through the finder is less cluttered with less frames... if you want to use a 35mm get the M4- a 50mm the M3.

 

to see images from the Sp/SPn look here:

 

https://secure.flickr.com/groups/olympus35sp/

 

I couldn't live with a 42mm lens. I hate shooting anything longer then 35mm and if I do I'll just jump right to a full tele. I also have lots of great auto and AP cameras, I want a manual camera specifically. I've owned an Olympus XA (still have it), Canonet QLIII 17 and Olympus RD. It was only the XA that I really enjoyed using. I have a M6 now after trying out a few bodies, so now a lens is a main priority. Probably a 28mm or 35mm.

 

Ah, sorry.

 

I thought you had said you were going travelling.

 

Yes, I am sure that your choice will be the right one.

 

I'm traveling, but not in the backpack sense. I don't really enjoy that kind of travelling at all, as I feel if you are moving too much you can't really enjoy yourself. I'm basically going to set up shop in a city and then photography every spare moment I get. My girlfriend enjoys running around and seeing as much as possible as fast as possible, shooting everything that moves. I'm going to do everything I can to avoid that. Shoot slowly, only things I know I'll enjoy developing and printing. Stuff for myself rather then other people. I'm concentrating towards books rather then holiday shots.

 

I will of course leave every so often on jaunts, but I'll only take one kit with me. The rest of my gear is needed because I've told I might need to help out doing random stuff like filming events and other things. I wish I could ditch a lot of gear, but I doubt I'll be able to. If I had it my way I'd just shoot film with one M and one film SLR.

 

As I'll only be using the SLR for telephoto and macro shots, I was interested in getting people's ideas about a lens and body combo for everything else.

 

I nearly bought a version IV 28mm Elmarit yesterday. I still think the ASPH version purely based on size would be my first choice. How much larger and in what ways image wise does the version IV differ from the ASPH?

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[struene]

Hallo,

 

Version IV is about the same size and price as the Zeiss Biogon. I´d prefer the newer Leica due to it s size too, (infact it s not my Primary focal length and for that i own the biogon which blocks a bit of the M6s finder...)

 

Congrats to the M6, it is a great camera - for 35mm focal length. The 28mm Framelines are rather diffucult to overlook, though it works.

If 28mm was my Primary focal length i would have gone for a Voigtländer Bessa R4m. It s not that sexy as a m6 but in fact with their Little backgrip and lighter weight they lie much better in the Hand then the Leica. Anyway I would think about a Backup/"film variant" Body in form of an affordable Bessa R2 or R4.

 

Maybe it s a solution to go with a small 35mm lens which fits nicer to the m6 viewfinder, like Summicron or if f2.0 is not so important summarit or the rather perfect Zeiss c-biogon or some VL skopar and have the Ricoh as the 28mm shooter... In the and it is all about which focal length you prefer and what you are ready to pay.

 

schöne Grüße,

 

Johann

[Archiver]

Like many others, when I read your initial posts, I thought you were taking way too much gear. But if you are living in a house and working for two years, rather than lugging it all around in a backpack, I can see why you would like more than a camera or two. As someone who enjoys shooting with a variety of gear, I've been known to take a DSLR, rangefinder, several lenses for both, plus three digital compacts on a three day holiday trip, so I understand.

 

May I offer the suggestion of the the Voigtlander Skopar 25mm f4 P? You mentioned that you want a small and unobtrusive lens, and that you'll mostly be shooting at f8, and this fits the bill very well. Here are some images with this lens, taken with a Zeiss Ikon.

 

Voigtlander25mm - test shot two by Archiver, on Flickr

 

CV25 - The Mystic Mountains by Archiver, on Flickr

 

It is almost half the length of the Elmarit 28, practically a third the length of the Zeiss 28, and is very sharp in the centre. Not so good on a digital M, but excellent on film bodies.

 

Japan and Hong Kong are great places to find lenses, but you really want to be careful about price. Hong Kong dealers are more likely to overprice things (try to rip you off), and Japanese dealers will have pristine lenses with corresponding prices. New lenses will also be very expensive in Japan; when I was there in 2010, I noticed that Voigtlander and Zeiss lenses, manufactured in Japan, were always more expensive than buying them from America.

 

There is an abundance of film in Japan; the local Yodobashi Camera will have a big fridge full of the stuff.

 

I hope you get what you want in time for your trip!