Leica's new MF system

[pss]

finally something to break the stupid DSLR/MF mold...i hope we are done with these categories now for good...

this camera is looking better and better: the phase alliance makes a HUGE difference....we all know that capture/mpix is one thing, workflow and color a totally different animal....and i don't think leica would have managed to handle the whole package and make it work....

so we have a camera a little bigger then a 5D, with a very nice size sensor with more mpix i will ever need, with decend AF (i like the way they square it off against H, not canon)....the best digital know how in the market regarding workflow (phase one) and the best lenses available..ever...leica glass....

in order to mix up the market they have to sell it for 12000.....which won't happen mostly because leica wold not even be able to keep up with the orders for years....this is a family owned company after all.....

for 15000 this is still a steal...the Hy6, H31,...are 18000 and are bigger, heavier, slower and probably provide similar quality (bigger chips, less mpix)....BUT THEY ARE PROVEN

the inclusion of phase with this gives it a LOT of credibility IMO.....so it just comes down to price....

and really i am not concerned about the body at all....it is the lenses....a leica T/S 30mm? that has got to be at least 7-8000$....so a nice kit would probably be 20000 just for the lenses....

the m8 is a GREAT camera, but it took more then one year to get things right....and now it ROCKS....i never had any leica lens problems (other then making all other lenses look like s..t)...

too bad the 5DmkII is looking unbeatable and a total no-brainer for the money....

just shot a 10 page editorial with the dsIII (flash at 100 and available (no light really) up to 1600).....full double spreads, even at 1600 at 11x14, i don't see much grain (no noise ninja or such and i really expected to see more....) the camera just shoots and shoots....if the 5D is even better.....the only reason to go with ANYTHING else would be to provide the "dog and pony show" for the client who just does not want their stuff shot with a 2500 camera....

[pss]

Sure, there are lots of questions about price, concerns about reliability out of the gate, timing of actual delivery, etc., Maybe they will fall on their face, but personally I think Leica should be applauded. Who else in this space has thrown out the existing blueprint completely and invested the R&D dollars to develop from scratch a brand new professional format camera and a brand new line of lenses to match? I admire companies that think outside the box and invest serious R&D dollars to develop products that meet needs in the marketplace. No repackaging of someone else's sow's ear at four times the price.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223354\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i agree completely...

[tho_mas]

Sensor was designed and is owned by Phase One; Dalsa is only manufacturing it.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223349\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

interesting!

Pixel Binning unlike anything ever seen before. Allows variable resolution and good ISO 1600 performance.[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223349\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

sounds amazing. ISO1600 at full resolution of 60MP or at half or fourth the resolution?

[Christopher]

Mamiya already annouced the ZDb with double buffer and nothing new otherwise. While the sensor is the same as an Aptus 22, the ZD back just comes up so short.

Now to this new Leica. I'm impressed!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223361\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Leica could have done the best thing for a long time here. There are just two very important things that hopefully will be answered soon. The price and when it will ship.

[tho_mas]

Oh yeh, CO V4.5 Pro OCtober 15, superb. [a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223361\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This year?
...scnr...

[woof75]

Product pictures British Journal of Photography  http://www.1854.eu/2008/09/leica_s2_13_pho...of_the_new.html

Release summer 2009 http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=816234
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223364\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Drool....

[pss]

Product pictures British Journal of Photography  http://www.1854.eu/2008/09/leica_s2_13_pho...of_the_new.html

Release summer 2009 http://www.bjp-online.com/public/showPage.html?page=816234
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223364\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

ok now all rational thought goes out the window....with the vertical grip this is the most beautiful camera i have ever seen.....20000 for body and lens should be realistic.....but summer 2009 is a long way off...a lot can happen till then....and a one point AF system does not sound very interesting...there i am trying to be rational again....

[EricWHiss]

Eye piece does look large - hope that is also nice and bright - almost makes up for the single AF point.

[Christopher]

never mind.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223374\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

This camera looks so nice, but sorry 20.000 is a deal breaker. Well take 4 lenses and you are where ? 35.000 ?

[Bernd B.]

Take a Hasselblad and you have about the same price.

Hopefully the Leica has not the Hasselblad mirror slap.


Bernd

[Graham Mitchell]

Looks like the leaf shutter lenses will go up to 1/500. Slightly disappointing (not that I'm lining up to buy one anyway  )

See article (in German): http://www.fotomagazin.de/news/detail.php?...6&objectID=1896

[gwhitf]

"Dentists and Outgoing CEO's unite! Come to the front of the line -- do WE have a camera for YOU!"

[Anthony R]

"Dentists and Outgoing CEO's unite! Come to the front of the line -- do WE have a camera for YOU!"
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223385\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

echo +rental houses

[Quentin]

Roll on the rumoured Nikon MX format camera.  

Quentin

[bradleygibson]

I'm thinking their ergonomics dept. got better between the S1 & S2...  

http://photo.net/leica-rangefinders-forum/00GqzV
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223281\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

[John Camp]

The price is critical.

If it has the crop ability of the Nikon D3 -- the ability to use DX lenses on an FX camera in a crop mode -- so that you can use R lenses (with an adapter) on the Leica, as essentially a full-frame Leica R, allowing you to buy the MF lenses later, that would help a lot of people -- and it should be doable, unless there a problem with the lens mount that wouldn't allow an adapter. A crop mode would also help in the sense that you could buy a cheaper and older R as a disaster back-up camera, rather than buying two S2s.

The fact that it is weather-sealed could be significant for some shooters, especially those who do outdoor ocean and desert fashion/automotive shoots.

But I gotta bad feeling -- that the price is going to be exorbitant ($20,000 euros is exorbitant) and that ninety percent of their market could go with the new Nikon, which I don't believe is a rumor.

JC

[timhurst]

"Dentists and Outgoing CEO's unite! Come to the front of the line -- do WE have a camera for YOU!"
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223385\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Pah, this camera is for Batman only!

The design of this thing is stunning.

[rainer_v]

The price is critical.

If it has the crop ability of the Nikon D3 -- the ability to use DX lenses on an FX camera in a crop mode -- so that you can use R lenses (with an adapter) on the Leica, as essentially a full-frame Leica R, allowing you to buy the MF lenses later, that would help a lot of people -- and it should be doable, unless there a problem with the lens mount that wouldn't allow an adapter. A crop mode would also help in the sense that you could buy a cheaper and older R as a disaster back-up camera, rather than buying two S2s.

The fact that it is weather-sealed could be significant for some shooters, especially those who do outdoor ocean and desert fashion/automotive shoots.

But I gotta bad feeling -- that the price is going to be exorbitant ($20,000 euros is exorbitant) and that ninety percent of their market could go with the new Nikon, which I don't believe is a rumor.

JC
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=223395\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i am pretty sure that you cant use 35mm lenses for shorter distance between lens and mirror, whih has to be larger ona larger sensor.

[EricWHiss]

According to this guy on the LUG there will be an adapter to use the R lenses on the S2....  If true then that's some good news.  See below....

From: Charlie Chan

I met Dr Kaufmann at the Goodwood Revival motorsport meeting in the UK  
on Friday and Saturday. He espied my DMR and 280/4 APO and came to  
have a chat. I noticed his M8 and said how disappointed I was with the  
shutter noise. He said he had a M8.2 and would I like to try it - very  
quiet. He was a really nice guy and committed to Leica and their  
cameras. We had a chat about future developments and said that the R10  
is real and will be announced next fall. There will be an adapter in  
the meantime for using R lenses on the new S mount, but this will come  
later.

Charlie

[lance_schad]

interesting!

 sounds amazing. ISO1600 at full resolution of 60MP or at half or fourth the resolution?
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

1600iso will result in a 15MP file.

Lance Schad
Capture Integration - Miami/Atlanta
Direct: 305-534-5701 x1 | Cell: 305-394-3196
[a href=\"http://www.captureintegration.com]Capture Integration [/url]