Forum Replies Created
David
I am a bit confused about the bulb settings. When I take a long exposure I generally am trying to keep my ISO at 160 or 320 to maintain maximum DR and color saturation . Your example implies that setting on B and using ISO 160 limits exposure to16 sec ? And that to get to 125 I would have to increase ISO .
Dan
First the 90/2.8 EM is an excellent lens that I use frequently. The M version of the lens (latest ) has the pull out shade and uses a 46mm filter . The used price can vary considerably based on the age and condition of the specific lens. A mint 6 bit coded lens in the silver box will be considered the current model and will sell for over $2000 and can get up over $2500 if its like new. A used older model (white box) without 6 bit and in used condition can still run near $1500 . Occasionally you can find a used lens for a few hundred less.
The prices have increased significantly over the past two years …the good news is that the prices look to hold up well . I found a nice used one and sent it to DAG for 6 bit coding and calibration ..now its one of my favorite lenses.
Atanabe;1508 wrote: Allyouneed,
Great cover layout!Thanks,
AlOK Al own up you have two forum ID s ! LOL ….Seriously it neat to see your image as a cover ..I hope you send this to LFI.
The life guard stations are a must have image of south beach ..everybody takes the shot but each time its a gem.
Roger
Nice shots Al. You just can t miss at South Beach 😎 But you never know what you will find.
So let me understand ..you over slept, missed the life guard station at dawn but covered with a few shots of a pretty girl . LOL
Keep in mind that to use the approach that Marc uses ..you will need a skill level of 12 on a scale of ten . Using three systems provides real precision in picking the best equipment for each situation …but it also requires that you know your stuff. You can see he does but that takes years of experience and great familiarity with your equipment .
I had my own wedding photography business and it paid my way thru graduate school. I used Hasselblad s not so much because they were MF and produced great quality but as much because they were bullet proof . Requirements have changed and digital if anything is less forgiving .
Last year I shot 3 weddings ….and I used my Nikon s for each of them (I have the S2 and M9 systems ) . But I wanted a bullet proof system with on camera flash on a bracket (I know the benefits of getting the flash off the camera and Marc s approach is to be envied ) .
So I got a domed diffuser (good old Gary Fong) ,bought a RRS bracket , set up the Sb900 and made sure I had a complete redundant system . I carried a D3/24-70/2.8 AF and D700/28/2 ZF . The D700 was set up to use just the on camera flash as fill. And I tested ,practiced and triple checked everything . Plus I visited the venue at the same time as the wedding the day before (late afternoon summer). I used two friends as back up photographers . You can t be in two places at once .
I know its not popular but neither the M9 or the S2 are the ideal equipment choices unless you really know your equipment and you are used to shooting a lot of candid people shots .
While the S2 would produce really stunning IQ as already pointed out ..it is unforgiving . I used my M9 at daughters wedding without flash ..great fun ..but I couldn t nail the focus around the dance floor . But nobody cared because we hired a professional who did a great job. I could shoot the people and situations that interested me ..no must get the shot stuff.
So if you are shooting for the couple ..its different than shooting for yourself . And I would look for the easiest system to use first . And then I would practice with the flash until I was relaxed about it .
Doug you are right the ex officio line changes frequently . I have one vest that is mesh over 80% of the vest ..so over a tee shirt its nothing . The other is like one of their nylon fishing shirts material but looks similar to the Domke . These two look like fishing or travel vests . The advantage is they are light weight nylon fabric where most others are heavy cotton . Both work great at the beach where you can t lay anything down .
I have used quite a number of vests. I shoot with 2 m9 s mostly street and travel in cities. My favorites are the ex officio brand. The vests are light nylon fabric and have both small and large pockets. I have a very light version that i wear over a tee shirt in florida and a more complete version for carrying more.
The Filson travel vest is very nice and looks better but its safari cloth and too hot for summer . Great vest at 60-75 degrees.
In colder climates i use the Patagonia nylon puff style vests . These are my favorites because they blend in with the traveling public. With a black patagonia layered shirt and black vest …its very light yet between 40-60 degrees perfect. This is what i used in venice last week . Gets colder i add a layer . Pockets large enough for an m lens.
The only bag i work out of is the think tank lens bagfor 2 lenses. For S2.
I never put away my cameras when i am out shooting.
As david mentioned i am xxl and 6ft 2in.
Vests are great where i want to look like a pro…events for example …but not so good when trying to fit in. Patagonia vests hold enough for me ..i try to shoot with just 3 lenses and 2 bodies. Can work with 4 lenses if necessary .
For warm weather above 80 i look for the ex officio which are very light.
Jack David
I understand the ND filter and POL benefits and trade offs. Is the primary benefit of the graduated density filter …the preservation of the DR ? E.g. bring down the sky while maintaining the shadow detail?
Still in Atlanta thru year end but then I will borrow David s kit and try it out .
Thanks
Roger
david
I think its worse than an allocation of resources…because Leica will probably not make the accessories . They sure don t make the screen .
I would give them credit for addressing the most significant issue with the camera at release ..the integration of the Adobe software with the in camera raw files . The current files are many times better than the originals . I am amazed at the IQ at say 640 even at 100% (where the large sensor has no advantage ) the files are sharp and smoother than the M9 files. Thats the power of the Maestro Chip optimizing the raw file .
woodyspedden;915 wrote: Plus, they could have said that because of the backlogs for both S2 and M lenses that they simply did not have the resources to work on lower priority items such as the L Finder.
Saying that the solution is to buy another system that has this accessory is a new high of arrogance, even for Leica. Germans are often misunderstood when they speak English because the language (German) is not full of subtleties but rather brusque.
But in the end, you are responsible for what you say, regardless of language. Shame on you Stephen Schultz
Woody Spedden
Certainly agree with Woody on this one. Personally I am tired of hearing about how Leica s success has created a shortage of lenses and accessories ..or how small they are .
Thanks for all the insights and testing. I ended up with a Gitzo 3541L and i think thats the right size for the S2 . The RRS BH55 and the lever release and the RRS L bracket. Nothing original. Could not get the RRS 34 L in time for my trip.
Funny though I was shooting at Maroon Bells in Aspen. The most photographed location in Colorado. Pitch black and 65 photographers set up in the dark. Sun comes up and the guy next to me had the new RRS 34 L ….looks very nice similar in size to the Gitzo 3 series but rated close to the 5. Using the same BH 55 head.
Jack that test looks like one done for LFI years winner was the wood tripod. Thanks again for all the insights.
Very nice work . I can see the color shifting each day it gets better .
Enjoying the daily posts of new england ..looks like you are getting some cold weather at least early in the morning. David is starting to take on the persona of one of the PBS wilderness photographers . The color looks like its coming in for you and you had some winter clouds making for some nice images .
This week i am the armchair traveler. Wish i could have attended but maybe next year.
Definitely a motley crew that sleeps in their clothing. I noticed that jack was prepared for the group shot ? LOL
Miss being there best wishes for great light!
As you might guess… I don t shoot this type of subject much. I am really into street shooting and some sports ..so i am more likely to be working with an M9 or D3s.
I believe you are correct about the star trails…but i was trying to determine if they were this large because the star moved that far in 32s or if its from overloading a few pixels. Some situations like this are considered characteristics of a sensor type .e.g. They all do this? Or like the high iso banding on a m8/9 its a flaw. Or if the star actually moves that far in 32s its expected with a long exposure.
I live in Atlanta we can t see the stars. I thought Jupiter FL had a clean sky until i shot in the mountains at 10000 ft.
The s2 is a really great camera but i expect that i will sell the body when i can get an S3. The lenses will be around for as long as i need them.
Appreciate the insights thanks
