It's the same discussion which occurred already in 2013 after Sony released the first camera with 36 MP FF sensor after Nikon came out with the D800 a year earlier. Lots of arguing especially from camera brands which did not yet come up with a similar resolution in FF sensors at the time (Canon). Same alley: high MP is not needed, it does not improve the photography, is just makes photography more difficult without visible gain, you only need it when printing large, it's just a hype for nothing etc etc.
Time forward, only after a few years most of those who argued like this bought silently their own Sony or Nikon high res FF camera and post photos with this kind of gear since. Rarely anyone ever went back to 24 MP. Suddenly those cameras were more in demand than the 24 MP counterparts. 24 MP FF can still work fine for many, but it is outdated tech at this point. The question is only if your vision is better off with low res or if you can max out the high res sensor. I can see both: street photographers probably won't care too much about high MP. Studio and landscape photographers on the other hand do.
After the Leica M10 was released, I questioned in the Leica online forum why Leica shooters one one hand want often to have the best high resolving glass but limit themselves with 24 MP sensor resolution. I suggested > 3 years ago that Leica approaches this similar to Sony by installing parallel product lines to choose from - what we seen similarly with the A7, the A7R, and A7S lines. Maybe even a monochrome line by itself. I was mostly booed for this suggestion. Now Leica did exactly this - the M10(-P), the M10-M, and M10-R to choose from.
Following the high res FF sensor market closely for many years now, I predict that the M10-R will become a big success for Leica no matter of initial people stating that the high res is not needed. Let's get real: this will be the new standard sensor resolution in upcoming years. But as I said, 24 MP might be sufficient also for many others especially when being price considerate.
Lets wait and see Steve's video in 2022 about the M10-R which he somehow "got" and loves.....
Jul 18, 2020 at 01:14 PM
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