Leica's new MF system

[James R Russell]

I'd put it in the same category as a Phase P30, P18, Sinar 65, Hasselbald 31MP, etc as the sensor is about the same size. Your call.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223310\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Miniature medium format.

At least the camera part isn't too big for the digital part.

[Khun_K]

Nobody is going to be upset. 

Especially me because not only do my Contax's still work fine, but they have paid for themselves many times over.

The thing is before anyone drops 30, 40, 50 k on a new system there needs to be some clarity.

Everyone gave Phase a ration of trouble for their roadmap, but it was a good idea as long as they lived to the promises and deadlines.

Let's face it, adding or switching a system is expensive and takes a learning curve which takes time which isalso expensive.

Before anyone makes that investment, a company like Rollei, Phase, Leica or Leaf should make it clear they are in this for the long haul and what is promised will be delivered.

Same with service.  My Phase backs have never gone down, but I wonder if they can be fixed in a day like MAC does with LOA. 

Consequently one of my Leica lenses has been in repair for about 3 months.

The financial events of the last few days make it clear that even the largest of companies can disappear and I doubt if any government would ever bail our a camera company.

JR
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223305\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I don't upset either. I am still using the same Contax 645 body when it first became available and with a P45+ and two more bodies, I am still happy to continue to use it.  My Phase or H3D system are of higher resolution than my 1Ds MK3 and M8 but it does not limit me to use the lower resolution system even for work.  It is just right tool for right job. The photography is always about the photographer, and he choose his tool, not about the camera itself. Although I believe we all love our cameras.

[eronald]

Nobody is going to be upset. 

Especially me because not only do my Contax's still work fine, but they have paid for themselves many times over.

The thing is before anyone drops 30, 40, 50 k on a new system there needs to be some clarity.

Everyone gave Phase a ration of trouble for their roadmap, but it was a good idea as long as they lived to the promises and deadlines.

Let's face it, adding or switching a system is expensive and takes a learning curve which takes time which isalso expensive.

Before anyone makes that investment, a company like Rollei, Phase, Leica or Leaf should make it clear they are in this for the long haul and what is promised will be delivered.

Same with service.  My Phase backs have never gone down, but I wonder if they can be fixed in a day like MAC does with LOA. 

Consequently one of my Leica lenses has been in repair for about 3 months.

The financial events of the last few days make it clear that even the largest of companies can disappear and I doubt if any government would ever bail our a camera company.

JR
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223305\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Sorry, James, I meant the guys who made the Contax

Edmund

[Bernd B.]

The shortcoming of all the 35mm DSLR is the limited DR.

The Leica should have the DR of an MF sensor but with the limited high ISO.

Not too bad IMHO. Lets see what lenses they offer.

It would be the easiest to handle camera with a high-DR sensor (execpt Digiflex).

Bernd

[Graham Mitchell]

The shortcoming of all the 35mm DSLR is the limited DR.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223319\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Small correction - that's really a limit of the photosite size, not the size of the whole sensor (or format).

[Snook]

The shortcoming of all the 35mm DSLR is the limited DR.

The Leica should have the DR of an MF sensor but with the limited high ISO.

Not too bad IMHO. Lets see what lenses they offer.

It would be the easiest to handle camera with a high-DR sensor (execpt Digiflex).

Bernd
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223319\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

If that is so why are many raving about the DR of the 1DsMIII?
I thought 14 bit was a big difference from the 1DsMII??

Just asking as I have no idea and go by what I have read here. I have never even seen a file from the 1DsMIII.
I am thinking about down stepping back to 35mm as many of my clients just don't appreciate the MF as much as I do..:+} and the cost are obviosly much lower for 35mm.
James seems to be loving his 1DsMIII.
I wonder James how often are yougrabbing tha Contax these days?
what percent of your work is seeing the 35mm these days.

I just looked at some of the 5DII images and the High ISO looks pretty friggin amazing I must say.
All the guys complaining or feeling they got robbed buying the 1DsMIII after the 5DII came out are saying yeh well it shoots slower the AF points are the same as the lcd 5D etc... Well thye have not obviuosly shot MF I take it. the AF is a joke compared to anything else..

I am a retoucher and I notice the differnce bewtween the P30 and the Canon, but is it worth it when half the people in the business print like shit or ruin the image after going through so many hands anyways. I have had many cleints destroy my images and in the end, not so sure I see the differnce in "print" re: BillBoards, magazines and such.

What do you think James?
Snook

[Bernd B.]

As long as you have the sun in your back (=behind you) there are no problems.

When scenes are lit a bit more complicated the way the transition to zones that are out of DR are rendered with a DSLR are just ugly. I hate it.

MF digital made me abandon analog and scanning. Canon wouldn´t have given me what I wanted.

Just my opinion. Buy Canons if you like. You´ve done your job already whilst I´m still mounting my H3D onto the tripod. For me it is worth the effort.

Bernd

[woof75]

Your absolutely right...

I would like to meet the bonehead who would spend that much money on this camera..
I know there out there. But they must have a whole lot of extra $$$ lay around.

I am acutally thinking about going back to 35mm....:+}
Where I live they just do not appreciate MF and I could do with out the cost and hassle..

Anybody looking for a P30 /RZII/AFDII set up... check out the For Sale section here soon...

Snook
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223314\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Small, light, good af, sharp lenses (hopefully at wide angle, we'll see) a good screen. Sounds great to me. I really dislike holding a medium format camera compared to the canons. (Unfortunately I dislike the image quality of the canons to a greater degree)

[Graham Mitchell]

Latest from news feed:

"Strategic Partnership with Phase One

Alliance in development and distribution of Leica products"

[EricWHiss]

A very exciting camera so far.   Okay now I want to know:

ISO range
Price
Date available
Details on the sensor used
Viewfinder details
Info on lens mount (are any other lenses compatible via adapters)
Does it have live view or movie capability
What's the maximum sync speed on the leaf lenses

And I want to see some sample images!

[eronald]

Latest from news feed:

"Strategic Partnership with Phase One

Alliance in development and distribution of Leica products"
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223339\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not much detail there. And the main question: WHEN WILL IT BE SHIPPING ?

The Hy6 was shown at Photokina 2006, but has only been really viable for the past few months.

Edmund

[clawery]

We will be posting more details about all of the announcements from Photokina soon.  If you want a quick peek, take a look at our web site:

http://www.captureintegration.com/

Chris Lawery
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer of the Year

877-217-9870 | National  Atlanta / Miami
404-234-5195 | Cell  
Sign up for our Newsletter | Read Our Latest Newsletter

[James Godman]

Nothing to do with this Leica camera. But why do hear so many photographers constantly complaining about dynamic range. Top photographers of the last century didn't seem to have too many issues with the 5 f-stop range of transparency film. I've never heard either of the Muench's complain when setting the standard for american color landscape photography.

Digital has so much dynamic range that I have to compress it via curves to get a file that looks exciting and I think most others do as well. I see so much HDR crap, the last thing we need is a sensor that makes that style even easier.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223324\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Right On!

[clayh]

Anyone think the rumored large sensor Nikon system has any real truth to it? That could smother this Leica baby in the crib.

[clawery]

Photokina News Snippets

Your first source of confirmed Photokina News. Live updates all week.

Phase One and Leica Form Strategic Alliance
The just-announced medium-format Leica S2 will feature sensor, software, and firmware developed by the experienced engineers of Phase One and will be distributed exclusively through Phase One channels. This promises the quality and sophistication of Leica with the engineering prowess and medium-format experience of Phase One.

Capture One 4.5 Pro Release Date set
We’ve had a chance to see the New 4.5 Pro and it is stellar. Release to the public will be October 15. Capture Integration will be hosting the countries first and finest seminars to introduce photographers and assistants to this new professional workflow software. We’ll also be testing it through and through to make sure our customers can put their trust in it.

Check back soon for seminar dates and feature details.

Further Details on the P65+
Aperture & Shutter control with P65+ when used with Phase One 645 and Capture One 4.5.

No need for a mask. What you see in the viewfinder is exactly what you get.

On-Screen Bubble Level for real-time horizon leveling

Two quad-core processors inside the back allow write speeds of up to 133 mb/sec

Sensor was designed and is owned by Phase One; Dalsa is only manufacturing it.

Higher Quality Live View with 4 times the refresh rate (now 5-7 fps

Pixel Binning unlike anything ever seen before. Allows variable resolution and good ISO 1600 performance.

Trade-in deal will be offered for any 22mp (or higher) digital back (including from the competition).

Details to come. Check back soon.

Lower Prices for P30+
The top selling 31 megapixel Phase One P30+ is seeing a price drop. Details soon.

Chris Lawery
Sales Manager
[email protected]
Capture Integration, Phase One Dealer of the Year

877-217-9870 | National  Atlanta / Miami
404-234-5195 | Cell  
Sign up for our Newsletter | Read Our Latest Newsletter

[mas55101]

Probably not as Leica has put out nothing but sub-par cameras of late.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=213487\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not true at all.  My M8 has worked impeccably.  Great images and no glitches.

MAS

[peegeenyc]

curioser and curioser, said the white rabbit...

If Phase are getting involved, and at least providing the software solution, then what's up with Mamiya and the ZD, which I would say this is the only direct competitor for.

If Mamiya Phase are planning a ZD2, (which I hope they are) then why are the helping their nearest competitive product into the pro marketplace?

[EricWHiss]

Nothing to do with this Leica camera. But why do hear so many photographers constantly complaining about dynamic range. Top photographers of the last century didn't seem to have too many issues with the 5 f-stop range of transparency film. I've never heard either of the Muench's complain when setting the standard for american color landscape photography.

Digital has so much dynamic range that I have to compress it via curves to get a file that looks exciting and I think most others do as well. I see so much HDR crap, the last thing we need is a sensor that makes that style even easier.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223324\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

John,
I agree with you when one looks back at some of the incredible photos taken in the past without AF, electronic metering, easy transportation or even film labs to send off film to - hat's off to those guys!  

But digital brings a different set of challenges - the recording is linear while film was non linear  - so yes DR is important even after application of curves.   Digital capture shows the apex of focus more clearly than film too - and well a bunch of stuff.

On top of that we all face the fact that with the internet and TV the world has been just totally saturated with imagery. This makes it hard to come up with something fresh, something people haven't already seen.  For that reason I do understand why people use HDR techniques, though I personally find most of them too processed for my taste.

Eric

[hubell]

Sure, there are lots of questions about price, concerns about reliability out of the gate, timing of actual delivery, etc., Maybe they will fall on their face, but personally I think Leica should be applauded. Who else in this space has thrown out the existing blueprint completely and invested the R&D dollars to develop from scratch a brand new professional format camera and a brand new line of lenses to match? I admire companies that think outside the box and invest serious R&D dollars to develop products that meet needs in the marketplace. No repackaging of someone else's sow's ear at four times the price.

[EricWHiss]

but personally I think Leica should be applauded.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223354\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I agree - they do seem to have gotten a lot of things right with this new camera. At least as far as we know now.