Whole Lotta Leica - More February Results From the W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 - Musical Benefit for a Friend

 

Furnace Mountain Band - Benefit for a Friend, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5

iso 1250, f2.5, 1/45 sec

 

The Furnace Mountain Band recently played a benefit concert for a friend in need. Held at Barns of Rose Hill in Berryville, Virginia, it was a nice family event for young to old. Unfortunately, fiddler extraordinaire David VanDeventer was at home with a sick child that night, but the show did go on.

 

Furnace Mountain Band - Benefit for a Friend, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5

iso 1250, f2.5, 1/45 sec

 

 

Furnace Mountain Band - Benefit for a Friend, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5

iso 1250, f2.5, 1/45 sec

 

Shooting in the low house lights of this venue without a flash was a stretch for the little f2.5 Nikkor. As you can see, I shot at iso 1250, which barely allowed a fast enough shutter speed for handheld shooting (1/45 sec.) with the lens wide open. Even then, the shots were pretty underexposed and needed a boost in exposure in post-processing. This is a recipe for making digital noise come through, and it did. Converting to black and white helps by eliminating color noise. I also added a little grain in Lightroom, which makes the noise feel a little more like grain from a fast film like TriX. But, again, it was a stretch with this equipment. I wouldn't want to make large prints of these.

 

This reminds me why I love really fast lenses, like March's Whole Lotta Leica selection, the Summilux 35mm f1.4.

 

But, there's nothing wrong with a challenge now and then.

 

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