New Leica S system 30x45mm

Moderated by: guardian

Visit the FM Store · Image Upload · Buy & Sell
FM Forum Rules

FM Forums | Alternative Gear & Lenses | Join Image Upload

1 2 3 … 8

end

Archive 2008 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

Jorgen Udvang
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.9 #1 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

brainiac wrote:
The big question is whether CaNikon's lead in sensors will nullify the S2's size advantage. It's pretty clear that the 1Ds3 fared surprisingly well against certain MFDB's if used as carefully. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

That depends on how you define "lead" and what your needs are. I have yet to try a camera that surpasses my E-1 (Kodak sensor) for colour quality, shooting landscapes and my S3 (Fuji sensor) for portraits, at least as long as we exclude medium format, which is an area where I have limited experience.

There's a tendency on this and other forums to define sensor quality mostly by noise and resolution, but I believe many photographers also depend on delivering images to customers that have colours and a tonality which are as true to the human perception of reality as possible. The cameras that can deliver that "out of the box" will usually be my preferences. They simply save me a lot of work during post processing.

Obviously, we have no idea about how the S2 fares in this respect, and I would have problems affording one anyway. Still, the fact that Leica has combined DSLR portability, handling and weather sealing with MF resolution, plus the undisputed quality of their lenses, are large steps in the right direction for many photographers.

Lets hope that it lives up to expectations and that enough photographers buy this camera to keep the system as well as Leica alive.

Sep 25, 2008 at 01:21 AM

Manfred W. fEU
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.9 #2 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

jonboring wrote:
do we have any idea how much this body and lenses will costs? has leica said ?
Some hints on the Leica User Forum from the CEO Dr. Kaufman.
The price is not fixed as yet preliminary estimates are between 10 000.00 and 20 000.00 Euro he goes on and states we will try to keep the price below 15 000.00 Euro.
To this I like to add I have seiously considerd this S2 to be my new SLR except
owning some late R lenses and not able to use those. So the need to buy a full new system is just too costly. I will wait for the R10.
A recent switch to C left me frustrated. I do however congratulate Leica its new management and staff have worked very hard I am sure Leica is on the up.

Sep 25, 2008 at 01:49 AM

freaklikeme
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.9 #3 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

Wow. With the exception of the perfectly round eyepiece, that looks well designed. And the rumored specs are certainly mind-blowing. But I've done Canon-poor. I'm not sure I want to know what Leica-poor feels like.

Sep 25, 2008 at 04:04 AM

Sean Mills
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.9 #4 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

freaklikeme wrote:
But I've done Canon-poor. I'm not sure I want to know what Leica-poor feels like.

That sir, is one awesome post!

Sep 25, 2008 at 11:21 AM

brainiac
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.9 #5 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

Jorgen Udvang wrote:
brainiac wrote:
The big question is whether CaNikon's lead in sensors will nullify the S2's size advantage. It's pretty clear that the 1Ds3 fared surprisingly well against certain MFDB's if used as carefully. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.

That depends on how you define "lead" and what your needs are. I have yet to try a camera that surpasses my E-1 (Kodak sensor) for colour quality, shooting landscapes and my S3 (Fuji sensor) for portraits, at least as long as we exclude medium format, which is an area where I have limited experience.

There's a tendency on this and other forums to define sensor quality mostly by noise and resolution, but I believe many photographers also depend on delivering images to customers that have colours and a tonality which are as true to the human perception of reality as possible. The cameras that can deliver that "out of the box" will usually be my preferences. They simply save me a lot of work during post processing.

Obviously, we have no idea about how the S2 fares in this respect, and I would have problems affording one anyway. Still, the fact that Leica has combined DSLR portability, handling and weather sealing with MF resolution, plus the undisputed quality of their lenses, are large steps in the right direction for many photographers.

Lets hope that it lives up to expectations and that enough photographers buy this camera to keep the system as well as Leica alive.

+10

Sep 25, 2008 at 11:59 AM

Manfred W. fEU
Offline
Image Upload: On

p.9 #6 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

Just for the record here if you are not aware the sensor used for the Leica S2 is made by Kodak for Leica.

Sep 25, 2008 at 01:01 PM

Jorgen Udvang
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.9 #7 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

Manfred W. fEU wrote:
Just for the record here if you are not aware the sensor used for the Leica S2 is made by Kodak for Leica.

I was aware of that, and that's something to be excited about, since it will not only offer more pixels than the Canon and Sony sensors, but possibly also another approach to colours and tonality.

Sep 25, 2008 at 06:02 PM

mawz
Offline
Image Upload: Off

p.9 #8 · New Leica S system 30x45mm

As a note on PhaseOne's Lens line for the 645AF mount, it looks like they're doing 2 things.

1. Rebadging Mamiya glass for the common lenses.

2. Introducing their own line of exotic glass to cover what Mamiya has chosen not to. Hence the 45 TS and the promised trio of leaf shutter lenses.

Leica's help would be likely with the latter.

Sep 25, 2008 at 07:28 PM


FM Forums \| Alternative Gear & Lenses \| Join Image Upload 1 2 3 … 8 9 end