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Hey,

 

I'm a Sony shooter (US) with a client who has a special request for medium format ("look">resolution). I'd like to try the Leica system as the S has always intrigued me. However, this being a paid shoot & not knowing the system, I'd like to know that I have someone on set who has my back. How does one find a digital tech? Specifically, one who knows this (mildly obscure) system?

Edited by KennRhem
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Any decent professional photographers' assistant should be able to help you with that. I don't know where you live, but there should be a facebook group if you are in a big market. If not, ask the local pros, maybe you'll get a recommendation. A college with a photography or graphic design program could be a good place to look as well.

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Not sure about a tech for the Leica S, but you might want to reach out to your local Leica store...that would probably be your best bet. Honestly, however, the S is quite well organized ergonomically, and I would think that rather than hiring a tech, you might just hire it for an extra day or so beforehand, and familiarize yourself with it. It is quite straightforward, especially if you assign some custom functions to the rear buttons that make sense to you. I would suggest ISO, drive mode, exposure compensation and so forth. Assigning focus to the joystick button is also very useful, as you can leave it in MF and just use the button to focus, making focusing and recomposing a bit easier. 

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I presume that the tech is there to handle the workflow, make sure everything is backed-up to two or more devices, check the raw files for exposure/sharpness, do some preliminary processing to show the clients, etc? It also helps to have an extra person there to help understand an unfamiliar camera. Those are all great things to have. They can also serve a psychological role, being a buffer between you and the art director, and a cheerleader to put the client's mind at ease. Nothing too obvious, but the occasional "oh wow!" or "that's really nice" when a new image comes-up on the monitor can go a long way.

On the technical side, keep things very simple. Double-check that you are capturing RAW, keep the camera on manual, check your histograms to make sure your exposures are good. The S's rear screen isn't the best for checking sharpness.

Will you be shooting in a studio? You will need extra time to get "Leica Image Shuttle" up and running, so you can shoot tethered.

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