[Leica] Nikon Rumors

[drodgers at casefarms.com (David Rodgers)]

Ken,

In my experience with the D700 the benefit of the full frame sensor
isn't that I can make larger prints. Quite frankly, I don't make many
big prints. The benefit comes from higher ISO, which I guess comes from
larger pixels, and lenses that operate in a way that I've been
accustomed to for 30 some years, i.e. according the focal length that's
written on them in 35mm terms. 

I may be in the minority in how I feel about the latter (lens coverage)
issue, but I just feel more comfortable shooting full frame. The high
ISO part actually takes some getting used to. I've gone out shooting in
low light and darned if the images don't look like they were made in
light aplenty. I really don't want images where I used 25000 ISO to look
like I was using 400 ASA film. Yet in a chiaroscuro'esque sense, that's
what happens. I'm not always happy about it. 

The good news is that more is usually better. I haven't yet had the time
to figure out the contrast adjustments that give the look I want, but
I'm getting closer. Just like bigger is sometimes better since it gives
you more cropping flexibility, less noise is better because it's easier
to work with highlight and shadow details that actually exist and aren't
00000000000000 or 11111111111111. When you use a mask (in your software
of choice) to show blown highlights or black-holed shadows they're non
existent in almost any lighting situation (even with not aperture
coupled Leica lenses). It comes as a shock every time I see it. 

Again, I'm not deft enough at post processing to take full advantage of
the situation. In the end I probably throw away 90% of the extra
information that the D700 sensor gives me. But that doesn't mean I don't
want the option of having it.  

Also, because I'm already using Leica lenses on a full frame high ISO
body, I'm not holding my breath for Leica to come through with another R
body, and I'm not crying in my beer when they imply it's not going to
happen.

Dave R
 

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Carney [mailto:kcarney1 at cox.net] 
Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 8:46 PM
To: 'Leica Users Group'
Subject: Re: [Leica] Nikon Rumors

Mark,

I was wondering and you would probably know.  I have a Canon 40D which
seems
to make a nice uncropped print up to about 10x15".  The Canon 5dMkII
full-frame is considerably larger.  I will probably keep printing not
much
larger than 10x15 image size, so I was thinking the larger sensor would
give
me some more cropping room at least.  I try usually to shoot un-cropped
if
possible, and was wondering if the larger sensor would give me a better
print in that case, or on the other hand, if I could get the same
quality as
the 40D by cropping to equivalent size?  (I have some of the Canon "L"
glass.)  Hope that makes sense and thx for any thoughts.  (I live in the
middle of nowhere so it is difficult to field test these things without
purchasing.)

Ken

> -----Original Message-----
> From: lug-bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org [mailto:lug-
> bounces+kcarney1=cox.net at leica-users.org] On Behalf Of Mark Rabiner
> Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 7:14 PM
> To: Leica Users Group
> Subject: Re: [Leica] Nikon Rumors
> 
> I don't think with all the remotely serious photography being done on
> larger
> and larger sensors and Leica forgoing 4/3s according to Geoff's report
> because of the sensor size not being big enough that wanting to move
up in
> sensor size and not down is not silly on my part.
> Normally Leica shooters are a tad more serious than the SLR and point
and
> shoot masses so I don't think its at all off topic.
> The 4/3s and glorified point and shoots to not help them in this
> direction.
> If Barnack had come out with a 24x18 format camrea and not a 24x36
we'd
> not
> be talking about him now as we'd have never heard of it. The Leica M
half
> frame could not have made it against everyone else shooting 24x36.
> That's exactly where we are now.
> 
> According to Geoff's report the M9 is in the works and its full frame.
> This will keep the Leica M in business.
> If its not true the Leica M will tank big time in very few years.
> Without it your not going to find people spending thousands on glass
to
> put
> them in front of a cropped sensor in very many months let along years.
> There is no serious wave of shooters going down in format.
> Its just not happening. Who shot half frame?
> Look through any magazine, photo, fashion, consumer your not going to
be
> seeing many if any jobs done with a 4/3's 2x crop sensor. And not that
> many
> with a 1.5 or 1.3 crop sensor either.
> 90 percent of it is being done with a 1x crop sensor.
> The 2x is great for camera companies who did not have established
SLR's
> already out in the works they could just put a 1.5 crop or full frame
> sensor
> in front of. No one else cares.
> We need to be aiming up not down.
> 
> Luckily all the glass we've spent much money on will work on a 24x36mm
> sensor when it finally comes out. M9 Leica or S3 Nikon (I doubt). Or
Bessa
> D
> Cosina. (maybe)
> Thanks to the rumor with the date on it.
> 
> A rumor with a date on it by the way as far as I go is a rumor with a
date
> on it.
> Just like a rumor with decimal points. And exact specs.
> Lies are often hyper specific.
> 
> 
> Mark William Rabiner