Relevance of Aristotle to S2

[Marty]

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Apart from mentioning sex life and photography in consecutive sentences, an interesting new blog entry from E. Puts suggests that we will soon be reading about his take on the S2. Bad news for those interested in comparisons: Aristotle demands that you view the camera in isolation and ask yourself "am I happy?". Could this mark the first time we will not see a few film shots alongside the digital samples?

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[c6gowin]

Erwin Puts has an update on his blog today regarding "lens and systems testing". It is a very interesting read. He mentions the Leica S 70mm and 180mm lenses in context of making his point.

Lens and System Testing

[Overgaard]

It's a very interesting piece and I'm really looking forward to what he got out of it. I agree very much with his viewpoint and thinking.

[lct]

My first inclination was to go for the maximizing approach: compare the S2 feature-set to what others have to offer. But then I changed my mind and went for the Aristotle analysis: would I be happy with the S2 and will this product help me to create the pictures I would define as good photography.

Not sure whom this subjective approach will help aside from the author. I've just bought a cute Nikon D40x to my daughter. It is small, makes very good images, makes my daughter happy, but who cares really? People wanting to buy a camera need to know how it compares to its competitors, more so than the personal tastes of some reviewers.

[wattsy]

People wanting to buy a camera need to know how it compares to its competitors, more so than the personal tastes of some reviewers.

 

I'm not sure I agree. When I buy a camera I judge it against my own personal standards and preferences. For example, with the M9 I genuinely have no interest how it compares with a Nikon D3X or Canon 1Ds.

[lars_bergquist]

Why do some people insist on riding motorcycles? A modern mc costs as much as a car that takes four people from A to B well protected from the weather, and in greater safety. Those people must be totally irrational. You see, my preferences are rational, while yours are silly. Goes without saying. Ouch, don't hit me!

 

Seriously, I do agree with Erwin. The idea that all needs and wants of all people can be integrated into one single one-dimensional quantitative ranking list ("best buy") is completely idiotic. But it is indeed the Idiocy Of Our Time. I won't buy it. "Horses for courses" means "horses for riders (and drivers)".

 

The old man from the Age of the BSA

[markowich]

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I'm not sure I agree. When I buy a camera I judge it against my own personal standards and preferences. For example, with the M9 I genuinely have no interest how it compares with a Nikon D3X or Canon 1Ds.

 

that makes a lot of sense. the M8/9 are different from the other digital cameras out there, while canikon/sony/pentax....and even the MF offerings have a very similar DNA. when i go out with my M9 and typically three lenses (which i vary according to what i intend to shoot) i always enjoy myself a lot and almost have pity with canikon and MF shooters when i see them lugging around their heavy stuff. but at the end of the day, when i check the M9 images on the computer reality strikes back and it becomes obvious that IQ is not quite up to D3x and far away from MF standards...so i say to myself: next time D3x +14-24, 24 f1.4, 50 f1.4 and 70-200VR II ! but then when i go out to shoot the next time, i am still most likely to take the M9. life is full of compromises and enjoyment in the act of photography is very important.

peter

[c6gowin]

...life is full of compromises and enjoyment in the act of photography is very important.

peter

 

Very true words.

[lct]

E. Puts wrote about the S2 there, not the M9.

[Vladimir Sadov]

E. Puts wrote about the S2 there, not the M9.

 

Exactly. And S2 competes directly with both D3x and MFDBs like H4D-40, P40+ etc.

So why SHOULDN'T I care about the comparisons with those?

 

I understand that someone may prefer a camera X for some purely subjective reasons. The thing is, how is this relevant for me? After all, I am going to buy a camera for myself, not for Mr. Puts.

 

Did Aristotle write product reviews?

[wattsy]

E. Puts wrote about the S2 there, not the M9.

 

I was using the M9 as an example. I don't have an S2 but did buy an M9 without feeling the need to read comparisons with or references to other competing cameras. I think Puts (who is too often too quickly dismissed as an out of touch eccentric) is spot-on in this blog piece.

[lct]

Hard to compare the M9 to the R-D1 admittedly, the latter is so much superior.