I started this blog with the intention of not discussing gear too much and concentrate more on the concepts and philosophy of photographic. However sometimes its hard to separate the process from the equipment. I have come to a recognition that the gear influences the photograph. Not so much by its specification, but on the influence it has on the photographer.
My first digital camera was a Canon Powershot A75. It was a 4 megapixel point and shoot with a viewfinder. I remember buying it in order to take more pictures of the kids. It performed this task admirably. Until yesterday it was still working fine, and was used regularly by my 8yr old son to make movies of his toys and photograph the cat. The sensor has gone and now every picture is blown out or comes out in weird magenta.
It performed admirably, but as my photography progressed its limitations became problematic. I purchased a Nikon D80 digital slr camera. It allowed me to take pictures with out of focus backgrounds and make enlargements without pixelation. I learned more about photography: by practice, joining a camera club and reading up on theory. I took technically better pictures. However something unexpected happened, I took less and less pictures of the kids.
This trajectory continued, with different cameras and lenses in between. The most significant being a Leica M6 film camera. Recently I took a step back and re-evaluated what I am looking for in photography, which led me to sell my Nikon D700 and lenses and to buy a Leica M8.
Since acquiring the camera it has come along everywhere in my jacket pocket. Over the weekend I found myself taking lots of pictures, especially of the kids.
I think with the dSLR photographing turned into a planned concious activity. I would go out, rucksack on back, to photograph. With the Leica, I just put the camera in my pocket, just in case I see something I would like to photograph. It sounds insignificant, but in practice it's a world of difference.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Lenses on the M8
50mm Summicron is real nice on the M8. The 1.33 crop factor means it's more of a portrait lens than when used on full frame M6. It's not however as dramatic a difference as I thought it might have been. More of a 'tight' 50mm.
I borrowed a Canon 35mm 2.0 LTM to see how I would like the focal length. On the M8 it behaves like a 'loose' 50mm, giving just that bit more coverage than expected. I am going to try it out on the M6 today and see how the classical 35mm focal length suits me.
On the M8 I think I might prefer a Summicron 40mm, which might be the perfect field of view for me. It seems to be the forgotten lens in the Leica line up, so prices seem reasonable. The 35mm just doesn't feel tight enough on the digital M, at the same time it isn't usefully wide enough. Thinking at the moment 28-40-50 would be a good combo, rather than 28-35-50.
So todays shooting will be brought to you my the M6 and 35mm and the M8 and 50mm.
I borrowed a Canon 35mm 2.0 LTM to see how I would like the focal length. On the M8 it behaves like a 'loose' 50mm, giving just that bit more coverage than expected. I am going to try it out on the M6 today and see how the classical 35mm focal length suits me.
On the M8 I think I might prefer a Summicron 40mm, which might be the perfect field of view for me. It seems to be the forgotten lens in the Leica line up, so prices seem reasonable. The 35mm just doesn't feel tight enough on the digital M, at the same time it isn't usefully wide enough. Thinking at the moment 28-40-50 would be a good combo, rather than 28-35-50.
So todays shooting will be brought to you my the M6 and 35mm and the M8 and 50mm.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
April Fools
Well I didn't receive my Invisible Camera , at least not that I know of.
Did however receive a delivery of a Leica M8.
Following up from my previous post I sold by Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24 and Tamron 28-75 lenses.
Will write an in-depth review once I have used it a while.
First impressions so far:
- It's re-assuringly like my M6. A little bit bigger, but not noticeably so. Still fits in the pocket of my fleece jacket.
-I use it just like the film version. Set aperature on lens, set shutter speed on camera (a few more in between stops on the dial which have to get used to). Shutter feels similar. In 'normal' mode the motor drive kicks in straight after the picture is taken, which takes getting used to. It's a bit disconcerting. Changing to 'discreet' mode means the motor drive waits until you remove your finger off shutter. In this mode the shutter makes a soft pleasant click and the separation from the motor whirr is an altogether more pleasant experience
-It suits the purpose of carry along camera much better than the D700 did.
Still have a few euro left over from the transactions. Going to keep it until figure out what I need more urgently.
Did however receive a delivery of a Leica M8.
Following up from my previous post I sold by Nikon D700, Nikon 14-24 and Tamron 28-75 lenses.
Will write an in-depth review once I have used it a while.
First impressions so far:
- It's re-assuringly like my M6. A little bit bigger, but not noticeably so. Still fits in the pocket of my fleece jacket.
-I use it just like the film version. Set aperature on lens, set shutter speed on camera (a few more in between stops on the dial which have to get used to). Shutter feels similar. In 'normal' mode the motor drive kicks in straight after the picture is taken, which takes getting used to. It's a bit disconcerting. Changing to 'discreet' mode means the motor drive waits until you remove your finger off shutter. In this mode the shutter makes a soft pleasant click and the separation from the motor whirr is an altogether more pleasant experience
-It suits the purpose of carry along camera much better than the D700 did.
Still have a few euro left over from the transactions. Going to keep it until figure out what I need more urgently.
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