Guest Post: Andrew Gemmell.

Guest Post, Inspiration, Leica 50mm Summilux ASPH f/1.4, Leica M Monochrom (CCD Lives!)

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Those of you who frequent Prosophos will know Andrew Gemmell from his numerous contributions to the daily discussions on this site; he always offers an encouraging word and is the consummate gentlemen.  However, what you may not know is that Andrew actually photographs! 🙂

Mr. Gemmell recently went on a whirlwind vacation and came back with a few images.  No — strike that — he came back with a series of incredible images.  Given the sheer number of them, I could have put together a Featured Photographer piece for him, but I had to remind myself that this series represents the output from a single vacation.  I can only imagine what a future Featured Photographer post would look like…

I am fortunate to be hosting these images – thank you Andrew.

—Peter.

P.S.  I’d also like to thank Mark Ewanchuk — he knows why.

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Andrew Gemmell writes:

“Hi Peter,

My wife and I have always enjoyed traveling. It was something we had always committed to when we married and traveling with our three daughters was always going to be on the agenda. Fortunately, we have been lucky enough to fulfill a major part of those dreams and we have just spent 5 weeks traveling the globe. Dubai, Rome, overland up to Stuttgart (via Venice, Lake Como and Schwangau in Germany). We spent a week in Paris, four days in London and finished our trip via NY!

Tiring is a word which comes to mind! Although exhausting…..it was incredible. To share an adventure like this with my daughters is something which will never be taken away now. To spend time out of the daily routine, talk about different cultures, the food and of course the history. To help them learn made this such a special trip.

Along for the ride was also a camera I have become very attached to, the Leica Monochrome. I took along a 50mm Summilux ASPH 1.4 and the 24mm Elmar 3.8 (definitely a keeper for me). It’s the only camera I have now after making a commitment to learn about using a rangefinder and also exploring the world of black & white only photography.

Although the photography was secondary to the experience, it is part of my life. Photography is about expression and all I aim to do is express myself and the subject in a meaningful way.

I hope you enjoy them.

—Andrew Gemmell

P.S.  There are number of people who have influenced me. Yes, you in a big way. Your passion for this camera and style of shooting had me very intrigued. Of course the results speak for themselves, albeit it’s more about the passion of photography and the things you love which produce the results, not the camera.

Many people you have posted here, Hugues (love your work Hugues!!), Jason Howe, Ashwin and especially Kristian Dowling (his story telling ability and skill is to me incredible and an enormous influence). Thank you for sharing their work as it has a direct effect on me personally and how I approach this wonderful hobby we all love!”

 

Images courtesy of Andrew Gemmell.

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AG1-lakegardaboat

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AG2-pantsvenice

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AG3-romereflections

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AG4-pigeons

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AG5-schwangau3

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AG14-lake garda ponton

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AG6-schwangau4

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AG7-towork

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AG8-stairs

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AG9-parisstreet2

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AG10-manhattan NY

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AG11-lakecomo2

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AG12-porsche american roadster

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AG13-singers2 ny

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AG15-lakecomo1

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AG16-gondola2

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AG18-pigeons NY

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AG17-atlantis

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Thank you again Andrew for sharing these wonderful images!

—Peter.

Q&A: Kerwin asks about the M9 in low light, M240.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

M9 in low light, M240

“Hi Peter,

I love your site and the pictures that you post.  They are a great inspiration for me to get better at being a photographer.  I follow your blog and have been very curious about the M240 and M9 debate, or the CMOS and CCD sensor battle.  I have an M9 and have been thinking about moving into the M240.  Mind you I have only been shooting Leica for about a year now.  But when I see your images and read about what you have to say about the CCD.  Then I don’t want to get the M240 anymore.  Part of the reason why I would like to get the M240 is to be able to use the higher ISO for when shooting at lower light situations.  Anyway, I’m still holding on to the M9.  Any tips on what to do when shooting in lower light with the M9?

Keep up the great work!

Cheers,
Kerwin”

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Hello Kerwin,

First of all, thank you so much for your nice comments.

Now, to address your questions, which are all excellent…

Yes, I’ve always believed, and continue to believe, that CCD sensor cameras produce images at base ISO that are more pleasing than CMOS sensor cameras.  However, in low light, CCD sensors struggle relative to their CMOS counterparts.

The introduction of the Leica Monochrom did much to close the performance gap, but of course you’re limited to B&W photography when using this camera.

Quite simply then, if you wish to continue to photograph in low light situations using an M9, you need fast (aperture) lenses, like the Summilux (f/1.4) or even Noctilux (f/1 or f/0.95) lenses.  If your subjects are relatively still, then of course a steady hand and slow shutter speed are very useful (as are monopods and tripods, but most of us who shoot rangefinders do not make use of such additional equipment).

It’s also critical to expose properly with the M9 when shooting in dark environments, especially when employing high ISO.  This can be a problem, since I rarely feel comfortable shooting above ISO 1250 with this camera.  Others limit their maximum ISO to 640 and then “push” the exposure up during image post-processing.  I do this frequently.

I said above that your questions are excellent, which is very true.  It turns out, however, that your questions are timely too…

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I have decided to purchase an M240.

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I know I will be sacrificing low ISO image quality, in the form of the “crispness” I currently see in my images, but I am willing to give the M240 a try.

Why?

Most of the time, the light in Toronto is poor, as the winters here are long and dark.  Having a camera that can comfortably shoot above ISO 1250 has increasingly become a priority for me.

And, after selling off most of my equipment over the last few days, I’ve decided I don’t want a Nikon D800, or Sony A7/A7R, or an Olympus E-M1, or Fuji X-E2.

No folks, I still want a digital rangefinder (please see the previous post, Rangefinder Cameras)

And as far as digital rangefinders go, there’s still only one game in town.

—Peter.

Ongoing Poll: Should Leica bring back the CCD sensor?

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

The longest running CCD poll :), asking whether a brand new CCD sensor should reappear in a future Leica M camera, is still running…

Why am I continuing this?

Because I love the rendering of CCD sensors!  The Leica M9 is like a portable digital mini-medium format camera.

At the very least, CCD sensors offer us photographers an alternative choice.

I’ve noticed a few notable individuals who were initially very enthusiastic about the Leica M240 (CMOS sensor camera) have now changed their tune and are subtly conceding that the M9 image quality at low ISO is superior.

So far, I have just over 400 votes…

—Peter.

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Related posts:

Relaxed (Nikkor-NOCT meets M9).

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Portrait, Q&A, Teaching point

I thought this might be a fun follow-up to yesterday’s post.

A few years ago, I attached the Nikkor-NOCT 58/1.2 to the Leica M9, via a Novoflex adapter, and took this image.

Focusing involved guessing, because of course the Nikkor-NOCT is not rangefinder coupled.

Relaxed

↑Leica M9 + Novoflex adapter + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2 @ f/1.2.

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Here is another test shot:

M9 + Nikkor-NOCT↑Leica M9 + Novoflex adapter + Nikkor-Noct 58/1.2 @ f/1.2.

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As can be appreciated in the second image, one of the nice things about the Nikkor-NOCT is its near focus ability,

—Peter.

Nikon 58MM F/1.4G: The Nikkor-NOCT, reloaded.

Inspiration, Nikon, Nikon 58mm f/1.2 NOCT, Teaching point

58mm Noct vs. 1.4 Prosophos

Well, not exactly, as this new AF-S NIKKOR 58mm lens has a maximum aperture of f/1.4 (vs. f/1.2), but Nikon promises:

“The AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G is a lens that makes the most of advanced optical design technologies… to achieve high reproduction capability of point light sources even at the maximum aperture, and natural depth of subjects utilizing smooth and beautiful bokeh characteristics. With shooting of distant night landscapes, the lens minimizes the sagittal coma flare…”

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Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?  These were the coveted attributes of the Nikkor-NOCT.

Those of you who have been following this blog already know that the legendary Nikkor-NOCT was my favourite NIkon lens, and may very well be my favourite lens of all time:

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The Pirate 2

The Pirate

Swing

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Will the new lens be as impressive?

I hope so, given all the advances in lens design and manufacturing over the last several decades.  However, one thing I know for sure is that the new lens won’t have that silky-smooth manual focusing with which the old Nikkors were bestowed.

Either way, these are exciting times in photography.

Check out the specifications of the new AF-S NIKKOR 58mm f/1.4G here, and sample images here.

—Peter.

Sony A7 and A7R.

Inspiration, Q&A, Teaching point

Prosophos Sony A7

I once wrote:

The first manufacturer, other than Leica, who places a 24 x 36 sensor in a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera can count me in as a customer.  I have no doubt that at some point, somebody will do it.

However, the insanely loud shutter on the A7/A7R is a deal-breaker for me.  You can listen to it in this field test video (courtesy The Camera Store) at approximately 5:22 into the video.

The EVF is already dated too.

Too bad.

Still, you have to give Sony credit for shaking the industry.

—Peter.