Bill Pierce
Well-known
Sometimes I think digital camera makers go a little overboard. The final results in terms of sharpness and tonality are dependent on a lot more than the sensor. And menus, features and controls - well, simple activation and genuine usefulness are a little more desirable than clutter that is for the most part unproductive.
Still, specs and features sell. And, if you make cameras, selling is good; not selling is bad.
Since this is the Rangefinder Forum, let’s take a look at the new Leica M11. First look at its predecessors. The early Leica along with lenses like the Alpine Elmar were small enough you could take them mountain climbing. As film improved, the area of usage expanded, but key to the Leica’s success was the small size that let you carry a camera or cameras outside of a bag and ready to shoot. Yes, potential image quality wasn’t as good as larger formats, but there were a lot of arenas, certainly news for one, where the ability to carry a camera or cameras ready to shoot is essential. In the film only days it wasn’t unusual for photographers to own 35mm, roll film and sheet film cameras, choosing the parameters of portability, operating speed and image quality appropriate for the job.
Back to the present... The most prominent new feature of the M11 is the 60 megapixel sensor, a sensor that allows big prints and/or cropping plus the potential to take advantage of lenses like the new Apo lenses ability to resolve fine detail. Indeed, in order to take advantage of the sensor you are going to have to have very good lenses. But, the combination of 60 mg sensor and the best of lenses is going to be demanding on more than just lenses. You will need to shoot at quite high shutter speeds or use a tripod. Rangefinder focus may note be accurate enough in a lot of wide aperture situations and it would probably be wise to use the digital Viso for focusing even if it is not as quick as framing , focusing and shooting through the bright-line viewfinder.
Looking at the limits put on early reviewers, and in some cases the selection of early reviewers, dealing just with reviews and specs is hardly a way to come up with an informed opinion. But it is possible to say that the Leica rangefinder and its interchangeable lenses have changed enough since 1932 that it’s no longer the camera that beats the competition when you are climbing mountains. I’m not quite sure what the M11 is. If somebody does, I would really like to hear from them. Yes, really... Your thoughts?
Still, specs and features sell. And, if you make cameras, selling is good; not selling is bad.
Since this is the Rangefinder Forum, let’s take a look at the new Leica M11. First look at its predecessors. The early Leica along with lenses like the Alpine Elmar were small enough you could take them mountain climbing. As film improved, the area of usage expanded, but key to the Leica’s success was the small size that let you carry a camera or cameras outside of a bag and ready to shoot. Yes, potential image quality wasn’t as good as larger formats, but there were a lot of arenas, certainly news for one, where the ability to carry a camera or cameras ready to shoot is essential. In the film only days it wasn’t unusual for photographers to own 35mm, roll film and sheet film cameras, choosing the parameters of portability, operating speed and image quality appropriate for the job.
Back to the present... The most prominent new feature of the M11 is the 60 megapixel sensor, a sensor that allows big prints and/or cropping plus the potential to take advantage of lenses like the new Apo lenses ability to resolve fine detail. Indeed, in order to take advantage of the sensor you are going to have to have very good lenses. But, the combination of 60 mg sensor and the best of lenses is going to be demanding on more than just lenses. You will need to shoot at quite high shutter speeds or use a tripod. Rangefinder focus may note be accurate enough in a lot of wide aperture situations and it would probably be wise to use the digital Viso for focusing even if it is not as quick as framing , focusing and shooting through the bright-line viewfinder.
Looking at the limits put on early reviewers, and in some cases the selection of early reviewers, dealing just with reviews and specs is hardly a way to come up with an informed opinion. But it is possible to say that the Leica rangefinder and its interchangeable lenses have changed enough since 1932 that it’s no longer the camera that beats the competition when you are climbing mountains. I’m not quite sure what the M11 is. If somebody does, I would really like to hear from them. Yes, really... Your thoughts?
