mikeadams Posted July 4, 2006 Share #1 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) I want to be loyal to Leica. After all, my 2 best cameras are a Digilux 2 and an M6. But I have strayed: Â 1. I have been spending time on the Nikon forum, wondering if I should replace my 3 year-old D-100 with the D-200. Â 2. I have actually lusted in my heart for a Canon D5 full frame, but I have so many Nikon lenses and bodies. Â 3. I have not used my M6 for months. Â 4. I gave my wife my D-Lux 2, couldn't stand the lack of viewfinder. Â 5. I put a roll of Tri-X in my IIIf a year ago and have not touched it. Â 6. I am "saving" my D2 by not using it. Â Will I be forgiven? Â What I really, really want to do is spend my money on a Digilux replacement, one with less noise, higher MP, more zomm but with a 24 f2 - 1xx, but one that has the unbeatable image quality of the D2. Â Mike http://www.mikeadams.org Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 4, 2006 Posted July 4, 2006 Hi mikeadams, Take a look here Forgive Me Father for I have Sinned. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
graham_mitchell Posted July 4, 2006 Share #2 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Sounds like you need an M8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeadams Posted July 4, 2006 Author Share #3 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Knowing my needs, I would prefer a fast zoom fixed lens (like the D2) rather than the high priced Summicron primes. I only own one of those, the 35 f2 ASPH. It cost more than the Digilux. Â Mike http://www.mikeadams.org Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
symmetron Posted July 4, 2006 Share #4 Â Posted July 4, 2006 I am in similar circumstances, but I recently started shooting film again (MP's & R8's). The image quality is great; however, the whole thing seems a little primitive relative to digital. Having a set number of exposures seems crazy as does the idea of developing before you can get some feedback. Â I also have a D70 and D50 and some lenses but decided to wait to jump on a a D200 until Photokina and the Christmas Holiday shopping season. Nikon will show it's hand again (maybe FF) and Canon will come out with a more affordable successor to the 5D. Last, but not least, the M8 and the D3 will; be out by then; possibly affecting the entire landscape. Perhaps even a R10D (dedicated Leica DLSR) will be announced. Who knows? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted July 4, 2006 Share #5 Â Posted July 4, 2006 If you look at the list of stand numbers at Photokina, Leica has a number which suggests they're planning a bit of a splash. M8 and 15mm of course, something 4/3 of course plus who knows what else, D3, R something or other, sports optics. No slide projectors though. Â I'll be there, bugging them on the 26th... Â Mike, I'm a bit like you, haven't used my M6 in years, just do not do film. R-D1 has completely re-awakened my interest in RF photography and I see D2X as the more system approach for macro, time-lapse, sports, architecture, scientific, all that stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert14 Posted July 4, 2006 Share #6 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Forgive Me Father for I have Sinned - @mikeadams: here is the answer! Â 1. "And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men,..." (Math12:31) Â but remember: Â 2. "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." (Math5:29) Â Dear @mikeadams, but You should keep in mind that god said: Â 3. "I hate those who cling to worthless idols; I trust in the LORD." (Ps31:6) Â Jesus loves You (with or without a "Leica")! Â regards, Nils Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeadams Posted July 4, 2006 Author Share #7 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Advertisement (gone after registration) Nils, I needed that. And re: me talking about not using my M6, no wonder, I traded it last year for the ala catre M7. Old age makes one forgetful. Â Mike http://www.mikeadams.org Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted July 4, 2006 Share #8  Posted July 4, 2006 I want to be loyal to Leica. ..... Will I be forgiven?..... Mike  You think that's bad? I just bought a Sonyericsson K800 and in only two days' use it has become my carry-anywhere camera.  Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert14 Posted July 4, 2006 Share #9 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Nokia N80! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted July 4, 2006 Share #10 Â Posted July 4, 2006 Mike if you can hold on till September i am pretty positive you will hear about some nice offerings from the Leica camp:D Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ho_co Posted July 5, 2006 Share #11 Â Posted July 5, 2006 I have been spending time on the Nikon forum, wondering if I should replace my 3 year-old D-100 with the D-200.... I have actually lusted in my heart for a Canon D5 full frame, but I have so many Nikon lenses and bodies. Â Mike--give in to it, my man! Â I've been true to Leica for over 30 years but gave up and bought the D200, and I love it. It isn't a Leica by any means, but it is a very good picture taker. I sincerely want an R9 with DMR but will never be able to afford that combo--and besides, the M series is the camera for which I've got a collection of lenses. Â See Sean Reid's comment elsewhere this forum, saying that even with Zeiss lenses the D200 doesn't do as good a job as the R9 + DMR. Nonetheless, see his online review of the D200. Here's a guy who is using two Canon full-frame cameras, but after reviewing the D200 he is impressed enough to feel it will fit into his commercial business and is purchasing one. That is high praise! Â But this all goes the same direction: I'm looking for the digital M (may have to sell my cat to afford it ); you already have Leica film cameras and are a prime candidate for a digital M; and one of Sean's primary wedding cameras is the R-D1, so he is a possible candidate as well for a larger-sensor, longer-base rangefinder camera with both the finder frames and the base length to cover lenses thru 90mm. Â [sorry to invoke your name without permission, Herr Reid. Let me know if I'm off base.] Â The point is, you've got Nikon lenses that work on the D200, which some feel is a more solidly built camera than the 5D. AND, upgrading on the reflex side doesn't present any problems with a post-photokina Leica rangefinder upgrade (aside from the fact that you'll have somewhat fewer shekels to put into it). Â Don't let logic stop you. Â Yes, you've sinned. So have I. We'll still be saved by the digital M, Solms be praised. Amen. Â Â --HC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stnami Posted July 5, 2006 Share #12 Â Posted July 5, 2006 Mike so you have informed us that you rarely use Leica, So other than that.... what is your point or what are we supposed to deduce from your statement? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
firoze Posted July 5, 2006 Share #13 Â Posted July 5, 2006 I'm in the same boat Mike, rarely use my R7 now. I too am looking forward to a D2 replacement. But the L-1 does not impress me so I suppose the Leica version won't too. Â Guy, I do hope you are right and Leica comes up with something suitable for guys like us. Â Regards. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeadams Posted July 5, 2006 Author Share #14  Posted July 5, 2006 I have to use my D-100 in low light situations, for example all these are 1000 ISO on a very dim film set:  http://www.tvradiofilmtheatre.com/tour77.html  and I do all the stage plays for my department, but when I compare the quality of image between the D-100 at 200 iso with the D2 at 100 iso in the same light, same scene, I don't like the Nikon "look" but I am usually blown away by the Leica image. This has kept me from considering the D-200. Have they made enough changes to the sensor that I will notice a difference?  I am on the road today with the D2, the IIIf and the Nikon F-100.  Mike http://www.mikeadams.org Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastFashnReloaded Posted July 5, 2006 Share #15 Â Posted July 5, 2006 Hmmm... I just bought an Oly four thirds E500 dual lens kit. Never thought I'd do that, but after playing with it... It's very interesting. The upcoming Leica lenses for this format are, honestly, what pushed me over (plus this little beast will bracket focus, WB, Flash, exposure, you can adjust the flash power manually, 2nd curtain sync...). I was amazed. Also, it weighs less than a Canon D-Rebel but is better built, and it isn't Canon, so that's a big plus. Â Planning on using the Oly family camera for SLR work and an RF with slides or negatives for unobtrusive street shooting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted July 6, 2006 Share #16  Posted July 6, 2006 Mike--give in to it, my man! See Sean Reid's comment elsewhere this forum, saying that even with Zeiss lenses the D200 doesn't do as good a job as the R9 + DMR. Nonetheless, see his online review of the D200. Here's a guy who is using two Canon full-frame cameras, but after reviewing the D200 he is impressed enough to feel it will fit into his commercial business and is purchasing one. That is high praise!  But this all goes the same direction: I'm looking for the digital M (may have to sell my cat to afford it ); you already have Leica film cameras and are a prime candidate for a digital M; and one of Sean's primary wedding cameras is the R-D1, so he is a possible candidate as well for a larger-sensor, longer-base rangefinder camera with both the finder frames and the base length to cover lenses thru 90mm.  The R9/DMR and the FF Canons yield files that are much like medium format film. The D200 yields files like 135 mm film. It is just a wonderful camera (very well designed) and we may indeed buy one. It's certainly worth considering, especially for a photographer who already has a large investment in Nikon lenses (old or new). Neither the Leica nor the D200 are as clean at high ISO as the Canons but I'm impressed with both otherwise.  Am I a candidate for a digital M? Absolutely... In fact "candidate" might be an understatement. The digital M will very likely become my primary camera for most work.  Cheers,  Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
moikle Posted July 6, 2006 Share #17 Â Posted July 6, 2006 Go ahead and sin! Buy the Canon 5D plus a Canon/Leica adaptor then buy all those nice R mount lenses to use on it. Â Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted July 6, 2006 Share #18 Â Posted July 6, 2006 Yup until you get sick and tried of shooting in stop down mode , than one day actually put those R lenses on the DMR than you will be like me and have 2 DMR's instead. :) Been there done that with the 1dsMKII and the 5d and pretty hard to stay away from the DMR and the leica glasss together, the files just bury everything else. don't underestimate the 16 bit , CCD sensor from Kodak and no AA filter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean_reid Posted July 6, 2006 Share #19 Â Posted July 6, 2006 Yup until you get sick and tried of shooting in stop down mode , than one day actually put those R lenses on the DMR than you will be like me and have 2 DMR's instead. :) Been there done that with the 1dsMKII and the 5d and pretty hard to stay away from the DMR and the leica glasss together, the files just bury everything else. don't underestimate the 16 bit , CCD sensor from Kodak and no AA filter. Â Many of you know the following because I've discussed it often in reviews but I agree with Guy that the big limitation of using alternate lenses on the Canon bodies is that one loses auto-aperture stop down. That's fine for slow work but can be very problematic for faster work. It is true that if one uses Leica R lenses on either the R9/DMR, 5D or 1Ds2, shoots RAW and processes well in C1, the results are going to be excellent from all three cameras. The Leica files will look a little different than those from the Canons but they all will look very good. The R9/DMR, however, is a better option for many photographers becauses it's designed to work fully with the R lenses. I did a fairly extensive test of the Leica + R lenses and 1Ds2 plus Canon lenses - at several focal lengths there is indeed a noticeable difference between the two sets and the lenses are really the crucial factor in that. Â The D200 files don't look like medium format but in many cases that just won't matter. 135mm film doesn't look like MF either and often doesn't need to. If we all needed the look of MF and LF film, 135mm film cameras never would have gained a following. Â Cheers, Â Sean Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemeng Posted July 6, 2006 Share #20  Posted July 6, 2006 Hmmm... I just bought an Oly four thirds E500 dual lens kit. Never thought I'd do that, but after playing with it... It's very interesting. The upcoming Leica lenses for this format are, honestly, what pushed me over (plus this little beast will bracket focus, WB, Flash, exposure, you can adjust the flash power manually, 2nd curtain sync...). I was amazed. Also, it weighs less than a Canon D-Rebel but is better built, and it isn't Canon, so that's a big plus. Planning on using the Oly family camera for SLR work and an RF with slides or negatives for unobtrusive street shooting.   I went down the same road a couple of months ago. Provided you shoot only RAW, the results can be very nice (and miles removed from the "everything's spray-coated in rubber" Canon DSLR look).  There are a few SNAFUs though: 1.94x cropping factor; reverse-telescope viewfinder; the 15-45 kit lens is barely adequate; pro-quality Olympus ZD lenses are unbelievably expensive (you thought Leica were bad!); poor high ISO (basically 100-400, with 800 if you're desperate); the camera body is v.light and the shutter button recessed enough to spoil shots due to camera-shake.  On the plus side the lens-to-chip distance is so short you can mount almost any SLR lens via a lens-mount-adapter. I have two (Roxsen - Hong Kong), one for Leica R glass and another for Nikon AI. I use the Summicron R 50mm (effectively 97mm) as a portrait lens, and a Nikkor 24mm f2.8 AI (~ 46.6mm) for general purpose.  Yes you have to shot at working aperture. No problem for me.  Ultimately the image quality is quite good. I did a commercial car shoot 6 weeks ago using the E500. Clients were very happy with the results, but I have to admit I was nervous they would twig to the fact that their $30K car was shot with a "prosumer" DSLR cheapie!  FWIW I have a detailed write-up on the Leica/ Olympus 4:3 combo in the Leica FAQ I maintain at:  http://nemeng.com/leica/007f.shtml Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.