johnmaloof Posted November 29, 2010 Share #1 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello, I'm new to this forum and this is my first posting. I am the second owner of an M8. Had a hot pixel which caused a vertical band so I sent it back to Leica NJ. The vertical band wasn't that bad but for only $175, they took care of it for me. Just got it back from Leica NJ but, now I have a strange problem. I took it out for a full day of shooting (on a sunny, cold day) and when I returned and I plugged it into my computer, I was floored. Horrible grain on most images. I thought my ISO must have switched to a super high setting on accident. I checked the EXIF on the images and it was for sure on ISO 640. The grain should not be this bad at ISO 640...and it's baaad! Is there anything someone can advise on this problem? I've included sample pics from this day of shooting (both good and bad grain...you can tell which is which). Both were taken within the same day, same setting, same lens (28mm Elmarit f/2.8 w/UV-IR filter), etc... Good image: http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/johnmaloof/L9990230.jpg Bad image: http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll142/johnmaloof/L9990203.jpg Edited November 29, 2010 by johnmaloof added more info Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted November 29, 2010 Posted November 29, 2010 Hi johnmaloof, Take a look here Strange problem with my M8.... I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
RichardM8 Posted November 29, 2010 Share #2 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) That is a huge difference indeed. From my experience (M8.2) an ISO 640 image shouldn't look like this. Isn't the Auto ISO function playing havoc here? Some info on Auto ISO here: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m8-forum/153106-cant-find-m8-manual-help.html#post1531818 Edited November 29, 2010 by RichardM8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Ash Posted November 29, 2010 Share #3 Posted November 29, 2010 I would guess that the second shot was very much underexposed and pulled back to correct exposure in postprocessing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted November 29, 2010 Share #4 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) Probably strong underexposure. And incorrect settings in your RAW converter. For one thing there is no black point. Even the "good" image is certainly nothing like the quality you can get on an M8. Could you make RAW files available? Edit, no need. I looked at EXIF, exposure compensation in Photoshop Elements 5 : +2.40 x ! There is the reason. Edited November 29, 2010 by jaapv Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmaloof Posted November 29, 2010 Author Share #5 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) Hi, @RichardM8: Auto ISO was not on. Even if it was, the shot is on 640 ISO which is too grainy for that setting. @Steve Ash: I didn't process these at all in Photoshop (no pulling pushing). The DNG file was opened Raw and then I just saved as a JPEG with no post processing at all. @jaapv: I'd love to make a couple RAW files available. Photobucket won't upload them. Do you have a suggestion on how to make them available? I would love to get your input on this. The RAW converter is on auto and if it increased exposure, I need know if this is the culprit. Thanks! Edited November 29, 2010 by johnmaloof Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmaloof Posted November 29, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted November 29, 2010 @jaapv: You're right about the RAW converter overexposing. I looked at other files and reset all of the settings to make that conclusion. I'm coming from an M6 with 400TMAX film for the past three years. It's hard to get used to a 320 or 640 ISO when I have been so used to 400 speed film. The new settings are going to need some getting used to. Well, this looks like an underexposed image on my part. I'm glad I didn't send it off to Leica NJ like an idiot and complain. Thanks for all the help everyone! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted November 29, 2010 Share #7 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) Advertisement (gone after registration) Welcome to the forum, John! Nothing wrong with the question. Digital has a lot of different places to mess up that we're not used to with film. Keep in mind that the M8 meters quite a bit differently than the M6. I'm still caught off guard by it occasionally, even after three years of use. Edited November 29, 2010 by ho_co Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnmaloof Posted November 29, 2010 Author Share #8 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) ho_co: Thanks. In what way does it meter differently? Is it an evaluative meter based on the entire sensor? (Edit) Found a link to explain the metering on M8 (about half way down the page): http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/leicam8/page4.asp Edited November 29, 2010 by johnmaloof Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted November 29, 2010 Share #9 Posted November 29, 2010 (edited) John, those diagrams are from the M8 manual (downloadable at Leica Camera AG - Downloads), and I don't find them all that useful. On the M5, M6 etc, we knew we were always working with a strongly center-weighted meter. But notice on those M8 metering diagrams that the white shutter blade is at an angle, and the metering sensitivity diagram is symmetrical from the center. There are frequent mentions on the forum that with a wide-angle, the M8 meter seems to respond more to a sky than the diagram indicates. At the Leica-sponsored M8 introduction at Dallas DFW airport, the presenter, Scott Geffert, said he found that the metering became more 'spot-like' with longer lenses, and more 'center-weighted,' i.e. 'more wide-field' with wide-angles. At the introduction of the M9 (video by Reichmann on Vimeo), Stefan Daniel said the reason the M9 metering was changed from that of the M8 (by addition of a gray blade both above and below the white one) was "to make it meter more like the M7." All I can say is that I find the M8's meter trickier to use than that on my film M's. Others on the forum seem to have adjusted to it better than I. BTW, congratulations on getting the M8. It is a jewel, and I think you'll come to like it at least as much as you do your other M cameras. Edited November 29, 2010 by ho_co Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ishkra Posted November 30, 2010 Share #10 Posted November 30, 2010 Dear John...Welcome to the M8 world ...i had the same feelings when i shoot the first time with my new M8. The quality at High ISO is terrible but also the grain in the shadows at 320 ISO is really bad compared to my old D700. shot after shot i appreciated the quality of the M8 for the great colours, contrasts and details...however, the grain is always there Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted December 1, 2010 Share #11 Posted December 1, 2010 Hi, @RichardM8: Auto ISO was not on. Even if it was, the shot is on 640 ISO which is too grainy for that setting. @Steve Ash: I didn't process these at all in Photoshop (no pulling pushing). The DNG file was opened Raw and then I just saved as a JPEG with no post processing at all. @jaapv: I'd love to make a couple RAW files available. Photobucket won't upload them. Do you have a suggestion on how to make them available? I would love to get your input on this. The RAW converter is on auto and if it increased exposure, I need know if this is the culprit. Thanks! http://WWW.yousendit.com Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.