Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/05/08

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Subject: [Leica] Thoughts on the Leica D2 and computer magazines
From: enitka at twcny.rr.com (Ernest Nitka)
Date: Sat May 8 07:53:44 2004
References: <12a.40d60ff9.2dce49ad@aol.com>

no argument there - there is in some ways more 'right' with the D2 than 
'wrong' so hopefully the incremental improvement will be in the VF and 
not in the covering of the camera ( ala Hermes) etc.

ernie
enitka@twcny.rr.com
Ernestnitka@aol.com
www.enitka.com
On May 8, 2004, at 10:33 AM, SonC@aol.com wrote:

> Ernie, I'm part of a generation of television news photographers who 
> were
> there in the transition from 16mm newsfilm to video.  Obviously, when  
> shooting
> film, we had optical viewfinders; my last news camera was a Cinema  
> Products
> reflex with a 9.5-57 zoom lens, integral light meter, and other bells  
> and
> whistles.  The thing weighed  about ten pounds with a full load of  
> film  (12
> minutes),  the amp for sound, and a mike for natural  sound.
> --
> The Ikegami HL 33 that we transitioned to weighed less, had a BW  
> viewfinder,
> with a moire pattern that let you know if things were exposed or  not. 
>  It
> had to be white-balanced after each power-up.  That was the  head of 
> the camera.
>  That was connected by a cable to a back pack  that weighed about 30 
> pounds
> with the camera electronics in it, then a  separate VCR for another 25 
> pounds.
> Some places used single crews,  but most had to go to two man crews 
> for the
> "minicams."
> --
> Today, you'll see TV news cameramen with video cameras comparable in  
> size
> and weight to the CP16R that I was using when I shot docs at  WWL-TV.  
> Some are
> even using the much smaller Panasonic Digital  Video Cameras (with 
> Leica
> Lenses).
> --
> My point here, is that the Leica-sonic D2 camera is still a  
> transitional
> machine.  There's lots of excellence there, but in another  year or 
> so, we'll be
> at a place where the viewfinders are wonderful, the  market will 
> stabilize,
> and we'll have only incremental change in higher  end equipment.
> --
> For the fickle snapshooting public, who knows?
> --
> Regards,
> --
> Sonny (shooting film and digits)
> --
> http://www.sonc.com
> In a message dated 5/8/2004 9:02:57 AM Central Daylight Time,
> enitka@twcny.rr.com writes:
>
> My take  on the D2 is that if it weren't for the EVF I'd be very
> interested in  it.  The EVF has this annoying lag in displaying 
> movement
> - it could  actually produce vertigo.  If it only had a much simpler
> approximating VF like on most zoom p and s I'd be happier.  Much of  my
> disappointment comes from the fact that i come from a traditional film
> background and the way in which I use the camera is semi- fixed in
> stone - I can't see myself holding the D2 1/2 an arm's length away and
> looking at my subject thru the larger LCD - not going to  happen.
>
> The computer magazines are simply that - magazines that hype  each new
> introduction - just like the photo mags do - 'never saw a camera  they
> didn't like'.  One really has to scratch the surface to see if  the
> camera is for you.  Many of the forums including this one will  reveal
> that there are some who find the camera wanting.  It's just a  matter 
> of
> whether the faults are important for your way of  shooting.
>
> right now i'm shooting MP and my caon elph digital and this  is really
> a decent combo.
>
> ernie
>
> _______________________________________________
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>


In reply to: Message from SonC at aol.com (SonC@aol.com) ([Leica] Thoughts on the Leica D2 and computer magazines)