I blogged a week or so ago about how I thought that my M9 & 90 Elmarit might need calibrating.  However, one night as I was thinking about the issue, I realized that when I first bought the lens, I didn’t notice any abnormalities.  I realized that I’ve set my ISO setting on 160 and left it there – whether in low light or bright light.  The 90 lens throws the balance of the camera a little off, and I realized when I handhold shoot with it, I shake a little.  So perhaps my camera didn’t need calibrating after all – perhaps I’ve not been attentive as I should have been to the settings on each lens.  To test my theory, I checked out both my 35 Summicron and 90 Elmarit today.

Leica M9, 35 Summicron, ISO 400, 1/30 – Vintage Post Office Box Bookends

The 35 Summicron I tested in my office on my set of bookends I just took when I rearranged my desks.  Since the room has no natural light, I bumped the ISO from 160 to 400 thus allowing a fast enough shutter speed to eliminate any shake from the handheld shot.  (Plus, I practice not breathing while taking the shot to minimize movement.)  That image turned out without any noticeable technical aberrations.

This afternoon after supper, I went out to my little garden (that I hope to finish soon!) and tested the 90 Elmarit.  Again, I bumped the ISO around in shaded spots but in some spots, I dropped back to 160.  I definitely have more hand shake with the 90, so I need to remember to keep it at a high ISO when I’m not shooting on a tripod.  These shots turned out also so I’m thinking I won’t have to calibrate my camera!

Leica M9, 90 Elmarit, ISO 400, Fairy Garden Bridge with Clover Growing between Planks

Oh, and I’ve found a vintage Leica lens on Ebay in great shape and at a great price; right now I’m the only bidder, and I hope it stays that way!  If I win, I’ll be posting it on here, but until then, resist the urge to go scouring for good deals on eBay.

Leica M9, 90 Elmarit, ISO 400, Thuja Hedge (Hopefully will enclose the garden after a few years)

Over the weekend, I mentioned I’m planning on a variety of shots throughout the fall, and I realized that I needed to plan for some of the shoots.  I had my Nikon kit almost how I needed it, but so far with the M9, I’ve been winging it on the “accessories.”  So far, I’ve been fastidious about transferring and formatting my card so I’ve only been shooting with one memory card.  I made a list of what I need to do to round out my kit before I go on any more “serious” shoots:

1.  Calibrate my camera.  (No longer thinks that’s necessary due to diagnosis of operator error.)

2.  Purchase additional memory sticks.

3.  Purchase rain capes in case of being caught in a sudden shower.

4.  Buy a memory card reader to download Leica firmware updates.  :o (No, I can’t believe I haven’t done that yet.)

5.  Install more memory on my Mac – all my photo programs are eating up the memory and slowing down my processing.

6.  Purchase ND filters for Leica lenses.

7.  Inventory my tripods, possibly sell some on eBay, and look at a light weight model.

8.  Cull any extraneous Nikon equipment (backpacks, filters, etc.) and use proceeds for vintage Leica lens that are a good deal on eBay.

9.  Add backup batteries for M9.

10.  Research sensor cleaners to clean M9 body.

11.  Find and calibrate GPS module to work with M9.

12.  Install widget on blog to link geotagged photos to Google maps.

What am I forgetting?  I know there was something else!

Leica M9, 90 Elmarit, ISO 400 – Orchard

I’m going back to Shiloh later this week and am hoping I’ll get some blog-worthy shots.  The pinhole kit I ordered also shipped on the 23rd and maybe it’ll be delivered in the next few days.

Leica M9, 90 Elmarit, ISO 400, 1/125 – Wildflower

Leica M9, 90 Elmarit, ISO 400, 1/125 – Dead Poison Ivy