Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2008/07/24
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Date: Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:30:40 +0200 From: Nathan Wajsman <photo@frozenlight.eu> Subject: Re: [Leica] How to get an M8 for $3200... To: Leica Users Group <lug@leica-users.org> Message-ID: <1518E7D8-A6DC-4277-926B-D28C96E437E9@frozenlight.eu> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes But that was not my point, Geoff. Sure, there are no other digital rangefinders at the moment. But we could be having the same discussion in the context of the DMR, which also delivers superb results for those who have it. My point was rather that I have the suspicion that the quality of the Leica digital images has nothing to do with the sensor or software, but rather with the lenses. The same superb lenses delivered excellent quality on film and they continue to deliver excellent quality on sensors--indeed, even on Canon or Olympus sensors! I guess what I am trying to say is that with digital, as well as with film before, the quality of the lens matters a great deal, IMO more than the sensor or the software. Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu Nathan & All In my 30 plus years as a photojournalist I have learned a long time ago that its not the camera that produces the quality of the image, its the lens. When I bought my first M3 (used), in 1968 it wasn't for the Leica body so much, as for the lenses it used which are still working perfectly today.. In those days the Leica optics were far above any of the other rangefinder lenses of the day. Nikon was learning and started producing some fine quality optics but still lagged behind Leica.. Nikon also had the fortitude of clear thinking of the future and also produced a mount still in use today, and many other PJ's I know including myself, are still using those same manual lenses on the most modern DSLR's of today.. Nikon has taken to producing some of the poorest quality optics today based on build using lots of plastic in their lenses where Leica has continued on with their fine quality not only in optics but also in build.. The world of photojournalism today has been rocked on its axis and those using big professional cameras of Nikon and Canon in other than sports venues are feeling the sting of standing out and being targeted by police and others when trying to do their jobs after Sept 11.. it is why many have opted to go to smaller and smaller cameras as the M8, and others, using in certain situations some of the better prosumer P&S models that offer good quality images for publication.. as for myself, I long ago sold off my Nikon D1 and opted for the smaller less conspicuous Nikon D70 which did everything the D1 did because i was able to use the same lenses, and that's where the quality of the images was made...it wasn't the body that captured those images.. Before Leica came out with the M8, I discovered the Panasonic Lumix series of cameras that use the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit lens with optics from 36-420mm at a constant f2.8 I started using this camera because it was small and compact an inconspicuous as my M3 and enabled me to work on the streets virtually without notice and got the job done.. The Leica lens is superb and I've never had any issues with quality except for some noticable noise at ISO400 but since I shoot in the B/W mode at 50 and 100 there is no issue with it.... again its the lens and not the camera box, and in this instance, this Panasonic body, has a Leica lens.. Neil neilschneider2@yahoo.es http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/People-And-Places_0/ ______________________________________________ Enviado desde Correo Yahoo! La bandeja de entrada m?s inteligente.