mammamia!

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

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

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

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.

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)"

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

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.

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...

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).

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

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

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 / £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

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 / £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).

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"

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.