[Leica] Leica DMR: a test

[FELIXMATURANA at telefonica.net (Félix López de Maturana)]

August issue of Chasseur d'Images includes a test of the Leica R digital 
back. This reputed French magazine -almost no advertising inside and 
very strict tests- is, with DPReview, a good source of unbiased 
information. Overall the conclusions are fairly good: very good 
integration with the camera body, easy way of sensor cleaning, 
preservation of Leica lenses investment, very good sharpness and, as 
everyone could expect, perfect integration with Leica lenses although 
they have tested the combo with the excellent 28-90 Vario Elmar instead 
of the superlative 21-35mm which seems IMHO the *standard* lens for the 
R8/9+DMR and the second lens is the -too excellent- 90mm Summicron 
instead of the jewel 100mm f2.8 APO.

They have remarked the simplicity of menus -as an advantage and also as 
a inconvenience- the use of the RAW Adobe DNG which makes possible 
their  use with several applications . Concerning the image quality it 
is  on pair with those from the Nikon D2X what is really very good and, 
as it is logical, they have less information that Canon 1Ds MkII, but, 
and this but is important images with Leica DMR and Leica lenses are far 
better than images from Canon IDs MkII and adapter plus same Leica 
lenses  what again IMHO is due both to the good quality of DMR sensor 
and to the *cropping* factor 1.3 what makes that DMR is using central 
part of image coverture lens while 1Ds is using the whole coverture.

Main problems of the DMR is the loss of quality when ISO is climbing so 
that a image at 1600 ISO is not very good while other sensors do better 
at same ISO or even at 3200, and the poor ability of this combo for 
sport photography something we all knew. Otherwise R8/9 +DMR are -with 
the best R lenses- able of excellent pictures and, besides, may be 
easily updated keeping the R body, just if, in the future these updating 
do not cost more than competitors state of art complete cameras.

Regards

Felix