38 thoughts on “Nikon D800E and Zeiss Otus 55/1.4…”
I’m not surprised with your decision but that said, you must be extremely frustrated.
Yes and no. That’s my honest answer.
Ouch!… So what’s next? Or no digital at all?
I have to shoot digital for colour, seeing as I only process B&W film.
Well that didn’t last long.
I hope that you can find your way back to Leica. You are an outstanding photographer, but quite honestly the images that I have so come to love of yours, were not present in the Nikon and Zeiss Otus. I often commented about your photography to my wife; and just the other day I said to her that it may be me, but your images just don’t look the same with the new camera and that I was sorry to see you give up the M9P. With the quality problems that I have been having with my M9, I should give it up, but I can’t. By the way, Leica is replacing my sensor (for the second time) and calibrating my 50 Lux ASPH free of any cost to me. Their service and customer care has been wonderful…I just hope that the sensor issues will stop.
Thanks George. Leica always has a way of pulling me back in…
I’m sorry to learn about your sensor issues. At least they have tried to do the right thing by you.
Great! Move on and follow your gut. I’m sure you’ve still learned a bunch from the brief amount of time with this system. If I’m ever accused of being indecisive I like to point out that I’m actually very decisive… only that it’s multiple and varied instances! If I step back far enough I can see I’m still moving in one direction.
Thank you… I’ve been fortunate enough to try all sorts of gear over the years.
I hope you will consider the m9p and 50 summilux again, Peter. I would not want to be without mine. no choice is without frustration, but the Leica allows me to make more wonderful photos than it keeps me from getting. 🙂 whatever your choice, I wish you the best!
I can’t go back to the M9P… I won’t.
The 50 ‘lux, we’ll see. Right now, all I have is my trusty Voigtlander 40/1.4.
Maybe I missed a previous post. But whats your reasoning for never wanting to touch an M9/P again?
Then what is next?
I offer you this wonderful post by my friend Johnny Patience. It helped me out more than he could possibly imagine.
Bijan, thank you for the link and I read it with a smile on my face.
I have written those words in so many ways on this site, but I always seem to be in a state of restlessness. I am, however, certain of one thing after all of these years: I love shooting with rangefinders.
Can I suggest a second hand digital back for your RZ67 they have the best sensors. I can only imagine the portraits you will pull out of one of those.
The allure of the RZ67 for me is the 110/2.8 lens + the large chunk of Kokak Tri-X film in each frame. If I opt for a digital back, I’ll lose that beautiful tonality of film, and I’ll still have the problem of having a large digital camera system (that’s not ideal for unobtrusive photographing).
Thank you!
Sony A7s? 🙂
Rent an S2 (or even better an S) and try it. If you cannot afford the Leica lenses, use the adaptor and a Mamiya 80/f1.9 and you will be amazed. I think a used S2 plus a lens must be affordable now.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
PhotoMatrix (would be nice to have at least your first name 🙂 ), you wrote something when I first announced my equipment change:
“I know it sounds terrible, but in my mind I had you as the person who is almost invisible to the people around him, and you were capturing these little moments of life (as I think you call them) without affecting them too much by observing and recording them. I may be wrong, but that was my impression.
Now I see you there with a big camera and lens, capturing the same moments but in a way that will affect them. I feel something may be lost.”
As you recall, I wasn’t offended by your sincere comments.
And although I had to re-learn how to process my files with the new system (and was obviously still in the process of refining that), I had no doubt that I would get to a point where I was generally satisfied. Make no mistake about it, the final look would have been different from what I get with CCD, but it would have (hopefully) been pleasing.
But the “deal-breaker” for me, the thing that made me decide to abort the grand experiment, was seeing how my children would flinch every time I triggered the shutter. The loudness was ruining “Life’s Little Moments”.
And so, the D800E/Otus had to go. You were prescient with your words.
—Peter.
Hi Peter,
first of all after re-reading my earlier comment I need to clarify that the phrase “I know it sounds terrible” was referring to the fact that I was going to raise the issue of the size and noise of your new equipment, and the fact that it will affect your subjects, not of course to the fact that I had you in my mind as someone that was capturing moments in a “stealth mode”…
I look forward to seeing what is your next step and to learn from your experiences with the new camera/lens you will use.
It is Kostas by the way, we have interacted in the dpreview, Leica forum where I post as Daedalus2000.
Best Regards, Kostas
Ahhhh, splendid. Thank you Kostas!
By the way, I understood what you meant when you first wrote it, so do not worry.
Peter.
Life is change.
Next up: Sony A7s.
You read it here first.
Ha, ha, ha… it’s a good guess but my experience with the RX1R has turned me off from Sony for now. And, of course, there’s that loud shutter….
Of course try the A7R if you wish, however based on what you have said in previous posts, I really don’t think you will find what you are looking for with that camera. I purchased it as a replacement for my Leica M9, and found it wanting in skin tones, micro contrast and shadow details. I went back to an m9-P and won’t be moving on again until I absolutely have to.
Gavin, if your M9P is serving you well, then I would agree — don’t switch. As I’ve written many times on this site, the M9 is my “camera of the year” (for the last five years!).
Peter, I get my colour filmed scanned and sent back to me. Very reasonable. Perhaps try some colour film in your M3 and Mamiya before anything else?
I do sympathise with your predicament regarding cameras. I have been sitting on the fence for many years regarding digital and still have not seen anything that would make me jump in. Film is as good as it gets for me for the forseable future.
A number of years ago, I tried a couple of “pro” labs and was disappointed (dust and scratches on the negatives). That’s one of the reasons I started developing my own B&W film.
🙂
Peter,
I am curious too why you are adamant about not going back to the M9 and sticking to the CMOS sensor of the M240. Granted, I have not used the M240 but I did rent the M9 and thought the photos were very close to slide film (my preference).
As an aside, I still use my film Leicas and with color negs, starting to have them develop only. I’ll take my wife’s bridge camera and use as a scanner. Surprisingly, very little dust and no scratches on the negs (I send to a reputable lab). Of course, b&w all done by myself. 😉
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Wow Peter,
selling your new gear after such a short time is very straight. Respect! But the gear must not destroy life’s little moments.
Have you ever tried a Fuji, e.g. XT-1?. It is not fullframe, has a damned CMOS sensor but it is small, inconspicuous and silent. And it let u use Leica lenses.
Always the best for your next experiment!
Kind regards,
Bernd
With acknowledgement and thanks to Bill Watterson, creator and illustrator of Calvin and Hobbes.
From second to last comic strip in the series dated December 30, 1995 (look for the original as the drawings are at least half the joy, black and white in a woods setting while they are walking along):
Hobbes: Are you making any resolutions for the new year?
Calvin: Yeah, I’m resolving to just wing it and see what happens.
Hobbes: So you’re staying the course?
Calvin: I stick to my strengths.
From final comic strip in the series dated December 31, 1995 (again look for the original…this one in full sized color and set in the snow on a hill top with their beautiful toboggan:)
Calvin: Wow, it really snowed last night Isn’t it wonderful?
Hobbes: Everything familiar has disappeared! The world looks brand-new!
Calvin: A new year…a fresh clean start!
Hobbes: It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!
Calvin: A day full of possibilities!
(Last frame…..)
Calvin: It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ Buddy….Let’s go exploring!
Peter, does Calvin remind you of anyone?
Good luck with your magical world and another fresh clean start…..and keep sticking to your strengths. Have fun.
Hi Peter, have you considered the little Sigma Merrill? I have the DP2M and its fantastic, it’s forcing me to slow down and think carefully of every shot.
Some people describes it as having a medium format camera in your pocket, I think it is a good description and you’ll be surprised by the quality of the files it produces.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ll continue the magnificent work you’ve been sharing with us, I’ve been visiting your site frequently as your photography is very inspirational and tend to see you as the Michael Kenna of people’s moments.
Best, Pedro
Hi Pedro. I’ve constantly considered the Sigma Merrills. I previously owned the original DP and really loved the quality of the files, but disliked the slow performance. I know things have improved since then (and another group of Sigmas are about to be released), but something happened since I owned that first Sigma: I discovered my love for rangefinders. And, as I learned — again — this time, that’s my preferred type of camera.
Whoa that was fast. For skin tones , the xvario passes nicely but no shallow dof . Rent one for fun perhaps ?
Peter, this didn’t surprise me greatly, but I still think for a DSLR a Df plus Nikon 58 F1.4 would have been a better combination given that its Q mode is not much louder than a Leica (much different from the D800!). I rejected the Otus because I found the Nikon 58 to have a much more aesthetically pleasing render. The nikon 58 just doesn’t score well on test charts, which is why the internet is full of ill informed bilge about it. The other lens that’s been filling my heart with joy on F mount is the Zeiss Distagon 28mm F2, it has a very artistic render wide open.
I know many people may have tell you, but I came first to your site when you were about to make the change. I even guessed it right to the Nikon D800 and the Otus, but the first thought I had when I saw your images is “why change”? Yes, every system has its limitations, but looking at your images, that was my first thought. I’m happy you found your way again.
Prosophos 
I’m not surprised with your decision but that said, you must be extremely frustrated.
Yes and no. That’s my honest answer.
Ouch!… So what’s next? Or no digital at all?
I have to shoot digital for colour, seeing as I only process B&W film.
Well that didn’t last long.
I hope that you can find your way back to Leica. You are an outstanding photographer, but quite honestly the images that I have so come to love of yours, were not present in the Nikon and Zeiss Otus. I often commented about your photography to my wife; and just the other day I said to her that it may be me, but your images just don’t look the same with the new camera and that I was sorry to see you give up the M9P. With the quality problems that I have been having with my M9, I should give it up, but I can’t. By the way, Leica is replacing my sensor (for the second time) and calibrating my 50 Lux ASPH free of any cost to me. Their service and customer care has been wonderful…I just hope that the sensor issues will stop.
Thanks George. Leica always has a way of pulling me back in…
I’m sorry to learn about your sensor issues. At least they have tried to do the right thing by you.
Great! Move on and follow your gut. I’m sure you’ve still learned a bunch from the brief amount of time with this system. If I’m ever accused of being indecisive I like to point out that I’m actually very decisive… only that it’s multiple and varied instances! If I step back far enough I can see I’m still moving in one direction.
Thank you… I’ve been fortunate enough to try all sorts of gear over the years.
I hope you will consider the m9p and 50 summilux again, Peter. I would not want to be without mine. no choice is without frustration, but the Leica allows me to make more wonderful photos than it keeps me from getting. 🙂 whatever your choice, I wish you the best!
I can’t go back to the M9P… I won’t.
The 50 ‘lux, we’ll see. Right now, all I have is my trusty Voigtlander 40/1.4.
Maybe I missed a previous post. But whats your reasoning for never wanting to touch an M9/P again?
Then what is next?
I offer you this wonderful post by my friend Johnny Patience. It helped me out more than he could possibly imagine.
http://www.johnnypatience.com/a-lifelong-journey/
Bijan, thank you for the link and I read it with a smile on my face.
I have written those words in so many ways on this site, but I always seem to be in a state of restlessness. I am, however, certain of one thing after all of these years: I love shooting with rangefinders.
Can I suggest a second hand digital back for your RZ67 they have the best sensors. I can only imagine the portraits you will pull out of one of those.
The allure of the RZ67 for me is the 110/2.8 lens + the large chunk of Kokak Tri-X film in each frame. If I opt for a digital back, I’ll lose that beautiful tonality of film, and I’ll still have the problem of having a large digital camera system (that’s not ideal for unobtrusive photographing).
Thank you!
Sony A7s? 🙂
Rent an S2 (or even better an S) and try it. If you cannot afford the Leica lenses, use the adaptor and a Mamiya 80/f1.9 and you will be amazed. I think a used S2 plus a lens must be affordable now.
Thanks for your thoughts everyone.
PhotoMatrix (would be nice to have at least your first name 🙂 ), you wrote something when I first announced my equipment change:
“I know it sounds terrible, but in my mind I had you as the person who is almost invisible to the people around him, and you were capturing these little moments of life (as I think you call them) without affecting them too much by observing and recording them. I may be wrong, but that was my impression.
Now I see you there with a big camera and lens, capturing the same moments but in a way that will affect them. I feel something may be lost.”
As you recall, I wasn’t offended by your sincere comments.
And although I had to re-learn how to process my files with the new system (and was obviously still in the process of refining that), I had no doubt that I would get to a point where I was generally satisfied. Make no mistake about it, the final look would have been different from what I get with CCD, but it would have (hopefully) been pleasing.
But the “deal-breaker” for me, the thing that made me decide to abort the grand experiment, was seeing how my children would flinch every time I triggered the shutter. The loudness was ruining “Life’s Little Moments”.
And so, the D800E/Otus had to go. You were prescient with your words.
—Peter.
Hi Peter,
first of all after re-reading my earlier comment I need to clarify that the phrase “I know it sounds terrible” was referring to the fact that I was going to raise the issue of the size and noise of your new equipment, and the fact that it will affect your subjects, not of course to the fact that I had you in my mind as someone that was capturing moments in a “stealth mode”…
I look forward to seeing what is your next step and to learn from your experiences with the new camera/lens you will use.
It is Kostas by the way, we have interacted in the dpreview, Leica forum where I post as Daedalus2000.
Best Regards, Kostas
Ahhhh, splendid. Thank you Kostas!
By the way, I understood what you meant when you first wrote it, so do not worry.
Peter.
Life is change.
Next up: Sony A7s.
You read it here first.
Ha, ha, ha… it’s a good guess but my experience with the RX1R has turned me off from Sony for now. And, of course, there’s that loud shutter….
Of course try the A7R if you wish, however based on what you have said in previous posts, I really don’t think you will find what you are looking for with that camera. I purchased it as a replacement for my Leica M9, and found it wanting in skin tones, micro contrast and shadow details. I went back to an m9-P and won’t be moving on again until I absolutely have to.
Gavin, if your M9P is serving you well, then I would agree — don’t switch. As I’ve written many times on this site, the M9 is my “camera of the year” (for the last five years!).
Peter, I get my colour filmed scanned and sent back to me. Very reasonable. Perhaps try some colour film in your M3 and Mamiya before anything else?
I do sympathise with your predicament regarding cameras. I have been sitting on the fence for many years regarding digital and still have not seen anything that would make me jump in. Film is as good as it gets for me for the forseable future.
A number of years ago, I tried a couple of “pro” labs and was disappointed (dust and scratches on the negatives). That’s one of the reasons I started developing my own B&W film.
🙂
Peter,
I am curious too why you are adamant about not going back to the M9 and sticking to the CMOS sensor of the M240. Granted, I have not used the M240 but I did rent the M9 and thought the photos were very close to slide film (my preference).
As an aside, I still use my film Leicas and with color negs, starting to have them develop only. I’ll take my wife’s bridge camera and use as a scanner. Surprisingly, very little dust and no scratches on the negs (I send to a reputable lab). Of course, b&w all done by myself. 😉
Thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Wow Peter,
selling your new gear after such a short time is very straight. Respect! But the gear must not destroy life’s little moments.
Have you ever tried a Fuji, e.g. XT-1?. It is not fullframe, has a damned CMOS sensor but it is small, inconspicuous and silent. And it let u use Leica lenses.
Always the best for your next experiment!
Kind regards,
Bernd
With acknowledgement and thanks to Bill Watterson, creator and illustrator of Calvin and Hobbes.
From second to last comic strip in the series dated December 30, 1995 (look for the original as the drawings are at least half the joy, black and white in a woods setting while they are walking along):
Hobbes: Are you making any resolutions for the new year?
Calvin: Yeah, I’m resolving to just wing it and see what happens.
Hobbes: So you’re staying the course?
Calvin: I stick to my strengths.
From final comic strip in the series dated December 31, 1995 (again look for the original…this one in full sized color and set in the snow on a hill top with their beautiful toboggan:)
Calvin: Wow, it really snowed last night Isn’t it wonderful?
Hobbes: Everything familiar has disappeared! The world looks brand-new!
Calvin: A new year…a fresh clean start!
Hobbes: It’s like having a big white sheet of paper to draw on!
Calvin: A day full of possibilities!
(Last frame…..)
Calvin: It’s a magical world, Hobbes, ol’ Buddy….Let’s go exploring!
Peter, does Calvin remind you of anyone?
Good luck with your magical world and another fresh clean start…..and keep sticking to your strengths. Have fun.
Hi Peter, have you considered the little Sigma Merrill? I have the DP2M and its fantastic, it’s forcing me to slow down and think carefully of every shot.
Some people describes it as having a medium format camera in your pocket, I think it is a good description and you’ll be surprised by the quality of the files it produces.
Anyway, I’m sure you’ll continue the magnificent work you’ve been sharing with us, I’ve been visiting your site frequently as your photography is very inspirational and tend to see you as the Michael Kenna of people’s moments.
Best, Pedro
Hi Pedro. I’ve constantly considered the Sigma Merrills. I previously owned the original DP and really loved the quality of the files, but disliked the slow performance. I know things have improved since then (and another group of Sigmas are about to be released), but something happened since I owned that first Sigma: I discovered my love for rangefinders. And, as I learned — again — this time, that’s my preferred type of camera.
Whoa that was fast. For skin tones , the xvario passes nicely but no shallow dof . Rent one for fun perhaps ?
Peter, this didn’t surprise me greatly, but I still think for a DSLR a Df plus Nikon 58 F1.4 would have been a better combination given that its Q mode is not much louder than a Leica (much different from the D800!). I rejected the Otus because I found the Nikon 58 to have a much more aesthetically pleasing render. The nikon 58 just doesn’t score well on test charts, which is why the internet is full of ill informed bilge about it. The other lens that’s been filling my heart with joy on F mount is the Zeiss Distagon 28mm F2, it has a very artistic render wide open.
I know many people may have tell you, but I came first to your site when you were about to make the change. I even guessed it right to the Nikon D800 and the Otus, but the first thought I had when I saw your images is “why change”? Yes, every system has its limitations, but looking at your images, that was my first thought. I’m happy you found your way again.