M9 for Landscape?

[jph1]

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I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

[Hookeye]

Welcome to the Forum, Jim!

 

I think the reason why you've gotten so litle response for your question is that not many people have gained specific experience with the M9 for landscape photography. Not yet as the camera has only been out for a few days.

 

What I have to say relates to the M8, but you can be pretty sure they will relate to the M9 as well:

 

1) Suitability for tripod use:

No need to worry about a tripod and the removable baseplate. The removable baseplate is very well fixed to the camera and there is no room for unwanted camera movement/shake. The only disadvantage would be that it will be harder to change battery or memory card while shooting. But that would only apply if you plan to take hundreds of photos. With the M8 there were two or three reports of damage to the camera housing resulting from forgetting to tighten the screw on the tripod with the camera suddenly dropping/tilting forwards before coming to a sudden stop at the end of the tripod tilt range. But these were freak accidents and repaired at no cost by Leica. But you should never leave the camera mounted on a tripod while carrying it from one place to another. That would be asking for trouble. If you stumble or drop the unit - you will likely damage the camera as the tripod would act as a lever and transfer an impossibly strong force to the camera base upon impact.

 

2) Noise reduction:

The noise reduction is just that. It does not affect sharpness as far as I know. I believe it is a digital subtraction process where a blank 'image' of the sensor noise is subtracted from the exposed image, pixel by pixel.

 

3) Other issues:

Personally, I find the two second self-timer is more handy than a cable release, but the latter can also be used if you prefer.

 

Good luck,

HP

[hoppyman]

I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

Hi Jim. It is very early days of course. Regarding tripods, one ADVANTAGE of the M8/M9 is that you can take the camera off the tripod, (leaving the baseplate undisturbed) if you needed to change the card or battery.

More seriously, my M8 mounted on a quick release plate and ball head from RRS, allows access to baseplate release no problem at all. As for landscapes it makes perfect sense to use superb Leica glass.

Yosemite Valley, first snow December 08

I'm sure that Ansel would have one if he was shooting today

[canlogic]

I have shot landscapes with an M8 and never had an issue. I use a quick release plate from Kirk and it works great. I also use a Canon 1DSMKIII. Last fall I did a one week trip to Baxter state park in Maine for moose and foliage and generally found that wide lens shots were superior from the Leica than the 1D. I leave for a trip to Maine next weekend and have an M9 coming for that trip. The 1D is up for sale.

[sean_reid]

I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

 

1) The M9 works fine on a tripod and the removable base plate, as someone mentioned above, indeed makes it easier to swap cards and batteries without changing camera position.

 

2) It makes a black exposure and then subtracts noise. It should not affect resolution at all.

 

There's no reason one couldn't use an M9 for landscape work.

 

Cheers,

[johnbuckley]

I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

 

Jim - in the Zenfolio link below, you'll find a gallery of images from Yellowstone and Jackson Hole taken mostly with the M8 (and also the M7). Ms are great cameras for hiking, etc. Not so great for wildlife, where you may need more of a telefoto lens. But for landscapes, I think it's a glorious system. Plunge in. JB

[zlatkob]

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... the removable base plate, as someone mentioned above, indeed makes it easier to swap cards and batteries without changing camera position.

I'm not sure I understand this. Easier than what? Easier than a camera without a removable base plate?

[stunsworth]

I'm not sure I understand this. Easier than what? Easier than a camera without a removable base plate?

 

Yes. The Canon 5D I've just sold had access to the battery through a small door on the underside of the camera, so the battery couldn't be replaced without removing the entire camera from the tripod. With the M8/9 you unlock the base and change the battery.

[hoppyman]

Yes. The Canon 5D I've just sold had access to the battery through a small door on the underside of the camera, so the battery couldn't be replaced without removing the entire camera from the tripod. With the M8/9 you unlock the base and change the battery.

 

I actually have a spare base plate with the grip. I put the QR plate from Really Right Stuff on that. It is indexed perfectly and very secure. So to use the M8 on my tripod, I just take off the standard baseplate and pop the camera onto the basplate already on the tripod. Brilliant! This means I can leave that dedicated Quick Release plate securely fitted and mount the camera very quickly. Even better, if a person was to have more than one M digital, one could easily shoot comparison shots

[zlatkob]

Yes. The Canon 5D I've just sold had access to the battery through a small door on the underside of the camera, so the battery couldn't be replaced without removing the entire camera from the tripod. With the M8/9 you unlock the base and change the battery.

Here's a 5D2 with a Manfrotto quick release and tripod head. The battery door opens and the battery comes out without removing the camera from the tripod.

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[arthury]

I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

 

I used to do a lot of landscape work and I recall using graduated ND filters a lot. I am not sure how you are going to be able to use grad ND filters without an SLR system.

 

You have to guess and re-shoot, I presume, while the prime light passes by. I would find that as an annoyance and as an added stress (which is not necessary). Or you can combine multiple exposures with HDR techniques and solve this issue on your desktop computer.

 

Polarizer filter is another issue but you can buy a special Leitz polarizer kit.

 

I do not think a rangefinder is a problem for landscape work and many people have done it before but you'd be frowned at by the top tier landscape photographer.

 

Just a thot ...

[johnbuckley]

There is a Lee filter set up for ND filters on rangefinders. It's not cheap, but gets accolades.

[sean_reid]

I'm not sure I understand this. Easier than what? Easier than a camera without a removable base plate?

 

Yes, of course. One just leaves the baseplate on the tripod and takes the camera off. Camera position doesn't move at all when the camera goes back on. David Farkas watched me do this in Germany and said. "Oh, cool - never tried that..." Maybe some haven't tried it yet. I do all the studio testing that way - even swapping M8 and M9 on the same plate.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[gwelland]

I do a lot of landscape travel shooting using my current M8 and I'd go along with what's been said here.

 

One thing I find useful for tripod work is to have two baseplates - one being the regular plate and the second a grip plate with Kirk PZ118 permanently fixed to it. This way I can alternate between having a camera that's easy to drop in the Luigi case for walkabout use or mounted with the other base on a tripod.

 

One omission that the M8 had that I'm looking forward to testing with the M9 is the auto bracket with variable EV steps. I'm a little concerned about the reports that it doesn't shoot or warn you if the exposure will be too long or short when the EV steps are too large although that may be just something that you'll quickly get used to.

 

As regards GND filters - ideally for landscape work this is the way to go and is what I almost always use with DSLR. When I use the M I normally just bracket for blending or HDR.

 

For shooting I use a regular good old fashioned cable release.

 

Nobody makes better glass and that's what matters.

[gwelland]

Polarizer filter is another issue but you can buy a special Leitz polarizer kit.

 

I do not think a rangefinder is a problem for landscape work and many people have done it before but you'd be frowned at by the top tier landscape photographer.

 

Just a thot ...

 

I have the polarizer contraption but I confess I very rarely use it. There's also an alternative system out there with a flash bracket finder and polarizer with indexed marks. I haven't used one of these myself but I've heard good reports and it seems a little more elegant than the bolt on & rotating Leica affair.

 

I wouldn't worry about the disdain of the 'top tier' landscape guys whoever they might be

[Fotomiguel]

I'm enjoying the M8 so much for landscape! So the M9 will be much better. I walk long hours to get a picture. The quality of the files and the size of the camera and lenses make a big difference. The Dynamic Range of the M9 (even better in high lights that the M8) will make difficult light situations much more easy to handle.

[giordano]

As long as you don't need camera movements...

[brill64]

I used to do a lot of landscape work and I recall using graduated ND filters a lot. I am not sure how you are going to be able to use grad ND filters without an SLR system.

 

You have to guess and re-shoot, I presume, while the prime light passes by. I would find that as an annoyance and as an added stress (which is not necessary). Or you can combine multiple exposures with HDR techniques and solve this issue on your desktop computer.

 

Polarizer filter is another issue but you can buy a special Leitz polarizer kit.

 

I do not think a rangefinder is a problem for landscape work and many people have done it before but you'd be frowned at by the top tier landscape photographer.

 

Just a thot ...

 

there is always going to be someone considered by themselves or others to be more talented than you or better equipped than you ever will be but don't let that put you off

[Guest darkstar2004]

I currently use a DSLR, but i am thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system. A couple of questions:

1) How well does the M cameras work on a tripod? My concern is that the tripod socket is in a removable (bottom) plate.

2) I understand that it has long exposure noise reduction. Does this just remove hot spots? Does it effect sharpness?

3) Any other issues with regards to long exposure shooting?

Thanks,

Jim

 

I cannot address the M9 in this regard as I do not own one (yet) - but Really Right Stuff makes a quick release baseplate and an L-shaped QR plate that will allow for horizontal or vertical mounting of an M with their QR tripod head mount.

 

I have a plate for my MP (the 30D) which has apparently been replaced by the B30 http://reallyrightstuff.com/rrs/Itemdesc.asp?ic=B30&eq=&Tp= baseplate. The M8 cameras are compatible with the universal L plate Really Right Stuff - MC-L: Universal L Plate This plate works on the M8; it should work on the M9, but I would contact Really right Stuff to verify this.

 

The M9 is going to be an enormously popular camera; I would expect Really Right Stuff to come up with an L plate for it if the current one isn't compatible.

 

Regarding M cameras for landscape work, I have used my MP for landscape work and have been very pleased with the results. The transparencies produced by the M lenses are simply stunning. The difference between chromes created with Leica M lenses and Nikon or Canon glass is like night and day.

 

If you acquire an M9 body, the 18MP full frame sensor combined with Leica glass will no doubt produce landscape images of staggering beauty.

 

Hope this helps...

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[ChrisC]

.... thinking about an M9. I shoot a lot of landscape. I would welcome a simpler, lighter system......

 

Jim - Welcome. I cycle to my photography locations, and mostly shoot landscapes with my M8 on a tripod. I downsized to the the camera from rollfilm 6x9 and 6x7 [like some others on the Forum] and enjoy the tiny dimensions of the Leica. An M9 [i'd let the platform mature a bit in your shoes] could work well for you as a landscape photographer if you familiarise yourself with the camera's limitations. Good luck.

 

............... Chris