flamenco
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CCD Sensor & Sample Photos
Kodak CCD Sensor
The Kodak 18-megapixel CCD sensor is the same one found in the M-9/9P, so it was no surprise its noise characteristics are the same. The M-E keeps JPEG through its modest top sensitivity setting, ISO 2500. Details are little weak there, but not still manageable. One can get more detail out of images at higer ISO (1250) setting if you shoot in Raw mode, if u can live with an image that's a tad grainy. My personal tolerance level (ISO800 for day shooting, ISO 1250 for night shooting, hand held)
The seasoned Leica shooters out there I spoke to swear by CCD sensors for use at lower sensitivities. They feel strongly for images with a more film-like look. The M-E's output at lower ISOs is quite fantastic. Neither the M-E nor the M9 features a low-pass filter (aka anti-aliasing filter), a design decision that imparts sharpness, but does introduce the possibility of moiré. If you shoot a lot of architecture, fabrics or feathers (who does !?!) for a living ... this should not be a concern. If u do get the occasional moire, a trip to Lightroom/Photoshop to remove moiré from an image should be easy enough.
And Oh ... a copy of Lightroom is provided when u purchase a Leica Camera.
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35mm Summilux ASPH FLE
The 35 Lux FLE begs to be shot at f1.4 hand-held. The 35 f1.4 lenses would be the "die Könige der Nacht (Kings of the night)". If not for the Noctilux .....
The lens is sharp and has superb contrast when shot wide-open, and it still has just the right amount of DOF at f1.4 without losing everything else in the image. Try focusing at f0.95 in a dimly lite environment .....
For photo samples of the 35 Lux FLE, please look HERE
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50mm Summilux ASPH FLE
The LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50mm f1.4 ASPH is a remarkable lens, period. And IMO has the best bokeh of any modern Leica Lens and quite the best 50mm I have handled.
Its most certainly my favourite of the 2 lenses I own thus far ..... Here's why
"Autumn"
@ 50 f2.8
"Red Lantern"
@ 50 f1.4 (In very challenging light ... superb !)
"Subterran"
@50 f2.8
"Twelve 1 2"
@ 50 f5.6 (sharpest aperture, IMO)
"Oriental Pedder"
@50 f4.0
"Reflection in the City"
@50 f5.6
"Abandoned Austerity"
@50 2.8
"Looming Precipitation"
@50 f5.6
"Sprawling City"
@50 f5.6
”HuTong 胡同“
@50 f1.4
"Vertical Horizon"
@50 f4.0
"Juxtaposed"
@50 f2.0
"Alternative Transport"
@50 f1.4
"Lunch in Beijing"
@50 f2.0
"Old Lodging"
@50 f2.8
"Cycle Park"
@50 f1.4
"Generations"
@50 f2.8
"Colonel Sanders"
@50 f1.4
"Peaches"
@50 f1.4
"Gizzards"
@50 f4.0
"Power to the People"
@50 f4.0
"The KING !"
@50 f4.0
"Diplomacy"
@50 f4.0
"Propaganda"
@50 f2.8
"Frutti Tutti"
@50 f2.0
"Wet Market Scenes"
@50 f1.4 - 2.8
Phew ........
Available on the marketplace
24 Ikepod listings are live on the eBay market and 7 collector listings on the WatchProSite marketplace.
Leica M-E (Typ 220) - A User Review
Leica Camera AG , a German optics company, manufactures Leica cameras . The predecessor of the company, formerly known as Ernst Leitz GmbH , is now three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems GmbH, which manufacture camer...
Leica M Mount Lens
Lens Choice:- Being a Leica virgin (both camera and lenses), I decided and went for the "safest" option and my favourite focal lengths, 35mm & 50mm. If life where that simple ! Next came more decisions, NOCTI, CRON, LUX, Elmar etc. A whole lot of Leic...
re: M-E 220
Thanks for the very informative review! The big red shutter button sticks out quite a bit, any issue with it being pressed accidentally and firing off an inadvertent shot? Did it take a long time to get used to the manual focus of the rangefinder? I've se...
Frustration
In all honesty, coming from DSLR background, its an extremely frustrating experience, takes real patience just to get each shot right .... Exposure, shutter speed ... my biggest bearbug is focusing at big apertures. as u can imagine, the DOF is so very th...
Frustration vs Challenge vs Satisfaction
Isn't everything new to us frustrating at some point? :) I guess if the challenge of getting exceptional results out weight the frustration then it is totally worth it! -MW
Bruised
And battered ! LOL .... Grossly underestimated the level of skill required to use a rangefinder effectively. Skills can be acquired, however, inability to effectively split focus is a real pain ..that is harder to overcome Time will tell .... ;)
So far we got all the details ...
and I like it, but will there be a final conclusion? Do you like it? Was it worth the "premium" money? Sorry, I am impatient :-) Oliver PS: Only handled the M-E once, but I liked the colour of the case - especially at daylight.
Anthracite
Rockz ..... LOLLL Although the steel grey M9 is quite a looker as well ;) Its really a mixed bag , especially now with some time spent handling the camera. Lets just say I will NOT be giving up on my DSLR tendencies any time soon ....
Congrats Flamenco
Where is my prize.....LoL Have fun with RF, you should try low light shots and process with LR and see the quality it produce. Cheers, from another newbie of RF
What about a Kiss ! LOL
Sincerely hope u are getting better hit rate than I am with an RF .... I'd love to get some low light shots ... if I can focus right in the dark ! Tried using magnifiers, w/o much success .... What I need is LASIK ! LOLLL But no denying the dynamic range ...
Read your review with interest but I am ..
not sure whether I should congratulate you on this expensive purchase or not because i sense you have doubts. Persevere with it longer. For me, because I am familiar with the rangefinder system, I got more keepers/strike rate of good photos with my Leica ...
What can I say ....
Am a camera hoarder .... as much as I am a watch slut ..... as my better half puts it LOLLL Yes, I do wear glasses , and yes it poses an issue. Have not tried an diopter. However, have tried both the original Leica 1.25x and 1.45x magnifiers w/o much succ...
no need for preorder Quan. Most
leica dealers carry them. It is cylindrical and very neat when screwed on. Ask your optometrist what diopter you should get . Also which eye you use for focussing as the left eye may be different to your right eye. Cheers, dreamer
Get the original
Leica Diopter, tried a couple aftermarket ... the Leica one works best. It will cost, but a mere fraction of the camera. The same applies for the magnifier, brightest and best optics, IMO.
CCD Sensor & Sample Photos
Kodak CCD Sensor The Kodak 18-megapixel CCD sensor is the same one found in the M-9/9P, so it was no surprise its noise characteristics are the same. The M-E keeps JPEG through its modest top sensitivity setting, ISO 2500. Details are little weak there, b...
Phew indeed
Amazing amazing pictures Bravo Sincerely D P.S. You really are not helping me on my Leica musings :)
Give it a good go b4
u make it your own ... rent , beg , borrow one , spend time with it .... ;)
Vanity Accessories - Must Have !
No self-respecting Leica owner will go without the obligatory accessories .... LOL A red soft-release button to ease those shutter clicks ... LOL My trusty A&A fabric strap ! Made for rangefinders , used by myself all over ... LOL However, the piece d...
Conclusion
So here's the Conclusion (well, mine at least ...) Pros: 1. Amazing CCD Sensor. Its almost 5 yrs old, still puts some newer sensors to shame. Goes to show a great sensor has nothing to do with megapixels. Level of details @ low ISO is simply amazing ! Go ...
Just a simple question:
Why are not getting the M240? It's more versatile, you can attached electronic view finder and use a variety of lenses. cen@jkt
Sensor
Its really a preference of the photos with the CCD sensor over the CMOS. Been following several Flickr group over the past months before deciding. The CCD feels less clinical and imparts more warmth in my eye. And a small matter of issues reported by folk...
The conclusion and your pictures ...
I like them both. Especially the doubts about Leica M-E and/or rangefinder in general I appreciated a lot. For sure it is not for everyone, even when you can afford one. But it is just so rewarding once you are used to it and if it fits to your kind of ph...
Now we are talking ...
Wow ! Is that from the 1920/30s ?!? Is that an early Elmar ?!? What a treat to see pictures of a legend ! Pardon my ignorance ... the conversion effectively makes it an interchangeable lens ? And post some photos pls ! Anyways, the 50 Lux is perfect as u ...
Indeed, it is just gorgeous and even better ...
it is in almost perfect condition. It is from 1927. Just needs some minor service inside - like a SPA treatment, only :-) "interchangeable lens" Yes. 21mm Super Elmar M f3.4 ASPH was and still is my choice. Never tried the 21mm Summilux, because it is qui...
A couple of notes from a former M8 owner...
Thanks for your review. I expect that it will prove particularly useful for those who haven't yet owned a rangefinder. I owned an M8 for several years, and enjoyed it very much (as an aside, I now shoot with a Fuji X-E1). There are, of course, accessories...
Thumbs Up
Is the best thing since sliced bread ! LOL Have one for my XE-1 as well. However, there is another product "lensmate" which is equally good at less cost. The noctilux is a beast in more ways than one, and something which I hope to tame after more time wit...
Hello Quan...
As I do a fair amount of traveling, I became uncomfortable having to worry about carrying such expensive gear. In my experience, the Fuji is so close in quality to the Leica that it was an easy choice to make, at a fraction of the cost. Of course I can st...
Just to add to Tony ...
The X Trans sensor takes amazing pictures and easily mistaken for the CCD sensor when coupled with Leica Optics. Although the one diff is that its an APS-C sized sensor, which means a 1.5x Crop factor. Additionally, with the recent firmware upgrades that ...
Good point about the crop factor...
though it's not an important issue in my case. As my hands are not very big, the X-E1 fits perfectly! Cheers, Tony C.
Thanks Tony
Funny isn't we can travel with expensive watch every where but comes to cam have this concern....LoL
Wow Tony
sorry for the expression but that last picture is just "live" Amazing!!!! Sincerely D
Thanks very much, D!
I appreciate your kind words. Though as suggested, the equipment had everything to do with the quality of the image. Cheers, Tony C.
A nice review, Flamenco.
It sounds like you have embarked on a journey of discovery with your M220. I have been shy to look at any kind of rangefinder mostly because I don't know how it would help me with architectural subjects. It looks like from your photos that it takes to str...