Greg M

Playing with light and shadows with some M246 files from this past week, with one from each lens I was using;

Canada-made 50mm f2 Summicron version IV with the clip-on hood and focus tab..

28mm f2 Summicron ASPH, version 1.

and a mid-1980's Canadian-made 90mm f2 Summicron.

"Post 34", with the MP240 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 Nokton III.

...and one with the M246 Monochrome and 35mm f1.7 Ultron VM.

I wasn't the only one admiring the sunrise on May 10 at Pole Canyon Ranch in West, Texas.

With the MP240 and Voigtlander 35mm f1.2 Nikon III.

All of the latest versions of Voigtlander VM lenses are exceptional.

I just returned from a trip to West Texas with my M-P240 and M246 Monochrome and used nothing but VM series lenses; a 35mm f1.7 Ultron on the Monochrome, 35mm f1.2 III Nokton on the M-P240, and 21mm f1.4 and 75mm f1.5 Nokton optics when I used something other than the two 35's on either body.

I believe the 35mm f1.7 Ultron is the best Leica M mount 35mm lens I have used, Leica or Voigtlander-brand, the 75mm f1.5 Nokton is much easier to use than the 75mm f2 APO Summicron. The 21mm f1.4 is a behemoth size-wise compared to the 21mm f3.4 Super Elmar but is not a step down in quality.

MP240 and 21mm f1.4 Voigtlander Nokton. Sunrise at Pole Canyon Ranch on May 11.

Allan, congratulations on the new hip and hoping for a fast recovery. I watched my father go through that many years ago.

He had one leg shorter than the other and they "evened them out" with the surgery.

M246 Monochrome and 35mm f1.4 FLE.

The two Super Elmars, 21mm f3.4 and 18mm f3.8, are both outstanding optics.

18mm..

Another with the 21mm.

M246 Monochrome, first with the 135mm f3.4 APO Telyt-M

the 21mm f3.4 Super Elmar-M.

and 35mm f1.4 FLE.

M246 Monochrome and 35mm f1.4 FLE.

D850 and 14-24mm f2.8G Nikkor, at 20mm.

D850 and 80-400mm f4.5-5.6G.

D850 and 8-15mm Fisheye Nikkor, at 15mm.

Earlier today at White Rock Lake, just downstream from the spillway, with the D850 and 14-24mm f2.8 at 20mm.

Wow, unbelievable about Midwest. I JUST received my 17-35mm f2.8  AFS back from them a very short time ago. Prior to that, they fully serviced an 85mm f1.4 AIS manual focus Nikkor and it works beautifully today.

Truly sad. The turnaround on the 17-35mm repair was very fast. Less than 3-4 weeks. Had to have been one of the final repairs they were working on. I'm feeling pretty lucky I got it in.

"Poppy", from last week, with the D850 and 24-120mm f4 AFS at 85mm and f5.6, with a shoe-mounted SB910, the head pointed up and bouncing the light with a Demb large bounce attachment.

My three-lens outfit includes the 70-200nn f2.8E FL, and I have the TC1.4III to use with it; primarily with a D850 but my second body is a D780.

The set works flawlessly with both.

I also have the TC1.7x II. With the D850's awesome autofocus system the 70-200+1.7x works great.

Just this past month I sent Midwest Camera Repair in Michigan a squealing 17-35mm f2.8 AFS, which they re-built the AFS motor/fully overhauled and the thing now works like-new.

The added "cost" associated with inexpensive older equipment is the possibility of a write off the older it gets. The 17-35/2.8 has not been discontinued all that long and I'm assuming they may have better access to parts for it than may exist for other, older models. One of your checks may be to check with specialty shops such as Midwest to see what is, or not, possible today and maybe at least for the short-term.

At the Dallas Arboretum earlier today.

From the Arboretum in Dallas earlier today, with the D850 and 70-200mm f2.8E.

D850 and 24mm f1.4G Nikkor.

No planes or buildings were damaged as I captured this, LOL.

D850 and 20-35mm f2.8D Nikkor.