GF1 question

[jackart]

I posted yesterday a question, asking about latest news about GF1, but it disappeared. May-be, cause I compared it with Pen and posted some Pen images.

Still, any new info about Leica M4/3 format rangefinder?

Jaak

[hoppyman]

Originally Posted by jackart

I posted yesterday a question, asking about latest news about GF1, but it disappeared. May-be, cause I compared it with Pen and posted some Pen images.

Still, any new info about Leica M4/3 format rangefinder?

Jaak

Jaak, this is from the forum rules, does that help?
"Prerequisite for placing a photo is that it has been made with Leica equipment and/or has a strong relationship to a Leica subject. For the avoidance of doubt, this includes the use of Leica lenses on third party bodies, Leica lenses on Leica partner cameras (e.g. Panasonic) and the use of third party lenses on Leica bodies. In general, photographs taken without the use of Leica equipment are not permitted"

On Leica Micro four thirds, Stefan Daniel told us in June that Leica will not make MFT cameras (but may make lenses).
I don't remember reading even rumours about a micro four thirds RANGEFINDER though. did you mean a compact camera, maybe with Live View?
.

[jackart]

Thanks

And thanks for explaining. As this section is not photo section, but mainly tech talk, I found it appropriate to display competitive material (not from aesthetic or artistic point of view, but as technical sample for comparison with Leica products) strongly related to upcoming MFT Leica products. But yes, rules are older than us.

Pitty. I really found MFT (in the form of Pen) very suitable reportage camera with very potent quality. Sensor size is close to Nikon/Canon/Pentax APS-C. D-Lux 4 is noisy in dark, due to small sensor, M8 is too pricey, bulky and un-assisted for me. Compact MFT is filling this gap.

I really mean rangefinder, may-be I was incorrect in terms, but something like that:

http://reviews.photographyreview.com...09/dlux4_2.jpg

Indeed, its arguable, is it rangefinder or not, but I like high quality fix focus lens + optical view-finder instead of zoom lens.

Jaak

[fotolebrocq]

Hi Jack - I agree with you entirely about the Pen and I like your photostream - also agree that comparisons are very helpful - but some Leicageeks are very touchy about this (and rules). Naughty boy!

[bjmike]

Originally Posted by hoppyman

On Leica Micro four thirds, Stefan Daniel told us in June that Leica will not make MFT cameras (but may make lenses).
.

I may be over-analyzing this, but does this mean that Leica wouldn't rebadge & market a m4:3 camera made by someone else (say, umh . . . Panasonic?) with cosmetic changes & different, more Leica-esque, in-camera processing? Or, does it mean "no way, no how, never will happen in any form"?

[nugat]

I followed your inquiry with samples of E-P1 pix comparing them to leica/velvia.
I do think it is relevant to ask whether "Leica look" can be "imitated" by other platforms.
It is not the first time the "thought police" here defend the brand purity stealthily to the extreme.
I believe abandoning 4/3 by Leica was a mistake. To me E-P1 is close to what a Leica of 2009 should and could be. GF1 seems like another candidate .
Here a picture taken with GH1 and Leica Summilux-D (panasonic lumix l-x025) at 1/30s, f1.4, ISO400. No postproduction.

[bjmike]

That's a beautiful photograph!

AFAIK, the traditionalists/purists say the "Leica look" is from the glass -- literally. Film (make, ASA rating, etc.) and sensors (including all the tweaking: sharpness, saturation, noise reduction) have got to have some effect. For me, the edge-to-edge sharpness has always been the key. That box behind the lens (for film) was pretty irrelevant. With digital, the electronics, firmware, etc. are complicating factors, tho. No?

[jaapv]

It is indeed a beautiful photograph. But is shows exactly what Leica objects to: the smearing of fine detail by noise reduction; the hairs in the fur of the dog are lost. Not that it detracts one whit from the artistic quality, in fact in this case it might rather add to the atmosphere.

[nugat]

The pix here are 50Kbytes only. Frankly comparisons of quality on the net are dubious, but I tried one anyway. At this address where pix are allowed a bit bigger:

EP1 vs G1 vs M8 (Olympus vs Panasonic vs Leica): Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

[jaapv]

I am talking of my own experience of the G1, which clearly showed an aquarel effect on the finest detail, even at the lowest ISO setting.

................maybe there is a skills factor in this Jaap or lack of

[jaapv]

Possibly, Imants I'll happily acknowledge that there are far more skilled postprocessors than I around. That is why I only spoke for myself.

[hoppyman]

Hi Jaak, I'm not a mod and I didn't write the rules of course. I was genuinely trying to assist on why your pictures were probably removed, since no one else responded. On range finder I took what you said literally. Again, not trying to be painful. I absolutely agree that there is room for a compact high quality camera like the D-LUX 4 you showed but with a bigger sensor. I just don't think that Leica will use a micro four thirds sensor after hearing what Stefan Daniel has said on that format.
I hope we get both a new M AND a new compact with bigger, better sensor. I may just want to buy one of each Not long until we find out!

Originally Posted by jackart

Thanks

And thanks for explaining. As this section is not photo section, but mainly tech talk, I found it appropriate to display competitive material (not from aesthetic or artistic point of view, but as technical sample for comparison with Leica products) strongly related to upcoming MFT Leica products. But yes, rules are older than us.

Pitty. I really found MFT (in the form of Pen) very suitable reportage camera with very potent quality. Sensor size is close to Nikon/Canon/Pentax APS-C. D-Lux 4 is noisy in dark, due to small sensor, M8 is too pricey, bulky and un-assisted for me. Compact MFT is filling this gap.

I really mean rangefinder, may-be I was incorrect in terms, but something like that:

http://reviews.photographyreview.com...09/dlux4_2.jpg

Indeed, its arguable, is it rangefinder or not, but I like high quality fix focus lens + optical view-finder instead of zoom lens.

Jaak

[Peter D Lux 2]

Arghhh...

Jaap, please point me to a Leica photo of à dog this size, taken from this distance and in this light were you DO see the hairs?

Going for 20.000 posts?

Are you saying the M8 is 'better' than the 4/3 Panny? Now that is news :-)

shows exactly what Leica objects to: the smearing of fine detail by noise reduction; the hairs in the fur of the dog are lost.

[stevelap]

The GF1 appears to be vapourware at the moment. The rumours expected the GF1 to launch at a Panasonic announcent today........so far, nothing.

[jackart]

There is no anti aliasing low-pass (AA) filter in M8, but certainly present in 4/3 cameras.

Jaak

[Peter D Lux 2]

Originally Posted by stevelap

The GF1 appears to be vapourware at the moment. The rumours expected the GF1 to launch at a Panasonic announcent today........so far, nothing.

Steve, the announcement is supposed to come on september 2.

[stevelap]

Originally Posted by Peter D Lux 2

Steve, the announcement is supposed to come on september 2.

The original silhouette (genuine/spoof/fake?) ad said 1-2 September ( which is why I said "so far") but, yes, there still could be time yet.....

[Peter D Lux 2]

Hi Steve,
obviously you're not the only one who starts asking questions:

Where did the gf1 announcement thread go?: Micro Four Thirds Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review

Cheers, Peter

[bjmike]

Originally Posted by Peter D Lux 2

Arghhh...

Jaap, please point me to a Leica photo of à dog this size, taken from this distance and in this light were you DO see the hairs?

. . .

shows exactly what Leica objects to: the smearing of fine detail by noise reduction; the hairs in the fur of the dog are lost.

This one, taken with my V-Lux 1, shows lots of hair detail, but the light was probably more abundant.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/L1010881.jpg