Jump to content

How to get the very best quality image from a Leica.

MikeMyers

By MikeMyers
in Digital Forum

 Share

Recommended Posts

MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
Posted (edited)

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Because of some discussions I've had with other people in other forums, I was wondering how the quality of the digital Leica M cameras compare with what can be done with an M3.  I got to reading Ken Rockwell's review:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/m3.htm

Which led me to this wonderful photo he took with an M3:

https://www.kenrockwell.com/trips/2014-05-yosemite/16/70050007-1200.jpg

View it in the largest size.

Given the time to do it properly, being careful and using a good tripod, how many M cameras can match or exceed this quality?  I suspect that any film Leica with the same quality lens will create the same quality image.  From what I've seen myself, my M8.2 won't match this, and my M10 with the new Voigtlander lens may be as good or better, which leaves the other models of the M10 which I've never even seen.  And the newest Leica lenses I've read are at least as good as the Voigtlander, if not better.

(In real life, which means walking around with my camera with a neck strap, raising it up to my eye, and taking a photo, I don't get this kind of quality - for me, a tripod is essential for sharpness.  I don't think my Nikon gear can do this either.  The film grain in the film he used is so fine, I would need a strong magnifier to see it.)

 

It's a very powerful article.  My own M3 has been off at DAG Camera Repair for a few months, and Don says I'll be getting it back this coming week.  I'm wondering if I can match the image quality from my M10, by carefully using an M3, with appropriate film.

.....and to be honest, images like this are not the reason I bought the Leica way back when - I wanted something powerful, and quiet, and durable, and small, that would match any other camera I compared it to.  Nowadays I seem to be using my M10 for shots I would use a view camera for, if I still had one.....

Edited by MikeMyers
Link to post
Share on other sites
x
  • Replies 53
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Posts

Ornello
Ornello

Well, aren't you easily impressed! Ken Rockwell 'knows' only what he has heard third or fourth-hand from people who have only a vague understanding of what they are talking about. He is certainly

MikeMyers
MikeMyers

I went to the beach here in Miami Beach a few days ago, with the M8.2, with my 7Artisans 50mm mounted - I enjoy using that lens on the M8 because the worst part of the images from this inexpensive len

wda
wda

In landscape,  a tripod is more often used to preserve a carefully selected viewpoint, while waiting for the light. Patience is rarely mentioned in photography.

Posted Images

MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 hours ago, wda said:

Hot-linking to Rockwell's site is denied. You need to find an available comparison.

I didn't know that.  Feel free to delete this thread, if that is the case.

 

3 hours ago, wda said:

Maybe you are a subscriber?

No, but I find it a valuable source of information.  Lots of smoke, but I have no trouble seeing through the smoke.

Not sure why we're discussing the website, and not the photo I linked to, but if I'm really not supposed to have linked to it, someone can close or remove this thread.  I thought it was a valid question regarding Leica film vs digital cameras, for my own use.  If he can do a photo like that, so can I.  If so, I'll take my own photo and post it here.  It's just that I didn't realize an image like that was possible from 35mm film.  Sorry.

Link to post
Share on other sites
MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 hours ago, wda said:

David

https://www.davidaskham.com/using-the-leica-x-vario

Very nice and interesting write-up on a camera I knew nothing about half an hour ago!

I think it would make a wonderful travel camera, for someone who takes the time to do things right.  I (used to) shoot in the terrible air in India all the time, and dreaded changing lenses.  Adorama has a nice one for sale: 

https://www.adorama.com/us1428050.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94zy7wiTBd9yHPeuAR7TdD7pAKYyLdgIT8YzimmwGe6cphiyBUeyBwkRoCB0kQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94zy7wiTBd9yHPeuAR7TdD7pAKYyLdgIT8YzimmwGe6cphiyBUeyBwkRoCB0kQAvD_BwE&utm_source=adl-gbase-p

Before my next trip overseas, I might consider one....

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
250swb

250swb

Posted
Posted (edited)

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Whether Leica or Nikon (Nikon do make some very good lenses) it's all about the quality of the lens and the film, not the camera body you put it in.

At the moment the best material for getting the most out of a 35mm camera is Adox CMS20 II, used with it's own specially formulated Adotech IV developer.  It's a copy film, hence the need for a special developer, and rated at anywhere between 3 ISO to 12 ISO ( I use it at 6 ISO) it produces ultra fine grain and sharpness with a full range of rich tones. With good technique you get medium format quality negatives from 35mm film. It can punish lens faults though, being ultra fine grain if there is any falloff across the frame there is no visual 'bite' from coarse film grain to help mask out of focus corners etc. It's as easy to develop as any other 35m film although it does have it's own quirks, fixing only takes 1 minute at the max, otherwise you start to bleach the negative, and washing is also very much shortened. Most times you'd use a tripod because stopped down to f/8 or f/11 exposures will be in seconds (in the UK at least), so setting the shutter to B and cable release in hand start counting one Mississippi, two Mississippi, three.......or alternatively, one elephant, two elephant, three............, both systems work equally well.

 

Edited by 250swb
  • Like 2
Link to post
Share on other sites
ianman

ianman

Posted
Posted
4 minutes ago, 250swb said:

At the moment the best material for getting the most out of a 35mm camera is Adox CMS20 II, used with it's own specially formulated Adotech IV developer.

I saw your latest photographs on Flickr. Absolutely amazing!! I've wanted to try that film since I saw another one you did a few months ago but my usual supplier has none in stock recently.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
  • Author
Posted
3 minutes ago, 250swb said:

it's all about the quality of the lens and the film, not the camera body you put it in.

If I take what you wrote literally, you have answered my question.  With quality technique, both film and digital Leica cameras CAN create equivalent images, when used with the same lens.  

I find my M8.2 very limited in image quality compared to the M10, and I suspect I may need to move up to one of the newer digital M cameras to get the best results.  I am extremely pleased with the M10, especially with my new Voigtlander lens, but I have never gotten film images with this resolution quality.  Based on what you wrote, the weak point is undoubtedly me, even for film.

I guess this makes me a "pixel peeper".  I know a good photograph is a lot more than just the pixels, but I would like all my landscape shots to be as sharp as the image I linked to, regardless of which camera I use.

Link to post
Share on other sites
ianman

ianman

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, MikeMyers said:

I didn't know that.  Feel free to delete this thread, if that is the case.

No need to delete the thread. Just write that you are talking about the first photo in the sample gallery labelled “Bridal Veil Falls, Yosemite Valley, 5:04 PM, 16 May 2014.”

He wrote that he used Ilford Pan-f which is very fine grain. It’s a pity he doesn’t say which developer was used.

 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
MikeMyers

MikeMyers

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Gee, I have no idea how to respond.  If someone mostly shoots 35mm lenses, then maybe that's a good reason.  As for me, I've got one of each.  Don, at DAG Cameras has gone through my M3, and he will let me know when it's a good time to send in my M2.  Since I try to shoot with both eyes open, and use my right eye to look through the viewfinder, I prefer the M3.  They are both wonderful.  Most of the reasons you mentioned are irrelevant for me.  I also like my F4, but that's another story.

I've been so involved with my M10 and M8.2 that I still haven't shot any of the film.  Oops......

Link to post
Share on other sites
SrMi

SrMi

Posted
Posted

It is just an opinion, based on the author's priority. I used James Tocchio's article (linked above) as well as Erwin Putts How to choose a film-loading M when deciding to buy M2 instead of M3. But my priorities may not be other people's priorities. If you are looking for facts, Ken Rockwell's site is not a good place, AFAIK.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...
Ornello

Ornello

Posted
Posted (edited)

Well, aren't you easily impressed!

Ken Rockwell 'knows' only what he has heard third or fourth-hand from people who have only a vague understanding of what they are talking about. He is certainly unqualified to discuss Leica or Leicaflex cameras or lenses. He makes unqualified generalizations that reveal his limited cognitive capacity.

I suggest you read Erwin Puts' articles if you want to understand about Leica.

 

Edited by Ornello
  • Like 3
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...