steve_huff1

<p>The old Noct is AMAZING on the M9 so I can only imagine how the new one is. I will have a new Noct in hand soon and will do a side by side between the two for a couple of weeks. The new 0.95 is expensive but if history is any indication, it should be worth $20k in a few years :)</p>

<p>I saw this info the day before I posted my review of the current version. I love this little lens on the M8. It has its issues, but ease of focus is not one of them. Ill stick with the oldie!</p>

<p>http://www.stevehuffphotos.com/Steve_Huff_Photos/VOIGTLANDER_15_HELIAR_REVIEW.html</p>

<p> </p>

After a month or so with the M8, here are my 1st shots. So far, love the camera :)

 

http://stevem7.zenfolio.com/p802740336/

The 50 Lux ASPh DOES NOT have harsh bokeh. I see this written all of the time but it just is

not true. Its creamy and smooth as silk. It also is the best lens in Leicas lineup IMO. The best

50 EVER.<div></div>

Also, with the MP I developed my own B&W, and scanned them on a $1100 Nikon scanner.

FIlm was $4-$5 a roll, chemicals cost $$ as well and the time needed to process the film

and dry it was a couple hours. Then to scan one hi res frame took about 6-8 minutes. The

result after all of this work still did not provide a more detailed file than one from an M8.

 

I got burnt out on film as I was shooting a TON of film. Every day I had film to process and

my color film cost me $2.50 a roll to process, then the scanning took me hours per roll.

 

In 6 months I spent $3500 on the camera, $600 on film, $1100 on a scanner, about $350

in supplies and chemicals, and approx 300 hours scanning the film. Also countless hours

printing in a darkroom.

 

With the M8 I take the shots, process in C1 (VERY quick) and print in minutes. ISO 640 is

CLEAN as a whistle and the ability to shoot BW or color on the fly and switch ISO on the fly

is worth the price alone. Add a built in motor drive and it's a no brainer. Again, the MP is a

wonderful camera. I feel it is Leicas best for film. BUT the M8 will open up more

possibilities and encourage you to shoot more and as a result you will enjoy photography

even more.

 

Good luck with your decision. I would not go back to film. 6 months ago I was saying I

liked film better than digital after many years with digital. The M8 changed all of that as it

is just that good.

I had an MP and loved it. Very nice camera, but honestly, after using the M8 for the past

month I could NOT go back to the MP. The M8 files are better than any film shots I have

taken in regards to image quality. I canshoot ISO 1250 in the M8 and have less noise than

400 Tri X. The Detail in the shots (shooting RAW) is amazing and i never achieved this

detail from film. You can shoot BW, color and have a few hundred shots on one SD card.

You can change ISO on the fly, review your images as you take them AND correct them if

needed. It has the look, feel and use of an M7. Ive had mine for a month and have taken

over 2k images. NOt one bug, flaw, defect, freeze up or problem. Happy as can be. 10MP

is ALL I will EVER need as i can take a M8 file and blow it up as big as I could ever want. I

will only upgrade to an M9 if it has better features, not due to megapixels.

 

The build of the MP is a bit better, but the image quality from the M8 is in my case much

nicer than my MP film shots.

 

I have owned both.

 

m8 shots

http://stevem7.zenfolio.com/p802740336/

Here is a full size, ISO 640, converted JPEG, NO NR, 15 at 4.5, 1/15 using the CV 15.<div></div>

Looks good. I have the Voigtlander 15 and find it great but would buy the Zeiss if I had the

funds. Anyway, I snapped one of my temporary desk with the 15CV at 4.5. JPEG. It has been

resized but the original is not that bad at all I think.<div></div>

The Rd1...I paid $3k for it at launch and sold it months later for $2800. Then regretted it

ande bought an M7 and MP. Its a sweet camera. Not as nice or of good of quality as the M8

(which I know own) but its easily worth $2k if you want a Digital RF without going to the

$4800 M8.

 

$600? No way.

How I wish I could afford this lens. Ill have to make do with my VC 15 though. Great stuff and

am glad you are enjoying the lens. It looks like a great one!

Look at the DIgilux 2. Came out what year? 2004? They still go for $1200-$1600 used and I

bought mine for $1600 new when it came out. The M8 WILL go down a bit, but those who will

be looking for a $1500 M8 in the next few years are crazy. It will not happen. Some Leica

digitals hold their value pretty well, expecially compared to Nikon/Canon.

I already emailed BH for a RA# as the lens is just too beat/used looking for that kind of $$.

Also, the dirt/dust inside bothers me as does having no lens cap and a beat up hood. Ill

probably go with the Zeiss for my 21. The Elmarot ASPH is out of my reach $$ wise as I will

only use a wide like this very little.

 

Thanks for ths info, tips and suggestions.

Yes, I saw that guide earlier and it shows $900 for this lens, and I noticed it was out dated

and this is why I asked. If I got ripped, I would return the lens to B&H. But if these go for

$1200-$1500 I would keep it. $900 and i would wait for a better deal.<div></div>

I bought a used Leica 21 2.8 Elmarit Non ASPH from BH and it came with the hood and rear cap. They

rated it an 8+. The hood has scuffs, and the front glass looksl ike it has some dust inside. Its been used

for sure. I snapped some test shots and they are great with my M8. No complaints.

 

I paid $1499 and am not sure if that was a bit on the high side for such a highly used lens. It does not

look new, but looks liek it has been used quite a bit over the years.

 

I have not seen this lens used anywhere so I have no idea what these fetch used. I know the new ASPH is

$3500..

 

Thanks for any info!

 

Steve

Speaking of the noct, I have recieved another Noct in a trade deal and would sell it for $3100

if anyone is interested. Mint, latest version, leather case. I sold my 1st for $2850, this one

$3100 - I have a 50 ASPH and after recieving this lens again, I realize Ill only use it very

minimally.

one moe at F1, ISO 640

 

http://i5.pbase.com/o6/60/628360/1/74106221.rR7r9e1c.brandonnightf1.jpg

http://k43.pbase.com/o6/60/628360/1/74392112.fTERs47v.d5bsting1.jpg

 

NOct at F1

The NOCT with the M8 is an amazing lens. I actually sold mine a couple weeks ago and now I

am kicking myself in the behind. Not onlky becuase of the price increase, but becuase I truly

miss it after only 2 weeks. The Noct and M8 are a great combo.

 

http://k43.pbase.com/o6/60/628360/1/74317342.IHjW9dcr.d5bstingmainvitage.jpg

To me it looks like a shot of a dog jumping up in front of a poster sized print of your wife.

Dog appears to be 3 dimensional while the rest does not. I doubt this is it but to me, it

appears this way. Otherwise i would say you pointed and snapped the shot.

heres one of me.<div></div>

Great lens. I bought a Noctilux 2-3 months ago or so and LOVE it. Im using it with an MP and

it is larger than most M lenses and heavier but worth it.<div></div>

I put up a Pbase gallery where I will be adding new sets weekly on my current project on the homeless

population in Phx, AZ. Comments welcome. All shot with an MP and Delta 400.

 

http://www.pbase.com/stevehuff/the_homeless

 

Thanks!

 

Steve

I tried B, I tried cable release and yes, i tried putting more pressure but it got worse.

 

Anyway, when it happened, I posted here as its usually pretty quick to get a reply back,

and I did. I finally did find an 800# but when I called they were closed.

 

It has been sent to them today via Next Day Air Insured so they will have it tomorrow. Im

expecting it to take 3-4 weeks but I don't know.

 

Ive been using it daily for 4 months and been having a blast with it as well as using it for

some paid assignments and school assignments. Ive shot digital for years (5D, D2hs,

D200, etc) and have had more fun shooting with the M7 by far.

 

In any case, I may or may not buy a 2nd film M - Im thinking when I get the M7 back, it

should be good to go and I should not have any more problems with it. I have the 5 year

warranty and its only 4 months in so Im not too worried there.

 

Ive used a Nikon F100 and oly OM1 and Canon AE1 - prefer the M7 over all of them. I'm

also invested in Leica with a Noctilux, 50 cron, 15VC and 135 so Ill be sticking with Leica. I

was a bit upset yesterday but I know they will take care of the problem.

 

Thanks to all who responded with advice and help, and to those who felt they had to make

the rude remarks (why?) thanks for the laughs!

 

Steve

 

See my film and digital shots here:

 

http://www.stevem7.zenfolio.com

Alan Pervert,

 

I have many cameras, just mostly digital. One film camera as I was not expecting to shoot

that much film and I did not expect the M7 to break down after 4 months.

 

Anyway,

 

Also, tried the batteries - Its not the batteries. Its locked up. Tried everything.

 

Also, Ive been shooting for only 8 years and AM NOT a pro. I have 3 DSLR's but only one

film body. The $3500 film body happened to break after 4 months. Kind of ridiculous of

me to expect quality and reliability from Leica I guess. I love my M7, but this has me re-

thinking a few things.

 

My wife told me to go ahead and get a new MP tomorrow. Not sure if I will do that, but if I

do, Ill be buying new to make sure I have a warranty.

I took out the 1st roll after it froze. Rewind worked fine.

 

Put in a new roll but couldnt even load it as it was frozen. Totally stuck advance lever.

COuld also not press the shutter release, it too was stuck. Its boxed and being shipped off

tomorrow.

 

Only bad thing is I have a huge assignment due in 4 weeks and now I am cameraless.

Couldnt afford the MP backup....

 

So now I will wonder how long it will take them to fix. Ill send it UPS next day so they will

get it Thursday. Im hoping 2 weeks at most but have heard 4-6 from others.

 

Hopefully it will be fixed and problem free in the future.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

Steve