Imagist Blog – Page 35 – © 2023 George Lottermoser: photography, graphic design, video, art, literature, zen

The last Mequon Road House porch studies? Perhaps.

memories are made of these:
the fan died
nature reclaims
the hot plate
with a firm hug

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Leica M, 50 mm Summilux Asph & 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit —R

Friday flower: Trumpet Vine; or Campsis Radicans

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Leica M, 80 mm Summilux R

Wasaukee Road House opens a new chapter. Plot thickens (what does that mean?) in a new location.

A couple weeks ago we took possession of a new place to hang our hats and kick off our shoes.

After the closing we christened the place in the hot tub with touch of the bubbly.
(more of Day One in Germantown)

The view to the South.

The view to the west.

Ann’s sister Teri flew north from Florida; and helped Ann “faux” paint her bedroom.

The annual McDonald picnic spread out on the place this past Sunday; with some first timers!
(more of the Annual McDonald Picnic)

Badminton? Of course.

Bubbles? Of course.

Tire swing? Well that’s new. Came with the house.

Angie and her Dad, Ann’s brother, Bob, successfully defended their Annual Championship Title. Undefeated = boring.

Last evening one of our many toads decided to join our conversation at the table.

Leica M (240), Various Leica M and R lenses

A day with the Leitz Apo—Macro—Elmarit—R 1:2.8 / 100 on the M (240)

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Dust to dust. Wabi (a quality of austere and serene beauty expressing a mood of spiritual solitude recognized in Zen Buddhist philosophy.) Sabi (“The concept sabi carries not only the meaning ‘aged’—in the sense of ‘ripe with experience and insight’ as well as ‘infused with the patina that lends old things their beauty’—but also that of tranquility, aloneness, deep solitude” (Hammitzsch, 46).)

Sophia and Tanya enjoying our new old hot tub for the first time.

Frog

Two Frogs

Garage visitor

Sunset on the pond

Leica M, 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit R

More with the Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80 on Leica M (240)

This group demonstrates the reach and OOF bokeh of the 80 Summilux when used “on the streets.” The first two come from the view from The Anvil Restaurant in Cedarburg, WI; where Ann and I had dinner after looking for a “vanity” for one of the bathrooms in the house we’ve bought. The rest come from spending the afternoon at Irish Fest on Ann’s birthday (as is her habit).

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Cannot beat this lens for candid portraiture (though the 75 M Summilux will certainly keep up admirably)

Can’t help but think of John McMaster when I see stuff like this:

Now we add the 2X Apo Extender and use that 160 mm reach:

Oops. I’m pretty sure the next three are with the 28 Summicron M

Okay I’m fairly sure the rest are with the 80 ‘ lux-R

Yup — haunted by John down in New Zealand — again:

Leica M, 80 mm Summilux-R

Next up: Leitz Apo—Macro—Elmarit—R 1:2.8 / 100

Friday’s Flora with Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80 on Leica M (240)

The 80 mm ‘lux mounted on the M makes for a relatively large and heavy package (by M standards). The 80 mm Summilux—R weighs in at 694 gr compared to the 560 gr of the 75 Summilux—M. The 80 R will let you focus down to a tad under 32″. The 75 M will actually get you a little closer at 29″ – though when you consider the focal length difference it really becomes six of one and half a dozen of the other. At some point I need to do a side by side comparison of these two ‘lux lenses to discover if there’s any significant difference between their signatures; ease of focus; or any other distinctions to take note of — or are they nearly identical twins?

Of course the smooth transition from in-focus to out-of-focus areas, at virtually any f:stop, defines these classic Leitz Summilux lenses.

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I always carried the Apo 2X Extender with my R cameras because it’s a small, light accessory which gives significant reach to whatever lenses I may be carrying. So, since using the M with R lenses, I’ve done the same. You’ve seen some examples of using the extender with the 60 mm Macro Elmarit. Below are a couple examples using the 2X with the 80 ‘lux — essentially turning it into a 160 mm f:2.8 (wide open). The first with lens set around f:2.8 (effectively 5.6 with 2X). The second with lens set at f:5.6 (effectively 11 with 2X).

Leica M, 80 mm Summilux—R

The Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60 on the Leica M (240)

Locking the 60 Macro-Elmarit-R on to the Leica M, with M to R adapter, Multifunction Grip and EVF results in yet another relatively light, relatively small, very well balanced and extremely versatile kit. The ability to focus from 1:2 to infinity without additional hardware is very reassuring for a lover of close views of the world’s details.

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The 60 works as a fine short distance portrait lens.

Oops. Forgot to reset the Manual Lens Detection. So the EXIF shows the 50 cron rather than the 60 Elmarit in the first three samples above. Rest assured every image in this post was shot with the 60 Elmarit—R; irrespective of the EXIF data.

Throwing the Macro-Elmarit-R 60 Extension Tube in the bag extends the range to include 1:1 through 1:2 with little extra weight… though may mean taking the 28 Summicron out of my fairly tiny “everywhere every day bag.” No. I can fit the tube and the 28 too!

Popping the Apo-Extender-R 2X makes a remarkable 120mm 5.6 Macro which adds working distance and different depth of field to both macro or other medium long focal length possibilities — all while taking up very little space or weight in the bag.

Now why in the world would the above photograph be tac sharp and the one below be unsharp?
Both were shot handheld at a 1/1000th of a second. Hard to imagine that the bottom one involves movement.
Both used focus assist with the “red” lighting up appropriately on the intended subject. What the hell’s going on here?
Infinity focus issues? Hard to imagine that at around f:8 with a 60 mm. Any ideas?

Leica M, 60 mm Macro—Elmarit—R

Next up: Leitz Wetzlar Summilux—R 1:1.4 / 80

Friday’s flowers (with Leitz Canada Summicron-R 1:2 / 50 on Leica M)

Continuing to enjoy this relatively small, relatively light kit as it simply delivers extremely fine digital photographic files. All of the visual qualities I’ve come to expect from Leica range finder and SLR cameras and lenses appear on the computer screen with virtually no post processing. With each use of the R lenses I become more comfortable with the EVF and focus assist; even as I continue to enjoy the mostly manual operation of focus, diaphragm and shutter controls. The full 24×36 mm frame of the M allows the entire M and R lens lines to perform to their full design potential. For the most part — The M (240) provides photographic joy with every use — whether as a range finder camera — or as a mirror-less EVF camera.

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Leica M, 50 mm Summicron-R

Next up on the Leica M (240): the Leitz Wetzlar Macro-Elmarit-R 1:2.8 / 60

Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50 on Leica M: including a Friday Flower

Just like the 35 mm Summicron-R the Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50 makes a beautiful, relatively small, well balanced kit, with a great feel, fit and finish, when mated to the Leica M(240). The 50 mm Summilux also provides a respectable 20″ close focus possibility along with its classic, creamy Summilux bokeh.

The first few of these examples display the wrong exif data because I forgot to reset the Manual R Lens Detection to the 50 Summilux. Rest assured all the images in this post were made with the 50 mm Summilux_R on the M(240).

This may be the most remarkable walk around lens/camera kit I’ve had the pleasure to use. This relatively small and light combination handled every situation while delivering superb results; including a commercial studio product shoot.

Next up: Leitz Canada Summicron-R 1:2 / 50. A lighter lens than the Summilux, though about the same size.

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We can see this is a lovely lens for working in close at that 20″ mark.

Again focused at the 20″ mark; though this is a very small section of the Full Frame (seen below);
and certainly demonstrating the quality of both the 50 mm Summilux-R and the M(240) sensor.

In this last example I put the 50 Summilux-R on the R Bellows.

Leica M, Leitz Wetzlar Summilux-R 1:1.4 / 50

Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 on Leica M: So, so sweet.

The Leitz Wetzlar Summicron-R 1:2 / 35 hanging on the Leica M (240) with Multifunction Grip and EVF truly feels like a terrific walk around kit. Extremely well balanced. Able to focus down to less than 10″; while offering a slightly wide field of view; yet maintaining terrifically natural sense of perspective and scale. And of course the Summicron signature has always flattered its subjects.

Shooting with this kit reminded me how much I’ve missed using these wonderful lenses on a 24 x 36 frame. Post processing brought back memories of my favorite “old Agfachrome.” Of course I could have also post processed them as “ekta… fuji… koda… or whatever other …chrome.” Though I always found Agfachrome to most closely synch with how I perceived “natural” color in the world; just as I always found a 35 mm focal length to most closely synch with my “natural field of view and sense of scale and perspective.” Of course I also enjoyed the drama of wider focal lengths; as well as the compression achieved with longer focal lengths.

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Pull the cap and check that close focus… wide open… not “macro”
though certainly a wonderful “are you ready for your closeup?” lens.