Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/02/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Some days ago someone was considering the alternatives to the next Leica Digilux or better say the possible competitors. As I've done a long test of the new Sony I should like give this information. If digital is not a next concern, please hit the delete key... After some weeks I can show some pictures I've shooted with my new Sony 828. However all the published tests of this camera were truly bad I have bought it as none of my Sony equipment gave me but satisfactions. In my humble opinion I guessed right because almost every picture I've shooted up to now seem OK for me. Please have a look to http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=372788 Where there are some examples of pictures which show how the camera deal with 1. Flash 2. Colour and focusing 3. Sharpness and bokeh 4. Fringing 5. Ghosting and flare 6. Metering 7. Black and white These pictures have been selected not for their photographic value, if any, but for his ability for showing the camera capabilities. I'm a EOS 1Ds user but I find that when I wish not carry a truly weighty bag I can use the Sony. Other can have, and they do, another opinion, but in my humble opinion this camera has: a. An excellent zoom, Carl Zeiss design, well coated, with so few flare and so much sharpness b. 8 real megapixels that produce pictures perfect for, at least, up to A3 printing c. Excellent autofocus and metering systems d. Nice colour e. Very silent and short lag shooting device My only concerns a) It is not a truly "pocketable" camera b) Too many features for a conventional user c) Better not use in 200 and up ISO d) Why not a "stabilization"? The camera, as almost any P&S, has really noise. More or less than others? I cannot say as it's my first and only digital p&s. For avoiding this you need buying a professional DSLR. I did. I tried to get fringing pictures with the Sony and after many, many shoots I finally got them. I know now that a combination of a) wide position, b) strong backlight and c) a contrasty object may produce, not always, fringing. I believe that you'll get in real life one fringing picture from some hundreds excellent pictures. By the way this is exactly the same phenomenon produced wit my EOS 1Ds again combining many megapixels and wide lens, and it's my best camera. It seems to me that it is different a test of some days even coming from a very good professional than have a camera for long and shoot some thousand pictures as I've done. It confirm my opinion the best way to get an idea of how a camera performs is shooting, as much as possible, with it and forget any theoretical consideration. Kind regards Felix - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html