Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/05/22

[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]

Subject: [Leica] a quick hello
From: mingthein at gmail.com (Thein Onn Ming)
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 09:04:46 +0800
References: <0BAD3AE0-8AF5-4D56-BEC5-98A9B9A7BECD@gmail.com> <C63BE8BD.4EB49%mark@rabinergroup.com> <200905221550.BPK20753@rg4.comporium.net> <2114E99C-C1D5-4EC6-87DC-7DB83336A85D@mac.com> <DAC47310-27C1-4F12-92D5-480DC255DC2A@mac.com>

In a couple of ways I find the M8 better than the D3/3x/5DII and  
other FF cameras, actually. D3 has a very linear tonal response  
throughout the entire range. D3x is similar but not quite as broad.  
5DII is about the same. The Nikons' color is closest to reality;  
canon is either garish in JPEG, or requires some tweaking in RAW.  
With the UVIR filter, the M8 is actually very accurate. And the tonal  
map is quite odd - I find it's not that much smaller than the D3  
(perhaps 11.5 stops with careful RAW use? If only it were 16 bit, ACR  
may be able to recover another stop or so from the highlight end) but  
very heavily biased towards the highlights. It feels like MF digital.  
Maybe the kodak sensor? I don't know.

Ming

On May 23, 2009, at 12:29 AM, George Lottermoser wrote:

> I should add that the 5D was my full time camera for a year and a half
> (and the 10D and 20D before that)
> up until purchasing the M8 and DMR
> (20D has been sold and the 5D sits unused).
>
> While it would be swell if the M8 and DMR had full frame sensors;
> the notion of "full frame" for its own sake quickly disintegrates
> as form factor, ergonomics and quality of image data simply surpass  
> the 5D.
>
> And I totally agree
> with Ming that the Leica RF cameras
> provide the most inconspicuous, professional level optical tool  
> available.
> and
> with Mark that any camera can get the job done and will
> sooner or later disappear into the shooting environment as,
> in most cases, people have a pretty short attention span.
>
> People have used medium and even large format 8x10 for candid  
> street work.
>
> Bottom line: What do YOU like?
> For quite a number of us the answer is M whether film or digital -  
> full frame or not.
>
> I do not understand - if someone loved shooting M's
> and now doesn't because they need digital
> and the digital M is not full frame;
> as lenses are available to achieve the angle of view required
> (down to 12mm = 16mm).
> (I totally DO understand the economic considerations)
>
> Regards,
> George Lottermoser
> george at imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com
> http://www.imagist.com/blog
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>
> On May 22, 2009, at 11:03 AM, George Lottermoser wrote:
>
>> Likewise.
>>
>> 80 - 90% Leica M
>> 10 - 20% Leica DMR for macro or long lens
>>
>> 1% Full Frame Canon 5D for thoughtless auto snap stuff
>>
>> Regards,
>> George Lottermoser
>> george at imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com
>> http://www.imagist.com/blog
>> http://www.linkedin.com/in/imagist
>>
>> On May 22, 2009, at 10:50 AM, Tina Manley wrote:
>>
>>> At 05:29 AM 5/22/2009, you wrote:
>>>> Or if what was exchanged was a Canon full frame for an M8 or any
>>>> other camera.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Mark William Rabiner
>>>
>>> That would be me, Mark.  My Canon 5D and 1DMII are gathering dust  
>>> since I got my M8s.  I much prefer working with a rangefinder.   
>>> DSLRs are big, heavy, and very noticeable.  My Canon lenses, even  
>>> the expensive L ones, suffer from Chromatic Aberrations and  
>>> fringing.  I don't have those problems with my Leica lenses.  I  
>>> can certainly see exchanging a full frame DSLR for an M8 if  
>>> you're trying to be a fly on the wall and photograph without  
>>> being noticed.
>>>
>>> Just my opinion.
>>>
>>> Tina
>>>
>>> Tina Manley
>>> www.tinamanley.com
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Leica Users Group.
>>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Leica Users Group.
>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Leica Users Group.
> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information

THEIN Onn Ming
*photohorologer ming at www.mingthein.com
www.flickr.com/mingthein







Replies: Reply from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] M8 sensor - was - Re: a quick hello)
In reply to: Message from mingthein at gmail.com (Thein Onn Ming) ([Leica] a quick hello)
Message from mark at rabinergroup.com (Mark Rabiner) ([Leica] a quick hello)
Message from images at comporium.net (Tina Manley) ([Leica] a quick hello)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] a quick hello)
Message from imagist3 at mac.com (George Lottermoser) ([Leica] a quick hello)