35mm vs medium format

[HaraldL]

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In Victor by Hasselblad Photokina´s special Canon's EOS 1ds Mark III was compared with Hasselblad's H3DII-31. Without doubt the bigger sensor will outperform the 35 mm sensor, at lower iso. Some negative remarks on the Canon´s final IQ, maybe the most important, consider Canon´s 50mm f1,2 quality (at f2.0).

So anyone dare to predict the IQ of Leica R on 21 megapixels or maybe 25 megapixels on a R10 and wthout antialiasing filter vs the H3DII 31? Should be very close.

 

Harald

[TimF]

Closer, but I suspect the MF would still win. A good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.

 

Back in film days, Geoffrey Crawley tested a state of the art 135 50mm lens against a 'lowly' Seagull TLR. The medium format pasted the 35mm. Any improvements in one sphere will spread to another.

[Overgaard]

Hasselblad is obsessed with sharpness in the details. But when reading the Victor magazine I was actually unable to tell what the point was (the difference) in showing the same picture on tho pages on one spread.

 

They love to blow up details so that you can see that the hair is sharper on the MF. But what's the point. Who's going to look at pictures that way.

 

The pleasing IQ of DMR - and mot Leica lenses - is not the detail sharpness but the 3D rendering of light, shadows, color tones, etc. Which is also the main difference between Leica and Canon and Nikon: When you look at faces, the Nikon (to name an example) is sharp - but the face is "flat." In the Leica it's alive, 3D and the skin looks real.

 

So witht the S2 I think we'll see a real change.

 

But to notice the difference, one has to compare pictures that was taken under the same conditions or at the same event. If you're used to the flat pictures, you will enjoy a even higher resolution and detailed capture of new flat pictures. You won't see what you're missing untill you see what's possible with a Leica lens and philosophy.

 

And therein lies Leica's biggest problem. Their self confidence in having the superior equipment, coupled with nobody knowing that they have. Or even aware that they will bring a new camera to the market.

 

Yesterday when shooting European Film Awards, one of the other photographers laughed at me, saying "that is old school, using both external lightmeter and Leica." It might be, but old school is the only school in photography. But nevertheless, that expresses the real problem Leica faces: Nobody knows.

 

Hasselblad has been able to position them self as more sharp and more megapixels than any other. So even unimportant, really, it's what wins because that's the name of the game.

 

Leica has positioned them self as the super-expensive brand for eccentrics which is not the name of the game amongst photographers to the same degree as amongst eccentric doctors and dentists.

[earleygallery]

Closer, but I suspect the MF would still win. A good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.

 

Back in film days, Geoffrey Crawley tested a state of the art 135 50mm lens against a 'lowly' Seagull TLR. The medium format pasted the 35mm. Any improvements in one sphere will spread to another.

 

I remember that piece, I own a Seagull but haven't used it in ages. If I remember correctly he compared it with a Nikkor 50.

 

Surely the S2 is the camera that which will stand up to comparison with Hasselblad.

[earleygallery]

Closer, but I suspect the MF would still win. A good big 'un will always beat a good little 'un.

 

Back in film days, Geoffrey Crawley tested a state of the art 135 50mm lens against a 'lowly' Seagull TLR. The medium format pasted the 35mm. Any improvements in one sphere will spread to another.

 

I remember that piece, I own a Seagull but haven't used it in ages. If I remember correctly he compared it with a Nikkor 50.

 

Surely the S2 is the camera which will stand up to comparison with Hasselblad.

[chilihead]

 

"Surely the S2 is the camera which will stand up to comparison with Hasselblad."

 

Yes, the price of the new S2 will COST the same as a new digital Hasselblad - and the pathetic whining about the "oh so expensive" price of a new Nikon D3x will cease and finally, (after we all get one of these three - and a full set of lenses for each), finally, we can get down to the epic business of taking a really really good snapshot of the family dog!

[Leitzmac]

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Yes, the price of the new S2 will COST the same as a new digital Hasselblad - and the pathetic whining about the "oh so expensive" price of a new Nikon D3x will cease and finally, (after we all get one of these three - and a full set of lenses for each), finally, we can get down to the epic business of taking a really really good snapshot of the family dog!

 

 

LOL!

[HaraldL]

I remember that piece, I own a Seagull but haven't used it in ages. If I remember correctly he compared it with a Nikkor 50.

 

Surely the S2 is the camera which will stand up to comparison with Hasselblad.

 

From a technical point of view a new R10 could be very close, and more close than those other two companies, mainly because of it's supposed superior optics. Want more (...?) sign in on a S2!

[mhoersch]

...that expresses the real problem Leica faces: Nobody knows.

 

I think you are absolutely right. And what's worse: the marketing people at Leica may know a lot about marketing, but obviously they don't know all that much about photography or photographers. When you look at the advertising for the M8 you see that they blabber on and on about exactly the wrong points and miss completely what sets this camera apart from so many others.

[Overgaard]

That's true. And I think it's very fortunate that it will be Phase One who will do the sale and marketing of the S2. They know the pro's and they know about photography, files and working conditions.

 

But still, Leica need to look at it differently. M8 is being promoted like a mobile phone, not a photographers tool or (also notable) a fashion statement.

[HaraldL]

A lot of companies and governments can do their marketing much better. Considering Leica, nearly every (professional) photographer I know is very much aware of Leica´s specific qualities. When the M8 apeared on the market it was a major hot topic as well for the guys with 50K plus equipment in their bags.

[TimF]

From a technical point of view a new R10 could be very close, and more close than those other two companies, mainly because of it's supposed superior optics. Want more (...?) sign in on a S2!

Agreed, though also due to lack of AA filter if Leica continue that excellent path.