Fuji X Pro 1 - Leica M8

There are more samples emerging from the Fuji X Pro 1, including raw.

http://www.mirrorlessrumors.com/first-full-size-fuji-x-pro-1-raw-files-available-for-you/

http://www.1001noisycameras.com/2012/02/fuji-x-pro1-full-size-samples-28-jpegs-at-lenstip.html

There does seem to be a pattern emerging, in that the camera seems to be very good at high ISO's but produces somewhat soft files. This is surprising for a camera with no AA filter, but I imagine is the result of the new sensor and software noise reduction. That softness is evident even on the raw files. To be honest those who have used DSLR's with pretty strong AA filters probably wouldn't notice the difference, but compared to cameras I have used without an AA filter or with a pretty weak one its noticeable to me.

Consequently it confirms to me that this isn't a camera for me. Its the wrong way round. I like cameras with great low ISO performance, very sharp with lots of colour "pop". I can see the X Pro 1 being snapped up by wedding photographers for example, but maybe not by the landscape community.

Yesterday I was working with some old Leica M8 files, and nothing could be more different. I've always regarded the M8 as producing the sharpest files I've ever seen, I always thought it was slightly crisper than the M9. Some odd colour occasionally without the use of AA filters, but the files have real impact on a screen. They are also capable of being blown up quite large. I compared some of these files yesterday blown up to Sony NEX-7 size, and they still looked sharper!!

These days you buy an S/H M8 and a couple of Voigtlander, or even old Leica, lenses for about the same price as an X Pro 1 outfit. Prices for used M8's have stayed the same for a long time now, and probably won't fall any more, so buying one, using it for a couple of years and selling it probably wouldn't result in a loss.

It is of course completely useless at high ISO's and you have to deal with some moire, dust spots and of course the odd colour. But for high impact, ultra sharp files, with the real benefit of an unfettered sensor, its difficult to beat.

Time to "rationalise" my cameras again? - or not?

I get this idea about cutting my cameras back to "what I really need" on a regular basis, but they keep on coming,  as well as going.

At the moment however I've very happy with what I've got. Despite my comments about the Nikons making me think about what to do with my Leicas, I would be very loathe to part with them.



I was briefly DSLR-free for a very short time earlier this year but the Nikon D5100 and D7000 have proved to be great cameras and I'm enjoying both using them and the results I'm getting from them.



I also briefly was without a m4/3 camera for a while. However that didn't last long either. In fact I've just ordered a pair of non-polarised sunglasses to be able to use my Olympus E-PL1 without the screen and EVF blacking out on me. I'm also very much looking forward to the Olympus E-P3 and the 12mm f/2, 45mm f/1.8 and Panasonic 25mm f/1.4 lenses I have on order.



Unlike when I had lots of cheaper cameras, this has amounted to a substantial finanacial investment. So do I need all of these? No of course I don't. They are however, in their different ways, giving me great enjoyment in what is both my job and my passion, and even though I might feel guilty about keeping them all occasionally, the pleasure I get from using them outweighs any other considerations.

High resolution stitched images

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

By combining images together using the Photomerge function in Photoshop, I'm able to get very high resolution images from cameras that have lower pixel counts. The reason I have been able to use m4/3 for the last couple of years for my landscape stock work has to a large extent been as a result of this.

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

The M8 has an image size of only 10MP (28MB) and since many of the libraries I contribute to have a 48MB minimum, this is a much more satisfactory alternative than interpolation.

I often only use 3 or 4 images with the intention of making the final result look like any other image. i.e not a panoramic shape. By doing this I usually get a file of between 50 & 70MB from the M8, equivalent to an image taken with an 18-25MP camera.

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

Because there's no upsizing or interpolation taking place, the file is of very high quality and the increased resolution is genuine. As you can see in these examples I've shown the out of camera jpgs at the top, and the final stitched image at the bottom, which I've put together from the raw files and edited and adjusted in Photoshop.

Yesterday I shot a few with the Nikon D7000 and 24mm f/2.8D lens.

Nikon D7000 24mm f/2.8D 

This produced images of around 100MB or the equivalent of a 35MP camera.

Nikon D7000 24mm f/2.8D 

Nikon D7000 24mm f/2.8D 

A few thing to take care of with this -

Its important to leave a good overlap.

Its vital to keep the same exposure and focus point for all images.

You have to be comfortable with the transform tools in Photoshop as all images need some warping and straightening.

This process can slightly soften the image so some sharpening needs to be added.

Lenses from 35mm or 35mm equivalent upwards give the best results. There's often too much distortion with lenses wider than this.

If you are quick and there's not too much movement you can include people and action in the shots.

Leica X1

Cotswold Lavender - Leica M8, Olympus E-PL1

Video shot hand-held with Olympus E-PL1 14-42mm kit zoom - edited in iMovie.

For no obvious reason there is a lavender farm in the Cotswolds. At this time of the year, just before harvesting, it is at its most intense colour.


Olympus E-PL1 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar - Multi image panoramic stitch.


Olympus E-PL1 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar

After 5 minutes I was thinking I had brought the wrong cameras - Olympus E-PL1 and 14-42mm kit lens and the Leica M8 plus Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron and 75mm f/2.5 Heliar. I was having trouble with the Olympus viewfinder and focusing on the lavender using the M8 rangefinder system wasn't easy. Using one of the Nikons and a zoom would have been much easier.

However, I didn't have the option so carried on. In the end I was pleased with the images. The Voigtlander 75mm on the Olympus worked very well.


Olympus E-PL1 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar

I also used the 14-42mm kit lens on the Olympus. I've always rated this lens and this copy seems especially good.


Olympus E-PL1 14-42mm kit zoom

 
Olympus E-PL1 14-42mm kit zoom

There was a tour party from Japan there also. I've never seen so many Nikon D5100's in one place before! A large proportion of the group were using them. Interesting to see that in about 100 people they were all using compacts or DSLR's. Not a single CSC. Doesn't prove anything of course but interesting.

The two girls in the following picture went and put on "posh frocks" and were photographing each other in the lavender for about an hour.


Olympus E-PL1 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar

In terms of cameras yesterday was a bit problematic. I ended the day unsure as to where to go. I was a bit frustrated with the Olympus and using the EVF, and focusing with the Leica was difficult. Part of the problem is my back is still not great, which is one of the reasons I didn't take either of the Nikons.

I'm a little unsure as to where to go next. What I really want, and have always wanted, is a small, light rangefinder styled camera, but with AF, decent sized sensor, good lenses and an optical viewfinder.  There doesn't seem to be anything like that available, nor does there seem to be anything like that on the horizon. I really want to find one camera I can work with and stick with rather than use a lot of cameras that give me part of what I want. The Nikon D5100 is OK for size and weight, but the zooms are heavy. The Leicas are wonderful, but there are times when I want AF. The 4/3 cameras I use are the closest but I'm having problems with EVF's and the polarised sunglasses I have to wear.

Ho-Hum!


Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

Leica M8 - Zeiss 50mm f/2 T* Planar lens

Thought I'd try some shots with the Zeiss 50mm on my M8.









Very impressive indeed. Quite extraordinary sharpness. The M8 does give sharper results than the M9, not by much but I can see it.

The "forgotten" Leica M8

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

The M8 has always had a bit of a bad press. Problems with colour, moire and the need for Leica to issue IR filters for lenses have tended to give it a slightly tarnished reputation. However I've always personally loved the files it produces. I don't use any filters on my lenses and have only ever seen two examples of moire on my pictures. However I don't shoot clothing, which is apparently where the problem occurs.


Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron 

The M9 has a built-in IR filter which cures the moire and colour problems, but the M8 still produces slightly sharper files. Having no AA or IR filter means that the sensor is unhindered by anything. The M8 is pretty useless at high ISO's unlike the M9 but at its base ISO of 160 it produces stunning images. The 10MP files are capable of being interpolated quite dramatically.

Just to give you an idea of what the resolution is like.

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron 

My first Leica M was an M8 and I sold it when I bought the M9. I always regretted it, though at the time I needed the money. I bought this current one S/H from a dealer, and apart from some scratches on the screen its pretty much in mint condition. Now discontinued they currently sell used for around the £1400-1600 mark and you can pick up S/H Voigtlander lenses fairly cheaply. It is possible to get into the M system for around £2000, which is what I paid for the Nikon D7000 and a couple of zooms. Not cheap, but nowhere near as expensive as an M9 and Leica lenses, and very close in terms of quality. Certainly the results I get from my M8 are superb. Also the camera and lenses bought S/H will probably hold their value.

When I shoot on the M8 I usually interpolate the files to 15MP or 42MB before sending them off to picture libraries. At this size, at base ISO, they are sharper and have better colour than either my Nikons or any m4/3 or other CSC I have used. The Fuji X100 is the only camera that comes close and the M8 probably still beats that for sharpness. (With the proviso about high ISO performance)


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar

Leica have just issued a firmware update for the M8. It doesn't do much but its nice to see they still support it. For me and my uses its a very useful camera and I don't feel quite so inclined to wrap it in cotton wool as I do with the M9!


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar 


Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron


Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron
Multi-image panoramic stitch


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar
Multi-image panoramic stitch

Devon with Nikons and Leicas.

Nikon D5100 16-85mm Zoom

I have just returned from a weeks trip to Devon. A week of good weather and beautiful light resulted in a large number of images I'm very pleased with.

Nikon D7000 55-300mm Zoom

At the start of the week I began shooting with the Nikons, and at the end I was shooting with the Leicas finally ending up with just the M9 and Zeiss 50mm f/2 T* Planar.

Leica M8 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron

Leica M9 Zeiss 50mm f/2 T* Planar

I also shot a lot of video, using predominantly the D5100 and 16-85mm zoom. 

However I've returned home to find problems with my internet connection and until BT get round to sorting that out its too slow to upload to YouTube or Vimeo. 

The week was somewhat spoiled by my back going into spasm on the journey down and a somewhat noisy cough, courtesy of my sister-in-law!! However despite these "distractions" it was a useful week for picture-taking though somewhat harder (and more painful) work than usual due to my mobility problems.

I'll go into more detail on how each camera and lens performed in later posts.

Leica M8 Panorama

The Leica M8 is supposed to do better black and white conversions because of the lack of an IR filter.

This is a multi-image panoramic stitch created with a Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar lens.

Nikons D7000, D5100 and no more Micro Four Thirds.

So the transition is complete. Yesterday I sold my the last of my m4/3 cameras and lenses plus the Fuji X100 on ebay. Its optical viewfinders all the way now.

I have my four cameras, as this is my superstition, after having two cameras out of action on a trip to France and the 3rd. one I was left with struggling with a winder problem.

Its two Leicas and two Nikons with lots of shared lenses. I'm happy with the image quality from all of them. I'm happy with the handling of the Nikons especially. They are certainly very fast, very efficient and a delight to use.

I would have liked them to be lighter, but anything lighter will have an EVF, and I would rather have to carry a bit of extra weight if it cuts down on the migraine problem.

The D5100 + 16-85mm lens is however a pretty light outfit and should prove ideal for long distance work.

So enough testing, enough buying and selling. All I need now is some sunshine to start using all of this to take some pictures with.

Leicas M9 and M8 at Stratford-upon-Avon

Leica M9 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron 
The River Avon


Leica M9 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron
Stratford-upon-Avon racecourse


Leica M9 Voigtlander 28mm f/2 Ultron Multi-image panoramic stitch
Restaurant cruise on the River Avon


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar Multi-image panoramic stitch
New apartments next to the racecourse.


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar
Spring wheat


Leica M8 Voigtlander 75mm f/2.5 Heliar
Lock on the River Avon

This was quite a long walk and carrying the two cameras was still comfortable but I was pretty tired at the end. Not using m4/3 is going to increase the weight, so I'm probably going to get a 16-85mm zoom for the Nikon 5100 for these long-distance trips.

Looking at the pictures on the screen I realised again just how sharp M8 files are. 10MP yes, but capable of being substantially interpolated. I'm sending out the images upsized to 14MP and 41MB at the moment. They could go higher but at this size it still keeps the incredible sharpness. I could go to 18MP easily, but then the files just look like an ordinary camera!!