Camera Labs

Hey Bjorn, I saw your article on Leica's FB page and it was a great read. Actually it was good enough to make me register here and share my comment!
I completely agree with you about the "plastic" feeling of a DSLR.
My dad was a photographer and I grew up around books of Robert Doisneau and mostly my dad's M6.
Unfortunately, 6 months ago he had some pretty serious health issues and now he can't use his cameras anymore. So my mom told me I could take the Leica.
I took it with the 3 lenses that were there, 35mm Summilux f/1.4, 50mm Summicron 50mm f/2 and a 90mm Leitz Wetzlar f/4.
So far I took only 2 film rolls with it and I m in love. I just cant take my Nikon D70s seriously anymore.
So on one side I'm in photoHeaven but on the other side the fact that it isn't with my dad anymore is really sad.

This is one of the first pictures I took with it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/68467728@N04/6555484453/

May your new cam give you the pleasure of many excellent photographs and never fail to deliver on its promise, Bjorn!
And keep us pixel-peepers updated with full-res images, too.
Merry X-Mas!

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

That camera looks awesome. I could never buy one (4 Canon 5D MkII's for the price of 1 Leica M9-P), but it's really cool. Work of art. I can understand the reasoning. I just purchased a common stock of the Green Bay Packers. Practical? Not really. Awesome? Hell yeah!!!! Enjoy it, you earned it.

(Also, great read. I really learned something about Leica. They are craftsmen in the best sense.)

Well done Bjorn, I enjoy your passion and your photos.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

If you want ideas on how to "decorate" the M9, the DRTV boys have recently had a go...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

(mind you, they made a better job of it than their previous ones )

Just a reminder though Bjorn, Kai said "Don't try this at home!" (just in case you are tempted )

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Nikon D700 & D7100 bodies + Nikkor 300mm F2.8 VR11, 1.7TC, 50mm F1.4G, 16-35mm f/4G VR, 105 F2.8 VR macro, 70-300mm lenses. A couple of filters, Giotto tripod & ballhead. Lowepro Slingshot 302 AW

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldcarlos/

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Soon.....

We should be safe. I don't see "pinkenta" as Bjorn's colour of choice!

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

Nothing says stealth street photography like a fluorescent pink M9

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I take pictures so quickly, my highschool was "Continuous High".

I've read an article in the dutch photo magazine "Focus" about a street photographer that started wearing a fluorescent safety vest.

He said that without the vest people would react to his presence and protest or make comments. With the vest people didn't bother him because the didn't took him for a (professional)photographer, but as a city service worker taking pictures of everything but them.

So a pink M9 might make you blur more into the crowd than you think, nobody will take you for a pro.

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www.pimvandevelde.com

Its funny with the fluro work/safety gear, when it first started appearing here it stood out. Now that everyone wears it, it makes you invisible.

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Canon Powershot S95, Canon 7D, 15-85, Canon 85 1.8 USM, Sigma 30 1.4, 50mm 1.8, Canon 100 2.8L IS Macro, Canon 70-300L IS USM+Kenko 1.4 Pro 300DGX, Canon 430EX II and RS 4 Classic

So Bjorn, you like shooting in portrait orientation. So do I. Great camera.

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It is my deauty to capture beauty.

Hello Bjorn,

I congratulate you on the commitment and success in owning your M9-P. My last real experience with a Leica was a motor driven M4-P and I cherish those memories still, though the camera is long gone, sold to create a down payment for our first home so many years past. Like you, I want an M9 and while the body is available, lenses are very constrained at this time here in Canada so I must wait a bit as I want my first lens to be a 35mm. I will be ready when my dealer is.

As much as I enjoyed your writing, if it's not impertinent on my part, I would congratulate you on the images you posted created with the D-Lux 5. I confess I looked at the images before reading the article and my first thought was that I liked them very much and that they had a very Cartier-Bresson "feel".

I wish enormous good fortune in your career and thank you for sharing such good work.

Best,

Ross

What made you go for the M9-P over the M9? I'm currently looking at getting the M9, and have thought about the M9-P too but there's a waiting list of about six weeks at my stockist. I'll probably end up getting an M9 simply because it's available but I wonder why you chose the other camera.

Hi folks,

Bjorn is no doubt too modest to mention it but the latest instalment of his article Leica factory tour and my first shots with the M9-P is now available (click the link).

Really well written and I felt myself sharing his growing anticipation as the camera was finally extracted from the packaging and his joy of ownership. Even if you never aspire to owning a Leica head on over and share the moment!

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.