As requested, Leica R7 Test Drive
Jul 6, 2017 17:10:12 GMT
on Jul 6, 2017 17:10:12 GMT
Posted: Jul 6, 2017 17:10:12 GMT
Took the R7 on a test drive with some Kodak Ektar 100. Lenses used were the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5, and Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
Click on the photos if you want to see them full size on Flickr (especially the test strips).
Summer Travel by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Ah, road construction. Not a long delay, but it was at an intersection, so that added more time.
Just a quick shot out the windshield, with the camera on Program, I think. I took one before this, but didn't like the readings in the viewfinder, so after resetting the meter system, this exposure came out good. It was just intuitive that I could figure out that first shot wouldn't be anything worth displaying.
Test Strip 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting into the light with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5 wasn't too bad. The metering system on the Leica R series uses the terms "Selective" for Spot, and "Integrated" for Averaging (in this case, Center Weighted).
Starting from the top, you have:
Manual/Selective
Aperture Priority/Selective
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Shutter Priority/Integrated
I give a slight edge to Aperture Priority/Integrated, though there wasn't a lot of difference among them.
Test Strip 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
This time, the order is top to bottom:
Shutter Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Selective
Manual/Selective
Again, Aperture Priority/Integrated has the slight edge, mostly noted in the color rendition.
Sweet Sunny-16 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Back in Manual/Selective, the readouts in the viewfinder matched what I would have used on any of my meter less cameras of f16 @ 1/125 for ISO 100.
Franklin County High School
Rocky Mount, VA
Slight Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
I don't have my 28mm with me at the moment (it's in the NJ Leica shop), and the only other wide angle I have is the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5.
Most of what looks like glare is likely just haze from the high humidity that day (remember that approaching thunderstorm from the first test strip?). Still, it was kind of unexpected, as I'm shooting from under a bridge in Aperture Priority/Integrated (Averaging, Center Weighted), and the built-in hood is deployed on the lens. Oh well, it is a zoom after all.
Burning In The Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
After a little burning in of the area just above the remains of the dam and generator building, this photo looks a lot better.
Note: I'll be posting a series of shots just of the Pigg River Dam removal later on.
Tracks of Those Before Me by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The sands below the remains of the Pigg River Hydro Dam. Pretty good resolution for a zoom lens.
Tracks Example by P F McFarland, on Flickr
In the lower right half, you can see how the scan looked, and in the upper left half after doing an Auto Levels adjustment.
I don't know if it's the Ektar film, or a fault of the scanner (commercially done), but I'll get a scan or two like the lower right every time I use Ektar.
True Grit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
These don't look well set enough for me, so I'll avoid them.
This needed an Auto Levels adjustment too, though it was just to give it a little better color since I was shooting in the shade.
Hardy Road Bridge over the Roanoke River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Many years ago, this bridge took a mighty hit from a too high vehicle, and it is still standing. But you'd think the county could paint it once every ten years.
No corrections needed here, even with the contrast between light and dark (AP/I meter setting).
Post Top Lichen Farm by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A miniature world on top of a slant-cut 6x6.
This is the best I could do with the 35-70mm, as it doesn't have a macro feature. So I went back to the truck, and changed lenses to the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8 (minus the 1:1 attachment).
Lichen Macro by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Taken with the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
More "up close and personal" than you can get with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm.
Lichen In Focus by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting across the top of the post with a wide open aperture.
I'm impressed with the fact there doesn't appear to be any camera shake in my two macro photos, as the camera was not on a tripod. For this one, I used my left hand to steady the camera against the post while adding a bit of extra support to the lens.
I do believe I’ve got a keeper.
PF
Click on the photos if you want to see them full size on Flickr (especially the test strips).
Summer Travel by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Ah, road construction. Not a long delay, but it was at an intersection, so that added more time.
Just a quick shot out the windshield, with the camera on Program, I think. I took one before this, but didn't like the readings in the viewfinder, so after resetting the meter system, this exposure came out good. It was just intuitive that I could figure out that first shot wouldn't be anything worth displaying.
Test Strip 1 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting into the light with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5 wasn't too bad. The metering system on the Leica R series uses the terms "Selective" for Spot, and "Integrated" for Averaging (in this case, Center Weighted).
Starting from the top, you have:
Manual/Selective
Aperture Priority/Selective
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Shutter Priority/Integrated
I give a slight edge to Aperture Priority/Integrated, though there wasn't a lot of difference among them.
Test Strip 2 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
This time, the order is top to bottom:
Shutter Priority/Integrated
Program/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Integrated
Aperture Priority/Selective
Manual/Selective
Again, Aperture Priority/Integrated has the slight edge, mostly noted in the color rendition.
Sweet Sunny-16 by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Back in Manual/Selective, the readouts in the viewfinder matched what I would have used on any of my meter less cameras of f16 @ 1/125 for ISO 100.
Franklin County High School
Rocky Mount, VA
Slight Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
I don't have my 28mm with me at the moment (it's in the NJ Leica shop), and the only other wide angle I have is the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm 1:3.5.
Most of what looks like glare is likely just haze from the high humidity that day (remember that approaching thunderstorm from the first test strip?). Still, it was kind of unexpected, as I'm shooting from under a bridge in Aperture Priority/Integrated (Averaging, Center Weighted), and the built-in hood is deployed on the lens. Oh well, it is a zoom after all.
Burning In The Glare by P F McFarland, on Flickr
After a little burning in of the area just above the remains of the dam and generator building, this photo looks a lot better.
Note: I'll be posting a series of shots just of the Pigg River Dam removal later on.
Tracks of Those Before Me by P F McFarland, on Flickr
The sands below the remains of the Pigg River Hydro Dam. Pretty good resolution for a zoom lens.
Tracks Example by P F McFarland, on Flickr
In the lower right half, you can see how the scan looked, and in the upper left half after doing an Auto Levels adjustment.
I don't know if it's the Ektar film, or a fault of the scanner (commercially done), but I'll get a scan or two like the lower right every time I use Ektar.
True Grit by P F McFarland, on Flickr
These don't look well set enough for me, so I'll avoid them.
This needed an Auto Levels adjustment too, though it was just to give it a little better color since I was shooting in the shade.
Hardy Road Bridge over the Roanoke River by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Many years ago, this bridge took a mighty hit from a too high vehicle, and it is still standing. But you'd think the county could paint it once every ten years.
No corrections needed here, even with the contrast between light and dark (AP/I meter setting).
Post Top Lichen Farm by P F McFarland, on Flickr
A miniature world on top of a slant-cut 6x6.
This is the best I could do with the 35-70mm, as it doesn't have a macro feature. So I went back to the truck, and changed lenses to the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8 (minus the 1:1 attachment).
Lichen Macro by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Taken with the Elmarit-R Macro 60mm 1:2.8.
More "up close and personal" than you can get with the Vario Elmar-R 35-70mm.
Lichen In Focus by P F McFarland, on Flickr
Shooting across the top of the post with a wide open aperture.
I'm impressed with the fact there doesn't appear to be any camera shake in my two macro photos, as the camera was not on a tripod. For this one, I used my left hand to steady the camera against the post while adding a bit of extra support to the lens.
I do believe I’ve got a keeper.
PF
