A question for cloudscape photographers

I tend to be at least one step behind the latest camera/sensor, so I still use a GF1 or GH2. Certainly for the GF1 when using a digitally designed lens, I will meter the brightest part of a cloud with a spot meter and then reduce the exposure by two stops, at most 2.5 stops. However I am getting the feeling that certain adapted lenses are better at controlling highlights and I was quite impressed with my latest, a Nikon 20mm, f/4 tested the other day on a GH2. I had to often overexpose on the cameras meter by 2/3 of a stop and found it much easier to control the highlights.

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I'm wondering if the modern lenses are of rather higher inherent contrast which leads to more difficulty in controlling highlights.

Back in my roll film days I used a Voigtlander 6x9 roll film camera with a 105mm lens, then a Mamiya Press with a 6x9 back and a 90mm lens. These equate to something in the 43mm-45mm equivalent on 35mm film. I'm very tempted by the latest Sigma Merrills as a means of hopefully achieving the quality those old roll film cameras gave me for black and white landscape work.

So I guess the equivalent of 24mm to 45mm in 35mm terms for landscapes/cloudscapes.

Barrie
 
I believe any camera is capable of excellent cloudscapes. I use all of mine, and its the post processing that really makes the shot shine. (Assuming I have a shining shot potential... there is that... )
What Sue said. Camera doesn't matter - focal length depends on the shot and the clouds. Processing can make them unreal and dramatic or real and subtle or just a very literal translation. I tend to exaggerate the heck out of them and go for drama, one way or the other. In color, I pull all sorts of texture out of them and go with grain. In B&W, I play with color filters and some texture (that's "structure" in Silver Efex Pro) to bring 'em out. One of each below, arguably overdone but the way I tend to like 'em...

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-Ray
 
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