Whole Lotta Leica - Results From May's Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM

For some reason, I haven't really shot much with my M9 and Summaron 35 this month. I suppose I've been shooting other cameras too much. But, I've got a few results to share.

 

To read about the Summaron (Click Here).

 

Here's a shot I took in DC on my way to a training class. These guys were carrying in chairs for an event. I processed the image in Lightroom, and used Nik SiverefexPro2's Tri-X 400 preset for the black and white conversion.

 

Carrying in the Chairs, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f8, 1/180 sec.

 

The Summaron is tiny. It is difficult to see the f-stop numbers and settings, but otherwise, it's great to have such a compact lens.

 

Springtime Sun and Shade, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM Lens

iso 160, f8, 1/125 sec.

I like the way this lens renders colors. While I did remove some contrast in the shot above in Lightroom, the Summaron gives nice colors on its own. This is not a high contrast lens.

 

Church at Harpers Ferry, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, Leica Summaron 3.5cm f3.5 LTM Lens

iso 200, f22, 1/125 sec.

 

Closed down, the 35mm lens gives miles of depth of field. I really didn't think I'd get the flowers in the foreground in focus using the hyperfocal setting for f22, but I think it did pretty well. Again, I really like the colors, which are much more saturated in this scene.

 

The Summaron is an older lens, in Leica Thread Mount (LTM), and yields the vintage Leica look. I really enjoy using it, and like the results. However, at f3.5 maximum aperture, it's not really an all-purpose lens for me. I like faster glass, in general. That said, in the right circumstances, the little Summaron can deliver. I like the image quality much more than the comparable W-Nikkor-C 3.5cm f2.5 LTM lens that I featured in February's Whole Lotta Leica posts. (Click Here) to read about that lens.

 

I'm going to try to get out with the Summaron at least one more time in the month of May. Hopefully I'll have more results to share soon.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

 

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.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com

 

Whole Lotta Leica - February Results - W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 With The Woodshedders at Lovettsville Library

 

The Woodshedders at Lovettsville Library, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f3.5, 1/60 sec

 

One of the benefits of living in Northern Virginia for me is the vibrant local music scene. The Woodshedders are one of my very favorite bands in the area. Ryan Mayo (bass), Jesse Shultaberger (drums), Dwayne Brooke (guitar), Jared Pool (mandolin) and Dave VanDeventer (fiddle) usually play to larger crowds in nightclubs and music festivals.

 

(Click Here) to go to the Woodshedders web page. Don't pass up a chance to see them.

 

On this particular Saturday in February, they played an acoustic show for the local library in Lovettsville, Virginia. The Hello Kitty and Spongebob balloons on the wall are not part of their normal stageshow.

 

My daughter and I attended this show, and it was wonderful, as expected. My February Whole Lotta Leica lens, the W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM, worked quite well for this close up and intimate setting.

 

The Woodshedders at Lovettsville Library, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f2.8, 1/125 sec

 

Dwayne and Jared, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f2.8, 1/125 sec

 

The audience was a mix of regular Woodshedders' fans, and regular library patrons. The picture below shows that some kids really know how to mix their sources of entertainment.

Reading (and Music) Are Fundamental, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f4, 1/30 sec

 

I like how the Nikkor allowed me to focus on the detail of the book page, rendering it sharply, yet include enough in the background to let you know what's happening back there. The 35mm focal length gives a wide enough field of view to include some context, even in a small room.

 

I now know the Woodshedders well enough to coerce them into a posed shot once in a while. I thought it would be fun to get a shot of them studiously reading in the library. I started off by handing them children's books, but a helpful library employee quickly gathered biographies of musicians - much more appropriate.

 

Saturday Afternoon With The Woodshedders at the Library #1, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f4.8, 1/30 sec

 

Jared took a book on Monk, Dwayne - Django, of course, Ryan - Mick Jagger, Dave - Jimi Hendrix, and Jesse - Sting.

 

Standing on a chair, I closed down the lens to f 4.8 to get a little more depth of field, and shot.

 

Saturday Afternoon With The Woodshedders at the Library #2, by Reed A. George

Leica M9, W-Nikkor 3.5cm f2.5 LTM Lens

iso 640, f4.8, 1/30 sec

 

I always feel a little rushed when I have five people waiting for me to get the shot so they can go on their way. I think these shots turned out well, but I must admit that I held my breath until I got home and checked that I was able to get all of the band members' faces in focus. I should have taken a shot or two at iso 1250, with the aperture closed down another full stop. That would have ensure that no one's face came out blurry. But, I got lucky with f4.8.

 

For me, it's important to learn from each and every photo opportunity. Learning to slow down, make sure I've got the shot, and not be shy about directing my subjects to do what I want to capture are all lessons that I need to continue to focus on.

 

After shooting live music for a couple of years now, I am really enjoying the chance to shoot some more personal shots of the bands that I really like. It adds nicely to the stage shots that I've focused on so far.

 

DMC-365.blogspot.com