New Leica S2 to be launched in October 09

[Patrick Scheller]

I was so hoping that Leica would finally understand the market they are in nowadays and make the S2 affordable - especially after their €100mio deficit the last year! And now they present the body alone for a laughable $22'000... I say the S2 will be their demise.
Even Nikon finally understood the sign of the times and the threat from RED!

:emote_hanged: R.I.P. Leica


Link: http://www.dpreview.com/news/0907/09073001leicassystemprice.asp

[Fredrik Callinggard]

I think you're forgetting that this is a medium format with a DSLR body and performance.

[Patrick Scheller]

Nope, I didn't forget anything. But obviously Leica did. Besides this is only almost a medium format camera... Usually medium format begins at 6x4.5cm size which is veeery far from the S2 sensor (30x45mm).

[David Rasberry]

S2 is half the price of a 39Mp Hasselblad. They have always been in the upper tier markets anyway. Might be a workable niche for them if the economy picks up a bit. I have one pro photographer friend who shoots nothing but Leicas unless it is a large format studio project.

[Fredrik Callinggard]

True, digital medium format is generally a little bigger around 36x48mm. So it's not bad (especially since it should perform as a DSLR) and the other cameras are most of them prized in the same league.

If they would sell more if they were prized better, most probably, but the hard part is to take that chance.

I have a feeling this will really tempt fashion photographers. To me it seems like it could be their dream camera?

[Patrick Scheller]

I very much doubt that. Fashion photographers like the big format sensors and of course the big lenses which give this special look. Leica just missed that too since their format is barely 25% bigger than 35FF. If at all it would have been interesting for sports photographers. But then also the lenses are not fast enough to be of any real impact. :ack2:

[Sanjin Jukic]

I very much doubt that. Fashion photographers like the big format sensors and of course the big lenses which give this special look. Leica just missed that too since their format is barely 25% bigger than 35FF. If at all it would have been interesting for sports photographers. But then also the lenses are not fast enough to be of any real impact. :ack2:

So then Leica is "stupid" and one Patrick "even" knows all that much better but doesn't have an opportunity to show it on another way.

Nowadays I would say that all the world has got a bit crazy... :huh:

[Evin Grant]

At this point the only thing that can save leica is the upcoming M9 full frame rangefinder.
That is if it's $6000 or less. Any more than that and it's just a novelty. I have no doubts that the S2 will find a home with many high end photographers who want medium format quality and DSLR speed and convenience, but it's not a product that Leica can survive on alone.

[Noah Kadner]

Doesn't most of Leica's income these days come from OEM lenses to companies like Panasonic? Just about every fixed-lens camera from Panasonic today features a Leica lens. I doubt they're going away- at least as a company. Perhaps as a camera maker though.

Noah

[KETCH ROSSi]

Even if I believe this belongs in the OFF TOPIC..

Leica has produced an incredible camera with the S2, what is even more incredible are the Lenses, those that have had the possibility of finding out first hand, will know, this are top notch glass, and will be a sure asset on the Epic 645, no doubt.

Their price point is right were all the other manufacturers are, The Hasselblad H3DII 39 list @ 21k and the Hasselblad H3D 50 @ 26k.

What RED has done in Cinema and about to do again, this time incorporating Photography, is unprecedented, and can't expect any time soon for others to follow Jim in such a drastic approach.

The Epic 645 is the only one that is on the same level (and above off course) as the above mentioned cameras and we also are talking about 40k Body only.

The fact of the Frame rate, Cinema up to 9k and so on, make it off course an incredible camera, nonetheless to have MP up and above the 30MP in such Sensor size will cost you money.

But I think we can't yet compare with a camera not yet here any ways, the feature will look very great once the Scarlet/Epic will be out that is a fact but not yet!

ciao

[peter roehsler]

This camera may be a case of too late - too expensive. It´s not the basic outfit´s price tag only. Professionals will have to use their system with 2 bodies, 3-5 (and up) lenses etc
I see a market for this camera with lawyers, dentists, sheiks etc and devout Leica enthusiasts, who will need to have it. i dare to predict that it will not have a great impact on the market for high end DSLRs. Whether Leica survives this adventure remains to be seen ...

[KETCH ROSSi]

Just as a side note, I have been a Avid Canon Shooter for the past twenty years, still I just can't wait to be able to sale my entire Canon system in exchange for the DSMC system!

ciao

[Jamison Stark]

At this point the only thing that can save leica is the upcoming M9 full frame rangefinder.

Perhaps in September with the sensor from the 5DII? But all these Sep. 9, 2009 at 9:09 rumors seem kinda hokey. Who knows.

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

http://leicarumors.com/2009/07/01/leica-m9-to-use-canon-sensor.aspx/

http://leicarumors.com/2009/08/02/chasseur-dimage-magazine-leica-m9-in-september.aspx/

Speaking of Leica, I really hope DSMC includes an approved Leica M mount!!!

[Andrew clemson]

Are there any leica mounts for the R1?

[Sanjin Jukic]

This camera may be a case of too late - too expensive. It´s not the basic outfit´s price tag only. Professionals will have to use their system with 2 bodies, 3-5 (and up) lenses etc
I see a market for this camera with lawyers, dentists, sheiks etc and devout Leica enthusiasts, who will need to have it. i dare to predict that it will not have a great impact on the market for high end DSLRs. Whether Leica survives this adventure remains to be seen ...

Leica Camera’s Vice President of Marketing Christian Erhardt talked to PDN Gear Guide:

“People always forget when looking at the camera the fact that it’s actually a medium format solution with a sensor that is 56% larger than a full-frame 35mm digital SLR, many people have been comparing it to SLR cameras and there are certain features (on the S2) that just cannot be compared to a DSLR.”

He went further to comment on the Leica S2 AF system:

“Speed was a primary concern when we designed this product,” he said. “We believe we will have the fastest autofocus in the medium format category, the fastest frame rate, and the fastest image processing.”


LINK>>> (http://leicarumors.com/)

[Shane Betts]

Are there any leica mounts for the R1?

Sounds like a question for Sanjin!:tongue_smilie:

[Patrick Scheller]

@Sanji: Leica has mostly made cameras for their die-hard fans. The kind of people who would never use any other. And I respect your enthusiasm for Leica. That doesnt change the facts though:
1. Leica is in a financially critical situation with huge losses
2. Their distribution system is not very efficient (heard stories from my local photo-shop)
3. The S2 is still not a medium format camera, just a 25% more in diagonal than FF35. Medium format begins at 6x4.5cm a far cry from S2!

About the future of Leica I see that it may also shift away from camera manufacturing as Evin said. Their only really profitable products are lenses (those they make for other manufacturers) the Panasonic cameras with the Leica logo may stay too because that's not costing them so much and it's easy to house the electronics from the biggest producer world-wide :tongue_smilie:

[Sanjin Jukic]

@Sanji: Leica has mostly made cameras for their die-hard fans. The kind of people who would never use any other. And I respect your enthusiasm for Leica. That doesnt change the facts though:
1. Leica is in a financially critical situation with huge losses
2. Their distribution system is not very efficient (heard stories from my local photo-shop)
3. The S2 is still not a medium format camera, just a 25% more in diagonal than FF35. Medium format begins at 6x4.5cm a far cry from S2!

About the future of Leica I see that it may also shift away from camera manufacturing as Evin said. Their only really profitable products are lenses (those they make for other manufacturers) the Panasonic cameras with the Leica logo may stay too because that's not costing them so much and it's easy to house the electronics from the biggest producer world-wide :tongue_smilie:

Die hard or not but Leica glass is one of the best in its class.

Also I had here already before very critic point of view of what Leica was doing in the last years especially in the connection to the "never happened" Leica cine glass.

[Alexander Christ]

Are there any leica mounts for the R1?

http://actionproducts.ch/apshop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=87

[KETCH ROSSi]

http://actionproducts.ch/apshop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=87

You do understand that this mount is for "R" series Leica Glass, and not for the newly design Central Shutter larger format Glass of the Leica S2 lenses.

ciao

[Patrick Scheller]

Die hard or not but Leica glass is one of the best in its class.
Also I had here already before very critic point of view of what Leica was doing in the last years especially in the connection to the "never happened" Leica cine glass.
I totally agree the lenses for the M-Series are usually very great. And it would have been nice indeed to see some ciné lenses rather than those S2 ones. And btw. I also buy the LFI magazine sometimes, I like the image of Leica but they don't offer anything I would buy - alas.

[morgan_moore]

My primary trade is stills photographer

I have not even read about the Leica

Stills gear lust ended with the D3

When I spent out on a Hassy and 22mp $20k four years ago it was a radical machine

no other digital camera could match film (most digital files were being rejected by magazines) - the cost was offset in months in film/processing/workflow savings

Now that cost offset can be done by nikon or canon for 1/4 the price

I love a big sensor but not that much (and still have the bigger sensor hassy)

I will absolutely keep my money in the bank waiting for the first DSLR with a 25/24p decent codec/RAW/XLRs movie camera under $10k with a chip at least S35 size for movie and FF35 for stills

S

[Nova Invicta]

Leica are one of the most respected optical designers in the world and its in everyones interest that they continue to prosper, admittedly the S2 system is a gamble but as even basic DSLRs now have high image quality exclusivity is what Leica is about and that means going up the scale when they went down the scale they ran into huge problems.
Secondly anyone writing off Canon are badly mistaken it is a completely vertically integrated company making its own sensors, camera & lenses and with over 50 lenses in its arsenal not many other companies can come close.
Thirdly sensor size is not the only parameter to consider its just as important to consider the colour space conversion i.e. the software that actually gives you the image from that raw data and again this is a complete science in itself as most people in the know can attest to.
The DSMC will have a lot of competition and in my book thats good for everyone it keeps innovation going and prices down

[Sanjin Jukic]

I'm going to Leica event at October 9 in Vienna and then tell you more about S2...

Till then have a look at the picture below from the last Leica presentation:

http://homepage.mac.com/sanjinjukic/RED/LeicaS2_RED1.jpg
One amazing duo: RED One with Leica Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 and Leica S2.



Stay tuned...

[Dave Blackham]

Any one know what the flange to sensor distance and the mount apature on the S2 ?

[G Lap]

There is a Leica Event expected on 9 September, rumoured to be for the M9 although there is some talk of other product announcements. Most of the rumours seem to expect an additional camera model, but some are hinting that 'other products' refers to Leica cinema lenses.