I have a question related to all of this. Please temper this question with the notion that the discussed issues are not omnipresent in S2 files any more than any other MFD system.
Presuming Leica IS good at making lenses, and Leica has done the best possible technical lens design for the format at hand (MFD, whether "tweaner" or not) if not Leica, than who? ...
then what else in the digital imaging chain could be the culprit?
I've found no more of these type issues while using other MFD systems ... even when processing the files in Lightroom, without the benefit of integrated proprietary software corrections other than those also available for S2 files in LR. So, how can a $2,500. lens compare equally to a "designed from ground-up" $5,900. lens made by a renowned optical company?
It doesn't make any sense to me. :wtf:
In a related question, how do those with Schneider lenses for their Phase/Mamiya kit find they compare to the Phase One/Mamiya versions?
For a long time I was using a dual lens system with my H camera ... Fujiblad optics verses Zeiss leaf shutter CF/CFi/CFE lenses (not the faster F series with their unique character). Basically, in actual use I honestly couldn't tell the difference, and neither lens system had many of the issues we are discussing here. The only issue I had was the Chrysler Logo specular highlights with the Zeiss lenses, and that they were much slower to use.
Frankly, setting aside AF advancements, I wonder if much progress has been made in MFD optics beyond what the Contax 645 offered a decade ago? Not on paper, but in use. This suggests to me that MFD is some sort of "equalizer" ... and over-engineering the optics is where the waste of time and money really is ... money better spent on other portions of the imaging chain ... at least to start with, in order to surpass what existing optical design is capable of. Then look to the lenses.
The anomaly to my premiss is that when these backs are used on a tech camera ... the optics from Schneider and Rodenstock out perform everything out there, including the Leica S2 lenses. So, I could be completely wrong about everything. Yet, I know what I see in actual practice ... so I'm confused to say the least.
Your thoughts?
-Marc