Need Your Opinion

In the newest addition to the "Items for Sale (Con't.)," the Leica M7 and lens, there are two pictures of the camera from slightly different angles. As a quick-and-dirty test of two different cameras for web use, which picture do you like better, top or bottom?

Thanks,

Mike

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TOP's links!

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Peter Wright: "On my 13" MacBook Air, the top shot is definitely better (sharper, more contrast, and more dof). However, you could really use either camera for on-line sales. (By the way. Does John know you are selling his M7 and 35mm?  ;-)  If I didn't already have an MP I would be buying!)"

Mike replies: Yes, I'm selling it on consignment for him. The camera and lens have resided on my shelf for the past four years.

Most people preferred the top shot. So the lesson is, people like a bit more contrast. To end the suspense: The bottom picture was taken with the Fuji X-t1 and 23mm ƒ/1.4 lens, and the top one was taken with the iPhone 6+. Not a controlled comparison, and not rigged; I simply shot each as I have all the other product shots, hurriedly and with no particular care, and then gave each one minimal processing to 800 pixels wide. The Leica M7 (you have to specify...I agree with Ned W that "M7" means Mamiya 7!) was in the same place for both shots but, as several people noticed, the camera position is not exactly the same for both, which has various effects, not least of which is that the iPhone 6+ shot needed more vertical correction. Several people saw the resulting distortion.

But it's surprising that overall, more people preferred the top (iPhone) shot, which does have a little more contrast.

I don't know though...should a guy who writes a photo blog be taking equipment shots with an iPhone 6+?!? Doesn't seem...seemly. I'd like a little more control than that...over focal length and aperture particularly, and I'd like to be able to shoot RAW to give me more dynamic range when I need it. In studio settings, classically, photographers control dynamic range with lighting, and can match any material. But these are quick-and-dirty shots taken with overhead lights.

"Existing" light...the light that exists in my basement.  :-)

I'm leaning toward the Panasonic LX7 at the moment. It's got a (very) fast lens, a small sensor, and good IS, and it's quite cheap right now at $328. (The world changes so fast...remember when the LX3 was the hot ticket and Panasonic couldn't keep the pipeline filled? People agonized and complained, aching to buy one at $600 or more.)

Comments

[Michael Bearman]

TOP. Boom Boom...

[James Sinks]

I don't like the top one at all. Really ugly noise and weird looking foreshortening and distortion.

The bottom is okay, but I wouldn't say I "like" it. It's a serviceable photo, but no more than that. Again, the noise is ugly, though less obtrusive than the first camera. There's less depth of field in this photo, but it's not really problematic.

[Ray Bullen]

I prefer the top photo, despite looking at the exif data!

[Peter Barnes]

The top one - camera looks newer and shinier on my screen. And the red dot ain't red on the bottom one.

[Thor D.]

I'm guessing one is the iPhone and the other is the D800? I can't tell which, but the top one has a bit more contrast while the bottom one seems to have better white balance. So my guess is the iPhone is on top, and it looks perfectly acceptable for this kind of shot.

[Christian Beck]

Top for clarity, bottom because of less distortion. But I think neither is from an optimal angle (the camera doesn't look as sexy as it should - leicashop.com has some nice images, for example this M7)

[Richard Ripley]

Top

[Richard Ripley]

Top

[David]

I'd use the upper image, but mainly because the markings on the control dial are clearer, rather than because of any overall picture quality issue.

[Dave Jenkins]

Both appear sharp. The top photo appears to have more detail in the leatherette and a better tonal range, with less detail loss on the right side (as viewed) of the top plate. Of course, that could be caused by the difference in the shooting angle.

[Arne]

the top one because of the "redder" Leica dot.

[Kevin Schoenmakers]

Top photo

[Hans Muus]

Top. Shows more of the body (top) and the front of the lens. Though I don't think your chances of selling it would be any different with the bottom picture.

[Andrew Hughes]

For selling the top one. It has more noise but the contrast and lack of flare makes for a more appealing product shot.

[Kefyn Moss]

Definitely the bottom pic. The red is more natural and the lighter tones too, none of the greenish cast that's in the top one, which looks a little too over sharpened or something to me. I did look at the EXIF data after deciding on the bottom one so, if that is accurate, it didn't surprise me, being the owner of the same camera myself.

[Sebastian]

1st, because of the light.

[Andy Munro]

Mike,

Re the two Leica photos. I like the second one. Although the reasons for this are a little more difficult but there is a greater sense of depth and the background is less distracting.

With the top one though you can see the markings on the shutter dial better. With that you lose that sense of depth though.

Cheers,

Andy

[Robert Roaldi]

Top.

[Manuel]

None! No brassing, no buy. I'd only consider it if the images showed the same beautiful aging signs as the 'Correspondent' edition by Lenny Kravitz.
Seriously now, the choice will go down to personal taste. For me it's the top image: tonal balance looks better (akin to have gotten the metering spot-on) and the added contrast helps defining stronger lines.
On the other hand, the bottom image looks more natural, save for the black tone looking less... well, black. Still the bottom image is somewhat easier on the eye.
Curious how these apparently identical images reflect such different photographic and aesthetic approaches.

[Speed]

My instant, first peek reaction, bottom.

[Steve Caddy]

The first, because the red dot is more vivid. :)

[Michel]

top

[SoulNibbler]

both are nice alone but when I have one to compare with I strongly prefer the second one. The diagonal line is strong in the first which draws my eye, but there is some strange perspective distortion which I don't see in the second and I like that more.

[J. Wallerius]

I like the top one better. I slightly prefer the angle, and much like that there's no or not as much reflection on the dial and other top elements. Always better to see more details.

[Dennis Huteson]

On my screen I'm unable to see any difference Mike...assuming you're not pulling our legs of course.

[Rob]

Whichever one was shot with the iPhone. :)
(That's really the only camera you need for the sale photos, IMHO.)

[Joe Holmes]

Bottom -- looks less distorted and more natural.

[Paul Bass]

The top one, by a hair. (That M7 is a beauty.)

[William Schneider]

Overall, I prefer the top one, the one with a little black dot in the LL corner.

The red logo color is more accurate in the top picture. However both pictures had their color profiles removed for posting, so there could be other factors that affect color.

I also believe that the exposure of the top picture is a bit better too.

Another difference that I noticed about the top picture was the warmer coloration in the sweep's UL corner, but I can't attribute that solely to the camera making the picture. While it's slightly too warm for my tastes, it could be a more accurate rendition of what was actually there.

[Craig A. Lee]

I like the top one.

[Thorsten]

Your iPhone 6 Plus is great, but don't sell the X-T1 (yet). :-)

[Richard G]

Top is clearly sharper.

[Benjamin Marks]

The bottom one. Too much distortion in the top pic. Makes the lens front element seem "ovoid." (oval?). OTOH, I might not have noticed if you hadn't asked us to do an A/B comparison.

[Don Seymour]

I like the top better.

[Santasimage]

comparing the two M7 images: the top one has more clarity, more detail, appears sharper to the eye, is more relaxing to look at ... but ... that is only in comparison ... if the top image weren't there the bottom image would be fine (although it would sell the camera) ... but in comparison it's a weak image ... you asked !!!

[Mickld]

Top

[David Brown]

Top pic is best, the red "Leica" looks more realistic.

[Martinb]

Top one, but barely
Mainly because top one has a bit less glare (see shutter speed knob)

[Jim Metzger]

Top.

[Eric]

At a quick glance, I'd say either works.

[Eolake]

For me, no doubt: the top one. It has much more clarity and impact.
(The difference is clear even when sixteen browser pages are shown as thumbnails on the iPad.) The bottom one is dull.

Now you make us curious as to what you really are testing here. Surely you know what you'd like to use. But you could be testing an unlikely camera, or you could be testing your audiences perceptions.

[Andy Sheppard]

Definitely the second - it has a more 3D rendition. I know the contrast is slightly lower, but then the real world generally is.

[Dennis]

Top. I like that I can see more detail in the front on the bottom, but prefer the dial on top without so much reflection.

[scott kirkpatrick]

top image is clearer

scott

[Ned W]

The bottom one is cleaner and has more shadow detail (texture in the leather). Less distracting.

M7 always makes me think of my Mamiya 7, BTW...

[Victor Valdez]

Hello Mike
Prefer the top shot of the M7. The shutter speed dial appears clearer.

Thanks

[knut]

top

[Michael]

top one.

[MarkB]

The bottom pic has less distortion (looks more like the real thing), but it needs more contrast. The top one has the "buy me" pop to the Leicalogo.

[Lubo]

Top one.

Primarily because the greater depth of field and apparent additional sharpness seem to give a more useful rendition of the camera.

Even after imagining what the bottom one would look like if its shiny surfaces were darker and looked less shiny - which to me also helps with this subject.

[John Holland]

Top is best (the picture with the small black spot in lower left hand corner). More depth of field; crisper lettering on front of lens.

[Dan Gerth]

I prefer the top one;the red Leica logo and lens marker dot appear orange in the bottom picture.

[mike in colorado]

Top.

Because the light is better on the top plate and shutter speed dial. The bottom photo is a bit flared on those surfaces.

[Ilkka]

Top

[bongo]

Lx7fixed lcd?? How is your back and knees?

[John Igel]

Top one.

[Hugh]

Seems to me, all anyone needs in the future is one decent camera for serious photography, and a phone camera for everything else.

Really, the difference between your iPhone shots and any possible other camera is academic when we are talking about product shots to sell on the web.

Add in the fact that you ought to be able to upload directly to Ebay from the phone...

[Geoff Morgan]

I was going to suggest a Panasonic LX7, my wife has one and I've used it several times to photograph things for eBay etc. I'm constantly amazed at the quality of images that come from this camera.

Geoff

[David Bennett]

The left side of the camera - the side with the shutter button - is taller on the top photo so that the camera looks more square (as nature intended) - and the bottom is more nearly level.

I think that is why the top photo looks better.

[Ilkka]

It looks to me that the top photo is from sighly higher point of view and that changes the reflection in the shutter speed dial, and that makes a big difference. The red dot is also more saturated in the top one and it is rather important for advertising a camera with a red dot.

[Ted Durant]

You might try changing the Fuji color space to sRGB instead of Adobe so you get Leica red instead of Frank Lloyd Wright Cherokee Red.

[Bryce Lee]

As to your low priced Panasonic camera
comment Amazon Canada has it for:

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX7K 10.1 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Optical zoom and 3.0-inch LCD - Black CDN$ 461.06 (plus shipping plus 13 percent sales tax.

[Roger Bradbury]

I banged off about a dozen product shots last night. All bits from a Yamaha RD200, if anyone knows what that is. I used four feet of wallpaper, turned over and one end bluetacked to the wall, the rest lying on a table.

On the right, nearly as close as I can get it, is a flashgun on a stand with an umbrella. On the left, three feet from the table edge are a pair of white painted doors that give me lots of soft fill. That's about all I need.

Sometimes I need a bit more fill in because an object will cast a shadow on itself, so I pick up a magazine that has a mostly white page and hold it just out of shot, by the lens hood. Works a treat.

I did construct one of those mini studios that David Hobby dreamed up on the Strobist website, that was quick and easy to use but it was a small one; most of the things I'm Ebaying are too big for it. Costs about £4 to make, or £4.75 if you want to splash out.

[Nicolas Woollaston]

If looking to buy a compact digicam I would recommend compiling a large list of cameras that would be good enough, including older models, then shopping around and choosing on price. There is a lot of stock sitting on shelves that someone somewhere regularly decides to quit at very low prices because they can't move it any other way. I ended up with a Nikon S8200 for under a hundred dollars, which was a long way from being the top of my list, but at that price it was much better value than anything else I saw at the time. Often I carry around a real camera (with just one prime lens, one card, one battery) plus the S8200 which functions as my backup in all ways. The 14x zoom covers the unusual situations without the weight and bulk of carrying around a full set of lenses that I almost never use.