Leica S London Street Photography (NEW workshop, too!)

WORKSHOP UPDATE: we had to scramble over visa issues for Sean that we can't solve before the 25th. But I am STOKED to tell you that YouTuber extraordinaire and dear friend TED FORBES of THE ART OF PHOTOGRAPHY — who I'd invited just to hang — has come to the rescue and will be joining me as my co-instructor. To learn more, visit: http://www.3bmep.com/streetsofNY

I missed the point Hugh.
Let us know when next in London, I would like to meet the elephant.

YESS, as an S typ 007 owner now for a number of years – this is exactly the kind of thing I want to see. It IS the BEST DSLR I've ever used. Is it quirky, yes. Is it a Nikon/Canon/Pentax/etc NO. Does it have the IQ of other MF cameras (since it is technically MF), very very close. And its color science… phenomenal. THANKS again, H.

How about doing a review of a Leica I can afford. Like an M3 or M6 with 50mm Summicron. I would love to get a new Leica, but it is just not in my budget.

You probably saw the comparison, made years ago by Ming Thein, between the S2 and the D800. The S2 had the slight edge at lower ISOs, even with Zeiss lenses on the Nikon. Those S lenses are astounding – right to the corners. Yes, you do have to peep at pixels, but that's a cute way of saying that you can only tell in large prints. Which is exactly the point.

Oh, did I say the D800? Sorry, I meant the D800E. I do get forgetful at times…

Holy Crap! I just finished this video and started on your closing blurb when suddenly it dawned on me that there was a very pronounced color differentiation between the S lenses and whatever you were using to shoot the blurb… Since you went so far as to admit that the S was used to shoot the main vid, the color shift between the other camera and the S couldn't be more "in your face". `Oddly, enough, I never noticed how orange the previous camra made your face (at least until you cut directly from the S vid to the closing blurb). O.M.G. Now you've got me wondering just how I can swing the S (or more likely the upcoming S3) and a passel of glass. Or, lacking that, how about a comparison between the S and the SL (assuming you can get your hands ahold of either of those two). Hold that thought… Instead of my going to the Big Apple (much as I would like to walk along the High Line trail) why don't you think of a short (relatively speaking) trip out here to the Left Coast… To mangle a Herb Caen quote, New York ain't bad but it ain't San Francisco…" It's worth a trip… I would recommend either the spring or the fall (unless you like 60 degree temps and FOG! (they don't call it "Fog City" for naught…)). I could supply a SL with the three zoom lenses (which in total are thousands less than the S3 will be) and maybe discover just how similar they both are…

Also, a piece of (unasked for) advice: one of the things that draws me to the channels I support on Patreon is early access to videos and Patreon-exclusive content. I think the former could easily be achieved, even if the latter proves too time-consuming until you've got more patrons. Just a thought 🙂

I won't say lucky you… You crafted, shaped, and sculpted your life to be in a position to receive this privilege. Good for you.

Wow, how did you remember all those specs and model numbers, phew, brilliant.

Gawd you are hopeless Hugh and I am little better. I see on mpb.com that they have a used Leica S2-P for £2300 and a 70mm Summarit-S for £1800 and that is almost APS prices. One can dream but, of course it would never get used. I now hardly use my lovely Nikon D700. It is rare I use my Leica TL2 even. If I am off on the street into London or similar, I always grab my Panasonic GX9 with Olympus 17mm f1.8 which has now replaced my Leica X113 as my perfect street camera or, if off to the Zoo I will change to 45mm f1.8 which provides stunning portraits of animals. I am definately a MFT girl now. Leica is strictly an enthusiast special trip out now; I am glad i have got it but it wont be a workhorse; it cant compete with the GX9 😉

There is almost no advantage, shooting medium format regarding more shallow depth of field. Yes you get a more shallow dof with higher apertures on equality focal lengths. But the fact still is, that you’ll get the most shallow dof on full frame. At least with a normal to wide field of view. A 35mm f1.4 has as much dof as a 50mm f2 on and a 80mm f2.8. So the 35mm on a full frame with f1.4 will give you a shallower dof than a 50mm f2.8 for medium format at a similar field of view. Go to
Yedlin.net and take a look at his documents on matching blur cycles on different formats.

Although specifications like weight, ergonomics, megapixels, autofocus speed, and dynamic range are all important in the end it is the image on the chosen media that matters.

Of course, it makes sense for this film photographer who prints his image in a traditional darkroom to carry his very capable and reasonable Canon F-1n around the streets. The images are very nice and I still have energy at the end of the day.

But I am not interested in making sense, I want to print a sublime image with absolutely no trace of grain that begs the viewer to move closer and fall into the photograph so they feel they are actually there.

To that end, in the best tradition of folly, I carry a hasselblad 500 C/M to capture images on the street. I leave for London I three days, anticipating the rapture of the final image, and not grudging the soon to come aches of my 53 year old camera brick carrying shoulder.

Of course the Leica S is the right street photography tool.

Charlie

Q2!