Leica M4 P and 7artisans 50mm f/1.1 - Portrait Session Test Shoot

I recently purchased a Leica M4-P. Being the #bokebro that I am, I wanted a lens that would give me a super shallow depth of field. Enter the 7artisans 50mm f/1.1 Leica M mount lens. I’v seen quite a few reviews of this lens and knew I needed to give it a try.
::: My Instagram and Website :::
/ macshootsfilm
www.macshootsfilm.com
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Camera Used: Leica M4-P - amzn.to/35JnHlZ
Lens Used: 7artisan 50mm f/1.1 Leica M mount - amzn.to/2uHUE5L
Film Used: Kodak Portra 800 - amzn.to/2uxnTb5
Other Lens Mentioned: Voightlander Color Skopar 35mm f/2.5 - amzn.to/37TCmg3
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Gear I will you be using in 2020:
Leica M4-P 35mm Camera: amzn.to/2rOXsNe
Nikon f100: amzn.to/36glVtM
Nikon FM3A: amzn.to/2QzAGkR
Olympus XA2: amzn.to/2ZOuQAk
Mamiya 645 Pro: amzn.to/2SJBpTi
Lowepro Flipside 400 AW Pro DSLR Camera Backpack: amzn.to/37vgis2
AmazonBasics Camera Sling Bag - 8 x 6 x 15 Inches, Black: amzn.to/2ZFwbZW
Leica Light meter - Voigtlander VC Speed Meter II: amzn.to/36i3d4X
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What I use to develop film:
I use a Plustek 8200i SE scanner! It's AMAZING! amzn.to/2TVUAH7
Ultrafine Unicolor C-41 Powder Developer Kit (1 Liter): amzn.to/2YiWh44
CineStill CS41 Liquid Developing Quart Kit : amzn.to/2TtblZ9
Chemical bottles (get 3): amzn.to/2U1LpZ2
Paterson Universal tank and 2 reels : amzn.to/2JAcHSf
Dark bag: amzn.to/2JB2Yes
Analog thermometer: amzn.to/2JC5Mb5 (Optional Upgrade to standard thermometer)
Kodak Photo-Flo (minimizes streaks from hard water): amzn.to/2U7ahhP
Drying Clips: amzn.to/2UULNFJ
Archival Storage Sheets: amzn.to/2U1QLDC
Film Cassette Cartridge Opener: amzn.to/2U7bwgZ
Rocket Air Blaster: amzn.to/2Tq2rvz
#ilford #mamiya645 #120 #filmphotography

[@lynshhrh]

All I can say now is WOW!

[@alasdairdougall7868]

Love the video, Mac. Thanks for taken the effort to bring your option on the Lens.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@20040528]

You can make a temporary "ground glass" with some scotch tape to calibrate the lens more easily. I think Matt Day has a video about that.

[@MacShootsFilm]

That’s awesome! Looking now!

[@MarcS4R]

Great work Mac. and great podcast...on film i would probably recommend getting a used Summicron 50, or if budget is no issue a Lux asph. but the Cron does wonders on film

[@MacShootsFilm]

I'd LOVE that Summicron! Thanks so much for listening to the podcast and watching the channel!

[@iam_vlo]

Woohoo! We have the same m4-p setup! from the VC light meter to Voigtlander lens to 7artisans 50 1.1 :D

[@MacShootsFilm]

It's a GREAT set-up!

[@J4060]

No comments about the model? Boy, that was HOT. Beautiful shots, great model. Congrats, mate.

[@dakmandotcom6682]

Unique would be the word I'd use, and I only came into the comments for mention of the model...

[@DeanScutt]

I’d recommend a Voigtlander Nokton 50mm F1.5 aspherical if you can find a used copy for a good price, and F1.5 is fast enough for you.

[@highlander200107]

Mine does not engage the 50mm framelines fully either, I get the top and bottom only, and have to push the lever slightly to get my sides of them to show.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Interesting!

[@dadisiolutosin]

Great review. I shoot with a couple 7Artisans lenses, the 12mm f2.8 and 35mm f1.2, on my Fujifilm cameras and I love those two lenses. I have yet to use their M mount lenses on my Minolta CLE but I've heard good things about their 35mm f2 lens which I plan to try at some point. That said, I've been seriously looking to pick up the Leica M4-P with the Voigtlander light meter. How well does that light meter work?

[@MacShootsFilm]

The Voigtlander light meter is pretty amazing. I tested it against my Sekonic L-308X-U (in reflective mode) and it gives me the same reading! I'm really impressed with the small form factor and great accuracy of this Voigtlander meter! Also, I think the M4-P is the best value, and most underrated, Leica available. Thanks for watching!

[@dadisiolutosin]

@@MacShootsFilm Tha ks for the reply. I also shoot with a Canon P which doesn't have a built-in light meter and that's the first one I'll use it on. Once I pick up the M4-P, I can use it on both cameras as needed.

[@codiecrieg2480]

hmm nice piece of metal and glass. Did You shoot with B&W? Becouse i think this glass need it ;3

[@cemalsagnak7504]

You are a real master of environmental portraits and using sunlight! Ich have almost same equipment , Nikon Fa and Nikon f100 f90x and the Leica M4-P . I strongly recommend , even when above your set goal of 500 $, the Voigtländer 50 1.2 asph . It’s arround 1000 but it keeps up with any Leica on Film and on my M9 .

[@MacShootsFilm]

I have been eying the Voigtländer 50 1.2 asph! looks like a fantastic lens!

[@cemalsagnak7504]

Absolutely nice lens ! Here some example flic.kr/p/Q9ih4q and flic.kr/p/29oAv8w

[@qnetx]

I'm not sure if it was the film or the lens but the contrast seemed a bit lacking on the images. Also, there were only a couple of images where you were close enough to the model and she was far enough from the background where the bokeh was noticeable enough to evaluate at f/1.1.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Agreed! I ran into a lot of challenges enabling me to stop down. *No ND filter in my bag. :(

[@zguy95135]

FWIW I calibrated my 35mm f2 when I had it on film, it wasn't too bad. I'd shoot a couple frames, cut it in a darkbag and develop it for the shortest amount of time possible.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Thanks for watching!

[@theoldcameraguy]

Sweet portraits on a rangefinder - Who’da thunk it? Love the image at 3:42 in particular #bokehbro

[@MacShootsFilm]

Thank you, sir!

[@Sochmo18]

Nice video. It is actually very easy to calibrate the lens without using film. If you don't want ultra-precision using ground glass taped to the film plane, just calibrate the lens at infinity by focusing at infinity and then look at a telephone post 100m or so away. If your rangefinder is off then calibrate the lens accordingly. These lenses rarely need to be calibrated out of the box but I believeits a great feature to have compared to even Leica glass that does not have this feature.

[@RodUSMC75]

If your frame lines are not engaging, you need to have the Leica CLA'd. It's not the lens, you will have the same issue with every 50mm. This is common with older Leicas, your lens should be fine. I had the same issue and a CLA fixed the issue. Also after you mount the lens, if you "gently" turn the lens back in the opposite direction (without pushing the button) you may see the frame lines show up.

[@MacShootsFilm]

The thing is, it's only with this lens. I've mounted 3 other lenses with no frame line issues.

[@RodUSMC75]

@@MacShootsFilm Every lens has it's own distinct mounting bracket in order to move the armature to display the proper framelines.

[@RodUSMC75]

@@MacShootsFilm rock the lens back and forth gently and see if your 50mm framelines appear.

[@MacShootsFilm]

@@RodUSMC75 I did try a 50mm Voighlander on there and had no issues. I rock it back and forth, seat it hard, no luck. :(

[@RodUSMC75]

@@MacShootsFilm hmmm that's really odd. Any case, If you end up going with the Voigtlander Nokton F1.1 Your going to love it. It does take up a little more real estate in the bottom corner of the viewing window but as long as you can pre-visualize you will absolutely love it.

[@stevek8829]

You should have planned your shoot in dimmer light near evening before dinner with the model. You really have to trust your calibration with a rangefinder when wide open, even at f2. Thanks for a nice vid.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Thanks for watching!

[@renecarstensen1292]

Great locations and lighting...a shame with the framelines, i was also looking forward to se it' as i have the M4-P my self. I do have the 7artisans 35mm f2 and i looks great ...

[@MacShootsFilm]

Thank you and thanks for watching!

[@tomscameras]

Actually it’s also sort of an advantage that you can calibrate lenses for yourself instead of sending the stuff every other year to Leica or Voigtländer etc … ;)

[@Cree]

Dawg... at worst 35mm film resolves at roughly 20mp. The Leica M10 resolution is 24MP. If you’re using good glass and good film you’re going to get a better output on film. It’s not that film is better in this case but consider what Leica is making (24MP rangefinder cameras) the glass would actually make the difference. Cost is a different discussion as well as digital bodies shooting over 30mp - film can resolve up to ~30MP equivalent.

[@MacShootsFilm]

Definitely better glass = better results, but it maxes out with film faster than a high resolution sensor. Does the 7artisans reach the peak sharpness of film? If so, then it's technically good enough. I think, stopped down to f2.8 it does. So if both a Leica lens and this lens both hit peak sharpness on film then is it worth it to pay more for the Leica? Maybe. Maybe not. I sent the lens back so I'll never know. Thanks for watching!

[@Cree]

Mac Shoots Film Then you should try and get your hands on a friend’s summilux. Leica glass was meant to be shot wide open. Very unnoticeable differences wide open vs stopped down. You like bokeh so you’re not gonna get what you really like with a summicron... but if you play with a summilux you’ll be thoroughly pleased. AND you can take take from your film body to a digital M body if that were to happen. Your podcast is rad

[@caleidoo]

I've always read that an average ISO 200-400 film is about 12-16MP. And I can confirm this, based on my DSLR scans from consumer film. Only high end, low ISO film will get you to around 20MP - like Velvia 50 or some specialized niche film. But getting 30MP of detail from a film is a bit too optimistic.

[@Cree]

@@caleidoo just depends on the process. I personally never use consumer film. There’s too many variables to say what one persons results are vs another of the exact same pieces aren’t in place. Also it’s been a long time since I watched this video so if Mac was using consumer film 🤷🏾‍♂️ sure.

[@nightcoder5k]

I have this exact lens for my Sony A7ii used with the Fotodiox Pronto adapter and I get autofocus. It's a great lens for portraiture. Btw, the following video mentions how he gets his lens tuned for his film camera: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oX-0eouMnqmFq7c

[@JMacInvesting]

0:49 that's a lot of arm hair :)

[@MacShootsFilm]

I'm growing it long for you! :)

[@robertstacy4453]

You think Leica glass doesn’t make a difference because you’re shooting film? You won’t calibrate the lens even though you are using a range finder? Have you ever looked closely at negative shot on Leica glass? Nothing will make your heart beat faster with excitement. You have to calibrate the lens because it’s rubbish and built like trash. A true case of you get what you pay for.