new to forum

Hi everyone,

Just joined to chat in this forum. I'm a Nikon shooter (d300) and just made the jump over to the Leica side with a new (to me) M9. I've loved so much of what I've seen coming from the Leica shooters and so I spent the last many months agonizing about whether to pay this whopping entry fee. But with a bit of help from a good coach, who said that I should stop messing around with X100's and holding hope for the X1Pro, and just get the camera that I really want .. here I am

Though I was warned that this would be an adjustment, with only a few hours of playing, I am sensing that it's going to be a bigger one than I had expected.

On the advise of a friend, I started with the CV35/1.2 and have my Summilux 50 coming right behind it.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone on here! You can see some of my past work on my site.

Look forward to meeting many of you.

Cheers,
Kevin
http://www.kfphotoarts.com

Congradulations. Do not worry about learning how to be proffiecent using the rangefinder mechanism it will come to you over time.

BTW I think that for a while at least I would purchase second hand, older Leica M and M39 (Screw Mount Lenses). They are very cheap and were designed for Full Frame. Go over to KEH.com and look at the Leica M and Screw Mount Lenses. Some can be had for around $225. This means you can build up a collection in the various Focal Lengths 28/35/50/85/90 and 135mm and see which are your favorite FL's. Afterward's you can keep these lenses while still spending the many thousands of dollars for each of the new Leica lenses. I paid $850 for a Leica Summilux 50mm f/1.4 first version and it's my favorite and most often used lens out of over 50 lenses in many makes and lens mounts.

M39 LTM/screw mount lenses are not bad at all and are available from KEH.com. (the worlds largest second hand camera gear seller). Remember it was these lenses that Leica built it's reputation as the worlds best lens mfr. LTM/M39 lenses require a simple $17-$25 adapter to work on Leica M cameras and using the correct adapter to match the FL of the lens will allow the camera to bring up the correct frame lines in the viewfinder.

I myself also purchase used Russaian made Leica copies for $49 to $189 dollars. How about an excellent condition Industar 85mm f/2 ( a Zeiss Sonnar copy) for under $200 from FEDKA.com a Russian camera/ and lens importer located in New York City.

KFoisy said:

Hi everyone,

Just joined to chat in this forum. I'm a Nikon shooter (d300) and just made the jump over to the Leica side with a new (to me) M9. I've loved so much of what I've seen coming from the Leica shooters and so I spent the last many months agonizing about whether to pay this whopping entry fee. But with a bit of help from a good coach, who said that I should stop messing around with X100's and holding hope for the X1Pro, and just get the camera that I really want .. here I am

Though I was warned that this would be an adjustment, with only a few hours of playing, I am sensing that it's going to be a bigger one than I had expected.

On the advise of a friend, I started with the CV35/1.2 and have my Summilux 50 coming right behind it.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone on here! You can see some of my past work on my site.

Look forward to meeting many of you.

Cheers,
Kevin
http://www.kfphotoarts.com

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--
Life as an artist has had some unusual times to say the least.
visit my web site http://www.flickr.com/photos/artist_eyes/
Remember to click on 'All Sizes' for better viewing.
Artist Eyes

Welcome and you're going to love it.

Wow, thanks Peter .. some great lens tips!

I bought some of the older Nikkor glass from KEH and had great results. Will check it out for Leica!

Russian knock-offs...how do they stand up against Leica glass?

Thanks,
Kevin

Thanks!

Welcome, Kevin! Look forward to your images.

Cheers,
-raaj
--
'Change is not Mandatory, you don't have to Survive...'
http://www.seekinglight.net

Thanks Raaj. I've been shooting all night and already starting to love this camera. What a huge paradigm shift from my Nikon.

KF

Gorgeous pictures you have on your site..... i like them very much !!!

Welcome and hope to see your posts very soon !!!

Best, Gianluca
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gianlucanardini/

A quick browse through your galleries shows you have a keen eye coupled with a creative imagination - most useful ingredients in my opinion for producing wonderful photographs.

I look forward to your posts.

Cheers

David
Australia

Excellent! Welcome to what may well become a lifelong obsession! You're probably going to curse not a few times whoever prodded you down this path if it does indeed become an obsession.

Please post your images!

Cheers!
-raaj

KFoisy said:

Thanks Raaj. I've been shooting all night and already starting to love this camera. What a huge paradigm shift from my Nikon.

KF

Click to expand...

--
'Change is not Mandatory, you don't have to Survive...'
http://www.seekinglight.net

Thanks very much David!

I am hoping to learn much from others on this forum.

Thank you!

I hope you enjoy your M9 very much, Kevin.

I worked with Nikon SLR and Leica RF gear side by side for 30+ years ... The two different kinds of cameras net different ways of seeing, and you work differently as a result.

Give yourself time to get accustomed, don't get into buying too much stuff off the bat. The Voigtländer is a lovely lens, so is the Summilux 50. Work with them for a while and get into the pace and mindset that the M9 gives you. Realize that it is different from working with an SLR, by intent, and enjoy the difference.

With the M9, my attention gets focused on the individual magic of different lenses' rendering qualities. I have a half dozen lenses that I can shoot with using the M9 as I have two other bodies that I can use them on. There's something about how a 1960 Hektor 135mm works, etc. But what gets used most of the time is just one of them .. the combination of the M9 and the M-Rokkor 40mm f/2 has The Magic I was looking for.

When you get to the point where you can see in your mind's eye what the lens and camera together will produce even before you put the camera to your eye, you know it's gotten under your skin and you're at home with it.

--
Godfrey
flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gdgphoto/

Welcome to the forum Kevin,

I visited your website and I am very impressed with your photography. The Flooded Forest - Night picture is just awesome. I imagine you have the eye to take great pictures with any camera. For your nature work the image quality, reduced weight & size of the Leica will be advantageous. I may be wrong but it appears that many of your pictures have been taken with telephoto lenses. This may prove more challenging with a Leica because your lens range selection is restricted. I look forward to seeing what you do with your new camera.
--
Neil

Hello Kevin,

congratulations for your new gear ! And welcome here !!!

Have a great shooting .

Best regards .

Hugues.

Thanks Godfrey!

Yes, I can definitely see that there is an adjustment. Much of the past work I've done relies on telephoto to exclude elements and isolate the subject. Now, with a 35mm and no telephoto, it's a different game all together; one that I am going to need time to adjust to. But, I am excited by the prospects of a new style of photography and looking forward to the challenges.

A friend of mine that is a seasoned social documentary photographer said to me once (I paraphrase) "it's not about being the best, it's about enjoying the journey."

Cheers,
Kevin

Thanks Neil .. yes, a big adjustment to working with primes only. And especially with only 1 prime, my 35mm. I need to spend some time with this lens before expanding to others, though I confess a strong desire for something in the 75mm range.

Kevin