What, no lift?

[spylaw4]

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I wouldn't like to have to climb up all that way!

 

L1 Vario-Elmarit

 

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[elansprint72]

Brian,

I've noticed in a couple of shots from your L1 that it seems somehow "softer" than the D2, would you agree with that, or is it my new reading glasses? I don't recall seeing D3/L1 posts from anyone else.

[spylaw4]

Pete,

I wish that some more folks would post identfiable D3/L1 shots so that we could get a better idea of the Vario-Elmarit's way of recording images.

I am still getting to grips with the L1 - a very much more complicated camera to get the best out of than the D2.

So yes my impression is, after some comparative trials, that the various film-mode settings do affect the Raw recording and so even with the in-camera sharpness turned right up there is a silkier feel to the images. I have not applied any further sharpening in Lightroom so far.

But then it's rather like the discussions of 'lux vs. 'cron isn't it?

[spylaw4]

Following on from the above - this version has a deal of additional sharpening applied - is there a noticeable difference/improvement to nearer the D2? Or do we have to accept that the lens 'paints' differently?

 

L1 Vario-Elmarit + additional sharpening applied in Lightroom otherwise identical.

 

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[elansprint72]

Brian,

#2 looks more like the D2 to me, which of course does not necessarily mean it is better, it's just what I have become used to.

 

I've been doing a fair number of landscapes recently with the D2 and very rarely add any sharpening now, I try it and then usually press the undo button. Klaus (where is he) seemed always to sharpen and it suited his style of landscape work.

 

I'll follow the D3/L1 stuff with interest (if anyone posts any) but I'm not going up that road, D2 and V-Lux1 will have to do, unless the lottery comes in!

 

I suppose we should be having this exchange on the Digital Forum, but it would be lost after two hours under a tsunami of hysterical M8 postings.

[audidudi]

...is there a noticeable difference/improvement to nearer the D2? Or do we have to accept that the lens 'paints' differently?

A few comments: 1) Sharpening isn't necessarily a bad thing or something to be avoided; used properly, there's no reason not to sharpen images; 2) My apples-to-apples comparison of L1 and LC1 images continues and while I've not yet reached any final conclusions, I find myself almost always preferring the LC1's output to the L1's, as the L1 images do indeed seem to be "painted" differently. While the L1's images appear to be superficially more detailed on a macro basis, they simultaneously appear less detailed on a micro basis. With the L1, it's as if every surface is made from smooth plastic and the texture is printed onto it whereas with the LC1, textures seem to arise naturally from the surfaces, the net result being that L1 images seem to demonstrate less of a sense of three-dimensionality reality than LC1 images. A very interesting phenomenon but also a very strange one...

 

(In view of the above, I bought myself another LC1 this morning as a backup/spare ... I guess that says something, eh?)

[jmr]

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Guys,

 

an interesting discussion - as Pete says, it would be lost in the noise on the digital forum.

 

For my part, I think the Digilux 2 benefits from a truly exceptional lens and from relatively large pixel sites: both of which contribute to its outstanding image quality. If only my C-Lux resolved as well - then I would truly be in Leica heaven.

[spylaw4]

John, you do pretty d**n well with your C-lux - whaterever its resolution!

 

Jeffrey - More sharpening frequently seems to be needed on the L1/D3 images than is provded in camera.

 

I agree with you that the D2/LC1 generates an image that is much more 3-dimensional than the L1/D3 - but we soldier on with the newer camera trying to achieve the best possible result. Do I recall some quite startlingly good images (China?) being shown way way back just after release - or am I confusing that with something else?