Maybe next year in Solms - the confessions of a recovering Leica addict

[johnastovall]

As many here know I as awaiting the M8 with more than a little anticipation, it had been on pre-order for a couple of months. I was just about ready to have “LEICA” tattooed on my forehead.

Then the issues with IR contamination, banding, green blobs and White Balance come up. Ok, I’ll see what Leica does. So far, I have yet to see any official communications from Leica that make me willing to put 12K down for the M8 and some killer lenses.

Had they done more than say buy IR cut filters and had it not become apparent they knew about the IR problem and still pushed a camera out which was supposed to embody the Leica tradition but can not render colors correctly, I might still be keeping my money on the table. But they didn’t.

This weekend I decided to not attempt to capture the joys of lost youth and my Leicas in the heady days of the ‘60’s. The old rational left brain said, “Get a second 5D body now. See what Canon does at PMA with the 1Ds. If it is good, sell the older 5D keep the new one and get a new 1Ds or a 1DsMkII if the price on the new one is out-off-sight. Use the rest of the Leica lens money to round out those under 200mm L primes and a RSS ball head and things needed for that. You know Canon and need to be working on stuff for shows and selling prints not playing David Douglas Duncan. If you see a use for an RF get an R-D1 refurbished from Epson and put some Cosina glass on it.”

So, I wait for March and will check back with Solms in 2008.

Right now the only place I can think of having a Leica tattoo would be on my left butt cheek saying, “Welcome Leica.” That’s how I feel they have treated their customer base.

[PeteQ]

Yeah, it's not the misstep so much as the response that bothered me about it. I'm not a Leica guy, but when I am looking ot spend that kind of money with anyone, especially for a "nice to have" item, I expect decent service.

It's a shame and I am thinking this faux paux will set them back a bit.

[Glen_A]

I can understand how disappointed you must feel, specially after Reichman's glowing review of the BEST Digital Camera yet made, only to find out the review was more of an infomercial to sell camera's than an honest review.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Glen_A

I can understand how disappointed you must feel, specially after Reichman's glowing review of the BEST Digital Camera yet made, only to find out the review was more of an infomercial to sell camera's than an honest review.

Sean Reid is right in there with MR. But I still can't for the life of me understand why Leica didn't understand the implications for correct color.

Didn't they shot any color charts and not see the magenta in the black and the shift of other colors?

[jeffkohn]

Yeah, and for some to say "this only matters if you shoot lots of black velvet" is pretty stupid. If there's IR contamination, it will affect all colors and will be especially problematic in daylight or when using flash (ie a pretty large percentage of all shots).

To me Leica's handling of the issue seems arrogant, like they thought they could get away with this just because of the Leica name.

[Gordon]

At least what's currently on the LL site, is that this can be mostly addressed with correct profiles. Given the massive gamuts I saw posted for the M8, that maybe makes some sense.

digital sensors have always had weird responses for deep purples/blacks, though that doesn't let Leica off the hook for handling this in a somewhat messy way.

I suspect color charts don't show this up either - it is certain black materials that have this problem - not all black materials.

[venchka]

While Shawn & I were conducting a filter sale yesterday, he kindly took a picture of smoe of my gear. I must say that the 5D knows black and the 85mm lens is quite sharp. I am surprised that the DOF was so shallow at f2.8. He was very close which probably explains that.

John, I still don't understand why you don't have the IIIg repaired and use it.

PS, The 5D+grip+35/1.4 or 85/1.2+hood is HUGE!

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by Gordon

At least what's currently on the LL site, is that this can be mostly addressed with correct profiles. Given the massive gamuts I saw posted for the M8, that maybe makes some sense.

digital sensors have always had weird responses for deep purples/blacks, though that doesn't let Leica off the hook for handling this in a somewhat messy way.

I suspect color charts don't show this up either - it is certain black materials that have this problem - not all black materials.

In LUF several people posted color charts which did show it. Also it affects the greens of folage, which Guy M. Posted some shoots on LUF with and without a Cut filter. The containation of color is the color of any object that have IR in it. Black just jumps up and hit's you in the face.

The best a profile does is cover the gross errors but not the others because they are object and light dependent.

It's going to take a hardware fix to truly correct this and how that will or can be done given the design is to be seen.

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by venchka

While Shawn & I were conducting a filter sale yesterday, he kindly took a picture of smoe of my gear. I must say that the 5D knows black and the 85mm lens is quite sharp. I am surprised that the DOF was so shallow at f2.8. He was very close which probably explains that.

John, I still don't understand why you don't have the IIIg repaired and use it.

PS, The 5D+grip+35/1.4 or 85/1.2+hood is HUGE!

You think the 5D+grip+35L is huge - try it with the 50/1.0L.

I might get the IIIG fixed if I wanted to do film which I don't, I would look for an M body. But I just don't want to go back to film. I like the work flow of digital and seeing what you got with out waiting for processing and scanning.