Magenta blacks - Or, be careful what you wish for

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In considering the high sensitivity of the M8 to infrared, and the color problems that derive therefrom, and Leica's verbal response so far regarding solutions:

 

I thought I'd just post these samples from an R-D1 to show WHY it is a tricky problem, and WHY Leica went with the thinnest possible cover glass for the M8's sensor - even at the expense of inadequate IR filtration internally.

 

There's a diagram at the top that is a cross-section through an R-D1 sensor (off-the-shelf SLR Sony sensor akin to the D100 or D70 6.1 Mpixel sensors). Note that it has several layers, plus the microlenses.

 

With angled light, as with short-focus RF lenses, this sensor had serious reflection problems, which are shown in the photograph samples, made with a Leica 21mm lens. The light coming in at an angle from very bright sources bounced off the shiny silicon and the glass surfaces several times, adding the little ring-like flares. Even in daytime, as the bottom-left car fender shot shows.

 

As we consider the M8's problems, we should bear these in mind. Wishing too hard for more physical IR filtration internally may mean living with these kinds of artifacts. And compared to these, the banding of bright lights can be viewed in a different light (although not necessarily a better one).

 

OTOH, I wished very hard that Leica would manage to avoid these in the M8. They did - but the magenta blacks may be my payoff...

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