The scenario: As I slide down the slippery slope toward retirement (forced early by the greedy thieves on wall street and the banking industry ... and admittedly, my reluctance at my age to shlep back out into the dog-eat-dog, back stabbing advertising world for new employment), I've been reformulating my gear strategy to continue work exclusively as a pro photographer until they plant me.
The Problem: I have been very interested in the Leica S2 but balked at the specter of losing the abilities of my modular MF system ... as well as the S2 price ... "price" especially being a kill-joy when considering it as replacement for the Hassey H system which I would have to take a scalding bath on financially to sell.
Possible solution: Stop thinking of the S2 as a replacement for the MFD system ... instead replace the extensive 35mm DSLR stuff which cost a fortune to continuously upgrade ... and which may be close to maxed out in terms of "how many pixels can sit on the head of a pen".
Frankly, I really only need a three lens kit to do 95% of my paying work... wide, normal and telephoto. I don't need leaf shutter lenses on this kit if I kept the Hassey kit. Don't need macro or T/S either since the Hassey also already does that. With a bigger sensor and 37 meg there would be zero need to upgrade even if something like 30+ meg in 35mm did come along.
(I'd probably keep a few select 35mm pieces as back up and leave it at that).
One issue: how in the heck can I make this decision without having a real taste of how the S2 actually works? Can it function in the conditions I shoot in? How fast is it really? What is the 400 and 800 ISO really like?
Any other maker can get one of their products into a pro's hands for evaluation ... Like Hassey did, like Leaf did ... but as far as I can see the S2 has to be purchased like a "pig in a poke", or I'd have to travel somewhere to even lay hands on one. :banghead:
Whatdaysthink?
-Marc
The Problem: I have been very interested in the Leica S2 but balked at the specter of losing the abilities of my modular MF system ... as well as the S2 price ... "price" especially being a kill-joy when considering it as replacement for the Hassey H system which I would have to take a scalding bath on financially to sell.
Possible solution: Stop thinking of the S2 as a replacement for the MFD system ... instead replace the extensive 35mm DSLR stuff which cost a fortune to continuously upgrade ... and which may be close to maxed out in terms of "how many pixels can sit on the head of a pen".
Frankly, I really only need a three lens kit to do 95% of my paying work... wide, normal and telephoto. I don't need leaf shutter lenses on this kit if I kept the Hassey kit. Don't need macro or T/S either since the Hassey also already does that. With a bigger sensor and 37 meg there would be zero need to upgrade even if something like 30+ meg in 35mm did come along.
(I'd probably keep a few select 35mm pieces as back up and leave it at that).
One issue: how in the heck can I make this decision without having a real taste of how the S2 actually works? Can it function in the conditions I shoot in? How fast is it really? What is the 400 and 800 ISO really like?
Any other maker can get one of their products into a pro's hands for evaluation ... Like Hassey did, like Leaf did ... but as far as I can see the S2 has to be purchased like a "pig in a poke", or I'd have to travel somewhere to even lay hands on one. :banghead:
Whatdaysthink?
-Marc
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