jonoslack
Active member
Hi There
One or two of you will have been amused over the years at my anguish over whether or not to go Medium format. This was probably the closest call, I really was on the brink of buying an S2 and lenses (finances agreed by lovely wife, bank tame, all set to go).
But I've decided not to. Two things really:
1. I went through my best images over the last 5 years. Most of the good ones are 'reactive' shots, which are generally taken with a small camera which is at hand; either a leica M, or a dSLR (very few from compacts). There are some landscape shots, but they almost always rely on large compositional objects rather than blistering detail.
2. I took the same shot with a 35mm prime with the Pentax K5, the Leica M9 and the Sony A900 (foliage and tree detail against the sky) and printed as best as I can at A2+ size (25" x 17"). Then I called in the good eyes (Silas) to give them an intense scrutiny.
There was an obvious difference between the prints, but they were all perfectly acceptable from 18" distance, and some of them did really very well.
Of course, I understand that if I'd taken the same shot with an S2 / H4d / Phase / whatever, then there would have been another step up in quality. I also understand absolutely clearly that once I've tasted that step-up it'll be hard to go back (just like I've been unsatisfied with the stream of compacts which have passed through my gear cupboard).
But I'm not convinced that the people who like my pictures will have much concern for the difference, and I'm quite aware that there are some shots that I'll miss if I have an S2, which I wouldn't miss with an M9.
It's very unusual for me to forego a purchase that I really really really want, and which I can (kind of) afford to buy. But after the serious looking and heart to heart I've had with myself I really think that I would lose at least as much as I'd gain (and possibly more).
So I'm not Entering Here and Abandoning Hope . . . . . at least, not yet.
............. mind you, having thought of all this a noctilux seems like a snip :ROTFL:
Many thanks to those who've assisted in my decision making, whether consciously or unconsciously, particularly:
Cam, Kevin, Marc, Silas, Tom.
It must be time to open a bottle of wine!
Apologies if this post seems pointless!
all the best
One or two of you will have been amused over the years at my anguish over whether or not to go Medium format. This was probably the closest call, I really was on the brink of buying an S2 and lenses (finances agreed by lovely wife, bank tame, all set to go).
But I've decided not to. Two things really:
1. I went through my best images over the last 5 years. Most of the good ones are 'reactive' shots, which are generally taken with a small camera which is at hand; either a leica M, or a dSLR (very few from compacts). There are some landscape shots, but they almost always rely on large compositional objects rather than blistering detail.
2. I took the same shot with a 35mm prime with the Pentax K5, the Leica M9 and the Sony A900 (foliage and tree detail against the sky) and printed as best as I can at A2+ size (25" x 17"). Then I called in the good eyes (Silas) to give them an intense scrutiny.
There was an obvious difference between the prints, but they were all perfectly acceptable from 18" distance, and some of them did really very well.
Of course, I understand that if I'd taken the same shot with an S2 / H4d / Phase / whatever, then there would have been another step up in quality. I also understand absolutely clearly that once I've tasted that step-up it'll be hard to go back (just like I've been unsatisfied with the stream of compacts which have passed through my gear cupboard).
But I'm not convinced that the people who like my pictures will have much concern for the difference, and I'm quite aware that there are some shots that I'll miss if I have an S2, which I wouldn't miss with an M9.
It's very unusual for me to forego a purchase that I really really really want, and which I can (kind of) afford to buy. But after the serious looking and heart to heart I've had with myself I really think that I would lose at least as much as I'd gain (and possibly more).
So I'm not Entering Here and Abandoning Hope . . . . . at least, not yet.
............. mind you, having thought of all this a noctilux seems like a snip :ROTFL:
Many thanks to those who've assisted in my decision making, whether consciously or unconsciously, particularly:
Cam, Kevin, Marc, Silas, Tom.
It must be time to open a bottle of wine!
Apologies if this post seems pointless!
all the best