Leica S for wildlife photography

[sunil]

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Does anyone here use the S for wildlife photography? Have you tried and if so, what has been your experience? Is it the kind of camera you'd consider taking on a safari to Africa or India?

[Ulrik]

I have been four weeks in the national parks of Botswana recently (travelling with my family in a rental Landrover 110), using a Hasselblad 501 CM with digital back (sensor size is 49 * 37 mm). Of course, wildlife photography is possible with medium format if you are not looking for close-ups but want to include the landscape. I used the 350 mm lens a lot for this, sometimes the 180 mm, here and then the 40 mm. The rest of my family took the close-ups of wildlife (lots of birds) with their microfourthirds-cameras.You may find the Leica S-system a bit limited with 180 mm as the longest focal length.

Edited September 9, 2014 by Ulrik
typo

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[jaapv]

I took medium format on Safari - once. A Mamiya 645E with the 500 as longest lens, and a tele-extender 2x.

 

The results were very good, but bulk, weight and the technical difficulty of handling a 1000 mm lens sometimes without the possibility of a tripod..... Never again.

[dj_61]

Well, Nick Brandt has demonstrated that it can be done with a Hasselblad. An S is far more easy to handle so....

[johann1]

Have a look at this page: Galerie

The fotos of the polarbears were taken with the leica S

[jaapv]

Well, Nick Brandt has demonstrated that it can be done with a Hasselblad. An S is far more easy to handle so....

 

I'm a great admirer of Nick Brandt (and Norbert Rosing), but that does not mean I am able to do what they can.

Edited September 9, 2014 by jaapv

[wildlightphoto]

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Have a look at this page: Galerie

The fotos of the polarbears were taken with the leica S

 

I believe that many of his Polar Bear photographs pre-date the S system by several years.

 

I am also tempted by the S system for my wildlife photos, mostly because of the S viewfinder and because there's no R10. Here are a few of the issues I'd expect to face:

 

Absent a radical change in technique (Nick Brandt) the limited selection of long lenses can be a problem. Mamiya, Hasselblad and Contax 645 and other lenses can be adapted to the S. Of these the ones that support auto-diaphragm are most interesting to me because I have found this one feature is very important for the way I work.

 

Lenses that would give me a field of view equivalent to what I'm getting with the DMR would need to be twice as long, i.e., for the field of view of the 280mm lens on the DMR I'd need to use a 560mm lens on an S camera. I also use extenders. A 350mm Tele-Apotessar with a 1.4x mutar is right around 500mm, not quite the 560mm that would be equivalent to the 280 on the DMR, which I find the practical minimum focal length I can use regularly.

 

Depth of field at equivalent field of view would be narrower with the larger camera, and I'm already battling narrow DOF with the DMR.

 

Equivalent minimum object fields would require higher magnification which means extension tubes, lots of extension tubes.

 

Bottom line for me: The 280mm f/4 APO plus R8/DMR is about as much bulk & weight as I want to schlep around and I suspect that in the next few years I'll be more interested in carrying less weight than in the mass and bulk of a medium-format camera and especially its lenses.

[Jeff S]

Related discussion of medium format versus 35mm (and suitable lenses) for wildlife/safari/landscape in this recent LuLa post by Andy Biggs.

 

Jeff

[albireo_double]

I took the S2 to Uganda in 2012, with 35/120 lenses. Pictures are here: Uganda | OpenEyesPhoto

[Guest VVJ]

Perhaps pick up a Hasselblad 300mm lens or the Contax 350mm with corresponding adapter to have slightly longer lenses?

[jaapv]

I took the S2 to Uganda in 2012, with 35/120 lenses. Pictures are here: Uganda | OpenEyesPhoto

 

I did exactly that trip to Uganda, oh, fifteen years ago ( Paraa lodge was just being built) and am happy to see not much has changed. I took a couple of R6 cameras and my longest lens was the Apo 180/3.4. I should scan those slides some day....

[wattsy]

I think you have to identify your objectives first and then consider what type of camera system will best meet this need. This could mean anything from a superzoom compact like one of those V-lux things to a view camera being the most suitable. Personally, I'd be thinking of taking a decent Nikon with one or two rented telephotos for wildlife.

[topoxforddoc]

Well, I'm going to shoot fast moving metal wildlife this weekend on my S with a 280/4 APO Telyt R and 1.4x converter. I'll be at the Goodwood Revival looking at very fast, extremely expensive metal go past in proper wheel to wheel racing. I'll see how I get on.

[sunil]

Well, I'm going to shoot fast moving metal wildlife this weekend on my S with a 280/4 APO Telyt R and 1.4x converter. I'll be at the Goodwood Revival looking at very fast, extremely expensive metal go past in proper wheel to wheel racing. I'll see how I get on.

 

Will you be using a monopod or tripod or are you planning to strictly hand hold the monster? Would like to see the results when you get the chance to post.

[topoxforddoc]

Will you be using a monopod or tripod or are you planning to strictly hand hold the monster? Would like to see the results when you get the chance to post.

 

Mostly hand held. I routinely shoot the 280 with 1.4x on my DMR handheld. OK the S sensor is much bigger, so motion blur may be an issue. However, I may take a monopod with me. It's a case of carrying another thing around all day.

[mwilliamsphotography]

I believe that many of his Polar Bear photographs pre-date the S system by several years.

 

I am also tempted by the S system for my wildlife photos, mostly because of the S viewfinder and because there's no R10. Here are a few of the issues I'd expect to face:

 

Absent a radical change in technique (Nick Brandt) the limited selection of long lenses can be a problem. Mamiya, Hasselblad and Contax 645 and other lenses can be adapted to the S. Of these the ones that support auto-diaphragm are most interesting to me because I have found this one feature is very important for the way I work.

 

Lenses that would give me a field of view equivalent to what I'm getting with the DMR would need to be twice as long, i.e., for the field of view of the 280mm lens on the DMR I'd need to use a 560mm lens on an S camera. I also use extenders. A 350mm Tele-Apotessar with a 1.4x mutar is right around 500mm, not quite the 560mm that would be equivalent to the 280 on the DMR, which I find the practical minimum focal length I can use regularly.

 

Depth of field at equivalent field of view would be narrower with the larger camera, and I'm already battling narrow DOF with the DMR.

 

Equivalent minimum object fields would require higher magnification which means extension tubes, lots of extension tubes.

 

Bottom line for me: The 280mm f/4 APO plus R8/DMR is about as much bulk & weight as I want to schlep around and I suspect that in the next few years I'll be more interested in carrying less weight than in the mass and bulk of a medium-format camera and especially its lenses.

 

Yeah, Leica didn't do you any favors when they abandoned the R system.

 

As far as image quality, I think you have take into account that the S2/S cameras are 3.7X the resolution of the DMR, which would give you a lot of cropping latitude to work with. Granted, the field-of-view in the view finder would call for some guess work, but perhaps the S Grid Screen would make that a lot easier … plus I surmise that not all your shots would need such a severe crop depending on distance to subject and creative intent.

 

I've worked with both cameras a lot, and the S2/S really isn't more to lug than the DMR was … and the ergonomics, battery life, speed, are all considerably better … not to mention that the S viewfinder is to die for.

 

Frankly, your work has a distinctive look and feel and I doubt that any of the new crop of new CMOS wonder cams will deliver that, and even question whether other lens makes will deliver it. I can say with more certainty that the S lenses will.

 

It all puts you in a bit of a bind, doesn't it?

 

- Marc

[amoebahydra]

As Leica S does not have long focal lenses yet, I am using Hasselblad V lenses to shoot wildlife for the moment .....................

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[albireo_double]

yummy Superachromat...

[Likaleica]

I prefer medium format for wildlife, which is why I bought the S2 (and landscape). What cinched it for me was the original indication by Leica that they would produce a 350 f/4 lens, but who knows if/when that will materialize. I like the old Zeiss CFE lenses on the S2 and agree with Marc that the S2 allows for generous cropping.

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[wildlightphoto]

Despite my reservations it's still very tempting. The worst-case scenario is that I use the 280 and crop to the DMR's sensor area and I'm no better (or worse) off than with the DMR and have the option of the bigger sensor when composition allows and/or critters cooperate.