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Leica S2 and Leica S2-P [a work in progress]
Release date: December 2009 (Leica Camera AG should have the first 200 samples ready for delivery in December 2009). I'll be trying the new Leica S2 in December so check back in February and see what I might have to say.
See David Farks' extensive review of a pre-production Leica S2 with sample photos here
or even better, his outdoor shoot added end of November 2009 here
Price: As announced on July 30, 2009, here's the UK prices excluding UK 15% VAT:
Leica S2 and Leica S2-P prices: |
Euro ex VAT |
£ ex VAT: |
US $ |
Leica S2 Black |
16,300 Euro |
13,910 Pounds |
22,995 $ |
Leica S2-P Black |
19,500 Euro |
16,600 Pounds |
27,995 $ |
70mm f/2.5 Summarit-S ASPH |
3,150 Euro |
2,692 Pounds |
4,495 $ |
70mm f/2.5 Summarit-S ASPH CS |
4,100 Euro |
3,500 Pounds |
5,995 $ |
180mm f/3.5 APO-Tele-Elmar-S |
4,600 Euro |
3,950 Pounds |
6,495 $ |
180mm f/3.5 APO-Tele-Elmar-S CS |
5,250 Euro |
4,485 Pounds |
7,495 $ |
120mm f/2.5 APO-Macro-Summarit-S |
4,600 Euro |
3,950 Pounds |
6,495 $ |
120mm f/2.5 APO-Macro-Summarit-S CS |
5,250 Euro |
4,485 Pounds |
7,495 $ |
35mm f/2.5 Summarit-S ASPH |
3,700 Euro |
3,140 Pounds |
5,295 $ |
35mm f/2.5 Summarit-S ASPH CS |
4,300 Euro |
3,675 Pounds |
5,995 $ |
Multifunction Handgrip-S |
870 Euro |
740 Pounds |
1,295 $ |
| Professional Battery Charger-S |
265 Euro |
225 Pounds |
399 $ |
| S-Body Premium Service |
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1,495 $ |
| S-Body Platinum Service |
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3,795 $ |
| S-Lens premium Service |
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495,00 $ |
| S-Lens Platinum Service |
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995 $ |
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For a comment on prices from Leica Camera's Vice President of Marketing Christian Erhardt, see this article.
Leica S2-P: Professional edition with Sapphire Glass minotor screen and S-Body "Platinum Service" + more (more details later)
Leica S2:
Sensor: 37.5 megapixel Kodak KAF-37500 CDD using microlenses, 14-bit with a native 12 f-stop dynamic range. Using Leica's unique Maestro processor, made for the S2 and coming R10 cameras.
ISO: 800 ISO is so far a definite obtainable goal with higher (1600-3200 ISO) being worked on. And with an extra option for the user of reducing file size to 1/4 (9.3 megapixel) and by joining pixels of four make it possible to shoot 4x higher ISO with same noise characteristics.
AF: Each lens will be tested in the factory and the actual AF-tolerance will be inserted into the lens so that no matter which camera the lens is attached to, the AF-mechanism will adjust to that lens. The accurate F-reading will be part of this as well (so that the reading is adjusted if the f/5.6 is f/5.5 or f/5.7).
There will be an extra AF-button added that was not on the prototype;
AF on/lock button.
The camera will have aperture-based focus shift
adjustment based on the accurate F-reading information in the lens.
Weather sealing: The camera is weather sealed with 35+ weather seals. The lenses too.
FPS: 1.5
frames per second and a 1GB+ buffer. S2 will support 600X UDMA 6 card (= continous shooting till the card is full; no buffer delays).
IR: Each lens will have built-in IR filter inside the lens (whereas other manufacturer has it as a glass in front of the sensor).
Two editions: S2-P with and S2 without safire glass on the screen, lenses with and without leaf shutter (CS).
Startup time: 0.3 second.
Weight: 1.3 kilo (excluding optional hand-/battery grip that can be mounted on the bottom of the camera). For comparison Hasselblad H3DII-39 weights 1.8 kilo, Nikon Dx3 weights 1.3 kilo, Mamya 645AFDIII with P45+ 1.8 kilo, Sinar Hy6 w/eMotion 75 1.9 kilo, Canon 1Ds Mark III 1.4 kilo.
Software: The S2 and S2-P ships with a full version of Adobe Lightroom and new tethered shooting software which will allow to shoot images right into Lightroom. Leica’s tethered shooting “plug in” functions with any software that has a “Hot Folder function” and processes DNG’s.
DNG and JPG at the same time: Provides instant JPEG image output aside from DNG.
Pro Service: Leica "will offer a service and support concept that provides the greatest possible security and support for photographers working with the Leica S2. The concept includes integrated standard features such as a pool with replacement cameras and a leasing programme, as well as expert local contacts.
CS & FPS: First digital AF medium format camera that offers CS 1/500 sec & FPS 1/4000 sec.
Read more at David Farkas Photography Blog
Read this July 14, 2009 article about an Leica S2 demo at Fotocare on Manhatten, New York.
Will I be getting one?
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Thorsten Overgaard with the sample Leica S2 in the Leica Mayfair Store in London. Photo: Emma Brumpton |
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Frankly, I know I will at some point. The cons is the file size which is overkill for me, and then of couse that I would have to change my complete digital R system with lenses into S2. My guess is that in two years time software and computers will be capable of handling the 37.5 MB files as easily as the 12 and 18 MP files of today.
The pro is the AF and the simplicity. So far I've handled the prototype and I think the 70mm looks promising and hope to be able to test the camera and examine my own files soon. The samples I've seen so far (made by others) has been dull and have made me fear that the lenses are dull in terms of light handling and bokeh. All who've tested the camea so far seem to have been obsessed with the sharpness of details. But with a 37.5 MP sensor and Leica glass, I mean ... that is about the only thing that is 200% given. Of course the Leica S2 will be sharp (and it is)!
What we also know from just the pre-production samples is that colors are going to be heavenly.
So when I say the 70mm looks "promising," I mean the sparkling bokeh I saw in the viewfinder. It really looked like it could create special files to die for. Which is contrary to the samples I've seen by others so far.
But how is the handling of the gear, how is the sound and how does the atmosphere in the files (the handling of light) look? That is the real questions. In any case ... more later! I know Leica is aiming at fashion and studio photo, but I also see it as an all-round camera for those who use Hasselblad for portraits, wedding, architecture, etc. today. In fact, I doubt the lenses come to their full right in the studio with flash lamps.
'll be adding lots of info onto this site as soon as I get a minute. Meanwhile, enjoy this very informative video from Photokina: |
