Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/11/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Derek I've had 11x14 inch prints made at the local Costco digital kiosk with my D2. I imagine the DPI is below 200 at this magnification but the sharpness and detail (ISO 100 setting) is absolutely stunning. Compared to my R8 (35-70 F/4 handheld) with a quality 100 ISO print film (I use Fuji Reala) the D2 prints have slightly less grain and comparable sharpness. The print image appears a bit more brittle (like slide film) and not able to hold details as far into the highlights and shadows as with 100 ISO print film. The D2 bokeh, what there is of it, is smooth and creamy but I can tell it is a digital image, not film. I haven't quite put my finger on what this difference is but it is similar to how medium format prints seem to have a smoother tonality compared to 35mm prints, only more of this. I use the highest quality JPEG setting, keep the contrast and unsharp mask at the regular midpoint settings and stay at 100 ISO if at all possible. FWIW, a staffer at the local Costco rates my D2 11x14 inch prints as in the top tier of technical quality and says the Leica JPEG file settings work very well with his Noritsu machine. Should you wait for a 8mp version of the D2? Well, if this happens I doubt I would upgrade, given what the D2 11x14 prints are showing me. Since the chip size would need to stay the same to keep the camera dimensions similar, 8 million pixels crammed in where 5 million pixels now rest means smaller pixels. Unless tamed by future technology improvements, this could create the infamous 5mp to 8mp trade off of chromatic aberration problems (like exhibited in the 8mp Sony 828) and more noise (digital grain) at all print sizes in exchange for a slight bump in resolution, which I would rarely use or see. The one D3 improvement that would prompt me to consider upgrading would be if the EVF was substantially higher in pixels or went direct optical somehow. The EVF is the only aspect of the D2 that doesn't wow me. Regards Doug from Tumwater