Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/10/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Bob, I know what you mean. I essentially went from field view cameras to SLR digital and there is sure no looking back for me. If you haven't already, be sure to use the feature on the 5DII that lets you set the optimum lens to sensor distance for each lens. I have the 24-70 2.8L and 70-200 2.8L and it made a difference with those. Not so much with the Canon primes. The 70-200 with IS is a hoot. It's still hard to believe I'm shooting at 1/10 second hand-held. On 10/24/2010 3:37 PM, Bob Shaw wrote: > I was drawn to the D700 based on multiple Leitax posts and from other > internet sources. > > I went to Glaser's Camera in Seattle (Leica dealer) and negotiated - as in > I didn't get stabbed too deeply - and traded of my entire R Kit: R8, R9, > 28-90 Asph, 70-180 APO, Motor Drive and Charger for what I thought was > going to be a D700 with two zooms of similar range (if not quality). > > I ended up with a 5D Mk II, 24-105 USM, 70-200 USM MkII and a 430 Mk II > flash, primarily because the comparable Nikon kit was nearly $900.00 more > for Nikon. Because I promised myself whatever I "bought" would have to be > a net zero transaction. Nothing personal; just business. > > Now in my opinion either camera is a major improvement just for the ease > of shooting. > > So, why all of a sudden this change? > > 1. After roughly 300 exposures, I see that I am now getting back what I > saw through the view finder, not what the CD yields after scanning Leica R > negs. Dynamic Range to Burn. > > 2. Almost all my shots are in focus. If they're not, it's still my fault > for not believing what the little red rectangles were trying to tell me. > > 3. The full-frame sensor produces tons of dynamic range and very > rewarding enlargements. Of course, same with D700. > > 4. No more tiresome whining about poor shots to my patient, > long-suffering wife. > > 5. I really grew tired of waiting for an R10 to hook up with my legacy > Leica glass. > > 6. Oh yeah, and I'm not getting any younger (indirect quote from Dr. Ted). > > So my only film camera now is the trusty Contax T2 which is in rehab while > I look for a replacement back door - the Kyocera Ceramic film pressure > plate developed a hairline crack, rendering all exposures just slightly > out of focus. My wife can't wait for it to get well - she loves the > camera and what it yields. But it's a keeper. > > To be sure, the Canon(Nikon) lenses are no match for the heft, haptics and > results of Leica glass, but I've also been a bit amazed at the results > from the new 70-200, especially hand held. Come to think of it, the new > 24-70 makes a great "on-camera" lens when I use it properly. > > This isn't about D700 vs 5D Mk II. It's about the freedom for an older > guy with a less steady hand and focusing eye to harvest images worthy of > keeping in iPhoto for later "migration" to Aperture for serious fine > tuning. > > This change has been so easy I almost felt guilty. But I don't. > > I'm enjoying photography again and will continue to contribute to the LUG > as long I can be helpful and learn from such a fine collection of ladies > and gentleman photographers. > > > Cheers, Bob in Seattle > > > Bob Shaw > rsphotoimages at comcast.net > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >