Leica M9 + Non-Leica lens => "Cheap Out"??

[geckomy]

Hi, I hv posted this thread in a Malaysian Photography Forum, namely PhotoMalaysia previously (see:http://bit.ly/cwWa4p). I would love to hear the views of our Singaporean friends.

Here is my post:

Been thinking abt getting myself a M9 but find the cost of buying a new Leica lens (35mm/50mm) financially imposing esp at this early stage of using a RF. So been exploring if i could use d new M9 with a lens which is cheaper but with good IQ (eg Voigtlander Nokton 50mm/1.1 or 35mm/1.2).

In the process, read the following written by Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/cosina.htm:

"... I don't understand why anyone would cheap-out with Voigtländer lenses on an M9. Lenses are free compared to an M9, and cheap lenses compromise the M9's quality.....
.....Ask yourself: if you have the money to throw away at an M8.2 or any other Leica, new or used, then why can't you afford a lot less money to invest in the lenses it deserves, which don't depreciate like the M8?...."

His statement really put me off , I find it a little offensive. I wonder what is the "prevailing view" of our Local Leica M9 users? Do you agree?

Pls share your view if you're willing. Thanks a lot!!
Thanks so much!

 

[Royale With Cheese]

sounds very "elite society" to me.

I dont think there is anything wrong using the M9 with vintage lenses or current voigtlander lenses.

Its about your picture at the end of the day. Awesome gear but medicore pictures doesnt really get you anywhere

 

[geckomy]

sounds very "elite society" to me.
I dont think there is anything wrong using the M9 with vintage lenses or current voigtlander lenses.

thank for a quick response.

Couldn't agree more. But Ken does hv lots of followers.

I am just wondering if anyone uses Voigtlander lens w M9. Read of some in Overseas Blogs, but not so much in the M'sian or S'porean context. :think:

about your picture at the end of the day. Awesome gear but medicore pictures doesnt really get you anywhere

Yes. agree wholehearted.:thumbsup:

Pls keep all your views coming.:lovegrin:

 

[sinned79]

IF i have the money to buy a m9. Pairing it with a leica 35mm f1.4 is the match in heaven.

BUT I am satisfied to have a m9 + Voigtlander Nokton 35mm/1.4. I have read reviews that Voigtlander Nokton 35mm/1.4 performs better then the 1.2mm version.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

of course everyone's dream gear would be the high end stuff but not everyone can afford it.

Most go for the M9 because its the only full frame digital RF. I would say all RF shooters are very used to shooting on full frame due to the fact that 90% of RF on the market is film.
They prob got the M9 because they wanted full frame instead of crop on the M8 or RD1S

Shooting with Japanese lenses doesnt mean we "cheapen" the M9.

My dream set up is also M9 with 35 & 50 lux, 50 noct, 21 lux. But I gotta sell my organs to buy that stuff!

Awesome gear but medicore pictures doesnt really get you anywhere

Just to add on, its similar to driving a nice spanking flashy car(the M9) with a super duper hot wife(the noctilux) but if she is a dead fish in bed................. :bsmilie: You catch the drift.....

 

[DoveVadar]

Dont you think that it is more interesting to shoot a digital M with a vintage lenses. Trust me, the ASPH are super crispy and cutting sharp without much feelings to me at least. Moreover some VC lenses are known to be excellence in their delivery.

The trick is not to think too much and go out and shoot

 

[geckomy]

...BUT I am satisfied to have a m9 + Voigtlander Nokton 35mm/1.4. I have read reviews that Voigtlander Nokton 35mm/1.4 performs better then the 1.2mm version.

great! will sure take the advice.

My dream set up is also M9 with 35 & 50 lux, 50 noct, 21 lux. But I gotta sell my organs to buy that stuff!

Just gotten a quote, all my organs add up, still worth less than your dream gear......:cry: hahaha:sweatsm:

Dont you think that it is more interesting to shoot a digital M with a vintage lenses. Trust me, the ASPH are super crispy and cutting sharp without much feelings to me at least. Moreover some VC lenses are known to be excellence in their delivery.

yes, i'm looking for advice of not so expensive but great "FEEL" lens.

Thanks. Would love to hear more lens suggestion....;p

 

[Recoil3d]

Here a post on one of my favorite M-website
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/06/07/leica-m9-travels-on-a-budget-by-armando-chiu/ a good read and and all the photos were using viogtlander glass

 

[sinned79]

Here a post on one of my favorite M-website
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/06/07/leica-m9-travels-on-a-budget-by-armando-chiu/ a good read and and all the photos were using viogtlander glass

poison! :bigeyes:

 

[Cactus jACK]

you have to take KRW's reviews with a huge dose of salt...

balance it off with other reviewers / bloggers such as steve huff and erwin puts, and you'll get a mor even picture.

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Here a post on one of my favorite M-website
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/06/07/leica-m9-travels-on-a-budget-by-armando-chiu/ a good read and and all the photos were using viogtlander glass

nice!

Chiif must be smiling

 

[benny]

I don't usually partake in this type of discussions but since time is on my hand while I am waiting for someone... here goes..

So what if you have the big bucks for the M9?

The fastest 35mm lens is still the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical
The widest lens is still the Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 12mm f/5.6 Aspherical
The best M mount 21mm lens without distortion is from Carl Zeiss
The fastest 15mm lens is the Zeiss Distagon 15mm f/2.8 T*
etc, etc, etc...

There is a world out there besides Leica. There are many more expensive cameras and lenses from many other brands. And with equally impressive image quality too.

[quote='ken rockwell"]"... I don't understand why anyone would cheap-out with Voigtländer lenses on an M9. Lenses are free compared to an M9, and cheap lenses compromise the M9's quality.....[/quote]

This is a strange comment as the M9 itself is a compromise on quality. We all know that there are much better LCD screen, sensor technology or even material finishing than what is currently on the camera. Anyway, this would be digressing and I apologise..

When you can show a great photo, who the hell would care what lenses you use on your camera. Better yet, if you can produce great pictures with less money spent on gear than that the rich snob who has everything in Leica's catalogue, but no decent pictures to show for, who is the smarter/better photographer?

Nuff said.

Cheers,

p.s. I love Leica

 

[geckomy]

Here a post on one of my favorite M-website
http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/06/07/leica-m9-travels-on-a-budget-by-armando-chiu/ a good read and and all the photos were using viogtlander glass

hear, hear!! great piece of writing and fun too! Fun, is something, many of us, we forget, when we're taking photograph. :devil:

 

[geckomy]

I don't usually partake in this type of discussions but since time is on my hand while I am waiting for someone... here goes..

But, I am glad you did. thanks for your input. great observation. :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[toledosun]

Let me suggest another alternative. For the price of an M9 body, why not get a M6 or M7 body with a second hand Leica lens? When you're ready, you can sell the body with little loss, and still have the use of the lens.

Here's an interesting comparison between the M6 and M9. To me, it suggests the M6 is a viable alternative, but then again, I'm using the M6

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/04/01/leica-m9-vs-leica-m6-part-1/

 

[sinned79]

Let me suggest another alternative. For the price of an M9 body, why not get a M6 or M7 body with a second hand Leica lens? When you're ready, you can sell the body with little loss, and still have the use of the lens.

Here's an interesting comparison between the M6 and M9. To me, it suggests the M6 is a viable alternative, but then again, I'm using the M6

http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/04/01/leica-m9-vs-leica-m6-part-1/

i have thought of that... but i am a trigger happy person (spoilt by DSLR)... so i think i will burn lotsa films... :cry: how much does a roll of film cost this days (sorry if i sound stupid here)?

 

[sim4nee]

I don't usually partake in this type of discussions but since time is on my hand while I am waiting for someone... here goes..

So what if you have the big bucks for the M9?

The fastest 35mm lens is still the Voigtlander Nokton 35mm f/1.2 Aspherical
The widest lens is still the Voigtlander Super Wide-Heliar 12mm f/5.6 Aspherical
The best M mount 21mm lens without distortion is from Carl Zeiss
The fastest 15mm lens is the Zeiss Distagon 15mm f/2.8 T*
etc, etc, etc...

There is a world out there besides Leica. There are many more expensive cameras and lenses from many other brands. And with equally impressive image quality too.




This is a strange comment as the M9 itself is a compromise on quality. We all know that there are much better LCD screen, sensor technology or even material finishing than what is currently on the camera. Anyway, this would be digressing and I apologise..

When you can show a great photo, who the hell would care what lenses you use on your camera. Better yet, if you can produce great pictures with less money spent on gear than that the rich snob who has everything in Leica's catalogue, but no decent pictures to show for, who is the smarter/better photographer?

Nuff said.

Cheers,

p.s. I love Leica

Pai seh I still use Kiev 60 to shoot mei mei, no Leica, certainly no M9.

ps: I love Leica too.

 

[gommy]

I love the vintage Japanese lenses from the 50's.

p.s. I love Leica too

 

[third3rdwheel]

Hi, I hv posted this thread in a Malaysian Photography Forum, namely PhotoMalaysia previously (see:http://bit.ly/cwWa4p). I would love to hear the views of our Singaporean friends.

Here is my post:

Been thinking abt getting myself a M9 but find the cost of buying a new Leica lens (35mm/50mm) financially imposing esp at this early stage of using a RF. So been exploring if i could use d new M9 with a lens which is cheaper but with good IQ (eg Voigtlander Nokton 50mm/1.1 or 35mm/1.2).

In the process, read the following written by Ken Rockwell http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/cosina.htm:

"... I don't understand why anyone would cheap-out with Voigtländer lenses on an M9. Lenses are free compared to an M9, and cheap lenses compromise the M9's quality.....
.....Ask yourself: if you have the money to throw away at an M8.2 or any other Leica, new or used, then why can't you afford a lot less money to invest in the lenses it deserves, which don't depreciate like the M8?...."

His statement really put me off , I find it a little offensive. I wonder what is the "prevailing view" of our Local Leica M9 users? Do you agree?

Pls share your view if you're willing. Thanks a lot!!
Thanks so much!

Frankly - there is no right or wrong answer to this question. It will be determined by personal preference and financial situation.

 

[raytoei]

here's another point of view, it is strictly my POV:

the ideal pairing is of course the m9 and a summilux 1.4. The noc is too heavy for general purpose, while the cron is decent (esp the 35mm cron) but it isn't a lux.

So if you know that the end-game is the m9 and the lux, then why torture oneself with all the buying and selling of different cheap lenses ? Just buy the end state and be happy with it.

raytoei
- no m9 no lux and no noct either but lots of serenars, Industar and Jupiters.