Seagulls and M8

[jaapv]

Responsiveness,and the ability to seen what is happening outside the frame make a RF, especially one with an automatic recocking of the shutter a joy to use for this kind of action-wildlife photography:

ISO 160, 135/4.0.
90 mm frames brought up by trickery ( push the lensrelease and rotate the lens a little bit further) Focussing method: These birds fly in flocks, so prefocus on one bird and then follow-focus the bird you want to shoot, and let it fly into the correct focus for the last mini-adjustment.

Oh yes - it is no problem focussing long lenses on the M8. All it takes is practice - and the Megaperls 1.35 magnifier.

[HansRoggen]

Nice ones Jaap!

Hans

[Keith]

I love the last shot jaapv ... the light through the feathers is eye catching. Is there much cropping on these?

[jackal2513]

hate this type of photography but if i can shoot this with an opened-up Noctilux on my first day with the M8 then other lenses shoudl be a breeze:

[louisb]

Jaap

In a word: excellent. I especially like the first one with the seagull framed against the sea. The colours are wonderful. It shows just how versatile the M8 can be.

LouisB

[1dave]

Outstanding, Jaap.

[zuikologist]

Jaap - very nice indeed. The M8 has produced excellent colours and sharpness.
What was your success rate? Even with an AF SLR, I would only expect maybe 50% good shots - maybe that's just me : - (

[jaapv]

Thanks a bunch guys, I appreciate it. . To answer some questions:
Any cropping done did not exceed 10%, just an edge here and there. My success rate was about 40%. Obviously these were the best of the bunch. I shot about 30 frames.

[usccharles]

dope pictures

[Ben Z]

Great shots. I'm ashamed to have to admit though (seriously, sometimes my brain goes in weird directions) when I clicked on "Seagulls and M8" I was expecting a comparison with the Chinese TLR's

[rxmd]

Next ones: Visoflex plus 400mm head please

[Kin Lau]

These are excellent.

[Fin]

Jaap

These would be excellent images from an SLR with, say, a 200mm. The fact that you've taken them on a rangefinder - I find astonishing!

The light looked to be bright and you said you shot at ISO 160 - did you stop down the lens at all to increase DOF?

Thanks for these - if anyone had asked me whether this type of shot was possible with an M8 I would have replied "possible but unlikely".

I would suggest that you submit these images to the official Leica website as an example of what is possible with this camera - truly impressive.

[jaapv]

It works with dolphins too.... Summilux 75

[2001alal]

now your showing off jaap lol
beautiful shots

[jaapv]

Indeed I am I am pretty chuffed at the results. I am really getting to grips with this camera now and it is indeed turning into an extension of my eye. It exhibits all the characteristics of a good tool: it always exceeds my demands.

[TS ISAAC]

Crystal sharp shots, and the DOF really came out perfectly on the second gull...you nailed it. Wings tips properly a blurr and perfect eyes. All very good. You seem to have mastered the long lens.

[patrickho777]

This is unbelievable. You shot them with Leica M8. How many did not turn out good. Just want to know the success rate.

[MadMan2k]

Nice. I haven't had much luck shooting birds with my 90 elmar, partly because the focus ring is really tight and partly because the birds here just make one pass and then they're gone, no circling around or flying slow, so you get one 4-5 second chance every once in a while.

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by patrickho777

This is unbelievable. You shot them with Leica M8. How many did not turn out good. Just want to know the success rate.

40%. I usually get between 25% and 50% with this kind of work. That is technical succes rate; in focus and framed correctly. Of course the number of real keepers, with the composition just so and a nice expression on the bird's face is considerably lower. I don't like to crop. To be honest it is the same as I get on a DSLR and AF, or slightly better.