5 frames with a Leica M4-P + 35mm Summilux by Marco North

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 15/09/2017

Thank you, Nick! Well, by all means borrow or rent a Leica - if you are comfortable with a handheld meter, the prices go down quite quickly. You can get an M4-P body for about $900, but it is the lens that costs more if you still want Leica glass. There are a number of great articles Hamish has written for this site about Zeiss lenses on Leica rangefinder cameras, and they are far, far less expensive. I bought my M4-P mint, used in the 90s and it is an utterly cherished object, and I have no regrets about how much it cost. It has given me DECADES of images like these.

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 15/09/2017

There are a lot of random Norths in the world, aren't there! The trees that came down, were after an intense wind-storm here in Moscow. The streets were clogged with them for days, and then they were cut up and sat in piles by the side of the road for weeks, which is part of what got me to take pictures of them - as if they were just forgotten, never picked up. An M2 - nice! I have an Xpan and a 500CM so all of my Zeiss glass is there. What you might appreciate is that I have Leica glass for my movie work - I bought a set of vintage R series primes and got them converted for cine work. I have a Canon C300 that they work with, and I cannot begin to tell you how perfect a marriage that is.

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Nick - yes, being completely manual has incredible upsides. I bought a second M4-P body some years ago, so I can work two different film stocks. You know, I love Zeiss glass, especially the older designs - but being a filmmaker, I have a special respect for Leica glass. All of those great films made in the 70s and 80s using Panavsion cameras -they all had Leica glass on them. For my movie work, I have a set of Leica R primes that I had converted, to work with my Canon C300. I cannot begin to tell you how magical they are - sharp without being annoying, color rendition off the charts - skin tone and Leica glass is just a wonder to behold. If you go to my Flickr account, you will see a good amount of color film work with my Leica glass - I think that brings out more of the characteristics of these lenses than the B&W stuff.

Nick replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Hi Marco, Just took a peek at your Flickr. Incredible colour on those photographs. Like the mix of old/new technology on you movie camera. Not sure how the price go old Leica glass compares with new, might have to investigate!

Nick replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Hi Marco, Speaking of vintage lenses.. have you any experience with either of the Leica super-Angulon 21mm lenses on your Canon C300? The work I've seen with this lens seems to ooze the 1960's. I think Jeanloup Sieff used them to great effect. Not sure which one he used though. I'm thinking of trying one on my digital Leica. There seems to be lot of examples of the f4 around but the f3.4 seems harder to come by.

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Nick - That Angulon is a very unique lens, made by Schneider actually? In any case, only R-mount Leica glass can be converted for the Canon C300 sensor. As that lens is an M-mount (or also screw mount I believe) it would not work for me. All of the R-mount Leica glass I bought is from the 70's, a 24mm Elmarit-R f2,8, a 90mm Elmarit-R f2,8 (2 cam) and a 50mm Summicron-R f2 (2-cam). I cannot say how amazing they work for me. Here are a few actual frame grabs from the project I am using them on. https://www.facebook.com/blackbettyseries/photos/a.607703059403994.1073741829.594426207398346/668618333312466/?type=3&theater https://www.facebook.com/blackbettyseries/photos/a.688474517993514.1073741832.594426207398346/688474907993475/?type=3&theater

Nick replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Looking at those stills I can see why you have gone to the trouble of converting those lenses. Theres a lovely vintage quality to the images, gorgeous vintage tone and colour. The mixing of old lenses with digital fascinates. Well I pressed the button on my first vintage lens; a Super-Angulon 21mmc f 3.4 .. can't wait to try it out. I'm hoping it may stave off my Hasselblad SWC craving for a while!

Nick replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Yes having worked with a few film directors making TV adverts i'm under no illusions about post production! Great to be able to define exactly the look and feel you want and work towards it though. Very satisfying. Definitely like 'old leica', would be a good name for an Instagram filter ;-)

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Full disclosure, those images are HEAVILY manipulated as far as color, but the raw originals have that ideal sharp/gentle quality that I simply describe as "old Leica".

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 16/09/2017

Ah, thank you Stig! I spend a lot of time finding a way to bring images and words together in some compelling way, looking for those juxtapositions. But somehow, as I work on an upcoming book of photographs I want to just have pictures there, no words.

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 17/09/2017

Richard - yes, there are many odd corners of the world - Moscow is just one of them. Every time people want to say that Russia is different, there is an example of some place in the world that is all too similar.

Marco North replied:

Comment posted: 19/01/2020

thanks Allan! Yes, fully manual with no batteries is the ultimate "simple tool". I own two M4-P bodies actually, one for b/w one for color film.