Help! I'm being seduced!!

[sdommin]

As Jim Carrey would say: "Somebody STOP ME!!"

This new Digilux 2 is looking mighty good to me (except for the price, of course!).

http://home.att.net/~sdommin/digilux.jpg[/url]

[timmyquest]

Nice and retro :-D

[CyberDyneSystems]

Leica

...For the Very wealthy photographer that enjoys taking photos of Homeless people in grainy black and white...

[ilya]

You are going to have to change the way you dress then.

You'll need to wear a brim hat, start smoking a pipe, and wear cardigans.

I think some of that comes with the cam...

In seriousness though, I always like that styling.

[PeterS45]

I'm in LOVE!!!!!! :~( And it's just as with the worlds'most beautiful women..... I can't afford it :(

[sdommin]

I'm in LOVE!!!!!! :~( And it's just as with the worlds'most beautiful women..... I can't afford it :(

I know, I know.

From preliminary reports and reviews I've seen, it looks like this camera may be something special. It may not be just another "point & shoot". We'll see.

(If I get this camera, do I have to leave this forum? :cry: )

[PeterS45]

According to this test (http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/panasonic-lc1/lc1-review.html) this is the same camera, but I would prefer having the Leica name on it.



(If I get this camera, do I have to leave this forum? ) And don't worry Scott, it's the same with women; what you don't tell they don't know :twisted: . But I bet you couldn't wait to let us know, could you?

[sdommin]

According to this test (http://www.megapixel.net/cgi-bin/fs_loader.pl?p=http%3A//www.megapixel.net/reviews/panasonic-lc1/lc1-review.html) this is the same camera, but I would prefer having the Leica name on it.

Good point. The Panasonic is a nice design, but I think the Leica will hold its value better when it comes time to sell (that little red dot on the front does have some value!).


And don't worry Scott, it's the same with women; what you don't tell they don't know :twisted: . But I bet you couldn't wait to let us know, could you?

Haha! Oh, you'll know... you'll know :D

[msvadi]

It looks beautiful. I understand what you feel.

I was in B&H last Wednesday. I ordered a DRebel for myself. My friend ordered that "toy":

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/213270.jpg

It's not digital, so, everybody, please, calm down ;) It's a medium format camera, Mamiya 7II.

I got to hold it in my hands. Well, I realized that I just love how it feels. It's just incredible. May be one day ... It's a $2,500 camera. Plus, one needs a dark room. Plus one has to know what to do with all that stuff ;) But again, there are no words do describe the beauty of a "real" camera (at least, in my vocablary) ;)

By the way, it turns out that some medium format cameras take "digital backs". There is a promotion right now, if you buy a 6MP digital back you get a medium format kit for free($2,000 + value). But you have to use that digital back with a computer. And the price of a 6MP digital back is $7,000. And there is a 22MP digital back for only $30,000 (or something, I don't remember the numers anymore).

I wonder if sometime in the future it will become affordable.

[sdommin]

It looks beautiful. I understand what you feel.

I was in B&H last Wednesday. I ordered a DRebel for myself. My friend ordered that "toy":

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/213270.jpg

It's not digital, so, everybody, please, calm down ;) It's a medium format camera, Mamiya 7II.

I have the Mamiya 7II also, but in the champagne color. Incredible images and it really is a joy to use - even though I haven't used it for a long time (BD=Before Digital). Your friend will like it (and you'll like your new DRebel, too!).

[CyberDyneSystems]

Mamaiya and Leaf actually have a complete 6MP medium format package for under 7K$ now.. It is a Mamiya 645 with a Leaf 6MP back.

It's currently the best price in "medium fromat" digitl,. but it isn't really Medium format.

Why? you ask,.

The Digital back causes a 1.7X "crop factor" when compared to the film back :)

Sound familiar? :wink:

[msvadi]

It does ;) I wonder how many packages they sold ... I believe not too many ;)

Mamaiya and Leaf actually have a complete 6MP medium format package for under 7K$ now.. It is a Mamiya 645 with a Leaf 6MP back.

It's currently the best price in "medium fromat" digitl,. but it isn't really Medium format.

Why? you ask,.

The Digital back causes a 1.7X "crop factor" when compared to the film back :)

Sound familiar? :wink:

[msvadi]

I really hope so. I like it already, however, I did not take any "real" pictures yet, just a few test shots.

Actually, I convinced my friend to buy a DRebel too. He is quite serious about photography, but until this point it was only film. He wanted to buy a coolpix camera just for fun/snapshots, but I made him to buy a DRebel instead. ;)

Scott, how many cameras do you have? ;)


I have the Mamiya 7II also, but in the champagne color. Incredible images and it really is a joy to use - even though I haven't used it for a long time (BD=Before Digital). Your friend will like it (and you'll like your new DRebel, too!).

[sdommin]

Scott, how many cameras do you have? ;)


Luckily, my better half makes me sell a camera or two before I can buy a new one. Right now I have my G3 and 10D (digital), the Mamiya 7II (film), and a bunch of old stereo cameras (I collect 'em). That's not so bad, I guess. :)

[pradeep1]

You are going to have to change the way you dress then.

You'll need to wear a brim hat, start smoking a pipe, and wear cardigans.

I think some of that comes with the cam...

In seriousness though, I always like that styling.

And move to New York, become gay, read Truman Capote, attending "spoken word" plays, wear funny glasses, sometimes wear white suits, and spend a lot of time wandering around with a very expensive camera in very undesirable places worrying your a** off if someone is going to kick your pansy a** and take it from you.

[pradeep1]

Scott, how many cameras do you have? ;)


Luckily, my better half makes me sell a camera or two before I can buy a new one. Right now I have my G3 and 10D (digital), the Mamiya 7II (film), and a bunch of old stereo cameras (I collect 'em). That's not so bad, I guess. :)

You have an understanding better half. My better half thinks I am crazy. :P

[paul162brown]

I have just read a full UK review of the new Leica and it shows that it suffers badley with noise and in resolving detail in many situations. It also shows considerable barrel distortion at the wide end. Overall, the quality of the shots is poor, particularly given the brand and the price.

Shame really. It was looking good (I should say that last bit quietly given where I am!)
:wink:
:)

[sdommin]

I have just read a full UK review of the new Leica and it shows that it suffers badley with noise and in resolving detail in many situations. It also shows considerable barrel distortion at the wide end. Overall, the quality of the shots is poor, particularly given the brand and the price.

Paul,

Thanks for bringing this old thread back to life! Since I started this thread, I bit the bullet, and purchased the Leica D2 as a replacement/upgrade to my faithful old G3. I've heard of this infamous review through other forums, and I'm here to say that the review is pure bunk (that's the strongest word I'll use here - it's a family site!). I won't go much deeper into the subject, because this is a Canon Forum, but I took the Leica on a trip to the southwestern USA, and here are the "poor quality, poor resolution, barrel distorted" shots:

http://www.pbase.com/sdommin/utah04

I know that small sized web shots don't prove much, but you'll have to take my word for it when I say that this camera is a winner!

[John_T]

Great photos Scott.

And congrats on getting the camera that suits you!

[paul162brown]

I have just read a full UK review of the new Leica and it shows that it suffers badley with noise and in resolving detail in many situations. It also shows considerable barrel distortion at the wide end. Overall, the quality of the shots is poor, particularly given the brand and the price.

Paul,

Thanks for bringing this old thread back to life! Since I started this thread, I bit the bullet, and purchased the Leica D2 as a replacement/upgrade to my faithful old G3. I've heard of this infamous review through other forums, and I'm here to say that the review is pure bunk (that's the strongest word I'll use here - it's a family site!). I won't go much deeper into the subject, because this is a Canon Forum, but I took the Leica on a trip to the southwestern USA, and here are the "poor quality, poor resolution, barrel distorted" shots:

http://www.pbase.com/sdommin/utah04

I know that small sized web shots don't prove much, but you'll have to take my word for it when I say that this camera is a winner!

WOW!!! I am blown away! But then I always am with your shots Scott. I remember seeing your G3 shots for the first time and was also stunned. You see, with you, you somehow manage to produce amazing results from whatever camera you use. You have true raw talent in my opinion. Thanks for the link to the new pics. I will take what this particular magazine says (which ran the review) with a pinch of salt in future! In fact, as John T has said in other threads, sometimes it is better to accept some of the faults within a camera and just get on with taking pictures and you have proved that your new addition is more than capable, although I think you deserve most of the credit for that! :D :D

[John_T]

Actually Paul, and maybe Scott will verify it, I find that I learn far more and am really challenged to do my best by a camera that is capable of producing excellent images but has some limitation or the other. I can curse, yell, laugh and cry over the camera, yet I know it's not the camera that needs improvement, it's me that does.

Provided of course, for some strange irrational reason, I like that camera.

[paul162brown]

Actually Paul, and maybe Scott will verify it, I find that I learn far more and am really challenged to do my best by a camera that is capable of producing excellent images but has some limitation or the other. I can curse, yell, laugh and cry over the camera, yet I know it's not the camera that needs improvement, it's me that does.

Provided of course, for some strange irrational reason, I like that camera.

John, I know what you mean. I often feel that by having certain restrictions, it helps you concentrate on being creative and to get on and take shots. Too many options can sometimes be distracting. Knowing what a camera can and cannot do, and working around those restrictions and be a useful challenge! :D

Also, I have seen and read alot of Scott's work and I know that, with most of his G3 shots, which are some of the best I have seen, anywhere, were taken without the use of filters, add on lenses, or any other accessory. He sure does know how to use camera as a tool, as it is. :D

[sdommin]

Thanks John_T and Paul!

All cameras have some kind of limitation or restriction. Getting around the limitation is half the fun. I really believe that no matter which camera you have, you should learn to use it to its full advantage. Great results are possible with even a very modest camera.

[pn.md]

I know it's the photographer and not the camera. But this the second time I've seen amazing pics taken with the D2...

From http://www.leica-camera.com

http://www.leica-camera.com/discus_e/messages/3/61616.jpg


Scott, this is a fantastic photo. How did you edit this pic? The color just pops off the screen...

http://mishappa.image.pbase.com/u43/sdommin/upload/27946782.las_strip.jpg

I'm considering adding a Digilux 2 now also. I think people who are buying the Digilux 2 are "serious" photographers and thus is the reason we see such amazing photos, IMO. :D

[sdommin]

Scott, this is a fantastic photo. How did you edit this pic? The color just pops off the screen...

http://mishappa.image.pbase.com/u43/sdommin/upload/27946782.las_strip.jpg

I'm considering adding a Digilux 2 now also. I think people who are buying the Digilux 2 are "serious" photographers and thus is the reason we see such amazing photos, IMO. :D

Thanks! This is all one exposure, except for the small sign just below the balloon (it was too bright & washed out, so I used a bracketed shot from just before for that part). The colors are the way they are because of a few things: it had just rained so you get a wet street (which brightens it up), the car lights are bright anyway, and it's Vegas (known for the bright neon lights!).

Here's a Canon G3 shot from last year, looking the opposite way (and from higher up), but the same general area. Vegas at night is great for photos!

http://www.pbase.com/image/16023065.jpg

[pn.md]

Scott, thanks for the reply. I thought for sure you used some Photoshop post editing because the color were so brilliant. Fine work. :)

BTW- Scott, I guess you have no buyer's remorse with the Digilux 2 purchase? Have you found any advantages to shooting with the Digilux vs your Digital Rebel?

[Andy_T]

Scott,

as always, just great photos!!!

I'm asking the other way round ... apart from the ergonomics, what are the advantages of the Digilux over the G3?

Best regards,
Andy

[paul162brown]

I sold all my Canon gear and got a Leica Digilux 2!

Many will I am sure disagree, but for me it has been a great move. The lens is so sharp and the manual control is fantastic. The built in bounce flash is a bonus and the build quality is great. Overall, everything that I need is now in a compact(ish) camera and I sepnd less time worrying about gear, lenses, upgrades etc and simply concentrate on taking good pictures. There are limitations, no RAW buffer, EVH and higher noise at ISO 400 compared with DSLR for example, but the superb quality JPEGS that require hardly any work, and the other benifits far out-weigh the negatives for me.

The only other downside for me is moving away from this forum which, for the time I was here, was top rate. I will take this opportunity to thank all of the regular contributors for all their help and advice that I got from them.

Finances allowing, I hope to be back one day, but for now, I am a very very happy member of the red dot club!

Cheers

Paul :D :D :D :D