How to improve low light performance?

[TonyField]

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The world depend upon choices .... none are better or worse than others.

 

My personal take on this would be to go with the M9 (any variety) and also pick up an "old" 50mm Summilux at some reasonable second hand price. This would give you a contemporary camera with ISO and colour advantages over the M8. When the speed is needed, the old 50mm F1.4 will perform very well wide open (not up to the new asph, of course).

 

If you pick up an old 50mm 1.4, it will hold it's resale price and you can, at a later time, pick up the new asph variety and recover all of your original investment in the old 50mm.

 

I recommend this partly because I don' really care about "absolute image quality" since it does not make me take better photographs - and I am not concerned about bragging rights with fancy equipment.

 

The only thing that I might be concerned about is that the old 50mm 1.4 lenses may have greater focus shift when stopping down from F1.4 than the new 1.4. A brief test with the new 50mm 1.4 asph indicates it has "similar" focus shift to my old 50mm 1.4 although it is a bit sharper wide open (however I have not run conclusive tests). I also noted that the new and old 50mm 1.4 lenses suffer from flare.

 

Another consideration is long term service. I wonder what would happen if you have to replace the M8 sensor ?? Are they still available ??? I know even the M9 sensor is in short supply (with the digital demise of Kodak).

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[earleygallery]

Another consideration is long term service. I wonder what would happen if you have to replace the M8 sensor ?? Are they still available ??? I know even the M9 sensor is in short supply (with the digital demise of Kodak).

 

The sensor part was sold off a while ago. The short supply is apparently down to the fact they are awaiting production of a new batch. M8 sensors are available AFAIK the only part that they can't replace is the LCD.

[mug+saucer]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I suppose I should have titled this thread differently as my question was answered pretty fast. I just wanted to understand how a lens would improve things compared to the FF sensor of the M9.

 

Lots of the other info is pretty available with a quick search so I am aware of the 1.33 crop to FF and how that impacts focal lengths etc already. I have shot 5Dmk2 with 50mm f1.2L, I have shot Nikon 50 & 85 1.4, shot M8 with 50mm Cron etc so used to shallow dof and so on. I do understand that you have to assume noob status.

 

I am not talking about shooting professionally I am talking about capturing life's moments. I don't want a 5Dmk2 so I sold it, I do like the D3/4's but I wouldn't have it with me everyday and my Leica question would still stand as I may be at a friends house with my Leica so I still like to know how sensor size vs lens speed impacts things.

 

I shoot Leica because I just have to. I look at it and have to pick it up. I don't want to shoot anything else and when I buy other cameras I'm jealous of Leica owners so its pretty simple. Use Leica. I don't particularly like or want the 240 either. I hope to end up with a M9-P, M6 (or MP) maybe, 50 1.4 and 35 1.4 probably. That said, now I love the vsco packs I may no longer shoot film!

 

I am happy with the current set up but like I said I wanted to better understand the M9 sensor vs lens speed. Plenty of food for thought in many of the replied though. Appreciated all the advice and those wedding photographers aren't really my style tbh. I prefer Mark Wallis, doesn't shoot Leica but I like Reportage Photojournalism style more and the others over at WPJA: http://www.markwallisphoto.com/Awards/ but I obviously appreciate the Leica examples.

 

Cheers

[Paul J]

Use a tripod.

 

Fit brighter light bulbs.

 

Try flash.

 

Use noise reduction software.

 

Don't forget the Head Brace

[lenticularis]

There's possibly a free option here

Search for 'M8 16 (actually 14bit so try that search also) Raw to DNG' and find the software and website

 

I have been using this a lot with my own M8 shooting. Now I shoot at 160-320 99% of the time, but Brian Sweeney claims that this 4bit raw shooting mode gives better shadow recovery at even low ISO settings as well as better high ISO performance

Worth a play at least!

 

 

 

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[plewislambert]

"I have been doing pictures at church events,concerts, pageants, where I need to move around, need depth of field, do not want to use flash or tripod, and lighting is on the low side. Full frame Nikon is the camera of choice with a VR lens. Iso 1600 makes beautiful 11x17 prints. I tried the Leica, and it does not work for me in this application.

I have not seen a wedding photog with a Leica for a very long time. Style is auto focus and natural light, although most of them butcher it up from results I have seen."

I first saw a professional using an M9 at the moment when my son was getting married. I could not hear his M9 operating. He carried two big Canon cameras which he used at the party later, available light mostly. Said M9 was hopeless in the dark, otherwise very nice, so I bought one. Not bad with f1.5 lens and extra exposure from Raw in Photoshop but modern slrs probably superior. Pity about their size,weight,noise.

Philip

[sblutter]

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I suggest you find the thread on shooting at 640 and pushing with NR etc. in post. I use LR & PS. Sometimes adding a touch of 'grain' helps the mood.

 

I've been VERY happy with that scheme - even bought a put-away new M-E to celebrate. Am getting very clean results at the equivalent of 3200+ in 17x24 Epson 3880 prints

 

For what I do, should be good to go for years. Feels like I'm back in reliable old M3, 4 or 6 days. Virtually no limitations