albertknappmd Posted September 12, 2009 Share #21 Posted September 12, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello Jim- By now you realize that the M series will be just fine for landscapes... I have used M6, 7 & 8s over the past 12 years for landscape prposes and am looking forward to the M9. I have a few other suggestions for you: 1. I use Luigi's leather half case when out in the wild and had him place a screw for the baseplate. I then insert a Kirk QR plate & can use my Gitzo 1127 tripod readily.. I am using a Sandisk Ultra II 32GB SD card so that I don't worry about having to change the card... The Achille's heel is the battery but I ususally get a few hundred exposurues and quite honestly, unscrewing the QR & taking off Luigi's half case are pretty fast anyway... 2. I experimented with graduate NDs and they do not work for RF. I use Photoshop's HDR but the problem there is that yo have to take your shot in very quick succession as any movement (particularly clouds) will screw things up. Alternatively, yo can use Photoshop to mask the either the sky or the scape & correct partially... 3. Finally, as to the polarizing issue, Leica has a good but expensive polarizer. I contacted SK Grimes here in the USA & tehy built me a 72-60 polar step down filter holder with open sprokets to maximize visibility as well as 60-46 & more recently 60-55 step downs so that the Polar can be mounted to the Leica lens. The system is flawless... There is a commercial product out there that is made of cheap aluminum and keeps getting stuck on the lenses so avoid it. Call SK Grimes and feel free to use my name & they will make the three rings for you... Welcome to the Forum! Albert;) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 12, 2009 Posted September 12, 2009 Hi albertknappmd, Take a look here M9 for Landscape?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
hoppyman Posted September 12, 2009 Share #22 Posted September 12, 2009 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 I have a plate for my MP (the 30D) which has apparently been replaced by the B30 Really Right Stuff - B30: Conventional Plate for Leica M7 baseplate.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... No reason why the quick release plates and L bracket won't work identically as the external dimensions have not changed . As commented by others above, the lenses are superbly suited for the job. Plus of course the wides benefit from making more panoramic views accessable now that the FoV is not cropped.The new bracketing and (on initial impressions) improved dynamic range should be very beneficial too. If you want to experiment with graduated filters then of course you have instant feed back. There are alternatives in post processing of course and you get variation and rewind ability too. If you need camera movements then of course a view camera may be the ultimate. That doesn't disqualify the M9 in the light of its many other advantages. Personally I can't wait to receive my M9 and take it someplace beautiful to see just what it can offer. Going from scanning Provia/Velvia from my M7 to using my M8 was a very satisfying IQ leap. I anticipate that the M9 will extend that advantage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jph1 Posted September 15, 2009 Author Share #23 Posted September 15, 2009 Thanks everyone for the responses. Especially sharing those amazing samples of landscapes with M cameras. As for ND filters; I mostly auto bracket (which the M9 can do) then use mask and gradient tool in PS with two images. So, if I use this workflow, it should not be a problem. So... now the part where I justify it to my wife Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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