Jump to content

Which leica for Archives (historical documents) ?


Daunou

Recommended Posts

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Hi, 

First, sorry for my English but it's not my mother tongue. 



I searched on the forum but I found no answer to my question. 

I study in archival science. I have to take pictures of old documents in dimly lit rooms. For my birthday, I want to buy a new leica (I have the D-Lux6).  I have the opportunity to buy the d-lux 109 (new) or a leica X vario (second hand) or X2 (second hand).  Unfortunately, I do not have the budget for a leica M or Q (maybe one day...). 

I read the reviews for these three cameras but I cannot decide. With your experience, which camera would be best suited for photo archives in low light spaces?


I'm sorry if this conversation has already been addressed but I have not found it. 

Thanks, 

William

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello Daunou,

 

Welcome to the Forum,

 

There is a member of this Forum who is named Wilson Laidlaw who has done this type of photography in museums & such for years. You might ask him.

 

His avatar is "wlaidlaw". You might click his avatar directly & write a note to him if he doesn't notice this Thread & respond.

 

Best Regards,

 

Michael

Edited by Michael Geschlecht
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I regularly use a Leica X Vario on a copy stand for close up photography of documents … it copes well with low light and being on a copy stand longish shutter speeds are not a problem. If I need to get closer than the camera's native close focus distance I add a supplementary achromatic close-up lens e.g. a Leitz Elpro or a Raynox 150. I always use the spot focus facility and shift the focus point via the direction pad wherever it ends to be. Subject illumination might be a problem for your applications - particularly in confined spaces - and regardless of which camera you choose - but nowadays there are budget price LED lights including ring lights which make the task easier. For document copying, the technique is more important than the camera … it's essential to place/use the camera so that it's parallel and perpendicular to the document … this can be achieved with a copy stand or with a tripod which has a reversible centre column. Subject illumination can be improved by use of portable reflectors e.g. smaller sized Lastolite foldable reflectors - especially if the copying is set up next to a window. The Leica X Vario has a superb lens with excellent flat field capability … even at full aperture. The camera was unfairly criticised by many people when it was first released including criticisms by members of this forum … but most of them had probably never used the camera and to this day those armchair critics remain ignorant of its capabilities … particularly its close up and low light capability when used on a copy stand. The camera continues to have a dedicated following by those who are aware of its capabilities and who particularly value its Peter Karbe lens design. 

 

Regarding other cameras you mention: The X2 has fixed 35mm FF equivalent lens which can be used for close up copying if e.g. a Leitz Elpro is fitted … but in my experience an X Vario is better … especially for smaller documents.

 

The D-Lux 109 is a fine camera but it uses a slightly cropped M4/3 sensor … whereas the X Vario has a larger APS-C sensor which will enable better results.

 

Links showing Leica X Vario and X1 used with achromatic close up lenses on a copy stand:

 

 

https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/250569-further-close-up-experiments-x-vario-raynox-cu-lenses/?hl=elpro

 
 
 
 

 

dunk 

Edited by dkCambridgeshire
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Advertisement (gone after registration)

For copying the EVF-2 is unnecessary … the monitor will suffice.

 

dunk 

I use the XV on a copy stand which stands on a table. I'm not tall enough to conveniently see the display. The EVF may not be necessary, but it greatly helped in my case.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Hello Daunou,

First a question, how does one guarantee the archival storage of digital images? Magnetic and solid state memory is not always regarded as time-reliable.

Have you considered silver-emulsion film? It does need an environmentally controlled storage, but is easily copied and 'backed-up'. 

Suggests M-series or screw model cameras with copying film (batteries not required).

Depending on the size of documents Leitz produced several fixed gauge copy stands which avoid hand-held errors.

The negative image, held in archive, can be readily digitised if digital printing is demanded. Best of both worlds.

 

D.Lox.

 

Link to post
Share on other sites

For monochrome images any camera that can focus close and be sharp enough at a modest shutter speed (1/25th second will do) if one has adequate photoshop skills. I rescued hundreds of photos made by a university researcher who used an economy camera shot hand-held in a Federal library where one could not take the documents outside or use supplemental lighting. Hundreds! In batch! Very many even survived OCR processing.

 

He thought I was a hero. Maybe I was.

Edited by pico
  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

In a library I needed to copy some pages from a scientific journal. I tried with both a Leica D-lux and also a Huawei P9. The P9 in mono mode was much much better than the D-lux. Good sharp images and high contrast. I was using ambient light (library fluros), hand held, auto focus.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...
Hi everybody !! 
 
Waouhou !!! thank you for your answers. I finally choose the Leica X Vario. I'm very happy with this wonderful camera. I work with archives from architects and the pictures of the maps and plans are great with the Vario. 
 

Hello Daunou,

First a question, how does one guarantee the archival storage of digital images? Magnetic and solid state memory is not always regarded as time-reliable.

Have you considered silver-emulsion film? It does need an environmentally controlled storage, but is easily copied and 'backed-up'. 

Suggests M-series or screw model cameras with copying film (batteries not required).

Depending on the size of documents Leitz produced several fixed gauge copy stands which avoid hand-held errors.

The negative image, held in archive, can be readily digitised if digital printing is demanded. Best of both worlds.

 

D.Lox.

 

Thank you for your comment. Actually, it's true that it's easier for us to preserves silver-emulsion film. We have to change all the Hard disks every five years.... a lot of work.
I finally choose the X Vario because I'm not in a preservation compaign. I just want pictures for my studies and for an informatical use. 
Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...