Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/03/15

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Latest shot from a digital with a Leica lens
From: "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@hfx.andara.com>
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2003 03:00:14 -0400
References: <5.1.0.14.0.20030316013332.02e63c90@pop.hfx.eastlink.ca>

At 10:26 PM 3/15/2003 -0800, Javier Perez wrote:
>You beat me to it!
>I was thinking of buying an adaptor for my new used
>EOS DCS-5c but at 90 to 150 bucks it didn't make
>sense.



>I don't  think digital has gotten to the point where a
>Leitz lens would make a difference.

Javier:

 From my experience, the digital seems to be even more critical of lens 
performance.  My guess would be better lenses create smaller circles of 
confusion and hit the pixels in the sensors more directly, rather than a 
wider circle and hit more pixels, that then have to be interpolated.

I used the digital to test a Sigma 120-300mm f2.8 lens.  The only zoom I 
had to compare it to was the Leica 105-280 f4.2.  Wide open, the Leica was 
better by a great margin, even when shot digitally.

These are crops from the center of the images.

http://robsteve.com/images/SportsShooter/Sigma300-2.8crop.jpg

http://robsteve.com/images/SportsShooter/Sigma300-4.5crop.jpg

http://robsteve.com/images/SportsShooter/Leica105-280-280-4.2crop.jpg



>But when it does I
>doubt Leitz will be ready to embrace it financially.

The question is whether the Leica customers would embrace the cost of a 
quality digital.

>Canon has long abandoned Kodak in favour of their own
>native designs and are so far ahead of Leitz that any
>pro digital product they made or commisioned would be
>sorely deficient IMHO.

Kodak's best digitals are far superior to the consumer level digitals from 
Canon or Nikon.  The Canon Pro-level 1D and 1Ds are the best available 
currently.  Assuming the Leica would not be auto-focus, Kodak's 14N 
technology would be suitable and probably between the EOS 1d and 1ds in 
quality.

Here is a PDF showing the manufacture of the Kodak digitals.  It might 
explain why Leica has not taken on the task on their own.  It seems to be a 
very complex process.

http://www.fotoworld.cz/produkty/pdzm/download/DCS_manufacturing.pdf

>On the other hand they could
>approach someone for a digital back for the Ms since
>they seem to have been made for digital  backs! But
>again, they haven't moved on that either.

The M lens probably would not be suitable for digital sensors because of 
the very oblique angles of the light from the wide angles.


>Unfortunately Leitz seems to have fallen so far behind
>that they are now in the same position as us -
>spectators who helplessly  watch developments go by
>unable to do anything even if the iniciative is there.


Lets hope they get something in a digital SLR organized in the next few 
years.  I am happy with film for most things, but a digital gives that 
instant gratification like Polaroids did years ago.

Regards,

Robert



>Javier
>
>
>--- "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@hfx.andara.com>
>wrote:
> > Hi all:
> >
> > I shot this Saturday with the Leica 400mm on a Canon
> > digital.
> >
> > http://robsteve.com/LUG/ALB-Guelph-01.jpg
> >
> >
> > I wish Leica would partner with somebody like Kodak
> > and introduce a digital
> > SLR.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Robert
> >
> > --
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>
>
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In reply to: Message from "Robert G. Stevens" <robsteve@hfx.andara.com> ([Leica] Latest shot from a digital with a Leica lens)