I had the opportunity today to view a whole bunch of images that were taken by David from Dale Photo (MIami) in August with a prototype of the S2.
Viewing a range of shots, from studio to landscape pictures, on tripod and hand-held, I have to say that it is the highest resolving camera I have ever laid my eyes on. What a difference, even to a Phase One P65 sample.
The camera is going to be insanely good, the detailed as viewed on a fully-zoomed JPG was seriously mind-boggling. And at $23k for the body, it seems more and more that it'll be a steal at that price.
Here's another idea: The average photographer's salary in the US was $24,000 in 2002. So, instead of "stealing" an S2 system for $40k from Leica, why dont you hire a photographer for a couple of years, send him to the Rockies and then sit back and make money from prints and stock photos?
Spyro P. wrote:
Here's another idea: The average photographer's salary in the US was $24,000 in 2002. So, instead of "stealing" an S2 system for $40k from Leica, why dont you hire a photographer for a couple of years, send him to the Rockies and then sit back and make money from prints and stock photos?
This is perhaps a wild statement, but something tells me the S2 has a small target market, and they are not the kind of people who sleep in cardboard boxes underneath bridges.
LeifG wrote:
This is perhaps a wild statement, but something tells me the S2 has a small target market, and they are not the kind of people who sleep in cardboard boxes underneath bridges.
Pixel Perfect wrote:
Or the sort of people that peruse this forum.
On a sample of one (me) I'd say you are correct.
Seriously though, that kind of camera will be for wealthy retired dot com millionaires who enjoy photography and organise vanity exhibitions, and the more successful working pros who can make the money back in a few well paid shoots.
Spyro P. wrote:
Here's another idea: The average photographer's salary in the US was $24,000 in 2002. So, instead of "stealing" an S2 system for $40k from Leica, why dont you hire a photographer for a couple of years, send him to the Rockies and then sit back and make money from prints and stock photos?
Wow, what a sample shot from the S2 on Farkas blog with the 70mm lens!
Makes the M9 look like s***!
Hope someone can figure out how to reverse engineer the electronic interface on the lens so we could use these incredible S2 lenses on a 1ds3 or 1ds4 next year!
Can't wait to see a detailed landscape shot with the camera.
I can not wait for him to post some of the long exposure shots he took at night time, as well as the hand-held outdoor shots. The detail is incredible.
With the artifacts in the shadows on that crop, and the oversharpened smudgy look, anyone can make their 5D2 files look exactly like that sample after upsizing.
In the right hands of course, the S2 is probably a great camera. I never go by someone's sample images. Especially Canon's samples. They're just awful.
VladiD wrote:
I had the opportunity today to view a whole bunch of images that were taken by David from Dale Photo (MIami) in August with a prototype of the S2.
Viewing a range of shots, from studio to landscape pictures, on tripod and hand-held, I have to say that it is the highest resolving camera I have ever laid my eyes on. What a difference, even to a Phase One P65 sample.
The camera is going to be insanely good, the detailed as viewed on a fully-zoomed JPG was seriously mind-boggling. And at $23k for the body, it seems more and more that it'll be a steal at that price.
As someone who has seen quite a few P65+ images, I would say the S2 file (shot at native ISO) looks impressive, though if you're saying there is a difference between that file and the files from a P65+ in favor of the S2 I would have to say you haven't seen what a P65+ can do. 37 megapixels behind Leica glass should render a very impressive file, however. As soon as we obtain raw files, and evaluate the operating performance and reliability of the product, we'll then consider whether to offer the product. I don't have any reason to believe that it will not be a successful product, especially for its target audience.
RobertP wrote:
With the artifacts in the shadows on that crop, and the oversharpened smudgy look, anyone can make their 5D2 files look exactly like that sample after upsizing.
In the right hands of course, the S2 is probably a great camera. I never go by someone's sample images. Especially Canon's samples. They're just awful.
Make that anyone - 1. I just pulled out some similar size shots with my 5D2 and nope, can't get that kind of detail myself. Not on one shot could I see the veins in the eyeball like that.
RCicala wrote:
I just pulled out some similar size shots with my 5D2 and nope, can't get that kind of detail myself. Not on one shot could I see the veins in the eyeball like that.
I can.
5D classic and some ancient $100 zuiko lens*:
Close enough? I think you can get 90% of that result with $2k, then you need to spend another $20k to get the remaining 10%. Up to you.
OMG! This camera resolves so much that it should be illegal
That sample image, is something I've never seen before. It reminded me when the first sample shots of canon 1Ds came out and we were all blown away by the detail it produced. I've not had that kind of a sensation since then, and that was like 6-7 years ago!
I've seen plenty of MF shots that look as good or better than that sample. Not trying to be a smart ass, but relatively speaking, I'm not super impressed with that sample. Still, the image quality isn't even the main selling point, it's the durability and handling of the body that make the S2 appealing.
wayne seltzer wrote:
Hope someone can figure out how to reverse engineer the electronic interface on the lens so we could use these incredible S2 lenses on a 1ds3 or 1ds4 next year!
