My problem summary, and a note to Leica

[jrc]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

(Also posted on Rangefinder Forum)

 

Of the three major image problems -- streaking, green blobs and magenta cast -- I've decided after several days of shooting that I can actually live, for a while at least, with the streaking and green blobs, because I have to force them. I refuse to argue about this anymore, and I understand that some people can't live with these issues because they shoot a lot of bright lights against dark areas; but I would say that most people (say, 95%, which is a number I just pulled out of a place where the sun don't shine) can live with them quite easily. That's why Sean Reid and Michael Reichmann didn't notice them: the problems are encountered only in narrow circumstances.

 

The magenta problem is different; it can get you at any time, and is random. So if you shoot somebody wearing black, or a black umbrella, you may encounter a coating that reflects a lot of IR. In a crowd of people wearing black, like in a typical New York street scene, you may get an unfixable-by-any-means mixture of magenta and black. This has to be fixed. Since I use filters anyway, I would be willing to put a filter on my camera if that fixes the problem. I would prefer a permanent, internal fix, however.

 

I have some advice for Leica:

 

I know you're dealing with these problems, and I'm confident that you will provide either a firmware or hardware fix that will deal with the streaking.

 

But I would say that you're going to piss off a lot of people if you suggest that the only IR fix is to buy filters at full price. I use your most expensive 21, 28, 35, 50 (Noctilux and Summilux), 75 and 90mm lenses, plus the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50, and an old 50mm summicron. That's nine lenses (for which I paid ~ $20,000), and I don't want to change filters every time I change a lens. If I have to pay $900+ for good filters, just to get functional lenses, knowing that you're making an additional profit on each one, and the dealer is, I'm going to be very unhappy. I think you should make the filters available at **your cost,** and announce that soon. I don't expect you to go broke sending free filters to anyone who wants one, but I think an at-cost filter would be a fair solution.

 

And since these apparently won't be available immediately, I think you should publish a list of other maker's filters that will do the job, if there are any. That would show your good will and your intention to provide a fix, whatever it takes.

 

JC

[gareth_c]

(Also posted on Rangefinder Forum)...(say, 95%, which is a number I just pulled out of a place where the sun don't shine) JC

 

LOL, that put a smile on my face after all the doom and gloom!

 

I don't expect you to go broke sending free filters to anyone who wants one, but I think an at-cost filter would be a fair solution.JC

 

Not a solution as far as i'm concerned. Their problem, they fix it, customer doesn't pay.

 

Quick, write something funny again, i'm back at doom and gloom:(

[bsmith]

"because they shoot a lot of bright lights against dark areas; but I would say that most people (say, 95%, which is a number I just pulled out of a place where the sun don't shine) can live with them quite easily. That's why Sean Reid and Michael Reichmann didn't notice them: the problems are encountered only in narrow circumstances."

 

"I use your most expensive 21, 28, 35, 50 (Noctilux and Summilux), 75 and 90mm lenses, plus the Tri-Elmar 28-35-50, and an old 50mm summicron. That's nine lenses (for which I paid ~ $20,000),"

 

 

You have all the exotic glass yet take 95% of your images in bright, evenly lit scenes ???

You must just be a Leica collector.

 

I think MOST photographers want a $5000 camera to give non-banding images in all lighting situations, not just postcard scenes