The M10 and portrait photography

[onasj]

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50 APO, wide open, casual shot at a party (no proper lighting).

 

In my experience, the M10 can capture superb portraits, even candids, if your subject isn't moving much.

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Edited November 16, 2017 by onasj

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[Bison]

I have just ordered a 75mm Summilux f/1.4, which is going to replace my 50mm Summilux f/1.4 ASPH. Sometimes I felt that I didn't get close enough to the subject, and I don't need ultra sharp images. I am looking forward to the beautiful bokeh and rendering, so I hope this will be the perfect portrait lens for me.

 

But others may of course have other wishes and needs.

 

Didn't Leica quit making the 75 'lux? 

[Bison]

I've done lots of studio work with my Leica M10 and have used either a 35, 50 or 90, but lately it's been mostly my 35 or 50. Mostly natural light but sometimes I'll use a pocketwizard and studio light (alien bee) . . . .

 

I'm glad to hear someone is using a PocketWizard on an M10. I wondered if they were compatible. I used them routinely with my Nikon setup, and would like to still do so. 

[evikne]

Didn't Leica quit making the 75 'lux? 

 

 

I ordered a used one of course. 

[otto.f]

Maybe this helps. This portrait was made in the train; a man, obviously from the UK, on his way to the airport.

Summilux 75, F2 @ 1/250 with 1600 beautiful ISO's.

The image was cropped from landscape to portrait. I just took one shot, the man had to go out. With this lens, such a shot in a hurry is with my M9 or MM1 often not well focused. With the M10 I see hardly any failures with this not so easy to focus lens. 

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Edited November 18, 2017 by otto.f

[otto.f]

This is the original. Skintones are a bit too red even after a quick correction in C1, but not a big problem. The greenish background is sort of real in the fluorescent lit train and would be difficult to correct if it came from an M9. Hard to find the noise in this 1600ISO shot

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Edited November 18, 2017 by otto.f

[pico]

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In my experience the move from 50mm to 75mm ƒ1.4 is a significant jump even though the arithmetic might not seem so. Very best of luck, and welcome to the few of us who enjoy 75mm.

Edited November 18, 2017 by pico

[onasj]

Another portrait from the 50 APO.  It's a shame that the attachment feature on this forum drops the resolution of my photos so dramatically.  The original is here, along with other photos of Beijing all taken with the M10 and a variety of lenses (21 lux, 28 lux, 35 FLE, 50 APO, 90 APO):

 

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ush4xtwxz6ivltp/AADGoCdUcgWG5LdviLwdL621a?dl=0

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Edited November 22, 2017 by onasj

[Reciprocity]

For reportage portraits and environmental portraits I love the M but for anything longer than a 50mm I much prefer an SLR in being able to focus across a closer range and come up with dynamic compositions.

 

There is also the slower paced if not fidgity aspect of focus, recompose and shoot with an RF that makes it harder to intuitively layer in good backgrounds adding to hang time which may do more to disturb your subject than the size of the camera.

 

As an aside, I am actually quite surprised to see such poor choices in lighting on a number of these portraits often with little to no light on their eyes and in one case, the woman in the photo is facing away from great light and the white of her eye being so out of calibration in regards to the rest of her face that she looks as though she has a deformity.

 

Unless going for some sullen theatric, the photo of the child by Redrider is what a good portrait should look like so a few on here would do well to note that example. The eyes have life in them.

Edited November 25, 2017 by Reciprocity

[paulsydaus]

I have just ordered a 75mm Summilux f/1.4, which is going to replace my 50mm Summilux f/1.4 ASPH. Sometimes I felt that I didn't get close enough to the subject, and I don't need ultra sharp images. I am looking forward to the beautiful bokeh and rendering, so I hope this will be the perfect portrait lens for me.

 

But others may of course have other wishes and needs.

Agree, I use the 75mm Summicron and IMHO it’s one of Leica’s most underrated lenses. The 90mm f/4 also helps me avoid the urge to overdo depth of field and also gives amazing results. Both lenses work great at near focus too.

 

 

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[paulsydaus]

 

M10 plus 75mm f/2

 

 

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[paulsydaus]

Hey Tiny Tempo, welcome to the forum man.

 

The M is a great tool for portraits, I use it a lot. The size means it's very agile and you can move around quickly, flick it around and not miss moments. It's really amazing as a supplementary tool when you're using a bigger camera too. But mostly I use it because the lenses are stunning.

 

I use a 75mm Summilux mostly, a 90mm APO-Summicron a lot and and a Noctilux too.

 

The only thing that is a downside is the finder blockage of the bigger lenses in portrait orientation, but I find if I hold the camera so the shutter button is at the bottom end then it's all good. EVF solves that completely.

 

But the one thing that really sucks is Leica killed tethering on the M10. Something that is crucial on some portrait shoots in particular when you only have your sitter for a short while etc. i.e. - most jobs!

 

See ya round.

Have you tried using an iPad with the wifi app?

 

 

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[Wonzo]

Have a look at this thread: Rajasthan, Indien, 50mm Apo Summicron

Here you`ll find a couple of portrait fotos, all taken with the M10 and the 50mm APO Summicron. No professional fotos. They were all taken during my holiday trip, mostly in a hurry, because I was travelling in a group.

[fsprow]

I believe that most 35mm photographers have relied for portraits primarily on lenses in the 75-105mm range, primarily because they are more complimentary to facial features ("flattens" them slightly as opposed to lenses in the wide angle to 50mm range, which tend to exaggerate noses etc.  

 

However, many lenses can be used to good effect.  Much more important is the lighting, background chosen and of course the subject!

Edited November 29, 2017 by fsprow

[Peter H]

35mm Summicron ASPH

 

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[pgh]

One of the best Leica portraitists ever is Lise Sarfati IMO.

 

All 35mm lens all the time...can't say if I know of anyone who does it better - this is subjective of course but it helps to reference compelling work when thinking about how you're going to use your own tool. I don't find the work in this thread to be indicative of interesting portraiture or referencing where a Leica might be a good tool. Yes, a 75 mm lens will flatten space give you some separation and look like a 75mm lens on any 35mm camera. So what? The nature of the bokeh is completely secondary in portraiture - if that's the concern then one might be forgetting the important things. 

[fsprow]

I like her work also.  However, many of her images  are from a distance showing the whole body or more -- not the classic "head and shoulders" type portrait that benefits from a longer lens focal length. From her perspective, a 35mm is indeed quite appropriate.

[Paul J]

One of the best Leica portraitists ever is Lise Sarfati IMO.

 

All 35mm lens all the time...can't say if I know of anyone who does it better - this is subjective of course but it helps to reference compelling work when thinking about how you're going to use your own tool. I don't find the work in this thread to be indicative of interesting portraiture or referencing where a Leica might be a good tool. Yes, a 75 mm lens will flatten space give you some separation and look like a 75mm lens on any 35mm camera. So what? The nature of the bokeh is completely secondary in portraiture - if that's the concern then one might be forgetting the important things. 

 

Lens and camera has little to do with great work. It's the point of view of the photographer. Everything else, the camera, the lens, the amount of bokeh or any other technique or aesthetic just falls into place.

 

What is right for one can be totally wrong for another.

Edited November 30, 2017 by Paul J

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[Printmaker]

I got a 75 Summicron with my M10. I've been using along with a 35 Summicron it as part of a 2 lens kit. After 9 months of use, I really like this lens. But in retrospect, the 75 Summarit would have been an even better choice based on its pocketable size.

 

Here is a shot I took about a month ago. My brother, Dave, had just finished his last round of radiation treatments. His face was rough and red from the burns. I wanted it to be ever so slightly soft so I focused an inch or two forward on his cap and used mixed filtration when converting to black and white. I like the result but others may not care for the softness.

 

 

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[Narsuitus]

I shoot mostly portraits, and I'm wondering what your experiences are with the M10 in this area.

 

I have only one lens, 90mm f/2 Leitz, that I use on my M10 and M6 for individual portraits. This lens on my rangefinders works very well for candid and street portraits.

 

However, for studio portraits and other more formal portaits, I prefer to use my SLRs for the following reasons:

 

1. I have a larger selection of portrait lenses for my SLRs.

2. Some of my SLR portrait lenses are auto focus.

3. I have a battery pack for my dSLR that allows me to shoot longer without having to change batteries.

4. I have a grip that allows me to handhold my dSLR in a more comfortable portrait position.