Hi Brandon,
I have been a frequent reader of your father’s reviews on this website. and this would be my 1st submission, and hopefully 1st of many.
Over a year ago I gave up on DSLRs, and got myself a Fuji X100s when it was 1st introduced. that camera changed the way I take pictures, I am no longer cautious and concerned about being caught taking pictures in public (this is a grey area in my country, no specific rules, but many got into trouble shooting large dslr in public)
I quickly adopted street photography, loved how the Fuji was small, silent, and no one would take it seriously anyways. it made a lot of sense at that time.
However, I always wanted a Leica and last January I got my hands on my 1st ever Leica, I decided on a black M240 along with 50mm Summicron (V4 I believe), and that set was just perfect, small and discreet, slowly I even forgot about my trusty Fuji, and the Leica became my primary camera.
Attached are some photographs taken with the leica M along with the Summicron 50mm.
Regards,
Fahad A
Saudi Arabia
These are exceptional photopaintings. Thanks for sharing them.
Really engaging photography here, Fahad. The strong treatment adds to the cohesion and identity of the set. Looking forward to seeding more on Flickr.
Thank you David. to me post processing is as important as capturing the image.
Beautiful pictures! As for me, my way to take pictures changed when I bought the first Fuji X100! I’m now enjoying using a Ricoh GR and I wish buying a Leica M one day!
Cheers!
I have a thing for the Ricoh GR. i would have did something about it if i didn’t own the x100s.
I just with Leica made a small full-frame M camera, like a digital M3. Though even if they did I most likely couldn’t afford to actually buy one.
We all want them to release a true “Mini M” but they never will..well, you never know but unlikely. If they do it will be crippled I am sure.
I hope they do it someday, all i want is a lighter, thinner leica M. something similar to the M6.
what processing did you use I’m interested as i really don’t like the normal look of the M240 sensor
Hey Slomo,
Lots of dodge & Burn, cross processed colors and desaturating the colors afterwords.
Thanks so much for your reply
Thank you for posting this Steve. really appreciate the effort put in your site to review the stuff we love and also to help expose many photographers.
The atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom is rendered in oppressive tones; muted and stifled, rather than ‘beautiful’. Perhaps the intent of Fahad.
No intentions here. Tastes vary.
I myself changed from DSLRs to Leica M240.Having had a Leica M4 many years ago,Ive always rather regretted selling it.But here we are with the latest from Leica,its lenses are amazing,all so small and neat.For going off into the hills its perfect,size and weight perfect,be careful changing lenses if the weather is bad though.All the best everyone.John P
Thanks John.
Luckily i’m stuck (in love) with the summicron for now. now need to change lenses.
Voigtlander 35mm 1.2 is beautiful. yet sadly too heavy.
Steve, when I get a mo I plan to write an article on my very positive Nikon V1 experiences for submission to your site.
I went though the same metamorphosis from Nikon pro DSLR to a tiny Nikon V1. Again no one takes me seriously so I just shoot away. All photographs on my Flickr page are shot on the V1 over only two days.
It should be opposite . sometimes its ridicules walking around with noisy huge dslrs.
Fahad- Very nice! My biggest question for you: was the change from the Fuji to the Leica all you’d thought/hoped it would be? Tell about that change. I recently sold off all my DLSR and have owned almost all the models of Fuji and a big believer and relate to your love of the stealthiness of the Fuji. Would you buy the Leica again? Recently sold my film Leicas and considering the M 240, though just curious of your experience. Thanks! Justin
Hey Justin.
Thank you for you comment.
Now the X100s was a stellar of a camera, it was small, quick, discreet and that lens is SHARP. i never thought i’d consider any camera.
the reason why i decided on an M240 is mainly because i hated the zone focusing experience on the x100s. it was horrible, the focusing distance keeps changing when i shake the camera! and i really cant rely on any AF because it takes time to focus and it also focuses on the wont places.
Why i loved the M240:
– Leica’s rangefinder is huge and so bright, i loved it the 1st day, couldn’t get the camera off my face!
– Zone focusing is a breeze with Leica’s markings.
– Capturing an the right moment using the rangefinder is a wonderful experience, i never have to use Continues shooting anymore.
– Battery life of the M240 is impressive (given your screen is off)
– The camera is built like a tank!
– it looks like any other camera (to everyone) it only drives attention from fellow photographers and hobbyists.
Zero regrets on this purchase, because this camera really inspired me to go places and shoot things!
i still have my x100s, and use it occasionally. because its the 2nd best camera i ever used. it also features AF & continues shooting.
note that during this summer vacation i had the guts to leave my x100s home and only take the leica along with the summicron only. again, zero regrets on that.
Hi Fahad,
Interesting looking photos indeed, I love the pale colour tone and low contrast treatment, which makes them look almost like aged film.
More recently I joined the Fuji X camp with a 12mm (18mm equiv), 18mm (28mm equiv) and a 32mm (50mm equiv). Coming from a 40mm equiv Lumix GF1 set, I am struggling with the 50mm equiv focal length for street photography to an extent I almost gave up photography completely. How did you adapt from a wide angle X100s to a “standard” 50mm? Did you find it a bit too tight for street photography?
I use a 27mm and 50mm equiv. for street and use the 50mm 80% of the time. It picks details out of a crown very nicely.
That should have read ‘crowd’.
Hi Boris.
when i 1st picked up the X100s i was complaining about how wide the lens is, it drove me crazy for a few weeks. until i somehow adapted my shooting style to the lens. getting closer to the subject.
now i own a Voightlander 35mm 1.2 and i just cant use it for street photography because i got to used to keep distance using the summicron 50mm.
I even went to a trip abroad with only the summicron, have so much confidence in that lens 🙂
my only advise would probably be “take few steps back”
hope you manage to work it out.
I really like the dark treatment, it is like a memory.
Thank you. i always felt that treating images in a certain way adds something to it. Memory might be the keyword. thanks
I like the last one and the old green Toyota.
Thanks Andrew.
i was driving back from work and spotted this beautiful Toyota, had to shoot it!
Beautiful atmospheric shots, they capture the spirit and feel of the streets!
Thanks Ciaran. Glad you enjoyed looking at these images.
Have you post-processed these to get the “image” you desire? Otherwise, I simply can not believe that they have been taken with the 240 + Summicron. The colours are all flat and washed out (to my eyes) and lack contrast. There is also noticeable vignetting. Sorry to be so negative, but this is how I see it.
Yes i did. i always want to achieve a certain mood. might not be your cup of tea.
Thanks for commenting & being honest.
I’m all over the place. Moved over the M43 and A7 but still have a spot for DSLR. I get the street photogrpahy with a small camera though. Makes complete sense.
super fast and accurate AF, close focusing distance, and large number of brilliant lenses to choose from. hard to trade off if you don’t need the smaller size. (and the rangefinder)
How are you processing these? I really like the look you’ve achieved!
I would love to know as well. I struggle so much with color in my photos.
Try the Nik plug-ins, especially the retro one
only use photoshop, dodge & burn like crazy. then cross process using curves.
but let me be honest here, i treat a photograph like a painting, i edit the 1st day, come back the next day to amend, on the 3rd day i take a general look at the whole image and decide to move forward with it or not.
in short, i take my time, that’s why i don’t produce much.
only use photoshop, dodge & burn like crazy. then cross process using curves.
but let me be honest here, i treat a photograph like a painting, i edit the 1st day, come back the next day to amend, on the 3rd day i take a general look at the whole image and decide to move forward with it or not.
in short, i take my time, that’s why i don’t produce much.
Nice shots. I especially like the ones with the cars.
Thanks Derek, too many cars in jeddah 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story. I’m exactly in the same evolution. I began with a DSLR (Nikon), this camera was very nice and efficient but did not match with the kind of photo i would like to take. Too big. As i use to practice Street Photography i now shoot with one Olympus E-MD10 with fixes lenses (eq 35mm/50mm). Nice camera too, small size, easy to handle in the street but 4/3 format did not satisfy myself. Then, i have tested the Leica M-240 and i should recognize that full frame is the best, then Leica lenses are incredible while rendering light and details.
Exactly! i remember when i 1st tried dslr for street photography. the size and of these black plastics is just annoying for roaming around and exploring. most of the time i felt like putting the camera in my back pack and just forget about it.
Yes, leica lenses are small, light and renders beautifully. yet the reason i picked up the leica is for the rangefinder experience and proper zone focusing using the marks on the lens.
Thanks Frederic.
Looks great!