Shooting in the dark

[Carlos cruz]

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I have had this problem before with m240, now with m10 it got even worse in a way. The problem is whenever I am shooting at night or dark interiors, I don’t have a way to check my shutter speed, or iso quickly, iso speed usually shows up when I am starting camera, but numbers on the iso and shutter speed dials are impossible to read in the dark, I can always shoot with auto mode but I hate to do it, I have barely any control over exposition. The other resort is putting on evf2 but that’s not my favourite way to shoot. The usual way out of this is turning shutter speed dial several times until it stops on A detent and try to count all the way to desired speed, it’s always very frustrating counting all the way from auto to let’s say 1/30 with shutter having all speeds from 8s to 1/4000 with half speeds. I really love how m5 is easy to shoot in darker environments. In film days I wouldn’t try to shoot when it was too dark to see shutter speeds, but iso going way over fastest films it makes you want to try out all those high iso. How do you cope with it,  EVF /auto mode?  I had an idea of refreshing shutter speed dial with fluorescent paint, at least some important speeds. 

[jaapv]

I may be missing something, but what about the LED display in the viewfinder? Leica photographers have been going by the triangles and clicks since the M6 for forty years. It is just the concept of the camera. As for ISO it is either set and forget or (luxury!) Auto. 

[Carlos cruz]

Even with LED triangles you still don’t know what shutter speed you’re at until you look at top plate, it’s a nuisance for me. With m6 it was less shutter speed steps from top speed to 1/30 with m10 it’s 15 clicks on the shutter wheel, way too much to count comfortably. Don’t know whom should I blame the technical advancement with high iso and more shutter speeds or my eyes. Maybe there’s a more ergonomic way to cope with the problem. 

[mujk]

Pressing the button in the middle of the four-way controller shows you the information on the LCD display.

[charlesphoto99]

Even from the M6 days I always wished Leica would put a small led that would wash across the shutter speed dial at the push of the button. Just one of those M quirks one might not even consider unless shooting in dark environments (for me typically a show). 

[Carlos cruz]

On 8/23/2023 at 6:31 PM, mujk said:

Pressing the button in the middle of the four-way controller shows you the information on the LCD display.

I know all those tricks, I just had a sentimental moment with m5 and really loved how simple it used to be. For now I decided to order some fluorescent watch hand paint and mark some cardinal speeds to help me find directions in the dark. But I would really love to have someone at Wetzlar rethink shutter design choices over the years, it’s really counterintuitive and get’s in the way of shooting. I am curious how many of you decide to go for auto mode and hate their overexposed night pics (I know there’s exposure compensation but it’s not the most ergonomic way to have pics made your way) 

[Carlos cruz]

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On 8/23/2023 at 8:14 PM, charlesphoto99 said:

Even from the M6 days I always wished Leica would put a small led that would wash across the shutter speed dial at the push of the button. Just one of those M quirks one might not even consider unless shooting in dark environments (for me typically a show). 

I remember few years ago leica goodies iirc did something like that, but that’s totally against original Leica spirit, to make a tool that’s intuitive to use, simple and works out of the box without extra addenda to make your experience more palatable. 

 

On 8/23/2023 at 8:27 PM, Al Brown said:

There's a company that makes bendy adjustable self-powered cold shoe LEDs.

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[a.noctilux]

Many years ago, with first M8/M9, I stick on the shutter dial at choosen places to know by touch when I look in the OVF.

In your place, Carlos I'd stick in some places (let's say 30 not to go under that, and why not longer sticker at another place well choosen).

Then I'd practice from that, set M speed, then if required a quick touch to see if the "right" shutter speed is not under the 30 (or whatever your speed limit).

Yellow is quite visible (here is the "touch" for A and "in front" when I set the dial to 500 ).

Think first then practice  the "ameliorations".

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Edited August 24, 2023 by a.noctilux

[Carlos cruz]

11 hours ago, a.noctilux said:

Many years ago, with first M8/M9, I stick on the shutter dial at choosen places to know by touch when I look in the OVF.

In your place, Carlos I'd stick in some places (let's say 30 not to go under that, and why not longer sticker at another place well choosen).

Then I'd practice from that, set M speed, then if required a quick touch to see if the "right" shutter speed is not under the 30 (or whatever your speed limit).

Yellow is quite visible (here is the "touch" for A and "in front" when I set the dial to 500 ).

Think first then practice  the "ameliorations".

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

Will give it a try and I’ll stop ranting about poor user experience 

[M11 for me]

Why not use an EVF that shows even a histogram. Mainly in low light you have probably to underexpose anyway as your image might be too light.

[newtoleica]

Mainly concerned about shutter speed in low light so I would use the camera in Shutter priority mode and shift the aperture ring instead. 

[dugby]

Remember the “Stealth Edition” M type 246 Monochrom which has luminous numbers on both the body and lens -

https://leica-camera.com/en-AU/Company/Press-Centre/Press-Releases/2018-not-urgent-translatable/Press-Release-New-Leica-M-Monochrom-Typ-246-‘Stealth-Edition’

[Carlos cruz]

9 hours ago, M11 for me said:

Why not use an EVF that shows even a histogram. Mainly in low light you have probably to underexpose anyway as your image might be too light.

I am already doing it, while it is an answers for most of my problems it takes away some of simplicity I remember from using analog cameras. 

8 hours ago, newtoleica said:

Mainly concerned about shutter speed in low light so I would use the camera in Shutter priority mode and shift the aperture ring instead. 

In most night time situations lens is open all the way and I am fiddling with dial trying to find holdable shutter speed.

3 hours ago, dugby said:

Remember the “Stealth Edition” M type 246 Monochrom which has luminous numbers on both the body and lens -

https://leica-camera.com/en-AU/Company/Press-Centre/Press-Releases/2018-not-urgent-translatable/Press-Release-New-Leica-M-Monochrom-Typ-246-‘Stealth-Edition’

Great find, and good memory. I am thinking of something  along this lines.

[charlesphoto99]

12 hours ago, M11 for me said:

Why not use an EVF that shows even a histogram. Mainly in low light you have probably to underexpose anyway as your image might be too light.

Because EVF's are awful and make some users seasick, like myself, no matter how well implemented. One way is for Leica to re-imagine the optical viewfinder to a degree. Imagine if one could view both the manual adjust led arrows/dot AND shutter speed info at the same time. It should be possible. Or map it to one of woefully underutilized function buttons so it shows up in the optical vf with a press on/off. Or even if in the current setup have it so that with a press the shutter info, in manual mode, replaces the metering arrows as long as it's pressed (or have an on/off press mode as well). Good for a quick check at least.