I did a recent test with our new D800e with 60mm macro vs our Leaf Aptus II-8 40 megapixel back with Schneider 80mm LS. Test was with our custom repro copy setup. Resolution was pretty much a wash, you can see the 4 megapixels difference but only just, the differences in contrast and bite are IMO more the lenses than the chip. Colour and tonal separation clearly went to the digital back but then I\'m comparing in Capture One (7.1.3) with the access to loads of custom Leaf profiles direct from the manufacturer to the maker of the software (P1 owns Leaf). All I have is a generic profile in C1 for the D800e and I have a feeling that I cannot pronounce judgement until I have custom profiles for both to level the playing field. Again this is only for repro, no idea what the difference will be with portraiture where tonality plays such a crucial and large part. I have a feeling the Leaf will cream the smaller sensor. Of course I can get that kind of resolution at iso 400 with the D800e, on the Leaf, well it\'s a base iso shooter, in this case iso 80. I can\'t really test DR, repro lighting is flat by definition.
What I do know is that I seriously doubt you\'re going to see the difference on screen unless you are seriously geekily savvy, far beyond the needs of almost any client. If you have the money and are comparing at the 40 megapixel level then spend it on the lighting. You will see the difference more for the money having top level lighting and modifiers than using the digital back rather than a D800e.
Aug 16, 2013 at 10:12 AM
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