Question
How does Scott Kivowitz's use of Leica M9 and 50mm lens enhance his photography?
Answer
Scott has written most about the Leica M9 with a Zeiss 25mm, but the same principles explain why a 50mm works so well for him.
The M9’s simplicity and superb color give Scott very clean, vibrant files that need minimal processing. He often notes how the colors “just pop” straight out of camera, and how both color and black and white conversions look rich and detailed.
Paired with a 50mm, the M9’s rangefinder style encourages Scott to slow down, pre-visualize, and compose more deliberately. A 50mm is close to natural human vision, so his photos feel intimate and realistic, while the M9’s lens correction and wide dynamic range let him fine-tune perspective and contrast in Lightroom without the image falling apart.
Are you considering a 50mm for your own Leica, or just studying Scott’s approach?