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What do you want in the next digital M?

IkarusJohn

By IkarusJohn
in Leica M (Type 240 / 262)

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jedi996sps

jedi996sps

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It has probably already been said, but, lets please have a proper +/-3 exposure compensation dial.

Also, i am not too fond of the red LED exposure indicator in the OVF when used in manual. i much prefer the nice scale along the bottom with a sliding indicator like in live view. If only this could be in the OVF too.

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colonel

colonel

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ok, I'll up my bid:

 

1. 1 billion pixel black silicon sensor with 1 million ISO limit and 1000 stops of dynamic range

2. Lightweight carbon fibre and titanium body

3. Replaceable/modular sensor, main board and all electronics

4. Hybrid VF with projection view

5. M3 size

6. Projected framelines, so zooms would work

7. Integrated wifi/4G/bluetooth/nfc with apache server running linux so I can pull photos off from anywhere and push apps onto the phone

8. Replaceable rear view screen

9. Electronic focus confirm - can be switched to any size box within frameline

10. ISO dial and exposure compensation dial

11. Triple SD card socket with 2x1TB internal memory using RAID 0

12. Touch start (e.g. you grab its on, no need to press button)

13. Zirconia LCD, RF window and VF glass

14. VF mechanism allows any magnification

15. Comes with laser tuner and instructions to adjust RF yourself :)

 

But I'll keep the 1950s RF style please :D

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Berlinman

Berlinman

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This generalization is usually false when upgrading to newer sensor tecnology. As a matter of fact, the D800 36MP sensor has better dynamic range and ISO performance than the Leica M 24MP sensor.

Even the A7S, with its modern 12MP sensor has a little better ISO performance than a D800 rescaled at the same MP. And at low ISO, the D800 image at 12MP is better, as it will contain more true spatial information per pixel.

I would definitely get a D800 over the A7S even if I had a target output of 12 MP.

 

 

Thats correct, but if you consider a new camera will have the best chip 24MP or 36MP than you will see this effect. So normaly you have to make this decission: best resolution or best dynamic / DNR ...

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IkarusJohn

IkarusJohn

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The current M Camera offering is the M(240), Monochrom and M-E, the last 2 being M9 based CCD cameras.

 

If you want 50MP (not a good idea in a handheld camera, in my humble opinion), then get an S camera; if you want a cheaper, smaller, all singing all dancing APS-C based camera, get a T. I've been using the T pretty solidly for the last 4 months or so, and it is fabulous for most of my needs.

 

Returning to future M cameras, I think there's a place for an all singing all dancing M(240) replacement, hopefully without too many more MPs (please!) - the A7R and D800E handheld were a nightmare for me as it was very hard to get the benefit of those extra MPs without motion blur (either unsteady hands or shutter slap). I'd also like to see the Monochrom updated with the new sensor, and the M-E replaced with an M Edition 60 style camera (a digital M-A, but with a meter).

 

So this is what I hope Leica releases in 2015:

 

M(240) replacement, complete with Live View, Video, upgraded EVF, multi grip and single electronic framelines specific to the lens, read off the coding (or manually selectable for uncoded lenses) and WiFi control from a smart phone (a better implementation than the Leica T, though it works just fine for me). This is the flagship, keeping the M camera relevant to the digital age.

 

Monochrom but with the CMOSIS sensor. I'm not sure it needs all the additional functionality of the M(240), but I will be keeping my CCD based Monochrom, thank you.

 

M-E with the CMOSIS 24 MP sensor, no LCD, no video, no live view, nothing but DNG output and ISO dial. But, what this camera must have is perfection in the operation of the sensor (no dead pixels, no lines at high ISO etc), the latest processor with the 2GB buffer, quiet and reliable shutter, cable release shutter button, single framelines for coded lens as above. What I would like is the absolute simplicity of the M Edition 60, cheaper (no white gloves please), but with the reliability that Leica established with its M film cameras, but has only achieved at times with the digital versions.

 

I have no problem with Leica pushing the boundaries in development, provided they apply the same logic to the M as they did to the T - not what is possible (Sony, Canon & Nikon already do that) but what is needed. The full on M(240) replacement can do that. The M-E should have the essentials perfectly produced to match the quality of Leica's lenses - RF, centre weighted meter (A priority or manual), ISO dial and faultless sensor.

 

One thing I do miss is the scale that used to be on the right hand side of my FE - I could see the shutter speed change in automatic and in manual I could see by how much I was under or over exposing as I lined up the ring with the needle when adjusting aperture or shutter speeds. With Leica's little arrows in the viewfinder, I have no idea how far off I am, and that's unhelpful. I'm sure Leica could present all this information far better in the viewfinder, without cluttering it up.

 

Cheers

John

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lct

lct

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Cropping afterwards is helpful for different reasons, and it is actually composing a shot after it has been taken (less the fear of losing the decisive moment). Cameras are just tools, and the only thing that matters is the final result.

Do you still find some art in this kind of photography?

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Jeff S

Jeff S

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Do you still find some art in this kind of photography?

 

Walker Evans often cropped his pics in significant and multiple varying ways, as shown in the book Walker Evans at Work. One can dispute the merits of the technique, but I think there is no disputing that Evans was one of the great photographers (say, artists) of all time. A great eye, and a creative vision, is a prerequisite, regardless the technique. [To be fair, Evans composed carefully to begin with, not willy nilly, but cropping after the fact was accepted practice.]

 

Jeff

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colonel

colonel

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I thought it was this :D

Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here…

Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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lct

lct

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I don't see why cropping in post would un-art-ize (!?:)) a photo.

I must be a great artist then :D. Seriously my greatest pleasure (i did not say skills) in photography is composition but to each his own and HCB stated himself that photography is not an art so let's say that we have different tastes as usual :cool:.

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flyalf

flyalf

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Do you still find some art in this kind of photography?

Hmm, why should it be more or less art to use all pixels in post? Imo its more art to change the raw data to something more expressive representing you. Croppong and other post is part of this.

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lct

lct

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So photography in PP... Why not... Matter of tastes... I prefer in the field but YMMV. Reminds me HCB who said that he was not interested by his photos once they were shot. A bit poseur this dear Henri but his works represent all in like in photography. Again YMMV :cool:.

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