diglloyd.com blog

Leica M9P Sensor Defect Example

2012-02-02T00:00:00-08:00

Published in my Guide to Leica is an example of a bad pixel column on the M9P sensor. All digital sensors are susceptible to such issues, but since most DSLRs contain an anti-aliasing filter which blurs away the issue, it rarely becomes visible. But the Leica M9 / M9P does not have an anti-aliasing filter, so any such defects show up.

Leica M9 vs Sony NEX

2012-02-02T00:00:00-08:00

Which is sharper? Which has the best color?

Fujifilm 16MP X-Pro1 Now Available for Pre-Order

2012-02-01T00:00:00-08:00

Fuji X-Pro1

B&H Photo has the 16-megapixel Fujfifilm X-Pro1 and the Fuji 18mm ƒ/2, 35mm ƒ/1.4 and 60mm ƒ/2.4 lenses available for pre-order.

Acratech GP-ss Ballhead Specs

2012-02-01T00:00:00-08:00

Read my review of the Acratech GP and GP-ss ballheads. Highly recommended.

Another ALLVIEW camera: Ricoh GXR with Leica M Mount

2012-01-31T00:00:00-08:00

Architectural and interior photographer Kit L comments on the Ricoh GXR (another ALLVIEW camera) with its GXR Mount A12 For Leica M Mount Lens module—

I know that when you were looking at the GXR, the M-module had not been released. I have a GXR, the EVF, and the M-module, and a bunch of tiny CV lenses.

Here is a sequence of completely uncorrected (apart from WB) images for a customer; all were shot at ƒ8, using the CV 12/5.6,

The colours are accurate, the distortion is very low, and the great upside of that modular design is that you can put the camera right into the corner of any room, tilt the EVF up, and see pretty much the whole room with this lens. Focus (if you need to), press the shutter, step out of the way, wait for the timer to do its thing, and you're done. Unless you have tried to do this with (say) a Nikon D3/D3s or a Sony A850, this aspect might not mean much—but all the Live View in the world (D3/D3s) won't help you one iota if you can't see the LCD. And using right angle magnifiers on the OVF of either the Sony or the Nikon will not tell you critical focus. If you do use Live View (Nikon) and a Hoodman loupe, for example, the camera–tripod will need to be far enough out of the corner to let you get behind it—meaning the amount of any interior the lens will cover will be reduced.

Personally, the GXR is the most intelligently designed tool I have ever used, and this claim covers a lot of camera territory. It is also incredibly customisable, and all settings are really saved (is anyone at Nikon listening?). All settings may be recalled and edited after being saved, too.

The EVF and the LCD both use an innovative separate-button approach to the focus aids, which really work. F1 enlarges the image; F2 engages a Black/White full-screen peaking mode (on either the full, or magnified, image) and a half press of the shutter button returns you to full screen for final framing. It works, and it works well, and it's quick to use.

Is it perfect? No, it needs a better EVF, and you really can't use the LCD either for accurate image review for either critical sharpness or colour, but I do use the histogram—and now I know what the camera is doing, I trust it and have made some lovely images with exposure spot-on, too.

Only APS-C, and only 12Mp, but no AA filter, and truly excellent inexpensive lenses. It's not until you see the images on a decent monitor that you realize what detail the camera's capturing. And, according to Ricoh, this module has been optimized for WA lenses; this CV 12 looks as good (to me) as the 14–24 looked on the D3, and that's a very good camera–lens combination indeed. And the Sony APC-C 16Mp sensor is rumoured to be coming out soon in what will be called the 'A-16 M-module', but without AA filter, and that will be even better than the current one.

Sony NEX-5N Color Shading With Leica M Lenses (and Sony 24/1.8)

2012-01-31T00:00:00-08:00

Just published in my Sony NEX review in DAP are color shading results on the Sony NEX-5N with Leica M lenses. The results are markedly different from the Sony NEX-7 color shading results.

Reader Comment: Acratech GP Ballheads

2012-01-30T00:00:00-08:00

Reader Chuck T comments on the Acratech GP ballhead:

I have been using one of these, on my lightest weight tripod for 3+ years now. I do love the light weight and very smooth action this ball head affords me. I would like to mention a few notes I have discovered.

1) I also use a lot of Really Right Stuff gear, and this Acratech GP ball head cannot use any of the RRS clamps. The clamp that comes with the Acratech is the one you must use.

2) Although the "gimbal head" mode looks very intriguing, it makes nearly all tripod situations unstable. This is because the Center of Mass has moved sideways AND (because you are using the gimbal mode for heavy lens with their own footer) the Mass of the "lens plus body" is quite large. Both of these cause this mode to be a poor choice.

3) I regard this Acratech ballhead + clamp to be an excellent choice for a light-weight model. Dirt does not get "sucked" into the ballhead so it stays clean.

4) Some of the RRS ballhead models have 2 knobs for adjusting clamping force on the ball. I really like this feature but it is unavailable with Acratech.

5) At the time of my purchase, I did not have a choice of QR clamp verses screw clamp.

DIGLLOYD: As for clamps, the Acratech design is pretty nifty in the robust way it attaches, I don't see this is as a major issue, but it is a consideration. The heads do have the choice of screw knob or lever now.

Reader Comment: B+W XS-Pro Filters Don’t Fit Sony 24/1.8

2012-01-30T00:00:00-08:00

Reader BK comments on the B+W XS-Pro filters:

Unfortunately I wasn't thinking about your posting last month when I ordered my Sony/Zeiss 24/1.8 Sonnar for NEX-7 (which is still back-ordered) w/ the XS-Pro filter. The filter indeed does not work with the lens hood. Since Zeiss does not make a 49mm UV filter, I guess I'll return the XS-Pro and get the tried and true B+W 010 MRC.

FYI in case you want to let your other readers know that this is not just a ZE/ZF.2 issue. Any idea whether the 010 MRC actually works w/ this lens/hood?

DIGLLOYD: The B+W 010 MRC or Zeiss filters will both work, because they match the diameter of the lens threads (I verified that a B+W 49mm does indeed work on the Sony 24/1.8 just now). The B+W XS-Pro is a crazy design that extends outwards slightly, resulting in incompatibility with various lenses— a poor investment should your lens collection grow or change.

Sony NEX-7 + Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 Sonnar — “Bad Sample” Documented

2012-01-30T00:00:00-08:00

Just published in Making Sharp Images is a new case study of the Sony NEX-7 + Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 Sonnar, showing the severe left-edge blur problem noted in the previous Black Mtn Radio Towers example. I repeated the results on the Sony NEX-5N to prove that it is not a camera issue; it is a lens issue, and highly instructive. And I actually went back and re-shot several more times to confirm it.

Sony NEX-5N, and 24mm Comparison on NEX-5N and NEX-7 Coming

2012-01-28T00:00:00-08:00

I did some shooting today with the NEX-7 and NEX-5N with three 24mm lenses (Sony 24/1.8, Sony 18-55 zoom, Leica 24/3.8 Elmar-M ASPH).

Acratech Ballheads — Small, Light, Full-Featured, Robust

2012-01-27T00:00:00-08:00

I’ve been using the Acratech GP ballhead for a few months now on my light and medium tripods, and I like it a lot. I’ve also just received the GP-ss model, which is even smaller and lighter, yet full-featured, something I value when I carry my camera gear on my mountain bike.

Binoculars: “Legally blind, given her back a view of the natural world”

2012-01-27T00:00:00-08:00

Canon image stabilized binoculars

Last year I reviewed a variety of binoculars.

Reader Likes Nikon 60/2.8G Macro, Asks About Zeiss 25mm and 28mm Distagons

2012-01-24T00:00:00-08:00

See also May 19, 2011 reader comments on a similar topic.

Nikon 60mm ƒ/2.8G

Trouble Getting that Lens you Want? Rent it!

2012-01-24T00:00:00-08:00

Lately certain lenses from Leica and even Nikon have been in short supply. Why not rent one from LensRentals.com, to see if the lens is really what you like?

Q&A Interview with Leica USA

2012-01-23T00:00:00-08:00

Leica M9P

Recently I posed a series of questions to Leica USA, questions of interest to myself, and that I think are of interest to all Leica M and potential Leica M users.

Gear For Sale — Canon and Nikon, Infrared

2012-01-23T00:00:00-08:00

For sale:

Nikon AF 85mm ƒ/1.4D in MINT condition in box with blank Nikon USA warranty card (sells new at B&H for about $1230). $975 firm.
Nikon AF 180mmm ƒ/2.8D in MINT condition in box with blank Nikon USA warranty card and CL-38 hard leather case (sells new at B&H for about $900). $700 firm.
Gorgeous Nikon mount Schneider-Kreuznach PC-Super-Angulon 28mm f/2.8 shift lens, near mint condition in Leica leather softcase. (hand picked best-of-3 sample). Can be converted to Canon mount or other via another rear-end plate (at your expense). $1500 firm.
Canon 5D Mark II-IR — lightly used Canon 5D Mark II converted for infrared use at 715nm. $1950. (a quality camera conversion to IR costs about $450). With original box and accessories. SALE PENDING
Nikon D70-IR with matched 18-200mm zoom $950.

Sony NEX-7 Color Shading & Vignetting vs Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 Sonnar

2012-01-23T00:00:00-08:00

Just added to the color shading / vignetting page in my Sony NEX-7 review are results for for the Leica 28mm ƒ/2.8 Elmarit-M ASPH and 50mm ƒ/0.95 Noctilux-M ASPH, AND for the Sony 24mm ƒ/1.8 Sonnar.

Why no Custom Lens Correction on Leica M9?

2012-01-23T00:00:00-08:00

The Leica M9 includes lens correction for Leica M lenses to correct vignetting (partially) and color shading off-center (partially). The correction is not perfect, and cannot be, due to variations in individual lenses.