Leica M-P Pick n mix

Like a pin ball, this post is likely to bounce from one thing to another and back again in no particular order.

So lets open the post with the camera in use. All the images presented here have been taken with the
Leica M-P type 240. And very nice it is to. Slimmed down menus from the M9. More back to basics. Having wanted the M-P since I found out about it. The big thing is the 2mb buffer, as small an increase as it is, it makes such a difference in real world shooting. I do like the minimalist front, no red dot. But lets face it, a Leica M with no red dot, is as invisible, as a Mercedes without a  Tri Star. Yeah right. But, nice non the less. So having wanted the M-P over the M9 for the buffer benefits, I am already looking to the M10.

Is that because the M-P is no good? No. Far far from it. I thought going to CMOS from CCD would be an issue, it's not. The M9 CCD produced beautiful images. The M-P CMOS produces beautiful images.

So why the desire for the M10? Human nature I guess. The biggie here, is the slimness of the body harking back to the M3 (my first Leica) and no video. Have I used the video option on the M-P? Yes.
More just to see how it works and how well. All quite acceptable and novel. But the likelihood is I would whip out the mobile and use that.

 Where the CMOS really scores is the live view mode. Realy like that. Just brilliant for those critical focus shots.

One thing I would like to see is the option for a second type of live view focus as found in the Ricoh GXR.
You really can pin down the focus and the depth of field. (dear Leica firmware upgrade?)

Unlike a lot (most/all) Youtube reviews of Leica cameras. I'm putting my own hard earned cash on the counter. No freebies or test pieces here. (yes, I'm open to offers. but not holding my breath)

So as happy as I am with the M-P, as I was (and still am with the M9) I'm working my way towards an M10.

So what have I been shooting with it? Nowt special. All very boring with little technical skill, but I'm shooting for me, not commercially.

As ever, no fiddling about, all straight off the chip. No cropping, curves, contrast, sharpness, brightness or owt else.

Testing out the 90mm 2.8 in table lamp lighting. iso 2500 @1/8

Grain. Grain what am I talking about. Noise. Not bad for a handheld shot.

Brook side path (Elmar 50 f2.8)

Parallel lines (Elmar 50 f2.8)

More parallel lines (Elmar 50 f2.8)

Happens (Elmar 50 f2.8)

Bench (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 Berries (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 Tree (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 Delicate (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 Bowl

 Black and white (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 Or, Colour (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 

 2 front (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 2 rear (Elmar 50 f2.8)

 

Voight 15mm Selection

 Skyscape

Standing in a line

Carrington Arms - Ashby Folville - 11/06/2013

Shot looks better cropped but the original has it's own appeal.

And now for something completely different

This is somewhat behind the times now, but no matter. Some shots from The Beltane Fire Festival 2012, Edinburgh.

 

 

Load of old bull

GXR Summitar

Corner building detail on St Marys Street, Edinburgh.

Shooting from the hip 2

Although these appear in Blackpool Tower 2, I am double posting as they also lend themselves to the ongoing theme of shooting from the hip. So if you missed them the first time here they are again.

What is the better title for this one. Hip to hip or Taking the bag at face value?

Really quite pleased with this one. Straight from the hip and straight from the cam. No cropping just as it was taken. Overexposed but hey, so what. For me, the moment is there, for anyone else, maybe maybe not.

Jason

Shooting from the hip 1

Man at bus stop. Shooting from the hip practice.

Auto Porn 1

Hmmmmm!

The morning after the night before

Cheval or...

Bag Lady

Who's who

GXR
As the shop asks...

New toy

I am now the proud owner of a Voigtlander 35mm F1.4 Nokton Multi-coated M mount lens. Although the following images have nothing to do with street photography I had to shoot something. So bolted it on to the GXR and burnt some pixels. The 35mm and the GXR crop factor gives me back the look of a standard 50mm. Not exact, but close enough. Having been very pleased with Voigtlander 15mm and the view that gives, I had forgotten how fast a 1.4 is, even though that was the joint primary reason for buying one. I could have done with this a fortnight ago in Edinburgh for the Beltane Fire Festival. (That is a post still to come).

The size, weight and feel are good. Smooth focus ring and half stop clicks on the aperture ring. Nice. Although tend to like black and white this lens does like colour.

For what it is worth I put the Nokton on my M3 for openers, for anyone that is interested, it does not bring up the 35mm frame lines. Hey ho.

From leica M3 to Cowon J3 and Audio Technica ES7s.

I said it likes colour.

Just need to use it on the street now. First impressions, very happy with it.

Jason