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Originally Posted by fotografz
Just to be clear: I love Leica. I've shot both M and R most of my adult life.
THE HOPE:
My hope had been to have a M digital that could replace a DSLR for color work. I would continue to shoot B&W film in the M7 and MP3. I have a Imacon 949 scanner that makes it easy and fast to convert B&W film into digital files for an integrated workflow.
THE NEED:
I cannot afford ANY color anomalies in my work. This isn't the "Amateur Hour". During the wedding season I produce upwards of 400 to 500 images a week. A lot of these shots would include a man in black formal wear ... often next a woman in white. This formal wear can be made of all kinds of materials, from wool blends to totally synthetic fibers. Then there are the Bridesmaids dresses and the Bride's flowers. These cannot shift in color in an attempt to fix some other part of the image.
THE REALITY:
The M8 as it stands is useless to me as a color digital replacement for the highly capable DSLRs I now use. Unfortunately, the IR filter solution posted on another thread here doesn't cut it. It's better. Not better enough.
WHAT I WOULD ACCEPT:
1) A total fix. Not a partial fix, not a filter on every lens I own, not paying to code every lens I own ( eliminating the Zeiss M mount glass I already have BTW ).
2) THE RADICAL IDEA:
A hardware/firmwear/sofwear revision that makes this a dedicated B&W digital camera with a B&W review and histogram response.
I hope #1 is what happens.
HOWEVER, I would accept #2 because my Ms have rare seen color film, and a B&W digital M would assure the continued use of a top notch M camera and M lenses no matter what the future may bring.
Perhaps unknown to some, Canon and others (Fuji I think) have produced professional B&W digital cameras. The dynamic range and tonal separation from these cameras cannot be matched by digital color files converted to B&W.
My bet is that the problems with this M8 would turn into advantages if the camera were a dedicated B&W camera.
I know a vast majority would find this unacceptable. But I wouldn't. I had actually considered getting one of the B&W DSLRs ... a M would be even better IMO ... actually ideal for this application.
For me it would mean B&W ISOs that can be selected at will to match changing lighting conditions. Low available light work. Ability to shoot B&W images in bright outdoors lighting using wide open apertures. I just grabed the camera, set ISO 2500 and swung around in my chair and shot my studio camera in low available light using a 90AA at 1/30th shutter! I just used jpg fine as the setting and converted the file with in PS using the Gradent Map technique ... see attached.
Your thoughts on anything I've posted here, especially the RADICAL IDEA?
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Don't worry too much. Leica is a company being famous for their excellent customer relationship. Do you really think they are playing jokes with their customers - regarding funny problem solutions you can read in a internet forum? I don't think so.
I just read a Leica answer to a customer in the German forum regarding the banding problem. The answer is Leica typical I have to say: they say they are thinking about the way of the solution actually - camera send in or other (firmware?). Solution available end of December or January. Time for repair: one day.
I'm sure the mangenta problem will be adressed in a similar way.
regards
Philip