Moire

[KevinA]

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I'm very tempted with the M8, the issue that concerns me most is moire. I had the Kodak SLR/n which also did not carry an AA filter, on lots of my subjects it was a nightmare, I shoot a lot of aerial of cities so somewhere the rainbow of colours would show up. I switched to Canon and the problem vanished over night.

Those of you using the DMR, has the software solution worked? Is moire a problem?

 

Kevin.

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[dhsimmonds]

Hi Kevin

 

I use a DMR/R9 outfit and I never have problems with moire and I have photographed people in small check clothing etc which I would have expected to give me a problem.

 

If you get a problematic subject the DMR allows you to switch on the moire filter very easiIy but am told that it is also very easy to correct with software, so if I ever experience the problem I will deal with it then.

 

I think that Leica have sensibly decided that 99.9% of photographs will never need a moire filter which when fitted tends to reduce the quality of the image.

 

Hope this helps

 

Cheers, Dave

[telyt]

I've encountered moire occasionally with some of the wildlife I've photographed, particularly birds. Since I use RAW files, the in-camera moire filter can't be used. Instead I use a simple Photoshop action from fredmiranda.com and only on the areas of the photo that need it.

 

 

Before using the moire filter the bird's back and part of the wing and tail were covered with moire rainbows.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

On the DMR it is really quite rare , i do get it occasional in the studio with a tie or jacket . I shoot raw only also. In Capture One there is a plug in for PS called DeMorize that can be applied to any area that you want on your file using the lasso tool or anything like that. It works very nice like Dougs image above. So yes you may see it ocassionally but it is real simple to deal with.

[pascal_meheut]

Same for me, quite rare.

[sean_reid]

In testing the DMR, I found the same. It's rare and, when it occurs, can be easily dealt with locally using the C1 tool. I'm coming to prefer cameras with weak (or no) AA filters.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest guy_mancuso]

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I really like having no AA filters. The detail just seems so much better like this and a lot less sharpening if any needs to be applied

[KevinA]

Thanks everyone for your response. I'm at a point where I need a new backup camera. I shoot Canon so the sensible thing to do would be buy another 1DsmkII. I have the Kodak Nikon mount and lenses, but because of Moire and xmas tree lights, it never gets used. At the moment it's having a £1k repair then I shall sell it. The question for me is what should I get, I fancy a Leica but the no AA filter experiance has me worried, many Kodak users say it's not a problem, for me it was a nightmare, sure a simple fix would treat it, but a simple fix times 300 was taken far to long. At least your positive replies maqkes me think I should find a M8 or DMR and give it a try.

 

Thanks,

 

Kevin.

[john_f]

Kevin.

 

About the problem you encountered with your Kodak DCS SLR/n, it might not have been related to a lack of AA filter. The Kodak DCS 14n, upon which the design of the Kodak SLR/n is based, used neither an AA filter or microlenses. While the SLR/n used a redesigned sensor with a new type of absorption filter (not AA) over its surface, it is fair to assume that it too did not use AA filter or microlenses (AFAIK, I never read any info to the contrary). There is therefore the possibility that what you saw with your SLR/n was the result of the sensor not using microlenses - or maybe a combination of lack of both AA filter and microlenses.

 

Regarding Leica's position on AA filters, you can be sure that if Leica and Kodak decided that they could do without an Anti-Alias (or "Moiré") filter for the DMR, it is because their R&D showed that it had no significant detrimental effect on the final quality of the image. Quite the contrary, an AA filter will reduce the optical performance of the camera lens in order to match the limitations of the sensor (in such cases, it is the sensor - not the lenses - that becomes the limiting factor). As you can see by the many testimonials in this forum (and also in the previous Leica forum), the characteristics of the DMR sensor are a perfect match to the high-res Leica R lenses. As a matter of fact, there were a few Leica forum members who sold their EOS 1Ds II to switch to the R9+DMR - and who have been very happy with their move (do a "Search" on the forum archive).

 

IMHO, I believe the same can be said of the new Leica M8. The Leica brand stands for the very highest quality in optics, mechanics, and now, electronic image processing (thanks in large part to a very smart partnership with Kodak, Imacon/Hassy, and now CaptureOne and Jenoptik). Furthermore, the Leica M8's CCD sensor uses a very innovative microlens design to alleviate typical sensor problems with image quality in the corners of the image (light rays hitting the sensor's corners at a too oblique an angle can lead to significant decrease in image quality). The biggest question you should be asking yourself is whether or not you would like using a rangefinder camera. May I suggest that you start by visiting your nearest Leica dealer. Ask them if you could try out for a few days an M7 with, say, a 35mm Summicron-M lens. That should give you a better indication if the M8 would be the right tool for you.

 

Best regards, and I hope you give the M8 a good try !

 

John F.

 

P.S. There was a very good article on the Kodak DCS 14n in Luminous Landscape. Have a look: 14n Initial Impressions