New Kids on the Block

[Bill Pierce]

Over the last months some cameras, smaller than DSLR’s, but with APS-C sized sensors and usable viewfinders have appeared on the horizon. A lot of reviewers have pointed out that these cameras challenge the Leica in some areas of image quality and, certainly, in price.

Among these are the Ricoh A12 unit that excepts M mount lenses with a sensor optimized for those lenses and not having an anti-aliasing filter. Reviewers comparing the image quality with somewhat similar cameras not optimized for the M mount lenses have praised the Ricoh image quality. An A16 (16 megapixel) version is expected to appear, but no one has tested the “rumored” unit.

Another unit reviewed on some websites, but not yet on camera store shelves, is the Sony Nex 7. Reviews have been very positive. The body is thin enough that it can be adapted to almost any existing lens system from the full frame film days. It is the only Nex model with a built-in eye-lever viewfinder.

Fuji is coming out with the Fuji X-Pro, a with a new hybrid finder and a new 16 meg sensor with no AA filter. They are introducing it with 3 large aperture fixed focal-length lenses with effective focal lengths of 28, 50 and 90 (also macro). They will also produce their own adapter for M lenses.

If you are a Leica user, either film or digital, or just someone looking for high technical image quality in a camera smaller than a DSLR, how are these cameras going to effect you and your photography if they live up to their pre release praise? I suppose what I am most curious about is - if you purchase one of these cameras, how do you think it will change your photography?

 

[migtex]

Bill,
I do not believe they (the new cameras) will change "my Photography"... but for sure they will change the cost of it.
I'm a Nikon user (RF's, SLR's and DSLR's), in fact, I don't need more cameras... now the capability to use the Nikkor LTM glass or (please, please, someone build an adapter) Nikkor S mount glass on the Fuji X-Pro it will win my heart!
Anyways, the digital photo will look trash as usual, the Media does not change the lack of performance on the output.
On another perspective it may change the amount of digital gear One carries and puts a brick on the Film/analog others still use, specially with in conjunction with the Kodak "thing" of chapter 11.

 

[newspaperguy]

I don't know about the new stuff, Bill, but I can tell you this... since I set up two serious digital compacts - An Olympus C5050 and a Canon G5 , both only 5 meg - to use like rangefinders, my CL and other film cameras have lain almost untouched.

 

[excellent]

Cropped sensor. No comparison.

 

[semordnilap]

I will almost surely be selling my dslr kit now that I have an nex 5n. Manual focusing is easy, and I can travel with two small bodies (M8 & NEX) that take the same lenses and have everything I need to do covered.
These cameras simplify my life.

 

[tbarker13]

If this new Fuji does what I expect it to do, it'll put me back in the world of small camera kits.
I've used Leicas for more than 20 years. But I just don't see the value in them any longer. Great equipment. But in my opinion, not worth the price.

For me, the Fuji represents a chance to get back to what I want - a small kit capable of producing professional-quality images. For my portaiture needs, the kit seems perfect. And at a price that's quite reasonable if, indeed, it lives up to expectations.

It won't change much about my approach. I've been using Nikon DLSRs since selling the Leica stuff. They are great cameras. But I'm looking forward to going light again. So in that respect, I guess having the lighter kit will make it more likely that I'll have a camera with me when I leave the house.

 

[celluloidprop]

The smaller bodies (RFs, X100, etc.) change my photography in that it doesn't feel like a chore to carry them - the D700+24-70/2.8 was work.

We're also at the first generation with full, easily accessed manual controls (even though I generally shoot aperture-priority, it's nice) and built-in viewfinders (optical or EVF), which are key to getting me in a photographic state of mind. Holding an Olympus or Panasonic EVIL out at chest height just doesn't get my mind working right - which is more a failing on my end than theirs, but it's definitely real for me.

 

[Teuthida]

Never Understood the 'size' issue. Loved the M5 when it was released and thought the brouha about its size ridiculous, now happily shoot my 35mm stuff with the M5 and an F5 in addition to using MF Fuji GA645. As for digital, a D3x works just fine. Frankly, I prefer the d3x to my NEX 5n, which is too small. Give me a camera with some heft.

Then again, I never use telephoto lenses and dont think I've ever owned or used a lens over 90mm.

 

[jsrockit]

I suppose what I am most curious about is - if you purchase one of these cameras, how do you think it will change your photography?

Change it? Not much at all if any. Why would I buy it then (Fuji X-Pro1)? A few reasons...

1. High ISO is a lot better than the M9 (based on the X100)
2. Needed a 50mm high ISO solution
3. As a glasses wearer, the 28mm framelines will be visible unlike the M9.
4. I need to get away from Leica and its ridiculous prices. The X-Pro1 is the first camera that gets anywhere near making me think I'll be satisfied outside of a Leica M digital.

 

[furcafe]

I don't expect any of the new mirrorless cameras/systems to really affect my photography much because I'm already pretty set in my ways, i.e., the whole reason I use RFs is because they fit the way I work & things I like to shoot, not the other way around. I collect cameras, too, but that's a hobby/indulgence that's separate from actual photography. A Leica M, or similar manual focus optical RF camera, really is the perfect system for 75% of what I shoot, so the only improvements I'd like to see there are pretty incremental: improved high ISO performance, better quality control & durability, higher res screen + live view, higher VF magnification option, etc. Lower prices would be wonderful, but I don't see that ever happening as long as they continue to use their traditional mechanical RF/VF mechanism.

IMHO, what these new systems offer are options for high ISO pro/pro-am shooting other than big, fat dSLRs. For that reason, I already sort of regret buying a D700 a couple months ago, but c'est la vie when it comes to technology (& it's not like I haven't been able to put it to good use). I can definitely see an XPro-1 or similar system replacing much of what I'm using the D700 for & also serving as a digital equivalent for my Kyocera Contax G2 & Hexar AF.

If you are a Leica user, either film or digital, or just someone looking for high technical image quality in a camera smaller than a DSLR, how are these cameras going to effect you and your photography if they live up to their pre release praise? I suppose what I am most curious about is - if you purchase one of these cameras, how do you think it will change your photography?

 

[robert blu]

At my age, 63 it's normal that most of my life I shot film. Since one year I have a Leica x1 and since last summer my wife has a simple DSLR (D-5100) . So I know the benefits of digital. And now I would like to have a more complete digital camera beside my m7 and x1. But the modern DSLR are heavy, large and full of knobs and menus and other things which do not interest me. The only game in town is now the m9 but I'm not convinced about the camera itself and about the way Leica is going (luxury trend?). The new fuji X1 pro could be the correct instrument for me. Would it change my photography? Not really, but would make me available the opportunities offered by digital (beside film which I'll always shoot).
robert

 

[Steve Bellayr]

No matter what you purchase it will be out dated and replaced within 2 years. If you already own on such item (most of us owm more than one) does it matter what is being introduced as long as your current product works? For me my current line-up is more than adequate. The only thing that would change anything for me would be the unavailability of film and film processing.

 

[kbg32]

Won't affect me at all. I am sticking with my M8 and M9. IQ from these can't be beat.

 

[Bill Pierce]

Won't affect me at all. I am sticking with my M8 and M9. IQ from these can't be beat.

The factors that effect image quality are numerous. (Actually, one of the most ignored, and often detrimental, factors is the photographer himself - when he’s shooting or when he’s digitally processing.)

But, if you look at DxO results to isolate sensor performance and eliminate the contributions of the lens (or the photographer), the M9 that DxO lists as “professional” has an overall 69. The Canon 5D Mark II, a relatively old camera listed as “semi-professional” has an overall score of 79. In low light the ratings are 884 and 1815.

In the case of these two cameras, it probably does make sense to eliminate the lenses from the image quality evaluation. Between old lenses, new lenses, German lenses, Japanese lenses (Yes, Leicaflex lenses adapted to the Canon, Cosina lenses on the M9), the available lenses can have a pronounced effect on image quality.

But many digital cameras with non interchangeable lenses or designed for a specific set of interchangeable lenses can use both firmware and sensor construction to correct and enhance lens performance. To an extent, Leitz has done this. But there is only so much you can do when the focal lengths run from 15mm to 800mm with designs that easily span over half a century.

I don’t think the M9’s image quality is unbeatable. I wish it were. It would make my life a lot simpler.

 

[shadowfox]

Until these small wonders has a viewfinder that is as fun to use as the RF on my M4-P, I won't get rid of the only Leica I have 🙂

Having said that, I'm eagerly awaiting the next product from Olympus with built-in viewfinder.

Another note: Websites like DxO cranks out stats. Stats isn't everything, it's not even nearly worth anything in a lot of cases.