Comments on: Some Leica M9 and 50 Summicron B&W images http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/ Digital Camera and Lens Reviews for Enthusiasts Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:02:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve Huff http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2825 Steve Huff Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:33:06 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2825 Hey David, yea, I agree that Black and White film shots are a thing of beauty. But it is funny. When I was posting B&W images where I added grain I was getting comments saying keep it clean and "why do you want it to look like film". These were just to show the M9 and 50 cron so I did not want them to have noise added. All I did to these was the B&W conversion. No other PP. Also, no light was added and it was a grey dreary day. Thanks! Hey David, yea, I agree that Black and White film shots are a thing of beauty. But it is funny. When I was posting B&W images where I added grain I was getting comments saying keep it clean and “why do you want it to look like film”. These were just to show the M9 and 50 cron so I did not want them to have noise added. All I did to these was the B&W conversion. No other PP.

Also, no light was added and it was a grey dreary day. Thanks!

]]> By: Prakash V http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2819 Prakash V Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:46:27 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2819 Hello Steve! Did you light up the subject or was it just natural light. Anyway the picture is so sharp that in the 3 frame you could almost count the hair strands. Cheers Prakash Oslo Hello Steve!
Did you light up the subject or was it just natural light. Anyway the picture is so sharp that in the 3 frame you could almost count the hair strands.
Cheers
Prakash
Oslo

]]> By: David Schwartz http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2817 David Schwartz Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:21:04 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2817 In my opinion, the beauty of some of the shots coming out of the M6 series camera of old are grainy due to film being used and such. I think the shots here are very nice but too digital looking. Add some grain in Silver Efex and make 'em look more like film. My opinion only... In my opinion, the beauty of some of the shots coming out of the M6 series camera of old are grainy due to film being used and such. I think the shots here are very nice but too digital looking. Add some grain in Silver Efex and make ‘em look more like film. My opinion only…

]]> By: Brando N. http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2529 Brando N. Wed, 10 Feb 2010 09:33:05 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2529 Damen, no offense, but if you're using Hollywood as your gauge for great art, you've missed the point of this medium already.Yes, technically adept cinematographers are indispensable, but I know from my video work that most pros are fooled by every latest and greatest, marketing pixel hyped camera(even though they work in Hollywood), but if you look at the greatest films of all time, none are remembered because they are sharp. They are remembered because they painted a lasting image in our minds with their creative use of the medium. Sharpness has its place, but most of the masters avoided naturalism for the sake of naturalism. They didn't want their photos to look like cheesy neighborhood studio photos. I am not super impressed with these shots, but there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with the images. They are great for what Steve meant them for which is to give examples of the lens' capabilities/limitations. I know what Bokeh and aliasing, etc. are and I couldn't care less. As Steve pointed out, the masters didn't have these modern aspherical lenses. They didn't even have coated lenses. But look at an Ansel Adams photo and tell me if you can find softness. Tack sharp throughout. Large format not withstanding, he or Bresson or Robert Frank or whomever, moved people with their photos because something powerful was transferred. They were the opposite of modern Hollywood. I am definitely into high end gear and I love to shoot with the best. After handling $7,000 Leica bodies with $5,000 lenses, I can honestly say that if one masters lighting(not that I have) and zone focusing and has true vision, one can make just as good as if not better photos with good equipment as they can with their "great" equipment. And yes, most technically unaware people would probably love these shots. Great. Maybe it's not because they're ignorant to what we who scrutinize see, but because they actually see what we have trained ourselves to miss....the simplicity and beauty of the image itself. Cheers, Steve. Damen, no offense, but if you’re using Hollywood as your gauge for great art, you’ve missed the point of this medium already.Yes, technically adept cinematographers are indispensable, but I know from my video work that most pros are fooled by every latest and greatest, marketing pixel hyped camera(even though they work in Hollywood), but if you look at the greatest films of all time, none are remembered because they are sharp. They are remembered because they painted a lasting image in our minds with their creative use of the medium. Sharpness has its place, but most of the masters avoided naturalism for the sake of naturalism. They didn’t want their photos to look like cheesy neighborhood studio photos.
I am not super impressed with these shots, but there is absolutely nothing “wrong” with the images. They are great for what Steve meant them for which is to give examples of the lens’ capabilities/limitations. I know what Bokeh and aliasing, etc. are and I couldn’t care less. As Steve pointed out, the masters didn’t have these modern aspherical lenses. They didn’t even have coated lenses. But look at an Ansel Adams photo and tell me if you can find softness. Tack sharp throughout. Large format not withstanding, he or Bresson or Robert Frank or whomever, moved people with their photos because something powerful was transferred. They were the opposite of modern Hollywood. I am definitely into high end gear and I love to shoot with the best. After handling $7,000 Leica bodies with $5,000 lenses, I can honestly say that if one masters lighting(not that I have) and zone focusing and has true vision, one can make just as good as if not better photos with good equipment as they can with their “great” equipment. And yes, most technically unaware people would probably love these shots. Great. Maybe it’s not because they’re ignorant to what we who scrutinize see, but because they actually see what we have trained ourselves to miss….the simplicity and beauty of the image itself. Cheers, Steve.

]]> By: Peter G http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2479 Peter G Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:55:50 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2479 The first picture has a very nice "integration" of subject and background. Here the "bokeh" of the lens is put to great effect. Every lens has it's unique out of focus rendering, I have a Hasselblad 80 which has a very noticeable out of focus rendering but sometimes one manages to make that effect work just right, where something smoother would have been less effective. The first picture has a very nice “integration” of subject and background. Here the “bokeh” of the lens is put to great effect. Every lens has it’s unique out of focus rendering, I have a Hasselblad 80 which has a very noticeable out of focus rendering but sometimes one manages to make that effect work just right, where something smoother would have been less effective.

]]> By: richard kane http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2377 richard kane Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:59:48 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2377 I think the lens achieves the perfect 'bokeh' effect. just gradually fading from focus into the distance. The intent here is to portray elements of the scene as well as the subject and a stronger, smoother and more blurry bokeh effect would have destroyed that! I think the lens achieves the perfect ‘bokeh’ effect. just gradually fading from focus into the distance. The intent here is to portray elements of the scene as well as the subject and a stronger, smoother and more blurry bokeh effect would have destroyed that!

]]> By: Tim Jones http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2357 Tim Jones Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:43:01 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2357 I think a lot of people only look at the out of focus areas. I refuse to use the "B" word ! Thanks Tim I think a lot of people only look at the out of focus areas.
I refuse to use the “B” word !
Thanks
Tim

]]> By: Eric Pepin http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2353 Eric Pepin Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:48:09 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2353 Anyone who complains about the bokeh of a nice leica prime is out of there minds. I think the bokeh is beautiful and adds a wonderful texture to the shot instead of being a complete soft focus washed out look which is alright in a studio portrait shoot but gets old after the ten thousandth portrait. You should never have to rely on the bokeh to enfasive the subject, use your compositon and lighting to do that for you and let the bokeh do what it will. Just my two cents. Anyone who complains about the bokeh of a nice leica prime is out of there minds. I think the bokeh is beautiful and adds a wonderful texture to the shot instead of being a complete soft focus washed out look which is alright in a studio portrait shoot but gets old after the ten thousandth portrait. You should never have to rely on the bokeh to enfasive the subject, use your compositon and lighting to do that for you and let the bokeh do what it will. Just my two cents.

]]> By: Rangefinderproblems on new M9s - Leica User Forum http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2347 Rangefinderproblems on new M9s - Leica User Forum Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:07:27 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2347 [...] Rangefinderproblems on new M9s Steve is fine with just f/2, like me ;-) The Leica M9 and 50 Summicron black & white images | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS But as you see in comments - busy bokeh is distracting for some... These some are mostly... [...] [...] Rangefinderproblems on new M9s Steve is fine with just f/2, like me ;-) The Leica M9 and 50 Summicron black & white images | STEVE HUFF PHOTOS But as you see in comments – busy bokeh is distracting for some… These some are mostly… [...]

]]> By: bruce http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/2010/02/06/some-leica-m9-and-50-summicron-bw-images/#comment-2345 bruce Sun, 07 Feb 2010 02:50:34 +0000 http://www.stevehuffphoto.com/?p=4651#comment-2345 despite what damen said about the bokeh taking away from the subject, i totally disagree. i've been really looking into bokeh this past 6 months, and i have learnt a lot about it. people say this about a lens, people say that about a lense, at the end of the day, bokeh is not a constant and different things happen is different scenarios. good lenses are made to look medeocre in some case, not so well known lenses can look great in certain scenarios. at the end of the day, the picture is good regardless of what the bokeh is. someone likes one thing, someone else likes another, it all means nothing at the end of the day. a great shot, is a great shot. steve, that shot of your wife is with its bokeh is great. despite what damen said about the bokeh taking away from the subject, i totally disagree. i’ve been really looking into bokeh this past 6 months, and i have learnt a lot about it. people say this about a lens, people say that about a lense, at the end of the day, bokeh is not a constant and different things happen is different scenarios. good lenses are made to look medeocre in some case, not so well known lenses can look great in certain scenarios. at the end of the day, the picture is good regardless of what the bokeh is. someone likes one thing, someone else likes another, it all means nothing at the end of the day. a great shot, is a great shot. steve, that shot of your wife is with its bokeh is great.

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