Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/02/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Boy, having shot with the E20 now since August, I can't begin to conceive of dropping 35 mm for it, let alone 2 1/4 - it's well built, ergonomically well designed, has nice features - but it has a limited ISO range, seems to have allot of noise in the shadows, produces relatively small files, and the autofocus is, uh, less than ideal. It's been fun to shoot with, but I wouldn't want to depend on it professionally... Now a 14 meg Kodak that took Nikon lenses and used them full-frame - that would be another story entirely.....;-) - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Frank Farmer Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 5:49 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: RE: [Leica] Digital - Rumor Mongering apologies to Mark R. B.D. I know at least one studio down here that has dropped the Hassey 2 1/4 format for the Olympus. He is now considering the Kodak 14 megapixel body. Of course, he hasn't completely dropped his 'blads - he still uses them for weddings and whatnot cause he can't bring himself to trust digital THAT much. But for studio work he rarely uses film anymore. Granted, that is just one guy down here in MS. Frank - -------Original Message------- From: bdcolen <bdcolen@earthlink.net> Sent: 02/20/03 02:01 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: RE: [Leica] Digital - Rumor Mongering apologies to Mark R. > > First off, there's nothing new about the proliferation of white lenses at media events - Canon has been going gang-busters in that area for some time; Second, studios are hardly dropping medium format to use the D1s OR Olympus E20, as one is an 11 megapixle SLR with full range of interchangeable lenses and features, and the other is a very nice, glorified P&S FLR with a fixed zoom lens and a 5 meg sensor with a top iso of 320...Hardly competitive with the Canon. So they may well be going for the EOS d1s, but I doubt they are dropping 2 1/4 for the Olympus. Third, while Nikon may be slow in producing the announced 12-??, they already have an excellent 17-35, so in terms of competing with Canon and its 16-35, they're already there. There is little question that at this point Canon, with the D1s is ahead in the digital race simply because they were the first to market with a full-frame, 11 meg, sensor. I would assume that given the way both the film and digital races have been going for some time, Nikon will shortly come out with a camera of its own that is the equal of, or superior to, the D1s. Two important things to keep in mind are that for newspaper, and even most weekly magazine shooters, the capability of the D1s - in terms of the 11 meg sensor - is superfluous...most sports stuff you see these days is being shot with Nikon D1hs and the Canon equivalent - which are, what, 2.5-3 meg? And, 2, working pros have enormous amounts of money tied up in Canon or Nikon systems - so they aren't likely to lightly jump back and forth as one pulls ahead of the other for six months - a jump is an expensive, long-term commitment. As to whether Nikon announces a great product line at PMA - I really couldn't care less. Once again, I am not emotionally invested in the success or failure of any equipment manufacturer. I would certainly like to see the Nikon equivalent of the EOS1Ds, because I have Nikon film equipment. But there are always Kodak and Fuji for bodies if I don't want to sell my Nikon gear and jump to Canon. ;-) B. D. - -----Original Message----- From: owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us [mailto:owner-leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us] On Behalf Of Don Dory Sent: Thursday, February 20, 2003 2:28 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Digital - Rumor Mongering apologies to Mark R. B.D., No, Nikon can not be counted out. But right now they are playing catch up. They have just announced their 70-200 2.8 VR lens although it is either not available or very limited. They have announced the 12- whatever lens that only works on their digital cameras, isn't widely available, and locks them into a sensor size that may be problematic down the road. You can buy Canon's 16-35 now and with their full frame chip you really get more than 100 degrees. The D100 is about to be bracketed in price, features, and size. The D1X is now slow selling either because the D100 does the job, people are waiting for the Kodak 14MP, or the Canon EOS 1D does the job better, faster, and with stabilized lenses available now. See the NY Times picture during Fashion Week in NYC. Maybe 6 black lenses and what 25-30 white lenses? Watch C-span and see what the press is using, not much is black. I assume that this is the national media through the press pool. On the high end, many studios are dropping medium format to use the Eos 1Ds or the Olympus E- whatever. Even if you need some movements the EOS system offers a range of lenses to control perspective, admittedly limited in scope. So, I hope PMA is a blow out for NIkon. It is my fondest wish that they have a wide range of new, fabulous products. Of course, I would love to see a prototype Leica digital. Don dorysrus@mindspring.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html