Leica S2

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Archive 2009 · Leica S2

alvit
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p.1 #1 · Leica S2

mammamia!

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/s2-press.shtml

Aug 15, 2009 at 02:42 AM

sirimiri
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p.1 #2 · Leica S2

Whee! Free Lightroom in there, for the 22k.

They include 1 battery. I wonder how much another will cost?

Aug 15, 2009 at 02:50 AM

mawz
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p.1 #3 · Leica S2

Looks alright. Definitely a compact package and sealed.

Dual-Shutter lenses will not be available right away. That's unfortunate as having to buy the dual-shutter CS lenses later is a major cash waster.

AF system better be fast, because it's otherwise the typical single-point system we've seen on most older 645 systems, with USM added.

1.5fps is alright, but not terribly fast. The P40+ does 1.2fps in full-rez mode (ISO's 50-800) or 1.8fps in 10MP high-ISO mode (ISO's 200-3200) and costs a very similar amount when bundled with a PhaseOne 645 body and 80mm.

The processing looks decently fast but not as fast as they're making out. An A900 moves 1440Mbit/sec in RAW at max fps (which is 5) while the S2 moves 900Mbit/s at 1.5fps. Note that's after taking into account the A900 being 12bit vs the S2's 16bit output.

It is nice to see solid specs on it finally. And the specs overall look decent. It's significantly smaller and moderately lighter than a 645AFDIII/PO645 and it's sealed.

Aug 15, 2009 at 03:10 AM

asbalyan
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p.1 #4 · Leica S2

They include 1 battery. I wonder how much another will cost?

Battery charger: $399

"Many of accessories will also become available with the market launch, including the professional S charging unit that recharges two batteries simultaneously ($399)"

Aug 15, 2009 at 03:18 AM

Leon Noel
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p.1 #5 · Leica S2

For that price I could buy a used Bessa R3A and finally dab into film discreet street voyeurism, err, I mean photography.

Aug 15, 2009 at 03:22 AM

thrice
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p.1 #6 · Leica S2

It's interesting to see the platinum package outlined as I think for studios and fashion pros this was the most important. Swap within a 3 month DOA period, free CLA including one free shutter replacement - although they don't make it clear how long this is offered, I would assume that even with the standard package if the shutter failed within warranty it would be replaced free and loan cameras given while the failed one is repaired... looks good.

Aug 15, 2009 at 03:39 AM

Ronan O Keeffe
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p.1 #7 · Leica S2

In the interest of preserving image sharpness, the camera disregards the standard low-pass filter. Instead, Moiré effects are detected and eliminated by the camera's internal signal processing, thus taking full advantage of the system's high-resolution lenses.

That's interesting enough in itself. Wonder what it will translate to in real life...

Aug 15, 2009 at 10:42 AM

mawz
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p.1 #8 · Leica S2

Ronan O Keeffe wrote:
In the interest of preserving image sharpness, the camera disregards the standard low-pass filter. Instead, Moiré effects are detected and eliminated by the camera's internal signal processing, thus taking full advantage of the system's high-resolution lenses.

That's interesting enough in itself. Wonder what it will translate to in real life...

Not all that interesting. Leica didn't put an AA filter on the DMR or M8 either. And its pretty standard spec for MFDB's (some of which have removable AA/IR filters).

Aug 15, 2009 at 11:14 AM

Conner999
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p.1 #9 · Leica S2

As but one example, Hassy's 'Phocus' software does moire detection & control (photogs discretion) post capture.

Aug 15, 2009 at 11:39 AM

Ronan O Keeffe
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p.1 #10 · Leica S2

Well, that's a hangover for you! Must engage brain before typing :s

Aug 15, 2009 at 12:07 PM

EOS20
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p.1 #11 · Leica S2

sirimiri wrote:
Whee! Free Lightroom in there, for the 22k.

They include 1 battery. I wonder how much another will cost?

Well, they are charging $5000 USD / Â£3096 premium for a glass LCD cover and a customer service upgrade, so I'm assuming it would be a case of "If you got to ask, you probably can't afford it!"

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073001leicassystemprice.asp

Aug 15, 2009 at 01:12 PM

mawz
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p.1 #12 · Leica S2

EOS20 wrote:
sirimiri wrote:
Whee! Free Lightroom in there, for the 22k.

They include 1 battery. I wonder how much another will cost?

Well, they are charging $5000 USD / Â£3096 premium for a glass LCD cover and a customer service upgrade, so I'm assuming it would be a case of "If you got to ask, you probably can't afford it!"

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073001leicassystemprice.asp

Note that's a pro level service package that eats most of the cost. A reasonable upgrade for the working pro. Throwing in the sapphire Glass LCD cover is kinda silly though, as it's about $5 worth of materiel and should probably be stock (not that I've ever found standard tempered glass covers to scratch easily).

Aug 15, 2009 at 01:57 PM

EOS20
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p.1 #13 · Leica S2

Looks like you will get a lens with the camera (Doesn't say which one though) and it will be marketed as being a "Basic Kit"

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081601leicassystemspecs.asp

I wonder if everyone will go around referring to the lens as being "The kit lens"

Aug 16, 2009 at 04:29 PM

kidtexas
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p.1 #14 · Leica S2

mawz wrote:

Note that's a pro level service package that eats most of the cost. A reasonable upgrade for the working pro. Throwing in the sapphire Glass LCD cover is kinda silly though, as it's about $5 worth of materiel and should probably be stock (not that I've ever found standard tempered glass covers to scratch easily).

I think you also get a free shutter replacement with the top level service package.

On a side note, sapphire glass is pretty expensive. I know sapphire vacuum windows are a LOT more expensive than glass/quartz ones, so I looked around for some sapphire blanks. A 1 inch diameter piece costs $65 from edmunds, while a 3" circle costs $550. I'm sure Leica can get it for a bit cheaper, but still. This is not $5 worth of material, especially for a 3" screen. Though I do think it's funny, putting sapphire glass on a camera - what's wrong with regular glass?

edmund optics

Aug 16, 2009 at 04:41 PM

telyt
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p.1 #15 · Leica S2

kidtexas wrote:... I do think it's funny, putting sapphire glass on a camera - what's wrong with regular glass?

The difference is scratch resistance. Sapphire is nearly as scratch-resistant as diamond. On the Mohs hardness scale, ordinary window glass is 5.5, sapphire is 9 and diamond is 10. I don't know how the typical camera LCD cover rates.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness

Aug 16, 2009 at 07:25 PM

kidtexas
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p.1 #16 · Leica S2

Yeah i know. It sounds like overkill though to me.

Aug 16, 2009 at 10:26 PM

telyt
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p.1 #17 · Leica S2

kidtexas wrote:
Yeah i know. It sounds like overkill though to me.

It's overkill for lots of us. We're not the target market.

Aug 16, 2009 at 10:33 PM

Beni
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p.1 #18 · Leica S2

One focus point, 96% viewfinder. Camera body pretty much on par with early '90's amatuer level camera design. A service package as an extra on the camera and separately on lenses that doesn't even match the $500 all equipment top level CPS membership which is incidentally free still in most of the world to pros.

Aug 17, 2009 at 12:42 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #19 · Leica S2

Aug 17, 2009 at 12:53 PM

mawz
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p.1 #20 · Leica S2

Beni wrote:
One focus point, 96% viewfinder. Camera body pretty much on par with early '90's amatuer level camera design. A service package as an extra on the camera and separately on lenses that doesn't even match the $500 all equipment top level CPS membership which is incidentally free still in most of the world to pros.

Early 90's amateur 35mm or current MF Pro DSLR spec. 100% finders and high point count AF units are unknown in the MF world. Note the H3DII and 645AFDIII both have similar finder specs (albeit based on 645 format, so they're larger as a practical matter) and the AFDIII has 3 point AF while the H3DII gets by with a single cross-type sensor.

Aug 17, 2009 at 01:14 PM

telyt
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p.1 #21 · Leica S2

Pixel Perfect wrote:
But it's lcd is almost entry level, having 1/2 the pixels of most DSLR's these day. You can see no expense is being spared.

It's an organic LCD: no backlight required, faster response, more accurate colors.

Aug 17, 2009 at 01:37 PM

telyt
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p.1 #22 · Leica S2

I wrote:It's an organic LCD: no backlight required, faster response, more accurate colors.

Correction: only the display on the top panel is an OLCD. the back display is a regular LCD.

Aug 18, 2009 at 12:58 AM

RCicala
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p.1 #23 · Leica S2

Some more information released to dealers yesterday in question-answer format, in case anyone's interested:

What's the resolution of A/D converter inside the camera? 14bit

Does the camera support pixel binning? No, because the sensor does not support pixel binning.

What are the ISO steps? ISO1/2 steps

Does it support DNG+JPEG writing?
It does support DNG + JPG. The high quality JPGs are created in the camera, the only medium format camera to do so. The LEICA S2 has slots for both Compact Flash and SD, with an option for saving RAW format Adobe DNG data onto Compact Flash and JPEG to the SD card, simultaneously.

Does it support exposure bracketing? Yes

What about EV compensation range? 1/2 steps

Is there a AE lock button? There are “soft” buttons on the S2 that may be programmed to suit the photographer. AE, AF and/or AE+AF lock. And there is AE lock on the release button. The shutter release button has three positions: 1st position is auto focus, 2nd is AE lock, third position is the shutter release.

Is AF micro adjustment user-controllable? No. Perfect adjustment are done a the factory. Each lens has individually. adjusted data stored internally.

Does it support WB bracketing? No

Can I set WB using Kevin temperature? Absolutely yes.

Is there an orientation sensor? Yes

Moiré detection and suppression using digital signal processing? Only for JPG not for DNG

No special raw processing needed? This is correct. You can pull the images directly into Lightroom or any software program reading DNG format.

Is it possible to enlarge the image and check focusing on the back LCD? Yes.

Does it work under -20 °C, or may be -30 °C? this is very important to me because winter is simply too long, too brutal in my area. It has so far been tested to about –10 C and further testing is indicated to confirm lower temperatures.

Aug 19, 2009 at 12:11 PM

mawz
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p.1 #24 · Leica S2

RCicala wrote:
Some more information released to dealers yesterday in question-answer format, in case anyone's interested:

What's the resolution of A/D converter inside the camera? 14bit

Hmm, comparably priced MFDB's are 16bit. Another spec-list fail for the Leica, but like the LCD not one that's likely to seriously affect shooting with it.

What I'm seeing more and more from the S2 is a camera that should cost $15k and win on price/performance and size/performance over the equivalent-MP MFDB's but instead costs $25k and looks to underperform slightly against a H3DII-39 or 645AFDIII/P40+.

Aug 19, 2009 at 05:01 PM

kidigital
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p.1 #25 · Leica S2

Have you used the 645AFDI, II or III bodies? Ack ... it's like being in a time warp from 15 years ago. The S2 won't be perfect, but it looks to be an upgrade compared to most current medium format cameras. It's not advanced as the most recent Canikon DSLRs, but it looks to be a step in the right direction. I'm most interested to see what the image quality will look like. Leica has done a great job with lenses lately (for a very small company) and any improvements in MF lens design will also be an excellent step forward.

Aug 19, 2009 at 05:13 PM


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