rami G
Established
hi all,
I guess Sean's 3rd part of the review justifies opening a new thread here. It looks like our R-D1 comes out pretty impressive compared to the M8. And high iso, I'd say is little better. I just wish they didn't have that AA filter. I used to work with the Kodak slr/c and you clearly can see this micro-contrast in the M8 which I don't find in the R-D1 or in my canon 5D what is really amazing (and to my taste, much nicer than with the Canons) is the color. maybe CCD vs Cmos?. in any case, I am planning to get the m8. I don't feel very comfortable with all this pre-order hysteria. I hope I could get one in store around December but with the R-D1 I feel I am in a position to wait. 5D will go, R-D1 will stay until it dies (or I). ; >)
btw, I posted, few months ago, a folder critique request and got some really helpful and friendly comments here. However, I was unexpectedly away right after for a couple of months. I would like to thank all that took their time to comment, to suggest, or simply to look at the pictuers.
I guess Sean's 3rd part of the review justifies opening a new thread here. It looks like our R-D1 comes out pretty impressive compared to the M8. And high iso, I'd say is little better. I just wish they didn't have that AA filter. I used to work with the Kodak slr/c and you clearly can see this micro-contrast in the M8 which I don't find in the R-D1 or in my canon 5D what is really amazing (and to my taste, much nicer than with the Canons) is the color. maybe CCD vs Cmos?. in any case, I am planning to get the m8. I don't feel very comfortable with all this pre-order hysteria. I hope I could get one in store around December but with the R-D1 I feel I am in a position to wait. 5D will go, R-D1 will stay until it dies (or I). ; >)
btw, I posted, few months ago, a folder critique request and got some really helpful and friendly comments here. However, I was unexpectedly away right after for a couple of months. I would like to thank all that took their time to comment, to suggest, or simply to look at the pictuers.
Nachkebia
Well-known
R-d1 has less noise? well well 
rami G
Established
btw, I should have pointed out, these Sean's reviews are really amazing, actually my favorite reviews by far. Thanks Sean!
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Nice to hear your opinions.
My problem is I can't check Sean's review. If I wanted to pay for a review, I'd buy more photography magazines.
To be fair, I think if you can afford it, and want it, a review of the M8 won't really sway you one way or the other. Maybe that's the cynic in me
My problem is I can't check Sean's review. If I wanted to pay for a review, I'd buy more photography magazines.
To be fair, I think if you can afford it, and want it, a review of the M8 won't really sway you one way or the other. Maybe that's the cynic in me
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Oop, I mean afford and want the M8 over the RD-1
Gid
Well-known
Ash said:
The cost of subscribing to Sean's site is about the same as 4 photo magazines, without all the adverts and articles that may be irrelevant to the reader. IMHO it is very good value, but YMMV - each to his/her own.
I do think reviews can affect the success of any camera. The fact is that the M8 seems like it will be a very good tool for those who want digital and RF. If you can "only afford" an RD-1, you won't be losing too much and if you prefer film, then the world is still your oyster.
Personally I'm happy with my RD-1, M6, Bronica RF etc. All of this is capable of delivering quality that far exceeds my skill. GAS of course can do strange things - I'm just glad I don't have the spare cash ......... currently
Adam-T
Event Photographer
The AA filter isn`t that heavy on the R-D1 - I just compared it fitted with a Jupiter-8 50mm to a D100 and D50 with the Nikon 50mm F1.4 both at F5.6 - Shot RAW and all developed in Capture One (you can`t go by JPG engines) and the R-D1 is as sharp as the D50 and sharper than the D100.. There`s Moire in the R-D1 and D50 shots whereas there isn`t with the D100 .. We know that the D50 like the D70 has a weak AA and the R-D1 would appear to be the same..
I don`t know what the Moire levels are like with the M8 but it could get pretty horrendous with the Kodak 14N ..
I don`t know what the Moire levels are like with the M8 but it could get pretty horrendous with the Kodak 14N ..
Ash
Selflessly Self-involved
Gid said:
Maybe you're right. I find that as I rarely buy the latest camera gear, when I buy a photography magazine it is often for every other article, and not the reviews!! Of course there are times when I do buy a magazine solely for one review or article. I feel that Sean's site has too many reviews of too many camera's I'd never own, so if I subscribed it would only fan the flames of GAS for me, and I'm happy with reading people's opinions on this forum!!
wparsons
Bill Parsons (Boston)
Ash, I rarely buy new gear either, not in automobiles or audio or computers. However, what makes Sean's site most valuable is the comparison of varying lenses of all price levels. He shows pictures from Leica, Zeiss, Voigtlander, and other lenses for the RF cameras. He also does the same for SLR's (which I don't use, but I don't hold it against him <g> ).Ash said:
I no longer subscribe to photo mags as I find nothing of value in them. I have no interest in SLR's and that's most of what's in them. When I read a review in them I find it uninformed. And, most of the news in them is just parroted press releases from manufactures. They really are trade rags.
I realize that photographic output on a computer screen leaves much to be desired. Nevertheless, differences in images from different lenses is very clearly apparent in Sean's reviews.
So, for buying decisions, ReidReviews is very helpful to me. So far, as a result of Sean's reviews, I have bought a used lens (24mm) at a satisfactory price on eBay, I expect to acquire Capture One Pro, and I expect to acquire some b/w post-processing software that Sean uses.
Haven't met the guy, but he appears reasonable in every respect, and his reviews are solid gold. The price of entry is ridiculously low.
What really sets him apart is that he is (1) a practicing, professional photographer whose pictures I can see and appreciate, and (2) a concise and informing writer. Let me not take anything away from Luminous-Landscape which I also appreaciate, but which has no entry fee.
Regards,
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S
sreidvt
Guest
Nachkebia said:R-d1 has less noise? well well
At ISO 1600...just barely when one looks at equivalent file sizes.
Cheers,
Sean
S
sreidvt
Guest
rami G said:
Thank you sir.
Cheers,
Sean
S
sreidvt
Guest
\Adam-T said:
Hi Adam,
But you could know....See the moire discussion in the second M8 article. I've come to be in the "no AA filter" camp but as most everyone here knows I've always liked the R-D1 files.
Cheers,
Sean
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boilerdoc2
Well-known
Sean's reviews are something I look forward to. Just for the shear educational value. It's also costing me some $ ("..fanning the flames of GAS.."). The minimal cost is offset by the clear, concise opinions not influenced by any advertisements. Where else, other than here, can you get the unexpurgated truth from a real live professional. Sean shoots what he reviews and reviews what he shoots. Pay the cost of entry, it's the best $ you'll spend in this hobby/obsession.
Steve
Steve
Benjamin Marks
Veteran
Ash: I have dropped all photo mags that do equipment reviews. They are in such a bind financially to their advertisers . . . it is really hopeless to expect a useful critique from them on anything. The last to go from my list were Camera Arts and its sister LF publication, View Camera. All I subscribe to now is mags with interesting images (read: Lenswork, B&W etc.). The reason I like Sean's reviews so much and am willing to pay for them is that he is frank about his biases, has a great aesthetic approach to equipment performance (that is: show me what a lens can do, not whose name is on the barrell) and is not afraid to criticise even when a good product needs improvement.
Sean have you thought about a link to one of your older reviews as a teaser so that folks can see what I talking about? Maybe on the one year anniversary of your site's debut . . .
Ben Marks
Sean have you thought about a link to one of your older reviews as a teaser so that folks can see what I talking about? Maybe on the one year anniversary of your site's debut . . .
Ben Marks
rami G
Established
Adam-T said:
As an ex-user of the kodak slr/c I must say that the difference between no-AA and a weak AA is huge, not only in terms of micro-contrast but also in respect to the effect it has on the clarity of colors. I sold slr/c and bought the 5D and stopped using my Canon system altogether, as a result. when it was slr/c vs. Kodak, I used the Kodak when it was available becasue the files were really better (besides hi iso). BTW Morie never was an uncontrolable problem with the slr/c. my next hope is that the new Kodak 16mp sensor that was anounced this week is going to find its way into the next R camera, as well as to a Canon slr/c like body. I've got to much unused L lenses.
rami G
Established
"rami G said:
"too many", I meant...
Adam-T
Event Photographer
I only used the 14N (not the SLRn or SLRc) and you could see artifacts all over the place given the wrong subject - I`m a fan of less=better with AA filters and can put up with some moire in the name of sheer detail but the 14N was too much.. the old canon 1D tread a very wobbly path in this field with its legendary ultra weak AA but it made the camera more than the 4Mp would suggest, it could print as big in RAW as a RAW shot 10D.. the RD1 and D50 are a very good balance indeed, they`re weaker than the 1DS MK1 and 5D (which are about the same as each other) from what I can tell ..
I can`t wait to try an M8 ..
I can`t wait to try an M8 ..
S
sreidvt
Guest
Benjamin Marks said:
Hi Ben,
I think that anniversary passed. I can't remember what date I started this in late 2005. I do actually link my LL and IR reviews on the RR home page so that people can get a sense of how I approach this.
Best,
Sean
S
sreidvt
Guest
boilerdoc2 said:
Thanks Steve!
Cheers,
Sean
S
sreidvt
Guest
rami G said:
I'm really coming to feel that way myself based on what I've seen first from the DMR and now the M8.
Cheers,
Sean