First Leica, First Roll of Tri-X, and Thoughts

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Hi everyone.  Two weeks ago I bought my first Leica, a new "a la carte" MP.  The camera was originally ordered by the Leica store in SOHO NYC, so I didn't chose the custom options, but I really like what they selected.  It is a black paint model with grey leather and matching leather strap and it has a de-cluttered .72 viewfinder with 35-50-90mm frame lines - I prefer this set up.  I'm kind of new to the whole Leica thing but recently decided I wanted to get an all manual 35mm film camera - something that would provide a similar experience to shooting 35mm that my Rolleiflex 2.8F provides me with 120.  I've been shooting on film since the late 90s when I got really into photograph in high school and spent a lot of time shooting and pulling prints in the school darkroom. I miss those days and am looking to get dark room access again.  I've always shot 35mm film on my Canon AE-1 and more recently a New F-1. I almost always shoot with a 50mm prime lens which is why I don't mind the limited frame lines on my a la carte MP.  I recently got a FD 50mm 1.2L lens for the Canons.  Both of those are fantastic SLR cameras that I will continue to use.  In addition to shooting the Rolleiflex I also have a 4x5 Weisner field camera that I shoot with from time to time. 

This past week was a B&H Photo conference.  The 50mm Summilux 1.4 Asph that I had purchased on Ebay arrived just in time for me to bring it to the conference and begin shooting my first roll of film in the new Leica - a roll of Tri-x of course.  I took a few shots in the conference and then decided to do some street photography - what the Leica is famous for - so I wondered around Times Sq and was able to get my focus down for a few decent pictures.  Coming from the SLR and Rolleiflex, the view finder is taking some time to get used to.  I blew focus on about half the shots on the roll.  I got the roll developed and scanned by Color House in SOHO.    I was pleased with how the images rendered on the film.  I guess I have to attribute this to the Summilux and Tri-x.

The camera is very nice looking and feels great in the hands.  I really like the black and grey combo and look forward to the black paint to begin brassing.  Unfortunately, I noticed an issue with the light meter while I was shooting.  The meter does not turn off in the B/OFF position.  I took the camera to the Leica store and they shipped it off to be repaired.... This was a disappointing discovery with the little "mechanical perfection."  So far the Leica store has been very responsive to the issue and hopefully it is resolved quickly so I can start shooting again.

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience with a new Leica.  Part of me wanted to buy this camera new because I want to support a camera company that is still making manual film cameras. It took me a lot of agonizing about justifying the price of this camera.  Especially when I get a very manual and tactile and professional experience with my Canon F-1 and 50mm 1.2L.  But I decided that I would have the Leica for the rest of my life and I would really put it to use as a tool for my creative expression over the years. I also wanted to try the rangefinder design for its way of framing the shot and staying incognito while doing so.  As someone who does a lot of documentary and ethnographic work this is important.  This made the purchase justifiable.   While I was in the Leica store today having my camera sent off for repair they let me play around with the new M10 Monochrome.  It's a beautiful camera.  But I much prefer the tactile experience of shooting on the MP.  I'll put the MP close up there with the Rolleiflex, which is probably my favorite camera. 

Feel free to check out my Instagram for some more 35mm and medium format photos.  mediumformula

Here are some shots from my new camera's first roll of film:

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Mick Rock!

Sorry I don't have a better picture of the camera with the Summilux on it. 

Edited February 20, 2020 by mediumformula

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[tommonego@gmail.com]

Pretty camera, used to black and chrome or black and black, bummer you had to send it back. I'm used to M3 and mostly M2s. Would like to see what the guy with the Crown Graphic had with the flash bulbs, I still have some of those hunking bulbs, sure do put out a lot of light. Enjoy the Leica I have never used one with a light meter. 

[NigelG]

42 minutes ago, tommonego@gmail.com said:

. Would like to see what the guy with the Crown Graphic had with the flash bulbs, I still have some of those hunking bulbs, sure do put out a lot of light.

That’s Louis Mendes......

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/new-york-citys-most-classic-street-photographer

[tommonego@gmail.com]

8 minutes ago, NigelG said:

That’s Louis Mendes......

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/new-york-citys-most-classic-street-photographer

Really interesting, think it is a Crown not a Speed Graphic, but that is just a name, my Speed Graphic gave out years ago.

[mediumformula]

12 minutes ago, NigelG said:

That’s Louis Mendes......

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/new-york-citys-most-classic-street-photographer

Yep,  He hangs out outside of B&H photo quite often.

[mediumformula]

Update:  My Leica is being sent back to Germany to be repaired.  It was sent to the Leica distributor first in New Jersey on Weds. 

[mediumformula]

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Well, I've officially lost my mind.  I bought an M246 Monochrome today to complement the MP.  I went out and took some shots on a dreary afternoon in Brooklyn.  I invoked sympathy regarding my MP repair to haggle the price down. They still have a couple left at the SOHO Leica store that are way less than what people are asking on Ebay.  The prices on these 246's have dropped to a point that I think they are a good buy now.  Here are a few random shots with the 50mm Summilux Asph.

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Edited February 27, 2020 by mediumformula

[NigelG]

Glad I didn’t put you off yesterday (if that was you in the Soho store about 5ish...!.) 🤭

Yes they’re a great buy IMHO and I personally can’t really justify the M10M atm although I’m going to call back in tomorrow and shoot a few frames to see the difference. 

[mediumformula]

2 hours ago, NigelG said:

Glad I didn’t put you off yesterday (if that was you in the Soho store about 5ish...!.) 🤭

Yes they’re a great buy IMHO and I personally can’t really justify the M10M atm although I’m going to call back in tomorrow and shoot a few frames to see the difference. 

Don't worry, I wasn't in the store yesterday.  Just stopped in today to check out the 246 and ultimately buy it....  They have an M10M on display with a APO50 attached to it that you can play around with.  They still have a couple used 246's in the $3500 range.   Now seemed like the best time to get a used 246 if you're interested in getting into the monochrome digital thing....

[NigelG]

8 minutes ago, mediumformula said:

Don't worry, I wasn't in the store yesterday.  Just stopped in today to check out the 246 and ultimately buy it....  They have an M10M on display with a APO50 attached to it that you can play around with.  They still have a couple used 246's in the $3500 range.   Now seemed like the best time to get a used 246 if you're interested in getting into the monochrome digital thing....

Mistaken identity!....your “reflectie” (?) looked like a guy who was in yesterday when I was looking at the M10M and discussing the files from the 246 vs the M9M....😀 I’ve already got a 246 but I’m going to see the difference to the M10M with a couple of my lenses tomorrow.

Enjoy the 246

 

[mediumformula]

3 minutes ago, NigelG said:

Mistaken identity!....your “reflectie” (?) looked like a guy who was in yesterday when I was looking at the M10M and discussing the files from the 246 vs the M9M....😀 I’ve already got a 246 but I’m going to see the difference to the M10M with a couple of my lenses tomorrow.

Enjoy the 246

 

We Leica NY hipsters all look the same!  What are you looking for with the M10M that the M246 might not have? Were you happy with the 246?  Just from shooting with it today and fiddling around in LIghtroom, I'm really digging it.  It's ALMOST as cool as real film.    Can't wait till my MP gets back from Germany....

[NigelG]

6 hours ago, mediumformula said:

We Leica NY hipsters all look the same!  What are you looking for with the M10M that the M246 might not have? Were you happy with the 246?  Just from shooting with it today and fiddling around in LIghtroom, I'm really digging it.  It's ALMOST as cool as real film.    Can't wait till my MP gets back from Germany....

I think it’s probably just a response to the M10M threads.....I’d like to do a side by side comparison of my own with my 246 and 50Lux / Noctilux F1 just to see what the extra pixels bring for me. Most of the examples I’ve seen use the 50APO which is a different look. (Also I’m usually a generation behind so the 246 works best with my M240P + M60)

[mediumformula]

I returned my M246 Monochrome today.  I had it for a week.  The range finder focus was off.  I didn't notice it at first because I was using a lot of zone focusing for street stuff, but I noticed that for fine focusing it was not in sync with the focusing using the back screen.  This was concerning because when I bought the camera last week it had just come back from Germany and had a little certificate saying that it was in spec.  I decided I didn't want to mess around with another Leica repair.  My MP is in Germany getting the light meter fixed and they would have to send the 246 out as well.  Thus I would have had two "new" cameras both in for repairs.  Also, while I really do like the 246, its purchase was somewhat inspired by a bit of G.A.S. and I realized I needed to slow down and just enjoy the new MP when it gets back and take it from there.  I really don't NEED a monochrome digital camera, as much as I love the concept of it.  Another thing, I keep going back and looking at the pictures I shot with the MP on Tri-X, posted above.... I really dig that look. Maybe someday I'll look into getting another Monochrome, perhaps when the M10M drops in price.  I am glad that I got to shoot on a Monochrome for a week.  I still think it's a great camera.

[Archiver]

Congratulations on the new camera / repaired camera / new camera! I have to say that as much as digital cameras give high quality files you can work with, those Tri-X images you posted first have a special something. In the future, perhaps think about shooting some Portra, and find out how lovely the tones can look.

[mediumformula]

6 hours ago, Archiver said:

Congratulations on the new camera / repaired camera / new camera! I have to say that as much as digital cameras give high quality files you can work with, those Tri-X images you posted first have a special something. In the future, perhaps think about shooting some Portra, and find out how lovely the tones can look.

Thanks.  I've shot lots of Portra, mostly on my Rolleiflex and Canon F1.  It's great too. I also love Ektar.  I'll have to try some color film on the Leica when I get it back as I want too see how the summilux handles it.  I got an email from Leica Germany today stating, "The repair on your camera has been completed. We will start to process the paperwork for shipment."  So hopefully it makes it back to NYC before Corona virus strands it somewhere in Europe!

[Archiver]

12 hours ago, mediumformula said:

Thanks.  I've shot lots of Portra, mostly on my Rolleiflex and Canon F1.  It's great too. I also love Ektar.  I'll have to try some color film on the Leica when I get it back as I want too see how the summilux handles it.  I got an email from Leica Germany today stating, "The repair on your camera has been completed. We will start to process the paperwork for shipment."  So hopefully it makes it back to NYC before Corona virus strands it somewhere in Europe!

Fingers crossed that your baby is back with you soon! Good thing it's not, for example, your partner stranded in Italy or Wuhan. At the local post office, the co-manager's wife had been stuck in Wuhan for weeks, and he can't speak English too well, so he's been struggling a lot. You're going to love Portra with the Summilux, by the way.

[Ouroboros]

On 3/4/2020 at 7:54 PM, mediumformula said:

I returned my M246 Monochrome today.  I had it for a week.  The range finder focus was off.  I didn't notice it at first because I was using a lot of zone focusing for street stuff, but I noticed that for fine focusing it was not in sync with the focusing using the back screen.  This was concerning because when I bought the camera last week it had just come back from Germany and had a little certificate saying that it was in spec.  I decided I didn't want to mess around with another Leica repair.  My MP is in Germany getting the light meter fixed and they would have to send the 246 out as well.  Thus I would have had two "new" cameras both in for repairs.  Also, while I really do like the 246, its purchase was somewhat inspired by a bit of G.A.S. and I realized I needed to slow down and just enjoy the new MP when it gets back and take it from there.  I really don't NEED a monochrome digital camera, as much as I love the concept of it.  Another thing, I keep going back and looking at the pictures I shot with the MP on Tri-X, posted above.... I really dig that look. Maybe someday I'll look into getting another Monochrome, perhaps when the M10M drops in price.  I am glad that I got to shoot on a Monochrome for a week.  I still think it's a great camera.

As a mainly black and white photographer, since the M9M first appeared I I've really wanted to want a Monochrom.  I've reached the point of entering my card details on a number of occasions, but the same old question in my mind has always stopped me from submitting the order:  'What is the point when film is my preferred medium?????'

I know exactly what my MP and any of the black and white films I use will produce.  The point is I get more satisfaction  from processing my negatives  and editing the scans than I do from editing digitally captured files.

I think you did the right thing to slow down.  Your Tri-X images are far better than your Monochrom images, imo.  Keep going!  

[mediumformula]

2 hours ago, Ouroboros said:

As a mainly black and white photographer, since the M9M first appeared I I've really wanted to want a Monochrom.  I've reached the point of entering my card details on a number of occasions, but the same old question in my mind has always stopped me from submitting the order:  'What is the point when film is my preferred medium?????'

I know exactly what my MP and any of the black and white films I use will produce.  The point is I get more satisfaction  from processing my negatives  and editing the scans than I do from editing digitally captured files.

I think you did the right thing to slow down.  Your Tri-X images are far better than your Monochrom images, imo.  Keep going!  

Thanks.  I was walking around my neighborhood this afternoon taking photographs with my Rolleiflex loaded with T-Max 400 in it.  At one point I stopped and thought to myself, "this is so much better and more enjoyable than shooting digital because I really have to think about when I'm going to press the shutter."  I know that's cliche but it's true. 

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[mediumformula]

For those of you anxiously following my Leica repair saga.  Latest update.  Got an email today from Leica Germany regarding my camera:

"The devices are ready for shipment. The paperwork has been completed last Friday. Leica USA will inform you as soon as they receive the parcel."

I was hoping that they would have shipped the camera by now since the repair was finished by Thursday last week.  Oh well.

[james.liam]

On 3/16/2020 at 9:20 PM, mediumformula said:

For those of you anxiously following my Leica repair saga.  Latest update.  Got an email today from Leica Germany regarding my camera:

"The devices are ready for shipment. The paperwork has been completed last Friday. Leica USA will inform you as soon as they receive the parcel."

I was hoping that they would have shipped the camera by now since the repair was finished by Thursday last week.  Oh well.

Maybe the MP sneezed on the way to the airport.