Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2013/11/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think no question that the new Nocti is every bit as good as the Summilux stopped down and vice versa. That is exactly why I don't need and cannot justify the Nocti ( despite Leica offering me a v good deal on this demo). The EXIF data does not lie on how often I need f/1.4 or so. In addition the Nocti is just too large and heavy for MY taste. I shot it for some hours over two days and my hand was literally aching. I respect and admire work by people like Tina who do use these Noctis so masterfully. Just not my forte. I did try some stuff around the streets with the Nocti to deliberately exploit the f/0.95. Very cool indeed. I have weeks worth of stuff I have not developed well or shared. Still about 10 days of Barcelona in that too. Now as to the disbelief on setting the white background carefully, take the challenge with any lens you like. Over light the b'ground with more than enough to clip at 255. Repeat with b'g at say 245. Look carefully at your model/subject rendering. You will see bleed and loss of contrast/saturation. Even better if you print both versions big. Read say Kevin Ames on this topic if you can. One of the many things I have tried to retain from learning/tuition is just how big an advantage it is to shoot tethered in a studio. Seeing the shots as you adjust on a 17 inch screen is a revelation. More sadly you need a ($1100 here) grip for the M to even connect it and they're made of unobtainium too. Basically I lust for an S system for this stuff. Not happening anytime soon ;-) cheers Geoff > On 3 Nov 2013, at 14:54, John McMaster <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote: > > Nope, far more accurate than that ;-) And yes it is still superb stopped > down... > > john > >> -----Original Message----- >> >> Hey Geoff, >> Yup. f/0.95 is a crap shoot at best; with a moving target one in 10,000 >> if you're >> lucky! >> But I understand this Nocti stopped down is so close to the 50 'lux ASPH >> it's >> almost indistinguishable. >> So options are good! >> As far as the background being lit to paper white, etc., sounds like >> hooey to >> me. That's what a calibration shot and RAW processing are for, IME. Do >> that >> and you won't loose a pixel of white. Even if you do, that's what BW is >> for. ;-) >> I would just like to see you produce something with your unique voice. You >> have mastered the basics, now take it where you feel... I'm waiting for >> your >> unique and extraordinary view!! >> >> Sent from my iPad >> >>> On Nov 2, 2013, at 9:02 PM, Geoff Hopkinson <hopsternew at gmail.com> >> wrote: >>> >>> Well now Bob, if you'd like to continue chatting about this, it's >>> valuable to me of course. >>> To recap on the specific setup, this was a shared studio space with 11 >>> other photogs. Maybe 5 minutes max on a rotation with each setup and >> model. >>> The initial setup was established by the instructor who then >>> demonstrated the variations possible by directing the model within the >>> provided light (feathering/angles, distance etc.) With the shared >>> light packs and timing it was good etiquette to not change the packs >>> settings (although I got caught on occasion where one or two others >>> had) >>> >>> The lighting baseline was setup with a tethered HD50 or similar and >>> clipping levels established for printable with whites (B'grounds) set >>> to be just about on that. If you just clip those without control you >>> get some loss of quality/contrast in the rest. >>> >>> So was set for the Canons that were in majority with base ISO of 100. >>> The M of course has a base of 200. So add a stop to the given setting. >>> Actually in my experience f/8 say on an M prime ain't f/8 on something >>> else. My lenses slurp in light with alacrity. >>> f/9 is pretty standard for this studio and instructor. For fashion you >>> just need to be confident that you have front to back sharpness even >>> with a faster shooting/posing sequence. Moving models ain't benches or >>> mountains >>> ;-) ;-). Actually I often ask for a slower pace as these folks might >>> show you 50 pose variations in a couple of minutes if you aren't >>> directing in detail and these professionals are largely waay better at >>> directing themselves than I. The shooting rhythm is important for mood >> and energy too. >>> For portraiture of course there are different considerations (and >>> personally I very much favour f/4-ish for the look I want the way I >>> shoot that. >>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/148571637 >>> >>> Open the lens up more and you get a different result of course. >>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman/image/148037826 >>> >>> I did shoot a portion of that day with available light but my strike >>> rate with the borrowed Nocti opened pretty wide was quite poor. Not >>> the lenses fault of course. >>> >>> >>> Cheers >>> Geoff >>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman >>> >>> >>>> On 2 November 2013 13:45, Bob Adler <rgacpa at gmail.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I thought you said you were having to shoot at f/16ish. A 1.8 ND >>>> would, of course, allow you to shoot at f/2 or 1.4. If, with the ND >>>> on, if you wanted more DOF, you could of course increase your ISO. >>>> And without a change in lighting. >>>> Curious as to why you may be resistant to this my friend. I think you >>>> could add a more unique and definitive look to your images... >>>> Especially with such a unique lens! >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPad >>>> >>>>>> On Nov 1, 2013, at 7:50 PM, Geoff Hopkinson >> <hopsternew at gmail.com> >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> For this studio purpose f/8-9 is pretty usual actually for DoF. When >>>>> sharing studio light packs at a workshop its not polite to vary the >>>>> established power settings else my solution would have been simple >>>>> ;-) >>>>>> On Nov 2, 2013 12:03 PM, "Robert Adler" <rgacpa at gmail.com> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>> Get a 3 or 4 stop ND filter... >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>>> On Fri, Nov 1, 2013 at 5:11 PM, Geoff Hopkinson >>>>>> <hopsternew at gmail.com >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Just a loaner with an M body! Mine presumably in somebody's To Do >>>>>>> pile >>>> in >>>>>>> Solms. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Cheers >>>>>>> Geoff >>>>>>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On 2 November 2013 10:01, John McMaster >> <john at mcmaster.co.nz> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Whatever gets the shot you want, but it would be a bit of a waste >>>>>>>> if >>>>>> your >>>>>>>> own money ;-) >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> john >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Yep, understood. Just some impressions/preferences from me re >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>> graphic >>>>>>>>> elements in the shots. >>>>>>>>> PS Am I bad to have stopped the Noctilux down to f/11 or f/16 in >>>>>>>>> the >>>>>>>> studio >>>>>>>>> ;-) >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> Cheers >>>>>>>>> Geoff >>>>>>>>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On 2 November 2013 08:04, John McMaster >> <john at mcmaster.co.nz> >>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I went out with the Monochrom and no NDs one day, felt I was >>>>>>>>>> really stopping the 50mm Summilux asph at f4 ;-) Many of things >>>>>>>>>> look >>>>>> nothing >>>>>>>> if >>>>>>>>>> taken with more DoF... >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> john >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> John you're getting good at this strong graphics elements >>>>>>>> composition >>>>>>>>>> stuff! >>>>>>>>>>> Blasphemy maybe but you could afford to stop down for more >> DoF >>>>>>> (show >>>>>>>>>>> me sharp through and through on those main elements in some) >>>>>>>>>>> and preserve those highlights of course for Lightroom surgery >> later! >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Cheers >>>>>>>>>>> Geoff >>>>>>>>>>> http://www.pbase.com/hoppyman >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On 2 November 2013 06:42, John McMaster >> <john at mcmaster.co.nz> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> A bit of sunshine amongst some heavy rain.... >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> http://johnmcmaster.com/PAW/2013/44 >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> C & C welcome >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> john >>>>>>>> > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information