Keep your 50 megapixel sensor and give us more DR!

[jto555]

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This is a great article on why Dynamic Range is more important to photographer than a high megapixel sensor:

 

https://fstoppers.com/education/why-dynamic-range-my-favorite-and-why-i-couldnt-care-less-about-megapixel-count-99550

 

 

I have to agree with the article, as photographer we don't need a 50mb sensor with all the extra computer horsepower and storage that it needs. But, an extra stop or two of dynamic range would be great, now that we could all use.

 

 

Please give me 5 minutes to get into my flame proof overalls...    

[Exodies]

Thicker, darker clouds in the sky would also help.

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[iTiki]

Will take more DR any day!

[Tmuussoni]

So why not both? More megapixels and more dynamic range?

[viramati]

Well you can even have the best of both worlds in the Sony A7rII with 42 MP and a one of the highest DR's on the market

[AAK]

Well you can even have the best of both worlds in the Sony A7rII with 42 MP and a one of the highest DR's on the market

How do Leica lenses perform on the A7rii?

[jdlaing]

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How do Leica lenses perform on the A7rii?

Some work extremely well. Some not so much.

[mirekti]

http://image-sensors-world.blogspot.com/2015/11/ams-acquires-cmosis-for-220m-euros.html ...we will see if  this changes anything.

Following has been mentioned in another thread, hopefully the next M will come with something similar to http://www.invisage.com/technology/
Global shutter, more dynamic range... check the video at the bottom of the front page.

Edited November 20, 2015 by mirekti

[viramati]

How do Leica lenses perform on the A7rii?

Those above 50mm tend to be good and some wides like the WATE also perform well. 28 summicron asph is a disaster!!!. Lots of threads on it if your interested (244 pages in the 2nd one!!)

http://www.getdpi.com/forum/sony/55652-a7rii-leica-m-lenses.html

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/214267-the-sony-a7-thread-merged/

Some of the newer voigtlander lenses have been optimised for the A7 series of cameras such as the excellent CV15 mkIII 

Edited November 20, 2015 by viramati

[Tmuussoni]

How do Leica lenses perform on the A7rii?

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1392833/5?b=2#lastmessage

 

With Kolari modification A7r II appears to work pretty close to Leica SL.

 

 

[Schrödinger's cat]

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1392833/5?b=2#lastmessage

 

With Kolari modification A7r II appears to work pretty close to Leica SL.

 

 

Interesting.  Would anyone happen to have experience with this mod, or perhaps a link to a 3rd party evaluation.

[jdlaing]

Interesting.  Would anyone happen to have experience with this mod, or perhaps a link to a 3rd party evaluation.

Not even close.

[jto555]

Thicker, darker clouds in the sky would also help.

But only for the background of me photo, but I want some light clouds to soften the sun. But only for my portraits... 

[viramati]

Interesting.  Would anyone happen to have experience with this mod, or perhaps a link to a 3rd party evaluation.

http://www.fredmiranda.com/forum/topic/1392833

http://kolarivision.com/product/sony-a7-series-thin-filter-legacy-lens-upgrade/

Edited November 20, 2015 by viramati

[tobey bilek]

750 &810 have a "flat" contrast mode .  Other Nikons have a mode that gives more shadow detail.

 

Leica could implement that.  I will do the fix below.  

 

In the mean time,  in ACR push the contrast control on first tab  to 25% and add a medium or custom parametric contrast curve in the second panel.  JPEG shooters are out of luck,  although JPEG can now be processed in ACR,  it may not be as effective.

I do not shoot JPEG ever.  There is no point to it, just like sending Leica film to a drug store.  You should have bought a Yashica.

[Mornnb]

I am quite happy with the DR as it is. It's comparable to the Sony A7r I used to own. Though more DR is always nice the M240 is already pretty close to the best standard available today.

I feel however given the abilities and resolution of a lens like the 50mm APO, it's full abilities are not being taken advantage of by a 24MP sensor.

Edited November 22, 2015 by Mornnb

[Jon Warwick]

Though more DR is always nice the M240 is already pretty close to the best standard available today.

I feel however given the abilities and resolution of a lens like the 50mm APO, it's full abilities are not being taken advantage of by a 24MP sensor.

Fully agree. I've seldom (if ever) found DR to be limiting on the M240.

 

MPs are lacking for my needs, however. Diffraction comes up a lot as the argument for why Leica currently likes 24mp in 35mm FF, however. The argument that if you need more MP you need a larger sensor to keep in that alleged sweet spot of 6 microns (not just on Ms but also the S cameras). And if you need loads and loads of MP, maybe that is what Leica can do at some stage via Sinar ......?

 

I don't know, Leica is radical in terms of sticking up for "overall" image quality (and not just headline MPs), but I'd equally note there are other delighted users of cameras like the Nikon 810 that has both small pixel pitch and amazing dynamic range ......

 

If there was a 40MP M, I'd buy it immediately, together with the 50mm APO. But I'm not sure if that is something that will ever be offered by Leica in 35mm FF.

 

And Re: the diffraction argument, I'd have thought that is a moot point for many Leica lens owners who revel in shooting wide open!

[jaapv]

Fully agree. I've seldom (if ever) found DR to be limiting on the M240.

 

MPs are lacking for my needs, however. Diffraction comes up a lot as the argument for why Leica currently likes 24mp in 35mm FF, however. The argument that if you need more MP you need a larger sensor to keep in that alleged sweet spot of 6 microns (not just on Ms but also the S cameras). And if you need loads and loads of MP, maybe that is what Leica can do at some stage via Sinar ......?

 

I don't know, Leica is radical in terms of sticking up for "overall" image quality (and not just headline MPs), but I'd equally note there are other delighted users of cameras like the Nikon 810 that has both small pixel pitch and amazing dynamic range ......

 

If there was a 40MP M, I'd buy it immediately, together with the 50mm APO. But I'm not sure if that is something that will ever be offered by Leica in 35mm FF.

 

And Re: the diffraction argument, I'd have thought that is a moot point for many Leica lens owners who revel in shooting wide open!

In general, a 35 mm sensor becomes diffraction limited @ 5.6. That is the same as the diffraction limit of many lenses. Leica has a point. Scroll down for the calculator: http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/diffraction-photography.htm

 

If you want more resolution, get a larger sensor, just like the film days.

[IWC Doppel]

I agree regarding pixel number and needs, not being a fan of cropping 18MP is usually enough, indeed more than. Occassonally some images benefit from greater resolution like detailed scenes and distant views but only if you want to print large.

 

I agree DR is appealing for all the reasons stated but I don't think DR tells you everything it's also about how the sensor deals with resolution at these extremes. The M9 is for me a good example in the dark regions. For its limitations it does a great job in the darks, balancing weight of blacks with shadow detail. HDR images with a lot of added contrast tells me all I don't want from more DR

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[jto555]

Fully agree. I've seldom (if ever) found DR to be limiting on the M240.

 

MPs are lacking for my needs, however. Diffraction comes up a lot as the argument for why Leica currently likes 24mp in 35mm FF, however. The argument that if you need more MP you need a larger sensor to keep in that alleged sweet spot of 6 microns (not just on Ms but also the S cameras). And if you need loads and loads of MP, maybe that is what Leica can do at some stage via Sinar ......?

 

I don't know, Leica is radical in terms of sticking up for "overall" image quality (and not just headline MPs), but I'd equally note there are other delighted users of cameras like the Nikon 810 that has both small pixel pitch and amazing dynamic range ......

 

If there was a 40MP M, I'd buy it immediately, together with the 50mm APO. But I'm not sure if that is something that will ever be offered by Leica in 35mm FF.

 

And Re: the diffraction argument, I'd have thought that is a moot point for many Leica lens owners who revel in shooting wide open!

I am sure that if you compared two full frame 10x8 inch prints side by side, one from say a 45mega pixel Sony A7R ii and one from a 24mega pixel A7 ii, that most people would strugle to tell the difference. As for large prints, how many of us really print large? I know a few will say they do but, for the most of us the shots remain in a disk or online.  The largest 'print' I have printed was a billboard (48 sheet poster for us with grey hair), and that was shot with a Canon 20D. All 8 ½ mega pixel. The client was happy, I got paid and also booked again for another gig! Happy days!!! 

 

There are only two instances when you really need Mega mega pixels. 

1. When we look at a shot we are really happy with on the computer monitor. First thing we all do is zoom into the eye and go 'Wow, look at all the detail in the iris'.

2. We show our shot to another photographer and all they want to do is zoom into the eye and go 'Wow, look at all t...."

 

Show the same shot to somebody who is not a photographer and they just look at the photograph and go 'Nice snap, you must have a great camera'! (Grrrrr, one of my pet hates). No need for mega pixels at all really. Nobody but the photographer cares or can tell.