Quirky to say the least; tough to live with - but the results can be amazing

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was.  Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible.  There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well.  As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit.    Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera.  Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

Waterwalker,

Now that you have no further use for your DP2 Merrill I'm sure someone would be delighted to take it off your hands & enjoy using it.:-)

S

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

Hi,

Are your cameras that surpass it as small?  The tiny size combined with the sharpness of the lens is what I like about the DP2 M the most.

Jan

jande9 wrote:

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

Hi,

Are your cameras that surpass it as small? The tiny size combined with the sharpness of the lens is what I like about the DP2 M the most.

Jan

No,

I have yet to find a suitable "1 for 1" replacement for this camera.  Its sensor and images are so unique compared to most everything else I have seen.  Sony makes a full-frame compact - but to be frank there is no way I'm going to spend that kind of money on a compact when i have other lenses on my list.

Only thing that comes close is my Fuji's - which i have a few.  They all get there with colors.

Big step-up is usability.  Autofocus on the Merrill was and still not great.

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

Well, if you do a search here on this forum on the DP2 Merrill, you will find days (maybe 1000ths of pages) of reading on this subject, it has been discussed to the death.

99% of the readers here know all about this, so you are 'late' with your review and personel opinion. But no problem at all for me though.

Maybe you can show us some good photos you made with your DP2M?

Jozef.

danski0224 wrote:

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

I'll give you $50 for that old junk of junk....

I'll bid $65.

danski0224 wrote:

Waterwalker wrote:

I bought this camera as a bit of a gamble, and it certainly was. Shutter speed and ISO performance are pretty terrible. There is a very funny lag in the shutter release as well. As one reviewer pointed out - if you could live with the hiccups - the image quality really has some merit. Colors are good, but you really need to keep the ISO down and need to really set-up your shots - nearly film like in the approach to using the camera. Camera is basically retired now as others that I own have surpassed it.

I'll give you $50 for that old junk of junk....

It certainly is no junk ...

Are you still happy with your Canon stuff?

Jozef.

danski0224 wrote:

Maybe the sarcasm was lost in the reply.

I find this a somewhat inappropriate thing to say to someone who is making a personal study of a camera's IQ. It certainly did not sound friendly ...

Yes, still ok with my Canon stuff. And my Sigma stuff.

Jozef