Forum Replies Created
One of the constant themes in web discussions is that no-one can really get a sense of what images from cameras like the S-System actually look like. Web images are way too low-res.
If anyone wants to see a little more of Leica's image quality beyond that available on websites, I have a new (free) iPad app just released called Photique which aims, among other things, to be a publishing portal for photography articles as well as for my own photography collections. One of the portfolios available is from a shoot in China where I exclusively used the S2 as a travel camera. The iPad's retina screen shows up IQ far better than websites can, especially as the platform allows me to show images up to 4000x2048px at 100% on the screen. That's roughly 1/2 the linear resolution of the native S2 DNG files but still gives an excellent impression of what the camera is capable of.
Nick Rains
AustraliaThe firmware upgrade has improved the focus of the 30mm to the point where it is very accurate in most, but not all, circumstances.
The inclusive nature of the lens means that the AF point covers a relatively large area of a subject and seems to have difficulty deciding which bit to focus on. This is particularly apparent when photographing narrow or small items against distant backgrounds eg a fence post or a railing. Oblique angled subjects fare badly too, the focus point tends to be a bit closer that you expect and at f2.8 this is quite obvious.
Provide the AF point with an unequivocal focus plane and it's deadly accurate, but something a bit more challenging can pose problems.
Focussing the 30mm by eye with the standard GG screen is easier than with the newer microprism screen – the microprisms are almost invisible when the subject is close to focus, an ironic drawback of such bright lenses. The split prism works fine and is accurate, if a bit hard to see. I turned the camera on it's side to manually focus on a horizontal railing and it nailed it each time.
Judging by the few D800 samples on the net, the sensor is quite lens-limited. There might be 36megapixies or so but, from what I see so far, the lenses are not able to resolve to it's full potential.
And, as someone else pointed out, different animals…
Mark Gowin;1889 wrote: Hi Nick,
I look forward to seeing more photos from you with this lens.Well, I should have some new stuff from China and Vietnam in a few weeks…
fotografz;371 wrote: Not interested in a 35-90 zoom …. it'll be too big and for sure it won't be fast. I have the HC 35-90 for my H4D/60, and it is a monster.
-MarcFrom what I have been told by the Leica guys, the zoom will be actually much smaller than expected as there will be no CS version. I suspect it will be an f3.5 design but don't know for sure.
Jack MacD;582 wrote:
BTW your choice of lenses 35 and 120 is all I have.I have all four but seem to use the 35 and 120 all the time. You have made a good choice. Roll on the 30mm I say!
I have the new split prism screen in my S2 and love it. Not sure when it's going to be available but it should be real soon now…three weeks ago I was told it would be announced ‘in a few weeks'!
Recommended.
Josh
David Farkas suggested I look at this forum after I posted an article on Luminous Landscape about the S2 as a travel camera. I have a question…
The tone curve in your presets tends to kill the shadow detail in my high ISO images – what is there a reason for this change? I can see no benefit. My ISO640 images look better without the tone curve adjustment in your preset, although I have been reading with interest about the sharpening settings you use, especially if they are based on liaison with Adobe.
Cheers
