Leica M9 and Workflow, your help is needed!

[greg]

Hi

Now that M9 is available and I'd be getting it, I need advise from the digital gurus here to help me get into the digital workflow.

Why I need your help?

I've been a 'traditionalist' shooting b&w films with my Leica Ms, had my personal darkroom printing my pictures for ages, while patiently waiting for the arrival of M9 (resistence to M8 was not futile!), what I personally tout the M9 as my only sensible introduction (not transition because I'm not giving up shooting film, yet) to my shooting portfolio.

I own only one camera and one lens, MP and the 50 'cron. So when I finally get my M9, I would like to print my pictures in b&w and this is the part I need your help how and what equipment I need inorder to print these digitally captured images to achieve as close as possible what I have been doing traditionally.

What s/w and tweaks I need to do processing my DNG files in preparation to print them that way I want as described above?

What h/w (dedicated b&w printer and material) I need to print images up to A3 sizes?

Your input is much appreciated from an 'old man' of digital workflow.

I use various macs so I guess I have the basic processing components to run any s/w h/w to achieve the above? I'm seeking serious recommendations and money is no material to my considerations (it's easy when this is taken out of the equation eh? )

Many thanks and I hope soon, I can resume doing my travel PJ work soon carrying only my MP and M9 along with me

Cheers

 

[alucard]

To say that I not envious would be fooling myself. But, yeah you are lucky.

I think the Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop CS4 would be your best bet for processing files from the M9. I believe the license for Lightroom is included with the M9.

For further control, I suggest Nik Silver Efex Pro software. It gives very fine control over B&W image creation, comparable to darkroom printing. http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php

I am not well informed on the printers, but I guess the Epson top of the line models should do well for you. Here is a good report on digital B&W printing (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital_b-w.shtml). (http://www.inksupply.com/black_and_white_inkjet_software.cfm)

All the best.

 

[greg]

Thanks for the heads up alucard!

Don't envy me, I waited for years for M9, don't discount my 'hardship' too I always believe good things happen to those who wait patiently for it.

I've heard of Epson, I'll dig it.

And how exciting it is, it's time to acquire my 2nd M lens, a 35mm!

Anyone wants to part theirs, pm me soon.

Greg

To say that I not envious would be fooling myself. But, yeah you are lucky.

I think the Adobe Lightroom + Photoshop CS4 would be your best bet for processing files from the M9. I believe the license for Lightroom is included with the M9.

For further control, I suggest Nik Silver Efex Pro software. It gives very fine control over B&W image creation, comparable to darkroom printing. http://www.niksoftware.com/silverefexpro/usa/entry.php

I am not well informed on the printers, but I guess the Epson top of the line models should do well for you. Here is a good report on digital B&W printing (http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/digital_b-w.shtml). (http://www.inksupply.com/black_and_white_inkjet_software.cfm)

All the best.

 

[alucard]

Thanks for the heads up alucard!

Don't envy me, I waited for years for M9, don't discount my 'hardship' too I always believe good things happen to those who wait patiently for it.


Greg

Oh! I am not envious of the M9. I am envious of the fact you have the time and inclination to do travel PJ.
I love my m6 and film too much to step back into digital. I have a healthy curiosity about the M9.

 

[greg]

Yes, I didn't have time when I stopped serious photography in 2004, and I still don't have time today but I've plans for it when my M9 arrives to resume my serious work. It's all about setting and getting your priorities right for your pursuits. Nothing rocket science to it

Oh! I am not envious of the M9. I am envious of the fact you have the time and inclination to do travel PJ.
I love my m6 and film too much to step back into digital. I have a health curiosity about the M9.

 

[eosandy]

Photoshop CS4 + Nik Silver Efex Pro software :thumbsup:
Epson A3+ printers are also excellent.

You should also consider a Spyder calibrator to ensure what you see on-screen is what you get on the printer. I think one of the Spyders can profile screens, Printers and scanners all-in-one package.

Only thing to satisfy you further would be the choice of fine art paper...

Given your investment so far, these would complement the M9 very nicely.

 

[FLiNcHY]

I don't think film takes more time. Takes less time actually, because i don't have to spend so much time on my computer photoshopping my less than perfect RAW photo into some digital masterpiece.

With film, i just scan it out from the scanner and tweak the sharpness abit and voila! beautiful picture.

haha

 

[greg]

yup apparently you don't understand the detailed situation, I don't blame you becoz I didn't put it here, pm me is you're interested to know priority/time management of my situation.

The rest of your assumptions are obviously wrong, except the part on camera is a tool, what matters is the man behind the camera, of coz, assuming we're talking about the right tool.

so back to the topic proper, i find good reading from alucards' recommended links, thanks again!

I find this rather, er, interesting.

If you did not have time which led you to stop "serious photography" in 2004, and you still do not have time today, would buying a M9 somehow, magically, creates and gives you more time to do "serious photography"?

Or are you saying that your thought process about doing "serious photography" depends on having a new piece of equipment?

I thought that everyone says that the camera is only a piece of equipment. Are there not a lot of "serious photography" which were made, and are still made, with miserable outdated antiquated equipments?


Are you saying that your priorities are defined by a digital box which will certainly be outdated in a few years?

 

[greg]

right and wrong, depends what you need to do frequently. One eg, if you need to submit field photographs back to your HQ for a quick reference, say 95% of the time and on the spot, wouldn't sending the digital form be more effective?

I agree with you on the rest of the assumptions if I have all the time in the world to enjoy processing my traditional prints and transforming them into digital form, of coz, I prefer to shoot film, no doubt about that.

All the above have no bearings to type of cameras used, SLR,RF what not. Why I prefer RF or DRF is another subject matter.

I don't think film takes more time. Takes less time actually, because i don't have to spend so much time on my computer photoshopping my less than perfect RAW photo into some digital masterpiece.

With film, i just scan it out from the scanner and tweak the sharpness abit and voila! beautiful picture.

haha

 

[rageon09]

Hi,

Firstly, I'd like to say that I hate that you have enough spare cash to buy a M9. I am extremely jealous cos I don't have that kind of purchasing power.

But to answer your original question, every M9 purchased comes with FREE Adobe Lightroom 2.4. It's not a physical dvd, you have to download it after you register your camera with Leica. But still, it's free! I supposed after Leica fell out with CaptureOne, Lightroom was the next best alternative. I use Lightroom 2.4 for my RAW files and I feel that it can do pretty much whatever you need to do to tweak your photos. You might need to learn a few tricks to achieve certain effects, but it can be done; just look it up online.

Oh, one more important note. As of now, there is no M9 profile for Lightroom. But I'm sure they will release an update once the camera gets shipped to customers. You can also create your own profile if you can't wait, btw.

cheers

 

[greg]

Hi,

Firstly, I'd like to say that I hate that you have enough spare cash to buy a M9. I am extremely jealous cos I don't have that kind of purchasing power.

well, i took time-off from 2004 to make millions so I can return and buy the M9 Again, don't envy me because I missed some golden years enjoying what I love most. Those lost years were just like youth, you can never recover them...I'm just 'older', 'wiser' and 'richer' hahaha so give me some credits for able to splurge on my hobby. It's like those things where you wonder why most drivers/owners of lambo are older folks.... so the story goes....

But to answer your original question, every M9 purchased comes with FREE Adobe Lightroom 2.4. It's not a physical dvd, you have to download it after you register your camera with Leica. But still, it's free! I supposed after Leica fell out with CaptureOne, Lightroom was the next best alternative. I use Lightroom 2.4 for my RAW files and I feel that it can do pretty much whatever you need to do to tweak your photos. You might need to learn a few tricks to achieve certain effects, but it can be done; just look it up online.

Oh, one more important note. As of now, there is no M9 profile for Lightroom. But I'm sure they will release an update once the camera gets shipped to customers. You can also create your own profile if you can't wait, btw.

cheers

Thanks, this is useful advise. I'd be shooting monochrome exclusively for my serious works. I'm not a digital guy so I guess I'm not stringent on digital demands..

 

[greg]

Hi,

Firstly, I'd like to say that I hate that you have enough spare cash to buy a M9. I am extremely jealous cos I don't have that kind of purchasing power.

....oh, did I say I'd be buying just one M9? I'm not HCB and I'm accustomed to shooting with 2 bodies. Perhaps I'd compromise shooting with just a M9 and a MP, I dunno, time will tell.

 

[hookonclassic]

yup apparently you don't understand the detailed situation, I don't blame you becoz I didn't put it here, pm me is you're interested to know priority/time management of my situation.

The rest of your assumptions are obviously wrong, except the part on camera is a tool, what matters is the man behind the camera, of coz, assuming we're talking about the right tool.

so back to the topic proper, i find good reading from alucards' recommended links, thanks again!

Greg, well said. I am sure you will definitely enjoy your new FF digital workflow.

I don't care what people think about my camera. I only care about how I will enjoy photography with it.

 

[greg]

Greg, well said. I am sure you will definitely enjoy your new FF digital workflow.

I don't care what people think about my camera. I only care about how I will enjoy photography with it.

... exactly! kudos to you!

 

[chiif]

Greg,

How I wish I can put sometime off to make millions... But you are right when you said: "Those lost years were just like youth, you can never recover them..." One either spend time to make money or spend time to enjoy life... we just have to prioritize what is important to us...

Now back to topic... Personally I don't think there is a difference between digital or film. M9 is just a tool to capture images digitally in full frame and allow you to view your pictures instantly. If you are the sort that don't preview the pictures after taking them on the spot, then I see no difference whether you shoot with a MP or with a M9.

The only real difference is that you will skip the step of winding the film back to the canister on the MP and send it to the lab for processing and later scan your pictures with the V700 or coolscan.

Digital workflow is convenient considering you skip the step of film processing & scanning, but do bear in mind... people tend to shoot thousands of shots on digital and the time taken to sit in front of the computer and sort out the pictures one by one in Lightroom, is not going to be considered time well spent (at least for me). I'd rather spend the time on the road taking pictures than sorting photos.

Film is the same thing, I still need to scan and sort out the pictures, but if I shoot 10 rolls on a 5 day trip, I only have at most 370 frames to look at. If I bring a long a digital M9, I might end up 2000 frames and maybe only 1/20 of the 2000 frames are only keepers....

If you want to print on A3 with a good photo printer, I believe you can achieve just as good result with film.

Hope you understand what I mean.

So far, seeing the released price, M9 is not expensive considering Leica standard. Many people would agree with me. Those who think it's a rip off, would probably feel pricing it like a 5D Mk II is a rip off too, considering the 5D Mk II has more mega pixel than the M9.

Sometime, it's not the money that matters. Even if you have the money, time is so precious that you wish you could spend it more wisely on things that most matter to you. Sitting in front of the Mac on Lightroom to sort out photos is not the optimal use of my time.

So for now... I still can't find a reason to splurge on the M9. I don't think I can take better pictures with M9. And knowing myself... I will take worst pictures with ANY digital camera. Not just M9.... I will shoot without thinking...

 

[rageon09]

....oh, did I say I'd be buying just one M9? I'm not HCB and I'm accustomed to shooting with 2 bodies. Perhaps I'd compromise shooting with just a M9 and a MP, I dunno, time will tell.

Well, since you brought this point up, I think you'd do well carrying a M9 + MP combo. Best of both worlds really. You'll get the flexibility to use different cameras for different shots. Also, like some other photographers, mount a different focal length lens on the 2 bodies so you can shoot wide and up close without having to change lens. Not sure if this is your style, but I've read ppl shooting that way and it seems to work quite well.

 

[rageon09]

Greg,

How I wish I can put sometime off to make millions... But you are right when you said: "Those lost years were just like youth, you can never recover them..." One either spend time to make money or spend time to enjoy life... we just have to prioritize what is important to us...

Yes I see that point now. RF ppl are so deep! Can learn life lessons while learning about photography. Awesome.

So for now... I still can't find a reason to splurge on the M9. I don't think I can take better pictures with M9. And knowing myself... I will take worst pictures with ANY digital camera. Not just M9.... I will shoot without thinking...

Chiif, I remember reading from another thread you were going to sell your kidneys and cornea to buy M9 if its fullframe... I guess now you realise that your organs more important? hahaha;p

 

[greg]

Well, since you brought this point up, I think you'd do well carrying a M9 + MP combo. Best of both worlds really. You'll get the flexibility to use different cameras for different shots. Also, like some other photographers, mount a different focal length lens on the 2 bodies so you can shoot wide and up close without having to change lens. Not sure if this is your style, but I've read ppl shooting that way and it seems to work quite well.

I've always dreaded changing lens in the field. Whether it's a digital+film combo is really secondary, I always shoot with 2 cameras for these situations.

 

[greg]

Yes I see that point now. RF ppl are so deep! Can learn life lessons while learning about photography. Awesome.

that's biased, though I personally think a RF shooter should have gone through some transition and decided that shooting RF will suit his style of photography. If I shoot sports or do macros, I'll definitely won't choose Leica. Nothing has changed, choose the right tool for the right job that is.

regarding learning life, I guess that's subjective, I know some a RF shooter who has yet learnt what life is

 

[greg]

Now back to topic... Personally I don't think there is a difference between digital or film. M9 is just a tool to capture images digitally in full frame and allow you to view your pictures instantly.

you're spot on!

but there's a difference, rather a reason why I choose M9 over M8x, or for that matter, a DSLR. The answer lies why I shoot RF Film in the first place and why I skipped M8x and waited for M9.