New to the world of M Digital

[ghoonk]

Just picked up an M9P yesterday as I think I'm getting too old to be lugging around 7 lenses and a H4D with HTS while on holiday. Currently waiting for my 35 cron IV to arrive, and have been pretty confused so far with all the lens options (at least 7 versions of a 35 cron!)

Anyway, I've been toying with the idea of also shooting LTM lenses like the Jupiter, Zeiss Jena, and other lenses for the various 'looks', as well as considering Voigtlander lenses.

To this end, I would like to seek the advise of fellow M digital shooters here on

1. How do I get Jupiter/Jena/other LTM lenses calibrated/optimized for use with the M9P in Singapore? Are there any 'masters' who can get this done?
2. How 'good' are the Voigtlander lenses on the M9? I have heard allegations of focus shift, color casts, and that these lenses are better suited for film M bodies rather digital M due to 'tighter' production tolerances - how true is this really? I'm eyeing the 21/4 color skopar (how easy is it to code this lens?), and a 50/1.4
3. Any issues with the 35/1.2 CV ASPH-II on the M9? I can't seem to find much detail/feedback about this online. Ditto for the 50/1.1 on the M9 - any 'known' issues?

 

[ZoomZ]

Congrats for your M9P!

The Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 II works very well with my M9P. Super sharp and very smooth. No focus shift or any issues at all. Just find it too big and bulky on my M9P, considering it as a 35mm M lens. It is bulkier than my chrome 50lux ASPH!

 

[ghoonk]

Thanks! I'm waiting eagerly for my cron IV, but reading up a lot on LTM lenses. Was going through the 35mm and 50mm lens comparisons that Hacker and gang did earlier, and I have to say that I love how the Jupiter, Rigid 50 v1a, Rigid Cron v3 and Hexanon lenses render

I really need to figure out how and where to get these lenses and get them working/focusing well on the M9!

 

[newghost]

Congrats on getting the M9P and welcome to the wonderful world of LTM lenses!

 

[tonyep]

Congrats on the M9P! I just picked up mine as well last well along with the 50 Noc. Am getting the 35 cron in the next 2 weeks as well.

 

[ghoonk]

1. Not too sure. Try Camera Consultant? I've heard he's good with Leica stuff but I've never dealt there before.
2. Some lenses are very good for the price. The better lenses most definitely beat the older Leica lenses in terms of resolution. The gems that I know of are the 15mm ƒ4.5 (magenta shift at corners for M9), 35mm ƒ1.2, 35mm ƒ2.5, 50mm ƒ1.1, 75mm ƒ2.5. Expect a bit of front/back focusing (usually front) because they're not calibrated for digital M. Not all lenses needs to be coded for optimal performance.
3. The 1.2 might have some focus issues, find a good copy at a shop before purchasing. Sharp in the centre, pain in the ass the use as a daily lens.
The 1.1 on the other hand, seems to have much more of issues with focusing (build, aperture, focal length). It's a 1.1 lens ...

Ah, thats where I was also getting at - if the voigtlander lenses have front/back focusing, shouldn't a shim solve the problem in the same way that a shim solves focusing issues with the LTM lenses designed for film?

 

[NazgulKing]

The problem is kinda two fold. On one hand your lenses might need calibration, on the other, there is the issue that your RF might need calibration as well.

 

[grievor]

Just picked up an M9P yesterday as I think I'm getting too old to be lugging around 7 lenses and a H4D with HTS while on holiday. Currently waiting for my 35 cron IV to arrive, and have been pretty confused so far with all the lens options (at least 7 versions of a 35 cron!)

Anyway, I've been toying with the idea of also shooting LTM lenses like the Jupiter, Zeiss Jena, and other lenses for the various 'looks', as well as considering Voigtlander lenses.

To this end, I would like to seek the advise of fellow M digital shooters here on

1. How do I get Jupiter/Jena/other LTM lenses calibrated/optimized for use with the M9P in Singapore? Are there any 'masters' who can get this done?
2. How 'good' are the Voigtlander lenses on the M9? I have heard allegations of focus shift, color casts, and that these lenses are better suited for film M bodies rather digital M due to 'tighter' production tolerances - how true is this really? I'm eyeing the 21/4 color skopar (how easy is it to code this lens?), and a 50/1.4
3. Any issues with the 35/1.2 CV ASPH-II on the M9? I can't seem to find much detail/feedback about this online. Ditto for the 50/1.1 on the M9 - any 'known' issues?

did you get it from the leica store in singapore? was thinking if its cheaper to get it in Europe instead

 

[ghoonk]

Alamak. How do I 'calibrate' the RF? Or am i stuck with Leica lenses for life? Not that Leica lenses are not good, but to me, it's also about the character of the lenses and how they render. i love how the Leica ASPH lenses render but they can get too clinical at times, and some of the old Russian ones have the colors and look I want.

 

[ghoonk]

did you get it from the leica store in singapore? was thinking if its cheaper to get it in Europe instead

Nope. I'm based in Dubai UAE. Friend of mine just came back from Munich and said it's cheaper than SG but not that much cheaper than what I got mine for. How much is an M9P in Leica Singapore?

 

[ghoonk]

Congrats on the M9P! I just picked up mine as well last well along with the 50 Noc. Am getting the 35 cron in the next 2 weeks as well.

The 50 Noct? As in the Noctilux or the CV 50/1.1? I really doubt I would shoot the 50/1.1 wide open - having seen the samples from http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/rangefinders/666762-50mm-rf-lenses-shot-wide-open-using-m9.html, I can't say I'm impressed with the wide open performance due to the insanely thin DOF. I would probably shoot more often at f1.4 at slower shutter speeds than at f1.1 and miss focus. And Chiif mentioned that the 1.1 is big and heavy, a la Noctilux, which i'm not ready for. i might save up for a 50 lux ASPH, but right now, I can't decide if I want a 35 lux ASPH more than a 50 lux ASPH (in a perfect world, I'd have both)

i typically shoot my X100 wide open at high ISOs (3200/4000) in the evening, so a 2/3 stop advantage (f2 --> f1.2 or f1.4) might compensate for the lack of high ISO performance (in color - the noise just looks like grain in B&W)..or maybe it's just wishful thinking, since focusing at f1.2 in low lighting conditions is somewhat of a dark art

 

[grievor]

Nope. I'm based in Dubai UAE. Friend of mine just came back from Munich and said it's cheaper than SG but not that much cheaper than what I got mine for. How much is an M9P in Leica Singapore?

Oh I see.. Where did you get yours? In dubai? Anyway it's insanely expensive... I think around 9 to 10k for body last I heard.. Maybe I'm wrong.. Have to make a trip down to Leica store to check it out.. But yeah heard it's cheaper if u get your set in Europe or the states

 

[NazgulKing]

Alamak. How do I 'calibrate' the RF? Or am i stuck with Leica lenses for life? Not that Leica lenses are not good, but to me, it's also about the character of the lenses and how they render. i love how the Leica ASPH lenses render but they can get too clinical at times, and some of the old Russian ones have the colors and look I want.

I think focus only becomes an absolute issue only if you use lenses with a thin depth of field. Otherwise, for practical purposes, you won't have too much issues.

Heck, I have heard of Leica RFs with misaligned rangefinders which would be a bigger issue than the lens itself.

 

[ghoonk]

I think focus only becomes an absolute issue only if you use lenses with a thin depth of field. Otherwise, for practical purposes, you won't have too much issues.

Heck, I have heard of Leica RFs with misaligned rangefinders which would be a bigger issue than the lens itself.

sigh. One would think that Leica would get this sort of thing right...

First thing I'm going to do when I get back to SG is to buy an LTM-M adapter and get at least 4 different 'other' LTM lenses and get Mr Tay (or anyone who can shim them) to calibrate them for use on my M9.

 

[ghoonk]

Oh I see.. Where did you get yours? In dubai? Anyway it's insanely expensive... I think around 9 to 10k for body last I heard.. Maybe I'm wrong.. Have to make a trip down to Leica store to check it out.. But yeah heard it's cheaper if u get your set in Europe or the states

Yep, got it in Dubai from the official dealer here

 

[grievor]

Yep, got it in Dubai from the official dealer here

wow how much is it there?

 

[ZoomZ]

According to the Leica service centre, all Leica body and lenses are calibrated with some tolerance level, e.g + or - over or under tuned.

If you are lucky to get a body which is - tuned, and a lens that is + tuned, you might find it a perfectly calibrated set, but when you change lens, it may be slightly out again.

Unless you send all the lenses and body for calibration (and make this a regular visit yearly?), chances are you may not be a happy person every time you buy a new lens.

I have a perfectly calibrated 50lux chrome ASPH with my chrome M9P when bought it and tested many times before buying. This will be more critical to be calibrated as using it mainly for portrait and using f1.4 mainly, as compared to wider lenses such as 35mm or wider, which is safer from calibration.

For no reason, after very light usage of around 3 months, my infinity mark is out of calibration. Read a lot from forums and now doing my own calibration with simple tools. So far so good.

sigh. One would think that Leica would get this sort of thing right...

First thing I'm going to do when I get back to SG is to buy an LTM-M adapter and get at least 4 different 'other' LTM lenses and get Mr Tay (or anyone who can shim them) to calibrate them for use on my M9.

 

[ghoonk]

Any online resources where I can learn to calibrate with my own tools? Alternatively, if it's something that can be done, perhaps someone like De Camera Consultant can do it. The idea of having to sending the body and lens to Solms every time I get a new lens is somewhat unfeasible since it means my camera may spend more time away than in my hands

 

[ZoomZ]

You can do some readings on calibration.

Most shops won't want to do here. Seems easy but if charge too high, no one will use their service. If charge too low, the risk is high if they don't do a good job.

Most of the hiadee here will send their full set back to Germany for calibration, so that all the lenses they have will be calibrated just for the specific Leica body. Last time I checked, Leica service centre don't do calibration here, though they can do upgrade from M9 to M9P.

Any online resources where I can learn to calibrate with my own tools? Alternatively, if it's something that can be done, perhaps someone like De Camera Consultant can do it. The idea of having to sending the body and lens to Solms every time I get a new lens is somewhat unfeasible since it means my camera may spend more time away than in my hands

 

[ghoonk]

*sobz*

looks like there's no hope.

what's driving me nuts now is that

i have an M9P
when my 35 cron arrives next week, i *should* send body and lens in for calibration.
then it comes back.
months later, i get a 50 lux. need to send the 35 cron, 50 lux and the M9P to Solm again for calibration

*sobz*

I wonder if I will ever get a chance to shoot with this camera or if it will spend most of its life in Solm or in transit...