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Maximum useable ISO S2/006/007


jip

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What flaws are concerning you and are you experiencing any issues or just reading about them? In my opinion, the S is without doubt the best camera in the world at what it does but if you're expecting it to be a medium format D3X then you're going to be disappointed. It produces incredibly beautiful, deep, rich files at lower ISO's, files I have never been able to get from any other camera. My advice is to use it, decide for yourself what it does and doesn't do and then go from there, getting worried from reading others views seems a bit daft to me, your own experience will always be based on your own needs.

 

Just go and make beautiful images with it!

The S2 files are indeed incredible in detail, acuity, tonality and do have heaps and heaps of dynamic range, as you can push shadows and have a very large window of recovering highlights.

In direct comparison with D800E files which are close in numerical resolution, the beauty of S2 files is apparent (I use both cameras).

 

The S really shines when used with S lenses which surely are incredible performers and allow for that sensor to show it's potential.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm trying hard to do just that.  http://www.pix4kix.com/gallery_678728.html

Great theme you are following there, but may I comment that especially for candid/ documentary photographs when close to people there are indeed easier cameras to use.

The S is slower in operation then say a Leica M, which I truly find the ideal people's cameras.

The S though surely is the fastest and most straight forward operating medium format camera there is.

 

Willy, don't worry too much. Most 'flaws' are just minor annoyances, which depend on the user and what he/she is expecting, no system is perfect. It's a wonderful system and we all have different experiences.

 

For instance, I've always used matrix metering and I think exposure on my S2 is very good. Of course I've learned to override with exposure compensation if necessary, but that's easy. 

 

I agree with Mat, the files are just great, very malleable.

 

The "flaws" mentioned on the thread really can be seen as nitpicking and simply mentioning characteristics that could be improved.

The S looks and handles so much like a 35mm SLR that too often it is directly compared to 35mm DSLRs of today which do have a thing or two in operation bettering the S (metering, autofocus, camera speed, …).

It is comparing apples and oranges though as the file out put is very, very different.

 
I find especially the shadow detail astonishing - S2 files shot up to ISO320 easily push 2 or even 3 stops and reveal great detail (which is still manageable with proper noise reduction technique but must not always be dealt with as the S2 file's noise has a very natural, beautiful look to it and it is not dominating, especially when printing smaller than the files can easily hold up to (any 13x19 just looks stunning).
 

 

Whereas I found matrix metering appalling and only use spot metering in manual  exposure...

 

john

 

Matrix metering is not appalling at all. It is the lackluster performance of the way it works in the S.

Let's be honest, Nikon spent something like 30 years to perfect their Matrix metering algorithm and it simply works fantastic on their current pro level DSLRs.

 

In this form Matrix Metering simply is a tool to produce even faster and more accurate exposures.

 

The matrix metering in the S2 I found by all accounts useless (except when you have to shoot a grey cat in a grey, constantly lit room without any highlights and stark contrasts.

I have the feeling that Leica's matrix metering in the S2 simply is an enlarged centerweighted metering method reading only from one single sensor, rather the very sophisticated multi-thousand sensor site matrix metering connected to elaborated algorithms, used in Nikon's DSLRs.

 

Spot metering works great and centerweighted works fantastic (although it is quite different from it's implementations in M bodies.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I had the chance to play with the 007 last week and liked it enough to order one. I wouldn't use my 006 with more than ISO 200 and the files I shot with the 007 at 1600 were usable but not great

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I hear all this bitching about spot and matrix metering but struggle to get my head around why some of you guys are bitching about it. Try shooting in manual, read the histogram and adjust as necessary ......... Bobs your uncle [emoji3]

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It's hardly bitching, I make my living with these cameras, what I am saying is that the camera is not reading the scene wrong, I am saying that there is an issue with the camera on occasion where it just massively under exposes, needing battery out to get it working again. Some of us don't have the luxury of assessing each shot and working from the histogram, we actually have to take shots, in real time for clients who expect results.

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Neil...regarding the bitching, bitching it is. As to shooting manual -with a S system- I'm struggling to get my head around the issue. Remind me why I bought a S system to begin with. Sounds like owning a car with 12 cylinders but only using 6 of them. No, no. While there is a place and time for shooting manual -no doubt- the S should afford me AE and AF and all that A is associated with without having to think too much about compensating here, and extrapolating there. Shouldn't it? Just sayin'.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

I try and get a good exposure in my first shot ;-)

 

john

Me too John........... but I have found that my best way to achieve that is by shooting the S in Manual pretty much the same way I used to shoot with my M

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Neil...regarding the bitching, bitching it is. As to shooting manual -with a S system- I'm struggling to get my head around the issue. Remind me why I bought a S system to begin with. Sounds like owning a car with 12 cylinders but only using 6 of them. No, no. While there is a place and time for shooting manual -no doubt- the S should afford me AE and AF and all that A is associated with without having to think too much about compensating here, and extrapolating there. Shouldn't it? Just sayin'.

As we all know.............. Leica is way behind the competition when it comes to camera electronics, its just part of the Leica experience we all have to suffer while they try and figure out new stuff. Leica will be introducing a new camera system on the 20th October that will have AF interchangeable lenses and I am sure a hole bunch of electronic quirks to go with it................

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To stay on topic:

 

S-E

70mm

ISO 800 pushed one stop

 

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Nice jip.

 

Had a chance to test the 007 with a little aurora in the sky last night, nothing dramatic and not great viewpoint but ok for testing the ability of the 007. First is ISO800 at 6 seconds, second as the clouds came in, ISO 1600 8 seconds. 

 

p1502075271-5.jpg

 

p1502075269-5.jpg

 

 

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Nice jip.

 

Had a chance to test the 007 with a little aurora in the sky last night, nothing dramatic and not great viewpoint but ok for testing the ability of the 007. First is ISO800 at 6 seconds, second as the clouds came in, ISO 1600 8 seconds.

 

p1502075271-5.jpg

 

p1502075269-5.jpg

fantastic mate
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Morning.

 

Better aurora here last night but still not very strong. I'm finding for night shots, ISO800 pushed is cleaner than ISO1600 but for aurora that moves a lot, it's better to have a shorter shutter speed and capture more of the definition. It wasn't moving much last night so will wait to get something better.

 

I supply images to a power company here, hence the infrastructure in the shot.

 

p1520679369-5.jpg

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