Are Camera Specs irrelevant now

Blonde model in the studio.  Plain white background.  She is wearing a black dress with the back open and she is facing away from the camera.

The image above was taken fifteen years ago. I think with a 10 megapixel Nikon D200 with its cropped DX sensor.

A profile view of a woman with grey hair styled in a loose bun. She has a elegant neckline and appears contemplative, with her eyes closed and head tilted down.

The above image, a Nikon D800 with 36 megapixels, the first of the big megapixels cameras that started to dominate the market.

Young model in a green dress stood by an apple tree, holding an apple.
Leica M10

This one a 24 megapixel Leica M10.

Young blond model in shirt and jacket with arms crossed, looking down towards the camera position.  The background is a modern looking building.
Casey at Usher Art Gallery. Nikon Z7, Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.2 S

Lastly a modern Nikon mirrorless at close to 50 Megapixels.

All of these images are good. Are the new ones a bit better, possibly but is that due to me becoming a better photographer, getting better at editing and processing digital images, or a better lens or camera. Maybe a bit of all of this, but these are all great images and all modern cameras are now very good. It’s now down to the photographer. I think the camera wars should be over, use what inspires you, use what feels good in the hand. But don’t argue that your camera is better than someone else’s. Whether an ancient Nikon D70 at 6 megapixels or the latest Sony A7R V at 61 Megapixels, you can get great images from either.

Energy Poverty

App showing energy flow in a home.  This shows solar energy going directly into an electric car providing free fuel.
Screenshot

For those of us with good incomes, we can afford to install solar, buy electric cars. Install systems like the Eddi which provides free hot water from the solar.

On a sunny day like some we have had this week we are getting free fuel and free hot water. For those who cannot afford such things they are stuck with higher energy costs and fossil fuels.

More needs to be done to allow more people to get the benefits of the switch to green tech. At least electric cars as they get more popular, the secondhand market grows and prices come down.

Leica Gray

Leica Product Page showing new product finish in grey for their cameras.

So last Thursday I posted no new products likely from Leica and then they announce a range of new colours; so I suppose I was kind of correct.

Topless redhead sat outdoors in an alcove. She has a pink skirt and her arms cover her breasts.
Leica M10, 50mm Summilux and Ivory Flame modeling

The new gray looks nice and it’s not unusual for Leica to release special colour releases. People critique Leica for their expensive special editions but they are a small company and releases like these help pay for product development and new releases.

No new Cameras from Leica this year

Young model in a green dress stood by an apple tree, holding an apple.
Leica M10

It seems we have reached update time for Sony and Canon with new releases over the last few months but a few rumour sites are going: what about Leica.

It seems nothing is expected this year from Leica but we while we have had the mid cycle refresh of the Leica M already with the Leica M11-P we have not had the P version of the Leica SL3 yet.

So if there is to be a release expect a P version of the SL.

The upgrade train

Young blond model sat on the grass in a graveyard.  She is wearing a sunhat and pretty print dress looking towards the camera.

I noticed a few comments that Leica apart from a few special editions will not be releasing any new models this year.

With the release of the recent Canon’s and Sony’s Nikon users are asking where are the new cameras.

Too many photographers seem stuck in upgrade cycles forever buying the latest gear, sometimes switching systems to the latest and most modern.

Model in corset and stockings laid on couch.
Leica M8 sample – Boudoir

But looking through my library is there really a difference between photographs I took over ten years ago to those I took in the last three years with my current cameras.

Not really. New cameras can make somethings easier, and a new camera can inspire you to go out and take pictures but essentially its you taking the shot.

The megapixel race continues but somewhat slower

The Sony A7RVI is the latest high megapixel camera to be released and now we are at 66.8 megapixels, not a huge increase from the previous 50 megapixels that most manufacturers have reached now but still another jump.

model in black bra and pants on the floor nearing looking towards the camera, one arm stretched out.

There are some in the landscape and studio field who will welcome the increase though many of these photographers will be reaching for a Fuji, Hasselblad or Phase medium format at 50mp, 100mp or higher.

More megapixels can bring benefits but sharpness and diffraction become issues on the smaller 35mm format. I doubt anyone will be going beyond f/8 if not even keeping it at f/5.6.

I would hope successors to the Nikon Z9 and Z8 stay around 50mp but a future Z7 might use a variation of this technology.

Walking to the coffee shop

Woman walking past modern shop front.

Mondays and Tuesdays will often find me in Lincoln.

Street in Lincoln, with a woman leaning against a wall looking at her phone.

Each lunch time I will likely grab my Lecia M and walk past the Braford Pool and into Lincoln.

Old vintage shop with people walking past.

There is usually time to take a few street photographs.

Stonebow in Lincoln with people walking through.

I’ll wonder the high street and a few side streets before heading to my favourite independent coffee shop.

Old coffee shop in Lincoln.  There are a couple of tables out front with people enjoying a beverage.