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CEO Alfred Schopf and future products

hoppyman

By hoppyman
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Nick_S

Nick_S

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That's why my default carry-everywhere is a Ricoh GR - now if Leica were to produce an equivalent...

If only there was a 35mm lens equivalent version... I don't think I would want to regularly use the GR in cropped mode for the 35mm setting, which is my default carry around focal length.

 

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wildlightphoto

wildlightphoto

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Interesting article in AP this week, taking the Nikon Df head to head with the Fuji X-T1. Little to no effective difference in output.

 

Apples/oranges. Different technologies, different design optimization. Size is only one of many variables in this comparison. Sony has shown that a big sensor doesn't have to result in a big camera.

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Nick_S

Nick_S

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Same here, or even 40mm... In that form factor, with those ergonomics and features it would be my dream pocket camera.

Sigma have missed the opportunity for a GR type compact camera judging by the strange proportions of its new DP2 Quattro:

https://www.sigmaphoto.com/product/dp2-quattro-compact-digital-camera

 

I am still trying to figure out how someone would hold the elongated body shape. Further the Foveon RGB sensor is now only full resolution in the top colour layer, the other layers having one quarter of the number sensitive locations each.

 

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MarkP

MarkP

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Maybe we should see it's output before dumping on it. DP review has more pictures of it.

This design may significantly improve it's handling.

 

I've not yet used a Foveon sensor camera but the concept of these three relatively cheap fixed focal length cameras (28, 45, 75mm equivalent) which produce spectacular images is interesting.

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CalArts 99

CalArts 99

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I've not yet used a Foveon sensor camera but the concept of these three relatively cheap fixed focal length cameras (28, 45, 75mm equivalent) which produce spectacular images is interesting.

 

I use the Merrill DP2 for certain applications. The bodies are very well made (all metal), the menu system is extraordinarily intuitive (other mfgs should take note), and the lenses are quite exceptional (specifically designed of course to fit the body and sensor.)

 

But it's a special purpose camera. It's kind of like using a slow film camera in respect to operation. And it sucks battery power so you have to pretend like you're packing extra rolls of film (thankfully the batteries are small, light, and inexpensive.) It's only good (in color) at max 200 ISO. Although in B+W (and with the newest version of the free Sigma Pro Photo raw converter), the files are very impressive even at higher ISO (up to about 1600 max.) In fact, it's an excellent B+W camera and the best I've seen (rivaling the Monochrom, imho.)

 

The auto focus is slow and frustrating. Although the manual focus is pretty good and easy to use. The processor takes eons to process a single file. There is no viewfinder and one has to rig up something since the LCD is hard to see in strong light. I use an optical finder in the hotshoe for pre-framing and than a hooded loupe on the LCD. It's cumbersome, but it does work (you need to employ a 4x5 view camera mentality :)) And sometimes it can struggle getting certain colors right which requires work in post. Overall the colors are quite good as is WB. But once in while they can look a bit unnatural.

 

If you approach it like a medium format or large format film camera equivalent, and take the time to work with it and understand its limitations, the rewards are definitely there with image quality. It's small and unobtrusive (relatively speaking) and yet allows me to print very large with lots and lots of detail. You're really getting medium format quality from a point and shoot size camera. And bear in mind, that I'm having to up-sample for very large prints, too. The file size is still a 16MP equivalent despite any Foveon megapixel math 'vodoo.'

 

(Note that a lot of images from the Merrill cameras that you sometimes see on the web can look sort of 'crunchy' with kind of an over-sharpened look which is just from a poor processing technique, imho. I think maybe some people are so infatuated with the detail that they go overboard with the processing.)

 

If you're wanting exceptional image quality and print large, and can put up with a very slow handling camera, then I would say it's worth considering. I think most people coming from film (and from Leica in general) could adapt pretty easily to the more contemplative and calculating approach that's required of the Merrill series.

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Guest

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||||||||||| ||||||||||||| ||||, |||||| |||||| ||||||||| |||||||||||||||| ||||||||||||||||-|||||||| ||| | ||||||||||| ||||||||||| ||| | |||||| || |||||| || |||||||||||| ||| ||||||||||||||. |||||| || |||||||||| ||||||| |||||||||| |||| ||||||||||| ||||| |||| ||||||||||||| ||||| ||| |||. :rolleyes:

 

Sent from another Galaxy?

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MarkP

MarkP

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I use the Merrill DP2 for certain applications. The bodies are very well made (all metal), the menu system is extraordinarily intuitive (other mfgs should take note), and the lenses are quite exceptional (specifically designed of course to fit the body and sensor.)

 

But it's a special purpose camera. It's kind of like using a slow film camera in respect to operation. And it sucks battery power so you have to pretend like you're packing extra rolls of film (thankfully the batteries are small, light, and inexpensive.) It's only good (in color) at max 200 ISO. Although in B+W (and with the newest version of the free Sigma Pro Photo raw converter), the files are very impressive even at higher ISO (up to about 1600 max.) In fact, it's an excellent B+W camera and the best I've seen (rivaling the Monochrom, imho.)

 

The auto focus is slow and frustrating. Although the manual focus is pretty good and easy to use. The processor takes eons to process a single file. There is no viewfinder and one has to rig up something since the LCD is hard to see in strong light. I use an optical finder in the hotshoe for pre-framing and than a hooded loupe on the LCD. It's cumbersome, but it does work (you need to employ a 4x5 view camera mentality :)) And sometimes it can struggle getting certain colors right which requires work in post. Overall the colors are quite good as is WB. But once in while they can look a bit unnatural.

 

If you approach it like a medium format or large format film camera equivalent, and take the time to work with it and understand its limitations, the rewards are definitely there with image quality. It's small and unobtrusive (relatively speaking) and yet allows me to print very large with lots and lots of detail. You're really getting medium format quality from a point and shoot size camera. And bear in mind, that I'm having to up-sample for very large prints, too. The file size is still a 16MP equivalent despite any Foveon megapixel math 'vodoo.'

 

(Note that a lot of images from the Merrill cameras that you sometimes see on the web can look sort of 'crunchy' with kind of an over-sharpened look which is just from a poor processing technique, imho. I think maybe some people are so infatuated with the detail that they go overboard with the processing.)

 

If you're wanting exceptional image quality and print large, and can put up with a very slow handling camera, then I would say it's worth considering. I think most people coming from film (and from Leica in general) could adapt pretty easily to the more contemplative and calculating approach that's required of the Merrill series.

 

Thanks for this which well details why I didn't get the Merrill DP2, although a pocket sized camera that shoots spectacular landscapes is tempting.

 

It seems that the DP2 Quattro may overcome many of the limitations of the previous DP2. We will see.

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stevesurf

stevesurf

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It's interesting, but now looking at the machined body, I am beginning to see the versatility for Leica to deliver different versions of materials, colors, etc.

 

I've been reading here and there about how silver cameras may be less "threatening" and perhaps invite more conversation, so the design might just do very well, but we'll see :)

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pierovitch

pierovitch

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Maybe we should see it's output before dumping on it. DP review has more pictures of it.

This design may significantly improve it's handling.

 

I've not yet used a Foveon sensor camera but the concept of these three relatively cheap fixed focal length cameras (28, 45, 75mm equivalent) which produce spectacular images is interesting.

 

This article may be of interest

Sigma Q&A Part II: Does Foveon’s Quattro sensor really out-resolve conventional 36-megapixel chips?

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stevelap

stevelap

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Well, doesn't time fly :). Five months since this thread was started and now just over twenty-four hours to go, I'm looking forward to the announcement....but not to the camera bashing that will inevitably start almost immediately.

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