Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/11/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Richard S. Taylor offered: Subject: Re: Film vs. Digital [was Re: [Leica] Re:Leica D200] > John, Ted - Well, if you don't like "obsolete," how about "outclassed" or > "outperformed" then? :-)<<< Hi Richard, I'm not sure what some of the problems folks have with "obsolete or "outclassed" or "outperformed?" I have had no problem, certainly not outperformed making very fine quality images printed at 13X19 from the Digi 2, actually we and friends have a few mounted and framed hanging in our homes'. And the compliments from visitors to our place are quite sincere from people who know good prints and good photography. So what is your problem? When I see comments like yours, "outclassed" or "outperformed" I can't understand what the problem is and why I don't encounter the same things. Trust me I have a very high print quality standard I aim for, whether film or digital, however, I do not expect more from a product than I know what it can deliver, life is easier. Sure the digi 2 is, was, $1800 bucks, so what? I look at these things as tools and it doesn't make any difference amateur or pro, the gear still must be paid for. I mean we have to work to earn the money no different than you as an amateur and wherever your purchase income is derived from.. If we don't make money in our company we don't buy new equipment, no different than you buying and where ever your income is earned in whatever manner. Yes I've heard the stories of... "well you can write it off because it's a business!" But what people never think about is... "we still have to earn money before we can buy the camera!" Business or not! > For $1,800+ dollars and as a Leica, yet, one should be able to expect a > longer period of superior performance.<<< Well I suppose so, but knowing it's of high cost and not your cup of tea for survival, why purchase in the first place? And certainly if you find you're not getting the results with it you expected, why would you hang on to it and complain? Hell I'd have sold it the moment I found it didn't produce what I expected. And that would be the same if it were an M7, R8 or any other type of gear. If I'm not satisfied? Get rid of it and don't waste thought on the poor quality of the purchased gear. > However, as I said in my original post: > >>None of the above applies to pros, of course. Digital has to be the hands >>down winner when you have to produce results NOW! and it doesn't matter if >>you have to replace your cameras every couple of years.<<<<<<<< Actually it sure as hell does matter!!! What do you think some of the pros make in a year and quite frankly due to digital today, many pros are having a much harder time making any kind of real solid income! Simply because every idiot with a digital camera thinks they're great photographers but have no idea what really solid professional work is. Then add to the situation, the great number of "art directors who are quite prepared for the... "that will do syndrome" and use poor photography because they know their "art student staff" can PS them and make all kinds of corrections. So they'll take poor material, pay nothing for it, fix it in PS and forget about the value of using talented professionals as they'd have to do if we were still all shooting film! I suppose this might be getting slightly of track, but your comment... ">>doesn't matter if you have to replace your cameras every couple of >>years.<<<<<<<< is a big pain in the ass! And even if we did we'd still >>have to earn the income to do it! > The situation for an amateur is different, and that's why I'm doing what > I'm doing.<<< What, complaining about a piece of equipment and not getting rid of it because it doesn't meet your expectations? > Or, maybe I just have too many expensive hobbies and am not allocating my > resources properly. :-))) That maybe your problem! :-) > My D2 produces fine pictures when used within its limitations and will > undoubtedly be used from time to time but it's not the general purpose > camera I had hoped it would be.<<< Hell I used mine most recently in Portugal and the UK and came home with very good pictures shot basically with little or no thought about limitations, I used it, it worked and I'm more than happy with the results. Does it work as quickly as the 20D? Nope and I don't expect it to, but when I use it in the manner I've learned how to make the most of it, the camera delivers damn fine quality. > And, without a doubt, my M7 and M3 are far more fun to use.<<< Be that as it may, you'll get no argument from me on the M7. And when I work.... I use 3 of them at the same time, different lenses and that ability to work quickly with the M7's is creating a problem in my digital world simply because I don't have three digital cameras to shoot with at the same time. And it's damn frustrating having to change lenses! However, we shall over come without complaint nor trepidation. ted