M8 snapshots

[billh]

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I took these the afternoon the M8 arrived

 

http://homepage.mac.com/billh96007/PhotoAlbum195.html

[robsteve]

Bill:

 

Are you using any sharpening on them. The pond shots look a little over sharpened or is it just the camera lens combination?

[larry]

Hi Bill,

 

These shots look very good on my monitor! Have you had your lenses upgraded or are you going to skip that?

 

Larry

[lct]

Nice pics Bill. I don't see oversharpening personally. Looks like the quality of the lenses are enhanced with this body.

[Guest xxl-user]

bill,

 

when will you start trying to take pictures and stop testing cameras and lenses?

 

arnold

[peterb]

The shots with the Noctilux are a lot better than I'd hoped. That is one of the three lenses I want to get for this thing.

 

THANKS for sharing.

 

I am oh sooooooooooo excited.

 

Regards,

 

P

[billh]

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“Are you using any sharpening on them. The pond shots look a little over sharpened or is it just the camera lens combination?”

 

I quickly ran through these, so it is very possibly some people may find some of them over sharpened - I remember back most of them off a good bit from my usual Canon (1Ds2) shots.

 

“These shots look very good on my monitor! Have you had your lenses upgraded or are you going to skip that?” Thanks larry. No, the lenses seem fine like they are. I bought the new 28f2.8 ASPH, but it does not show the focal length in the RAW data, so I must need to make some setting in the camera menu.

 

“Nice pics Bill. I don't see oversharpening personally. Looks like the quality of the lenses are enhanced with this body.”

 

Thanks LTC. I agree, the camera sensor clearly shows the difference between the lenses. Look, for example, at the detail and contrast in the house photos with the Noctilux and the 50ASPH.

 

“when will you start trying to take pictures and stop testing cameras and lenses”

 

Hi Arnold, I had just come home with the camera and it was late afternoon, and I oof course has the same curiosity as everyone else - so that is how these came about - there was no particularly interesting subject matter around my house, but I was curious just to see what the various lenses looked like when shot with the M8. I used it properly the following night,

 

http://homepage.mac.com/billh96007/PhotoAlbum196.html

 

“The shots with the Noctilux are a lot better than I'd hoped. That is one of the three lenses I want to get for this thing.” Hi Peter, Another person said the same thing when he say Noctilux photos published somewhere. A quick assessment for me is I like the 28f2.8 ASPH, the 50 ASPH, and the APO75 together - maybe only two of them sometimes, but three are very handy to have too.

[John Maio]

Bill,

 

I like the ones from around the house and pond - they have that Leica third dimensional look to them - even though they've been scrunched down to JPG format.

[robsteve]

Bill:

 

It was the shots of the pond done with the 50,75, and 90mm APOs that looked too sharp. I know some of it was the low afternoon sun giving the grass some contrast. The Noctilux shots of this same area seemed to have a more pleasing redition of the grass and the rock, but it looks like you lost the sun for the Noctilux shots and it may just be the different lighting.

 

For my DMR shots, I have been using the smart sharpen filter of CS2 and .4 pixels and anything from 65-100%.

 

Can you post the DNG for the Noctilux and the 50mm APO at f4 so I can compare using the high full files?

 

I saw your concert shots the other day and they look great. I notice the last one with all the pot lights in the ceiling doesn't have any banding.

Robert

 

[skimmel]

 

Thanks LTC. I agree, the camera sensor clearly shows the difference between the lenses. Look, for example, at the detail and contrast in the house photos with the Noctilux and the 50ASPH.

 

Thanks for posting these pics. Two questions:

1) I am having trouble seeing the difference between these 2 lenses, perhaps because of the size of the image on my monitor, which one has more detail and contrast?

2) Is there anyway to see larger sized images on your website?

 

“The shots with the Noctilux are a lot better than I'd hoped. That is one of the three lenses I want to get for this thing.” Hi Peter, Another person said the same thing when he say Noctilux photos published somewhere. A quick assessment for me is I like the 28f2.8 ASPH, the 50 ASPH, and the APO75 together - maybe only two of them sometimes, but three are very handy to have too.

 

Is the gap between the 28 (37 equivalent) and 50 (66 equivalent) not too large? I have a 35 and 50 and am debating about what to do with them should I get a 28 (and should I get an M8!)

 

Thanks.

[farnz]

Bill,

 

I'm new to the Leica M series and have been shooting mainly landscapes on a Pentax 67 and 45mm f4 that has 89 degrees field of view, which equates to 24 mm in 135 format, so I'm trying to choose my first lens for my ordered M8.

 

Initially I instinctively opted for the new ultra wide-angle tri-Elmar but the need for a supplementary viewfinder, for me, rules it out so realistically I'm left to choose between 21, 28 or 35 mm lenses.

 

Your series of shots shows quite clearly the different fields of view and has been of exceptional help in making my mind up, so thanks very much for posting them! As it happens I've decided to go with the new 28/2.8 Elmarit.

 

Pete.

[ceejayay]

Great shots. Thanks for posting them. I too have a Noctilux and am spoiled by an .85 finder combined with the 1.25x magnifier to focus it on my M7. How difficult is focusing the Noctilux on the M8 at f/1.0 and at, say, four feet from the subject?

 

Of course, the advantage to the 1.33x crop is that it limits vignetting at full aperture, but the disadvantage is that the M8's finder is better suited for lenses that don't require flawless focusing at full aperture. Does the M8 have what it takes when pushed to the Nocti's limits?

[billh]

Thanks for posting these pics. Two questions:

1) I am having trouble seeing the difference between these 2 lenses, perhaps because of the size of the image on my monitor, which one has more detail and contrast?

2) Is there anyway to see larger sized images on your website?

 

The 50 ASPH is clearly better for resolution and contrast. You might try dragging the two files off onto your desktop and looking - see if that is any clearer. Look at the wood in the house.

 

 

 

Is the gap between the 28 (37 equivalent) and 50 (66 equivalent) not too large? I have a 35 and 50 and am debating about what to do with them should I get a 28 (and should I get an M8!)

 

With an M7, the 35/75 combination works really well for me. Until I am used to the 1.33x crop, I will probably carry the 25,50 and 75, but I may be able to take just the 28 and 75. The group is so small and lightweight it really does not matter whether i take two or three lenses.

[woodyspedden]

Bill

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to share with all of us.

 

Looks to me that the M8 is going to be a real tool of value for those of us willing to work with RF cameras. For me it is a no-brainer since i already shoot with two M6 bodies (0.58 and 0.85) and love the RF experience. The file quality looks great and frankly very reminiscient of the DMR! I get my M8 tomorrow and I am excited to shoot scenes with both the M8 and the DMR to see the comparative differences/

.

 

Again thanks for the work and time to help educate us all.

 

Woody

[billh]

Bill:

 

 

Can you post the DNG for the Noctilux and the 50mm APO at f4 so I can compare using the high full files?

 

 

Sorry Robert, I missed this. I can send them to you if you want. I'm afraid if I upload them the server will get too much traffic (everyone wants RAW files at this stage of the game)

[robsteve]

Bill:

 

I probably don't really need the files. The waiting for the camera is killing me.

 

I probably should be doing other work than just playing with M8 sample files.

[billh]

Bill:

 

I probably don't really need the files. The waiting for the camera is killing me.

 

I probably should be doing other work than just playing with M8 sample files.

 

I know exactly how you feel. I bought the RD-1 because I was so curious to see how the M lenses looked on digital.

 

Before the M8 arrived and I used it, I assumed I would use the Canons most of the time, and use the M8 more as a happy snap camera. I no longer feel that way. Obviously there are times/situations where the SLRs are warranted, but I think I will use the M8 at least as often - for sure where I can use it I will. I really like this little camera.

 

I do understand the curiosity - and will be happy the send the RAWs....

 

Bill

[ptomsu]

Bill:

 

Are you using any sharpening on them. The pond shots look a little over sharpened or is it just the camera lens combination?

 

You will have to get used to Leica lens sharpness :-))))