David, has any of these people questioned you regarding tethered workflow functions and performance, such as press-to-preview time, buffer performance, overlay/ layout/ grid facility and system requirements (PC/ Mac/ USB/ FW etc.) or are they eager enough to throw their proven+working solutions without caring about what the replacement is like?
Of course. Anyone considering a purchase of this amount is going to want as much information as they can get to make an informed decision. Some of my customers are switching for the very reason that they can't stand the workflow through Phocus and have dreamed about being able to go straight into CS4 or LR. Many photographers are already familiar with LR workflow and appreciate its digital asset management tools. The nature of the tethering solution from Leica is such that for photographers who want to use C1, they can. Open DNG standard (which C1 supports) with non-proprietary tethering s/w makes this possible. If Phocus supports DNG and hot folders, they could use that as well. Remember that no DAC or LCC corrections are necessary, so the user has ultimate choice for his or her preferred workflow.
Detailed tech specs will be available in less than two weeks, and I'm sure we'll get more tethering specific info at that time as well.
For some, tethering is just not part of their needs. For them, the S2 represents a freedom to go outside and be portable. For one of my customers, he will be taking the S2 on a three month trek through the Alaskan wilderness for his next book project. A traditional MFD solution just wouldn't work in this environment. Many others shooting on location will just be using an untethered workflow, as well, similiar to the way one would work with a D3x or 1DsIII.
- I agree with gwhitf on the definition of a "system" - I know very few people who buy a new MF camera with less than 2-3 lenses. Let's not forget that lenses for current MF cameras can be found 2nd hand and in many places are available in rental.
Of course, I agree to the definition of a system as well. My point was to illustrate that decisions at this level are serious ones. A camera with all 4 lenses would be $45,600. Some on my list only need two, some will get three, and a few are looking at all four and/or future lenses. Everyone's needs are different. A photographer I spoke to yesterday explained that he would only need a 30-90 for all of the work he does and would be replacing his existing MFD system. An architectural photographer I spoke to only needs the 35 to start, with the 24 later on. I've also spoken to some of the rental studios here in Miami and there is interest in the system. So, you'll probably be able to find an extra lens or backup body at rental, if needed.
- Lightest? Has anyone actually weighed a working production unit with 3 lenses and compared it to an equivalent Mamiya AFDII/ III?
I've weighed an H3DII at 3.8lbs without a lens. The S2 is 2.7lbs. H lenses and S lenses are very similiar in weight. The Mamiya is a bit on the heavy side due to still using AA batteries to power the camera.
- Any reason why the CS lenses don't go beyond 1/500, knowing that the shutters are smaller than those made for other 645/ 6X6 cameras?
The CS lenes don't go beyond 1/500th becuase Leica is able to achieve this speed at all apertures. In other words, the shutter would be capable of syncing faster at certain apertures, but is being limited so that 1/500th is consistent across the entire range. This is not how Hasselblad rates their sync speed. Instead, they use True Exposure in which "extremely fast exposures are compensated for with a marginal adjustment to the aperture, in order to keep the generated exposure independent of aperture setting. Only the fastest shutter speed combined with the smallest aperture setting could result in slightly flawed exposures, but fortunately this is a combination that rarely occurs." (taken from Hasselblad white paper on leaf shutters in HC lenses) 1/800th sounds better for marketing purposes, but for me, I'd rather know that the shutter speed and aperture I select won't be changed by the camera.
- Good LCD is useless if the preview shown on it is not good. I am not saying the one on the S2 is not good but it's not proven
The preview is very good. Playback and zoom to 100% are both instaneous, with no hourglass, pixelization, etc. The screen is 460K pixels(same res as iPhone screen), features image brightness adjustment, backlight intensity (discreet adjustments), and an ambient light sensor. The camera is capable of on-the-fly JPG rendering, so on-screen previews are fully rendered at 100%.
- AF performance: again this will have to be tested against the H system
Agree about the AF performance. All initial accounts and my personal experience say that it should be as good or better than the H3, and certainly much faster than pin-driven, motorless lens from Mamiya.
- Mirror slap: needs to be proven in files...
While the mirror slap will have to be shown in files as you suggest, anyone can immediately tell that the shutter is much better damped, faster, with less black-out, and far less vibration in the body. This will be pretty clear when people start using the S2.
As I represent no one but myself here, I am just questioning the real target market for this new system. Time will tell I guess.
Agreed. Time will tell after tech specs are provided, images are shown, comparisons are done, and photographers start using the S2.
David
