Just got a R9 as a present....oh dear

Basically I don't know what to do with it. I'm completely ignorant about film

photography. I have a Dlux 3 and am super happy with it as I take it with me

all the time and for what I'm able to do is more than enough.

 

I got the r9 totally unexpected from my parents (apparently one photographer

friend of theirs saw a few pics of my kids I took with the Dlux 3 in B&W and

said to them that I had a very good eye). Only have the body though...

 

2 questions for all of you experts:

 

1. do you think it's too complicated to learn with the r9?

 

2. what lens should I buy? I'd like something I could really learn with,

nothing too extreme just a good compromise to zoom a bit and take really

ordinary pics of children and London...

 

Thanks for anyone who will take the time to respond.

 

Manuel

An R9 isn't a particularly complicated camera, so you should have no serious trouble learning with it.

 

Good lenses to start with would be the 50/2 Summicron R and perhaps the 80/1.4 Summilux R or 90/2 Summicron R. The 50 also has the advantage that, compared to other Leica lenses, it's relatively reasonably priced.

Leica also offers a 28-90 f/2.8-4 zoom which would probably cover the range you'll use in everyday shooting.

Thanks for your messages Bob. If you had to choose would you get the 50 or the 28-90? It's like arabic for me, I have no idea what to expect...

Oh Manuel, you lucky guy.

 

I'm not into R lenses and all, so I'll throw in my ideas about film.

You know you'll need some. Because you are 'spoiled' by digital (ASA changes inbetween

pictures...) I would suggest you decide first whether you want to do color or bw with your

R9 - you won't be able to switch back to color as easily...

If it's color: well, forget slides for the beginning and use one of the 400ASA negative film

offerings from Fuji (Pro400H) or the Kodak (Portra400NC; quite a bit more expensive). If

you feel like bw, do it the easy way first: use C-41-negative film too, you can have

developed

at the same place like color film. Both Kodak and Ilford have one such films in their ranges

(I

prefer Kodak here). Shoot some 20 rolls. After that review what you've got and how you'll

have improved. Then think about which way you would like to proceed from there.

You'll experience some 'weird' side effects of analog photography like the undeletability of

unwanted/failed pictures, pictures you don't remember having taken, end-of-film (but

hardly any end-of-battery) frustrations and so forth. Have fun. Take your digi along as

anti-frustration backup.

 

Another idea: have your R9 lying around the house and handle it for a couple

of minutes daily so you get acustomed to your biggie.

Again, have fun, and don't take your first 10 rolls too seriously!

 

Cheers, Pete

I personally would choose the 50, but then I'm not a zoom kind of guy. If you're looking to do street photography or scenics, I think the zoom will be a better choice. It's certainly more versatile except in low light.

Definitely get the 28-90 mm lens if you can afford it. <P>However, my real advice to you is that if's still new in the box, trade it for a high-end digital camera and forget switching to film at this time.

What a great gift! The R9 will be a very fine camera to learn on, don't be at all concerned.

 

Personally, if I were going to pick just one lens, it would be either the 35mm or 50mm Summicron (3-cam or ROM). If I were allowed two lenses, I'd get the 35 plus a 90 (summicron or elmarit).

 

Have fun with the camera!

 

--clyde

The 35-70mm f4 Vario-Elmar is a spectacularly good lens. And it's affordable.

I would keep it new in the box and after a approiate waiting period surreptitiously trade it in on a nice digital camera like the M8.

Price the lenses. They are mostly all first class and priced accordingly.

 

The pics are noticabely better IF you get good profesional processing because of the fine lenses.

 

What lenses you use depends on what kinds of pics you make. In dim light you may need flash or fast lenses. Zooms are convenient for going from wide to tele, but there are design compromises.

 

Start with a 50 1.4. 35/70 or 28/90 are good zooms.

 

I would really consider if film was the way to go now.

Thanks to all of you . I'm such a space cadet that I really am going to have a ball with this.

I'll use the camera ONLY for B&W leaving the digital for colors. I'll opt towards a 50 lenses

I think, with a 35-70 as a possibility depending on price. I'll follow Pete's advice and post

back again the results after 10 rolls...hope you won't be too harsh on me.

 

meanwhile could you suggest a book where I could get the basics of film photography?

 

thanks again to all of you for taking the time to deal with a total ignoramus

 

manuel

Manuel, you are a lucky man! I agree with the advice to get a 50 for your first lens.

I would go with the following combinations:

 

28-90mm f2.8-4.5 zoom then add 50mm f1.4 Summilux for its speed or

 

21-35mm f3.5-4.0 and 80mm f1.4 Summilux

 

I personally use the 50mm, 21-35mm, and 80mm lenses and you can't go wrong with any of these lenses.

My choice would be the 2/90 Summicron. You can get a 3 cam lens for a bit over US$400

used. A 50 is wide to me so that would complement the 90.

 

Read the series: The Camera, The Negative and The Print by Ansel Adams for great grounding

in the basics.

 

Jim

I admire your decision to use the Leica for B&W only, leaving color for your digital cameras. I beleive that right now that is the best way to go.<P>While you are learning about film, I suggest that you use Ilford XP-2 film, (which can be developed commercially anywhere that does color film), and have then transfer the negatives to a digital CD. Then only have them print the good ones.<P>I'll have a look this weekend at my local Barnes & Noble, and see if there's a good book to recomment. I'll post it here.<P>And enjoy your very generous gift!

The R9 is a beautiful camera with fantastic metering capabilities. If I was shooting film in SLR mode the R9 would be my first choice of camera. To be honest though - I no longer have the enthusiasm or time for shooting 35mm film with an SLR or even an M. When I shoot film it is with MF gear and it is more about having luscious B&W negatives to scan.<p> Dont let people tell you that R lenses aren't as good as M. They are every bit as good and in many cases much better or not available for M- my favourite lenses with R were the 100Apo Macro 2.8 and the 180F2. The tele R line of lenses are only beaten by Canon because of auto focus - take that away and the picture quality from R second to none.<p> Put auto focus on an R line of lenses and a full frame chip and I would be back to Leica R in a flash.<p> You cant go wrong buying a clean 50 Summicron as your first lens.

Manuel,

 

I'm with Kim on this one. I feel that film still has a clear advantage over digital right now in one particular area; ultra WIDE angle lenses.

 

For several technical reasons, wheather color or B+W, ultra wide angles are without flaw in the film format for your R9. I'd fill the lens gap in the Dlux3's range. The superb 21-35mm ASPH f3.5-4.0.

 

The Dlux3 can deal with the super low light and tele, the R9 "wide" can tackle the wide angle duties in spectacular fashion. (Kids thru London) P.S. Nice gift...

thanks to all for the great feedbak. One last question, is there a particularly good place on the web where to buy lenses?

 

Manuel

I would start with KEH and go from there.

Hi Manuel,

 

Wish I had friends like that ;)

FYI I own and use the following R lenses:

 

19mm (second version)

28mm PC Super Angulon

28-90 ASPH zoom

50mm Summilux

60mm Macro

100mm Macro

180mm Apo Elmarit

 

By far the easiest to use and get the picture you want/saw with is the 50mm f1.4 Summilux. Hands down. I would start with that.

Every other lens I have listed has it's place in my kit, but the workhorse is the 50mm Summilux.

 

As for where to buy, I have bought all mine over the past couple of years (in excellent second-hand condition), either by posting a WTB on this site, or on ebay. Have never had a problem with any purchase, but you should of course to spend a little time asking questions (and to see detailed pics) to make sure that your seller is genuine.

 

Good luck...and welcome to the team :)

 

Some of my pics using the various lenses can be seen at:

 

 

http://www.redbubble.com/people/graeme

I would look on ebax for the 50 and for the 90mm 2.0, a great lens. I think you'll be

surprised at the prices.

here is a good one... they say it's rangefinder, but they are wrong, it's R. sometimes they go

for as little as $350

Leica leitz Canada 90 mm 2.0 I love mine.

If can only get one lens, get the 28-90 Asph. I use mine with my R9/DMR. This lens sits on

my R9 90% of the time. Don't forget, you can use the R lenses on your digilux 3 with an

adapter too. What you get after the 28-90 depends on what you shoot. If it's sport/ wildlife,

the 280/4 APO-Telyt, if it's landscapes etc, the 19/2.8 Elmarit. Enjoy - if you can find a used

DMR, I guarantee you'll just sell your Digilux 3.

 

Charlie

I got to disagree with the consensus here. If you want to take pictures of children especially of them doing stuff, playing sports or whatever you will want to get an autofocus camera with a good zoom 70-200. The Leica R lacks in these two areas.

 

I'll return it, say thank you to your parents and get a Canon, Nikon "prosumer" digital SLR or if you want to stay with the Leica brand you can purchase the Leica Digilux 3. The Dlux 3 the OP has is a point and shoot camera.

 

The R9 is niche camera for people who like that kind of photography. Unlike a digital camera, a film camera is just a light box. As much as Leicaphiles don't like to admit, a 100 dollar Canon Rebel film camera with a Leica R adapter will take identical pictures as a R9. R9 has some features that are lacking in the Rebel but for a person just starting out. The differences in image quality are not that great especially if their film processed by the local drug store and the film is scanned using consumer equipment.

 

If you want wide in a digital you can purchase a Canon 5d for half the price of the R9.