So I have been shooting now three (well 2.5) systems lately.
D800: ok, good enough for government work, lots of lens choices first Canikon that is actually fun to shoot once you solve its maze of options. ZF.2 18 is a decent wide at f/8. most of the lenses I have tried are more or less ok at f/8 except the nikon 20 which would be fine if I liked oatmeal.
Small enough to put in a bag with 2-3 lenses and walk around the streets, bulkier and heavier than Leica M but the D800's AF is better.
DF/IQ180/LS lenses: Body is a touch temperamental but once it has been zeroed in by MAC service it focuses reasonably well. Use with live subjects is doable once you develop the technique using af on the rear button and then shooting a bunch until the distance changes and as long as you shoot at f/11. Landscape and occasional people with LS lenses wide open produce some very nice results.
Arca Rm3di/Rodie 40/70/Schneider120/IQ180: Killer system but slow to use. Almost the full zen experience of large format except the film holders are lighter. I also have a roll film back for use when I want to remind myself why I shoot digital from a work flow point of view.
So the bottom line is the frequency of "good" images with each system. I say "good" not meaning to imply that I am a good photographer, just that they are pleasing to me and clients.
Results: Well it depends
Kitchen and architecture, ok, well it pays: Arca hands down winner, D800 is in second place. Tilt and shift (or swing as is the case with so many kitchen shots) being always available is a HUGE benefit. I only own the 24PCE and it is ok but just ok. The rodies and schneiders beat it with a stick. No issue or possibility here with quick grab shots. Lighting needs to be set and adjusted, all of this work is thought-out slow work so there are few advantages with the D800 other than perhaps it might need half or a quarter the flash power at higher ISOs OTOH, that is not really so as often as one is trying to balance outdoor light with interior light.
Event, grip and grin, and I would assume wedding other than the set shots since I don't do weddings: D800 hands down. Fast, light, high ISO that behaves well in the shadows where the 5DII and 1DsIII did not.
Landscape usual tripod holes: Much like a kitchen these are not grab and go shots, often the biggest time spent is waiting for the light.
Choice is either IQ180 approach with the favor going to the arca.
Models in studio. d800 is good enough, af wins, colors are a bit off but who really knows what color that scarf is other than the manufacturer. Skin tones are acceptable but not as good as the IQ180. Favor tends to the d800 since I can move around a lot more without breaking my back. After a 4 hour shoot this is a significant point.
So for those occasions where I might casually see something I want to shoot the d800 has earned its place in my kit.
Serious landscape and architecture it is the arca when I know in advance pretty much what I want to shoot.
That leaves the df in sort of a no-mans-land. If it weren't for the LS lenses it would be gone. Maybe it is time to let it go but hold on to the LS lenses in the hope that Phase will make something that fits better between the lens and back BUT and this IS a big BUT. Even if they did, the weight alone would not permit it to be my walk-about camera.
So my first inclination was to look at the number of good images. Well I suppose they don't change much no matter what camera I am using, but I DO take more images with the d800 simply because I can.
-bob
D800: ok, good enough for government work, lots of lens choices first Canikon that is actually fun to shoot once you solve its maze of options. ZF.2 18 is a decent wide at f/8. most of the lenses I have tried are more or less ok at f/8 except the nikon 20 which would be fine if I liked oatmeal.
Small enough to put in a bag with 2-3 lenses and walk around the streets, bulkier and heavier than Leica M but the D800's AF is better.
DF/IQ180/LS lenses: Body is a touch temperamental but once it has been zeroed in by MAC service it focuses reasonably well. Use with live subjects is doable once you develop the technique using af on the rear button and then shooting a bunch until the distance changes and as long as you shoot at f/11. Landscape and occasional people with LS lenses wide open produce some very nice results.
Arca Rm3di/Rodie 40/70/Schneider120/IQ180: Killer system but slow to use. Almost the full zen experience of large format except the film holders are lighter. I also have a roll film back for use when I want to remind myself why I shoot digital from a work flow point of view.
So the bottom line is the frequency of "good" images with each system. I say "good" not meaning to imply that I am a good photographer, just that they are pleasing to me and clients.
Results: Well it depends
Kitchen and architecture, ok, well it pays: Arca hands down winner, D800 is in second place. Tilt and shift (or swing as is the case with so many kitchen shots) being always available is a HUGE benefit. I only own the 24PCE and it is ok but just ok. The rodies and schneiders beat it with a stick. No issue or possibility here with quick grab shots. Lighting needs to be set and adjusted, all of this work is thought-out slow work so there are few advantages with the D800 other than perhaps it might need half or a quarter the flash power at higher ISOs OTOH, that is not really so as often as one is trying to balance outdoor light with interior light.
Event, grip and grin, and I would assume wedding other than the set shots since I don't do weddings: D800 hands down. Fast, light, high ISO that behaves well in the shadows where the 5DII and 1DsIII did not.
Landscape usual tripod holes: Much like a kitchen these are not grab and go shots, often the biggest time spent is waiting for the light.
Choice is either IQ180 approach with the favor going to the arca.
Models in studio. d800 is good enough, af wins, colors are a bit off but who really knows what color that scarf is other than the manufacturer. Skin tones are acceptable but not as good as the IQ180. Favor tends to the d800 since I can move around a lot more without breaking my back. After a 4 hour shoot this is a significant point.
So for those occasions where I might casually see something I want to shoot the d800 has earned its place in my kit.
Serious landscape and architecture it is the arca when I know in advance pretty much what I want to shoot.
That leaves the df in sort of a no-mans-land. If it weren't for the LS lenses it would be gone. Maybe it is time to let it go but hold on to the LS lenses in the hope that Phase will make something that fits better between the lens and back BUT and this IS a big BUT. Even if they did, the weight alone would not permit it to be my walk-about camera.
So my first inclination was to look at the number of good images. Well I suppose they don't change much no matter what camera I am using, but I DO take more images with the d800 simply because I can.
-bob
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