CaptainZapp

A couple days ago I posted an inquiry for advice how to recapture the "Leica look". My post was in a sense ill-advised because it sent some readers along a track I was not pursuing at all.
I probably should have titled the topic: "Recapturing the Henri Cartier-Bresson look". That would have deflected and/or avoided some of the animus directed by some readers toward the Leica-world and to those who own that system.

I think that any thoughtful photographer realizes that any camera is just a device that permits a lens to do its work. Some devices are more intricate, more clever, more expensive, or whatever, but again, they are just the supporting facilitating danseur for the pirouetting ballerina lens.

Lenses differ among one another. Resolution, color contrast, sharpness, etc. are qualities that may be measured. Yet the sum of all these measurements may not totally describe the final CHARACTER of a certain glass. To compare two lenses of different character purely on that basis does not render one or the other inferior or superior--just DIFFERENT. A photographer may PREFER one lens without inferring the inferiority the other. This is the point I was trying to get at in my earlier post.

The photojournalistic images of Leica's greatest early exponent, Cartier-Bresson, are indelibly linked in my own memory as "The Leica Look." This is NOT to be equated with "The Rolls-Royce Look", or "The Patek-Philippe Look", or anything else that could be even vaguely associated with snobbery, but purely the memory of those contrasty, unpretty, tack-sharp, street images done under hard light. My original query was for guidance on equipping my new M9-P with a suitable 50mm and a wide-angle lens, wanting to recreate that photographic past. I have used SLR's for the past 50 years and a RF camera is new to me. I am motivated toward this move because my digital SLR gear is just too heavy for me to comfortably navigate any more while taking pics. I love my Canon lenses! Smaller, lighter weight Leica lenses will be received with a great sigh of relief, however--but I'd like to get the right ones to best achieve my photographic goals. Thanks.

rpavich Loc: West Virginia

Well....let me make sure i understand...you have been a DSLR person and now you've got a Leica M9-P?

Well bravo!

You will love it I'm sure.

Beyond that...I'd say go to the rangefinder forum (rangefinder.com) and you'll get a LOT of info there about your quest and gear.


I don't know which lens would do it for you...but they will be of help on that forum.

When you get it sorted...please post some shots!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

My previous advice still stands. Whether you could adapt that lens to the new Lieca, I don't know.
My second course of action would be to acquire an old system as had been used in the look you aspire to and drum scan the negatives. That would yield a similar close second result.
SS

unclebe1 Loc: NYC & Wellington, FL

THANK YOU CAPTAIN!!!!!

I never cease to be amazed (and annoyed) at all the well meaning (but nevertheless misguided, or worse) posts asking which doodad or thingamabob is 'best'.....period. No context, no objectives, and little or no indication of the photographer's preferences (artistic, technical or otherwise). (It's akin to asking which paint brushes should I buy? The ones used by Jackson Pollock or Pablo Picasso? Which ones are 'better'?) :) Arrrrrgh

I think even you have stumbled a bit on this one by thinking of Cartier-Bresson photos in terms of his camera....the Leica look. You are ignoring what may in fact be more important technical factors (as opposed to artistic factors) than the camera and lens (no folks, I'm not calling them unimportant, just less important)....the film, processing and printing. ALL were important in achieving the final results.

As I have no knowledge of Leicas, I can't help you with your specific inquiry. I do, however, appreciate your search. I find my full frame DSLR getting heavier by the day and it's mirror slap more intrusive by the minute. I thought I needed to go the RF route until the recent arrival or the micro 4/3 cameras. So far I'm on the side lines. Soon, hopefully, I'll pull the trigger and shed the DSLR baggage. Good luck on your quest.

breck Loc: Derbyshire UK

I am no expert in trying to get a certain look to my photos, but imho back in them days I would expect most of the look being down to film type , film chemistry, and paper used to print it on much less to a particular camera or lens. From my small knowledge of film photography Tri X gave the sort of look you are trying to copy

Musket Loc: ArtBallin'

Why not develop your own look instead of someone elses?

A little known fact: HCB had someone else print his work as did/do most Magnum Photographers.


That Leica Look: http://theliteratelens.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/pablo1copy.jpg

All done in the darkroom with custom tools developed over decades of trial and error.

Camera and Lens was just a small fraction of the whole process.

Be yourself, not HCB or Egglesten or Shore.

wilsondl2 Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

A couple of things - the Leica he Cartier-Bresson was an early model that zone focused and did not have a range finder. I understand that he would set the focus and then wait for the deceive moment and then take the picture. Not focusing may have helped in getting that moment. I think that if you work to get the Black and White look of his pictures using a combination of exposure and PP you will able to get is look. The rub is seeing that deceive moment and then snapping the picture. You will also find the right streets to get the look. I know I would be hard pressed finding that look in Lincoln, Nebraska. Good luck and have fun. - Dave

CaptainZapp

Wow! Lotta thoughts, lotta wisdom and lotta good advice! The lens is just the beginning....I really know that, but I'm trying to get started off on the right foot. I think I can, now, so thank you all.

selmslie Loc: Fernandina Beach, FL, USA

It sounds like you have already committed yourself to the M9-P, a substantial investment.

You should take a look at Ken Rockwell's reviews of the available Leica and Zeiss lenses (http://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/recommended-lenses.htm and http://www.kenrockwell.com/zeiss/index.htm#zm) and consider how the Leica and Zeiss lenses compare. Some of the Zeiss lenses are equal to or better than the Leica lenses for a lot less money, but some Leica lenses may be worth the difference.

Of course the natural choices might be 50mm, 35mm and 28mm of which you have many choices and prices as well as a substantial supply of pre-owned and barely used lenses for less money.

But this is a personal choice and you know how much you want to invest. You may not find a lot of Leica users here at UHH so you will probably need to research this further.

Terra Australis Loc: Australia

But a camera can be much more. There is something intensely satisfying when you hold up a rangefinder Nikon, Contax or Leica and listen to the snick of the shutter. This is not the same personal experience you get from a plastic Nikon, Canon or Hassy DLSR.

Your Leica M9-P and a 50mm and 24mm lens will give you a level of joy that your other cameras will not.

I do not have a digital Leica but among the many Leicas I own is an M6. This is a very fine camera indeed. However as I take less and less photos now, I am also thinking of 'upgrading' to a fine camera like you have done.

Wondering around the countryside with a huge camera and 'walk around' 70-200 f2.8 lens, camera bag, tripod and hiking boots like a tourist is not for you. But a discrete Leica is a joy.

When I was not on the job, I liked a Leica CL (made by Minolta) or a Rollei 35 or sometimes an M2.

As for getting that Leica look, You must remember that many of those lenses were not all that good, compared to a modern Leica ASPH lens. For a start, lenses from Cartier-Bresson's heyday were not coated.

So perhaps you might want to look at getting an old Elmar 5CM f3.5 and with an adapter and try it on your M9. Whatever you do, please give us some example and enjoy every minute of it.


Oliver.

Here is Leicas finest eye candy camera.Red dial, self timer IIIf with Elmar 5 CM f3.5

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

28mm Summicron f/2

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

I have C-B in France about 290 pages purchased from Betterworldbook.com I just checked and 7 books by C-B for less than 15. Great source of books many at $4 including shipping. One book by or about C-B is all one needs to see line and composition techniques, not necessarily obvious, but there never the less.

I have often used C-B as an example for Newbies... to C-B the moment and composition were paramount, so the Newbie should use Auto settings and strive for best compose; the camera will do the rest. I like you, CapZ, find my stable of Minolta Lenses and Sony-DSLR to be HEAVY! I now use a 24/7 (hi-tech P&S) camera Panasonic ZS20 with "Leica" lens up to 20X. This camera is re-badged as a Leica by Leica, same camera. With such a camera, life is much simpler; you grab that shot like using a six-gun, quick from the hip to the eye.

I tell the Newbies that C-B is famous not for all those DSLR virtues, but for being-there and the ability to fire off a shot with great composition, quickly. C-B photos, indeed, are B/W and have a grain texture that one would swear that can be felt in ones finger tips. I tell the Newbies to forget about all the technical things and just focus their minds on image/composition.

You mentioned a R-F, Rangefinder, camera, I assume you mean a digital R-F type. The modern 24/7 cameras can be manipulated to give "looks" especially with post processing. One can simulate C-B look with Topaz B/W2 and Topaz Lens-Effects. Indeed a new world opened to you.

It takes a brave person in this modern Paranoid Live-N-Fear world to be a street photographer / photo journalist like C/B.

amyinsparta Loc: White county, TN

And what have we all learned? I think I've got it! Photographers have been doctoring photos since film,cameras, and dark rooms were invented because one can't set up each and every shot one takes. The darkrooms have evolved into post processing programs, in camera and out, and the film has evolved into digital cameras. We can debate the merits of each until the cows come home, but in the end, it's the human behind it all that makes it happen, no matter where he/she makes it happen.

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Is it the 'Leica look' or the 'CB look', I think this is just one of those questions that doesn't really have an answer.
I also think that CB just happened to use a Leica, it's not that Leica lenses are all that special in this context.
Is this the sort of thing ...

Are you looking at me?

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Whoops, or this

Street musicians in Linz.