DMR: First year (long)

It's been one year more or less since good fortune graced me with a DMR. Its features that have made

the biggest differences in my photos are common to most DSLR cameras: the extremely low cost per

exposure, the superior high-ISO image quality, and the near-instant feedback. The DMR's excellent

dynamic range and color rendition have also been a huge benefit. I will always be thankful for the

benefactor who offered the DMR to me on very favorable terms and for those whose generosity

permitted me to keep the DMR during my family's crisis earlier this year.

<P>

My favorite pictures so far made with the DMR, with photographic notes where appropriate, all at ISO

400 with -1 stop compensation (prevents highlight clipping) except where noted. Due to the number of

photos in this post I've provided HTML links instead of in-line photos for the sake of those on dial-up.

<P>

<A HREF="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cago01.html" target="_blank">Canada

Geese</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 280 f/4 APO + 1.4x APO-Extender-R<BR>

One of my earliest DMR photos, and the one where I learned to "chimp". I had been working close to the

ground with the camera on a tripod collapsed as low as it would go. I heard the geese coming and saw

that their probable flight path would give some good backgrounds. No time to switch to shoulder stock

or monopod so I picked the whole rig up tripod and all to pan along with the birds. Exposures made

and geese gone, a silly grin came over my face as I reviewed the new photos. I had learned to "chimp".

<P>

<A HREF="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/tyrannidae/atfl00.html" target="_blank">Ash-

throated Flycatcher</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8<BR>

With this photo I learned to take advantage of the DMR's high-ISO capabilities and excellent shadow

detail retention. The ISO setting on the camera was 400, but I had set exposure compensation to -3

stops to keep shutter speeds workable (~ 1/125 sec), bringing up the image tones during development

and further refined with Photoshop. This is cropped with no noise reduction.

<P>

<A HREF="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/coha05.html" target="_blank">Cooper's

Hawk</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R<BR>

In this pair of photos (second is below) I realized how much better the DMR's color quality is than

professional ISO 400 slide film. Both photos are uncropped from the same location; the only difference

is the camera body.

<P>

<A HREF="http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/accipitridae/coha06.html" target="_blank">

Cooper's Hawk</A><BR>

Leicaflex SL2/Provia 400F, 280mm f/4 APO-Telyt-R<BR>

It also dawned on me that to get the same image size with the film camera I could use the 1.4x

extender, and that with the extender's loss of light I'd have to use a faster film to use the same shutter

speed as I did with the DMR and no extender. Thus a valid comparison for my purposes is DMR @ ISO

400 vs. ISO 800 color film. In technical quality it's no contest, the DMR wins.

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/mammals/artiodactyls/dash01.html" target="_blank">Dall's

Sheep</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8 Telyt<BR>

ALASKA! I spent six summers in Alaska in my younger days and now on the 30th anniversary of my first

summer I brought the DMR. Chimping and the histogram display made this photo possible. In my first

few exposures of this ram the brightest whites had lost detail due to clipping; histogram review and

subsequent exposure adjustments brought back the detail in the brightest white areas (clearly visible in

the print)

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/grja00.html" target="blank">Gray Jay</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 280mm f/4 APO<BR>

I was beginning to notice some aliasing and color moire in the fine feather detail, particularly when

using the 280 APO which can resolve more than just about anything else. A photoshop plug-in from

fredmiranda.com tamed the beast, and only where it reared its head. The DMR's battery life was a

problem occasionally, fortunately I was car-camping and had 12-volt power available overnight.

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/stja02.html" target="_blank">Steller's Jay

</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8 with 1.4x APO-Extender-R<BR>

I'm not a big fan of the cropped viewfinder OTOH it allows the SLR user to see the action outside the

frame lines and anticipate when the action will be in the picture area.

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/come10.html" target="_blank">

Common Merganser</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8 Telyt<BR>

I've gradually realized that the DMR's high-ISO image quality as made the 560mm Telyt much more

usable than with film; I can use higher shutter speeds in weaker light and still get image quality

equivalent to E100G, my current favorite slide film. All the E100G photos made of this bird were tossed

due to subject motion.

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/corvidae/ybma01.html" target="_blank">

Yellow-billed Magpie</A><BR>

R8/DMR, Novoflex 400mm f/5.6<BR>

Birds with large areas of black and white plumage were always a problem with film because I could get

detail in the white areas or detail in the black plumage or neither. The DMR's dynamic range plus

judicious histogram chimping helps keep the detail in these black-and-white birds.

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/rallidae/clra02.html" target="_blank">

Clapper Rail</A><BR>

R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8 Telyt<BR>

DMR's dynamic range to the rescue again. With film I'd have lost shadow detail or white detail or both.

<P>

I'm showing these photos just 'cuz I like 'em. All: R8/DMR:

<P>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/falconidae/amke01.html" target="_blank">American

Kestrel</A><BR>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/turdidae/webl06.html" target="_blank">Western

Bluebird</A><BR>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/recurvirostridae/amav01.html" target="_blank">American

Avocet</A><BR>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/leow01.html" target="_blank">Long-eared

Owl</A><BR>

<A HREF="http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/nsow00.html" target="_blank">Northern Saw-

whet Owl</A><BR>

<P>

Problems: the battery life can be a problem especially with heavy chimping, the R8+DMR is a hefty

package, and I'd really like an SL viewfinder in the R8. All things considered though I'm looking forward

to another year with the DMR.

WOW! Beautiful images, showing what the DMR, in the right hands, is capable of!

Extraordinary images. You really are the 21st century's Audubon.

 

Your preference for the DMR over E100G will make me reconsider my preference for film over digital, at least insofar as color slide film and SLRs are concerned.

 

Thanks for an informative post and beautiful images.

Doug, not only are you a master in your discipline but also a most generous person to share all this insight of yours. Thanks a lot, it's always a pleasure to read your posts!

None better that I've ever seen. But then your images shine regardless of which camera you use.

Marvellous.

Highly impressive!

Very fine Images, thanks for sharing those.

Doug, I was interested to see you use the apo extender with the 560. Any general comments on using it with that and other lenses? For instance, do I see a degradation in image quality (not in the least to criticize your beautiful results!!) of the 280/4 APO when using the extender compared to without? How do the results of cropping an image without the extender to match image size with the extender compare, and is there a dependence on the f stop used? Your patience with your art and love of the avian realm show in all your photos.

Doug, thanks for sharing your photos and experiences. Wondering if you've found any

particular situations when you'd prefer film?

Nice review, and some lovely images. The technical quality is impeccable in all but the final shot (Northern Saw-whet Owl), which shows quite a bit of noise.

What Lutz said so eloquently!

 

Best wishes and regards to you, Doug!

Awfully good, Doug.

 

In addition to admiring the photos, I found myself wondering how you managed to spend 6 summers during your "younger days" in Alaska ?

 

Hope your family is well.

Beautiful images and solid recommendation of the DMR. Why did Leica discontinue it?

Thanks for the comments, and for taking the time to load the photos!<P>

Harry, the 1.4x extender causes a slight loss of image quality under controlled test

conditions. Of the photos linked here, two were made with the 280 APO and 1.4x APO-

Extender: Canada Geese and American Kestrel (captive). The 280 APO by itself easily out-

resolves the DMR (and film for that matter); in the Canada Geese photo resolution was

limited by the hand-held panning and slower shutter speed (about 1/125 sec IIRC)

however in the American Kestrel photo (bright light, shoulder stock & monopod) at high

magnification the detail in the bird is satifactorily mind-boggling. You make a good point

about 1.4x extender vs. cropping: in low light conditions where I mght be under-exposing

to keep shutter speeds up it's better to crop (IMHO) vs. using the extender because

shadow noise is less. In plentiful light I'd rather use the 1.4x extender so that I can see

more clearly the finer points of composition and posture. When using the 560mm Telyt

with the 1.4x extender the lens combination resolved less than the DMR is capable of

recording.

<P>

Peter, I'm having a hard time with your question. On an emotional level I'd rather do

everything on film, perhaps because I've used slide film for nearly 40 years, perhaps

because it's much easier to look at the slides w/o dealing with a computer, and perhaps

because using film (for me) means using my all-time favorite cameras, the Leicaflex SL or

SL2. From a technical POV the DMR wins 90% of the time but where a lower ISO is feasible,

or where viewfinder quality makes a difference in catching posture nuances or accurately

placing the limited zone of focus, I'd rather use the Leicaflex (SL or SL2) with E100G.

<P>

Mike, the Nothern Saw-whet Owl was a 1/2 sec exposure between gusts of wind with -2

stops exposure compensation. I'd rather do this than use flash because I prefer the look

of natural lighting.

<i> I'd rather do this than use flash because I prefer the look of natural lighting.</i><P>

Same here. Just thought that one looked like it had been pushed a bit. Still, excellent stuff.

Doug - As always a wonderful collection of masterpieces. You set some really high standards for the rest of us to attempt to achieve. My hat's off to you, and thanks for your commentary as well!

Superb work Doug.....as usual, your dedication show through you images.

What a gift (pictures plus technical notes)! Thanks Doug.

 

I have read that Leica has stopped the production of DMR. Any idea what they have in store for us?

"<I>I have read that Leica has stopped the production of DMR</I>"

<P>

As I understand it, DMR production has ended because Leica's DMR partner Imacon is now

a part of Hasselblad and Hasselblad considers Leica a competitor.

<P>

"<I>Any idea what they have in store for us?</I>"

<P>

I have no inside info, the rumor mill says the R10 will be a full-frame digital-only camera.

<P>Michael S. wrote: "<I>I found myself wondering how you managed to spend 6

summers during your "younger days" in Alaska ?</I>"

<P>

I took a break from engineering school and worked at a variety of summer jobs.

Kudos to Doug. Your photographs continue to inspire all who view them!

Wow!

Just a great teaching post. Thanks for taking all the time to share it with you. I still like the Leicaflex SL viewfinder best of all the cameras I've used.

Douglas, thank you very much for taking the time to post such a beautiful series of photographs and the wealth of information and experiences. Not only are your photographs beautiful but your prose style shows your generosity and accesibility. I have enjoyed my virtual trip through Nature... and now I have your website among my favorites.

 

I hope you have a great day!

awesome...