Official Leica Statements

[sean_reid]

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In response to my requests, Leica USA's Christian Erhardt recently provided me with two official statements related to the M8. I've already integrated a discussion of the first into my M8 review series and will be integrating the second as well. I'm publishing these here as well as on my site because I know this is important information. To my knowledge, they have not yet been released generally.

 

Christian Erhardt Statement 1:

 

Background information on the IR barrier filter of the LEICA M8 and its positive effect on color fringing, image resolution and the rendering of black synthetic fibers:

 

The glass cover of the image sensor of the LEICA M8 is a combination of the IR barrier filter and a specially coated protective glass. The transmission in the red and infrared region of the spectrum can be controlled by the layer thickness of this filter. In the case of the Leica M8, which is a very compact system, the thickness of the filter, 0.5 mm has proved to be ideal. The short back focal length is the base for the compactness and the high quality of the standard and wide-angle lenses. However, the resulting oblique angle of the incident light on the sensor requires special adaptations of the filter.

 

Absence of color fringing / Image Resolution

The extremely thin layer of the filter, 0.5 mm prevents color fringing at the corners of an image. This phenomenon, which is also known as astigmatism and is frequently encountered with digital SLR cameras, is not a problem for the LEICA M8 because of the thin glass cover on the image sensor. This feature, plus the particularly high imaging quality of Leica M lenses, is the reason for the high corner-to-corner image resolution.

 

Rendering of black synthetic fibers

The elimination of color fringing and the improvement of image resolution results in higher IR sensitivity. This causes some synthetic textiles to appear an artificial-looking purple.

 

If the higher IR sensitivity has a disturbing effect in certain applications, e.g. fashion photography, LEICA Camera AG offers its customers a special IR barrier filter. This is screwed on in front of the lens and is an ideal combination of IR, UV and protection filter.

 

The use of the additional IR filter in front of the optical system has big advantages, as the filter does not create reflections inside the optical system. This enables the reproduction of the finest tonal values even in shadows.

 

The filter is supplied as an accessory with a special firmware adjustment, which will be available shortly after the planned market launch of the camera at the end of November 2006.

 

The IR/UV filter is only suitable for use with digital M cameras and 6-bit coded lenses.

 

The high IR transmission may also be a creative advantage for applications in the area of infrared photography.

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Christian Erhardt Statement 2:

 

White balance ensures neutral rendition of color in any light. It is based on the M8 being preset to reproduce a particular color as white. The AUTO WB provides neutral results in most situations.

 

Leica is currently working on fine-tuning the Auto-White-Balance. Future Firmware updates will show the improvements achieved.

 

For the best image quality, Leica recommends the use of the RAW mode (DNG). When working in the DNG mode, customers have the option to change the Kelvin temperature to their desired WB. For best results, it is further recommended that the specific lighting situation within the WB setting is selected.

 

Capture One is the ideal software for converting the Leica DNG files.

 

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I'm happy to provide this kind of information specifically to this forum. I don't believe that this information has yet been issued as a general release. I hope it leads to productive discussion. If it instead simply leads to a series of attacks on Leica, I doubt that I will publish statements like this to a forum again.

 

BTW, to make things crystal clear....I was not an official beta tester for Leica. Along with many journalists, I had the opportunity to twice work with pre-production examples of the M8 this past August in order to write about the physical camera (viewfinder, speed, ergonomics, etc.). These cameras used pre-production firmware and file quality was not at "shipping" level (as defined by Leica). My file quality assessments of the M8 are all based on the test unit I received October 20, 2006 and have been testing since, as time allows. No one person will discover all there is to know about the M8 so let's use this forum to educate each other about the camera, not to attack each other.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[abrewer]

Thank you Sean.

 

You have been, and continue to be, extremely generous to everyone here with the information you have shared.

 

Three cheers for Sean!

 

Hip, Hip!

 

Thanks.

 

Allan

[johnbuckley]

This is typically helpful. Thank you, Sean. The response from Christian may not please everyone, but it is straightforward. From a communications perspective, it would help periodically if Leica would directly use this forum to communicate to its members. No, they shouldn't get into the fray and it could quickly be someone's fulltime job. But the issues surrounding the M8 have bubbled around long enough that answers from Leica are needed, and you've done them, and us, a service by posting these. JB

[TSK]

Thanks a lot for sharing, Sean.

 

I believe that I've already seen the second statement on Uwe's web site so the first one is "new". Now, there's one thing we need to clarify:

 

Is this IR screw-in filter plus firmware adjustment a permanent solution or simply a temporary fix pending an imminent hardware upgrade? that would make a HUGE difference in my decision.

[M'Ate]

Thank you Sean. The statement seems toidentify a clear path forward for the IR.

 

Not sure when you would be able to remove the IR filter with confindence though ?

[G Radda]

Sean... Thanks for posting this information. Since I do mostly landscape photography, I am actually looking forward to trying the M8 as a digital IR camera (with visible light blocking filters). Hope to hear more from Leica about the banding and ghosting issues in the near future.

 

George

[earleygallery]

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Sean,

 

I doubt that many will think that the use of a filter is a satisfactory solution to the IR problem, it has been shown here that its not just a problem with studio/fashion photography.

 

Just some thoughts, would they supply filters for each lens that an M8 purchaser owns?

 

There are regular debates on this forum as to the use of filters generally, the majority of Leica users preferring not to use filters if possible. As a proposed fix I don't see this working, sorry.

[carstenw]

To be honest, the first statement makes it sound like no proper solution has been considered for the IR problem, just filters in front of the lens. This means more money and a reduced quality. I am not terribly happy with this. I won't return my M8 though. It is really the camera I want, but without the magenta problem.

[stunsworth]

If I read this correctly to eliminate the 'purple' problem we will need to purchase a filter - in practice one for each lens, and will have to pay for the lenses to be coded.

 

As someone who doesn't normally use filters except for b&w work I find this solution disapointing to say the least.

 

I'm trying not to indulge in 'bashing', but if that's the only solution I think it's a disaster for Leica.

[Samir Jahjah]

Quoting "The IR/UV filter is only suitable for use with digital M cameras and 6-bit coded lenses."

 

Which means I would need to have my Leica lenses coded ($700, as I have 7 of them), and get 3 or 4 IR/UV filters on my lenses ! If this is THE solution, I am out of the game and will happily continue shooting films .

 

What about banding?

[wattsy]

I've just bought a B+W UV/IR blocking filter (486) which I guess is very similar to the one that Leica are going to sell (and probably at a fraction of the price). It's coming from Germany so may take a few days to get here. My M8 obviously won't have the benefit of the firmware update mentioned nor are my lenses 6-bit coded but I'll keep the list posted if the filter reduces the magenta cast problem.

[Eoin]

If I'm reading this correctly, it's by design and not a fault in the camera. Are they serious?. There is no way I'm going to use a camera, which for every shot I take of someone dressed in black I have to put a special filter on my lens to stop their clothes coming out majenta.

There was no mention of this during the prelaunch press releases and no mention of it at the show. Now I am very disappointed if this is the offical leica line and will seriously have to reconsider my options before delivery.

 

Thanks Sean, I'm in no way shooting the messanger.

[gareth_c]

First, thanks Sean for sharing this information, its much appreciated and I hope my reaction isn't the kind that you feared when posting up.

 

The use of a filter isn't the be all end all for me (though it isn't something I want to do) but having to do that along with coding all my lenses is. So, i'm hoping more information materialises but it seems that leica are claming this is no fault. If nothing changes I will just have to stick to my R-D1.

[like_no_other]

Thanks for this information. The IR related statement clears up something.

 

One question. You say that these are official statements. Why doesn't Leica by itself provide the public with this kind of useful information? Will there be an announcement on Leica's website in the next days that goes more into details such as why the filter only works with 6 bit coded lenses?

 

Best regards

Philip

[Samir Jahjah]

Sean, thank you for posting and keeping us updated, even though as you see above I am not pleased at all by the "solution". I will wait a couple of days to see if Leica can come up with a better solution, if not I will cancel my order and wait for the M9!

[clayh]

Synopsis: Sensor IR sensitivity: it's not a bug, it's a feature. It'll cost you some extra money to turn off the feature, though.

 

 

 

FWIW, the thin glass does not entirely correct chromatic fringing. I have some raw files at home that show some pronounced blue fringing.

[B&W]

Quoting "The IR/UV filter is only suitable for use with digital M cameras and 6-bit coded lenses."

 

Which means I would need to have my Leica lenses coded ($700, as I have 7 of them), and get 3 or 4 IR/UV filters on my lenses ! If this is THE solution, I am out of the game and will happily continue shooting films .

 

What about banding?

 

In my country that is $237 (NOK 1.500,-) each lens for coding and a average of $110 (NOK 700) for each filter (if similar cost as E49 Uva)

[suse]

Yes, Clay that's pretty much the synopsis I arrived at. I'm sorry, the response to the IR/magenta issue just seems bizarre... "if it has a disturbing effect in some applications eg fashion photogarphy.."? err what about the rest...?! I wanted to buy the M8 for travel and street work, the digital version of what the M is famous for. What happens if I take a candid of a bunch of giggling nuns? They'll look like they've been decked out by Versace.

 

£3000 for an IR camera? This is loopy!

[andym911]

Sean thanks for posting these officlal statements.

 

I am almost lost for words.My lost condidence was restored earlier this week with a telecon with Leica , now its shot again.

 

'The use of the additional IR filter in front of the optical system has big advantages, as the filter does not create reflections inside the optical system. This enables the reproduction of the finest tonal values even in shadows.'

 

Now I have seen some pretty cheap PR statements in my time but this has to beat them all, 'big advantages' and 'finest tonal values even in shadows'.

 

if this is the permanent 'solution' then, for the requirement I have on this camera, it seems that I, against all my wishes, need to look elsewhere.

Will try to wait a couple of days before taking the decision to cancel or not.

 

andy

[Samir Jahjah]

In my country that is $237 (NOK 1.500,-) each lens for coding and a average of $110 (NOK 700) for each filter (if similar cost as E49 Uva)

 

 

I guess you can get non-Leica filters for a fraction of the price. As for coding I had in mind about $100 per lens. Anyway, I don t usually use filters, and I want to keep it that way. I am SO disappointed !

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Hallo,

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