http://www.flickr.com/photos/29782425@N08/2879015170/sizes/l/
Designed to appeal to photogs who have MF kit and DSLR - sort of hybrid between the two
Is 'long-term investment' for Leica (aka betting firm on it me thinks)
37MP
30mm x 45mm sensor - 56% larger than FF
SLR-esque body
New lenses, some leaf shutter for higher flash sync
$$$ - unknown but assured to be nasty (rumored at Euro 25-30,000 - I assume body or body+kit lens)
Tech will eventually 'trickle down' to a new R (that said, sounds as if S2 and M8 will be the linchpin products for Leica)
No word on if will take R glass, but will likely need adapters IF will take them.
Logic - assuredly debatable.
Very interesting tech but IMHO - will have a TOUGH time permeating professional MF user market due to (in no order) only (I assume) Leica lenses can be used, likely cost, Leica service & support, penetration into rental houses, etc.
Very neat concept but going smack up against 30MP+ MF systems from Hassy, Phamiya, Sinar, etc - all of which are dropping in price like a rock, have much greater market penetration, wider lens selection (and cross-platform use of lenses with stop-down), wider Svc & Support operation - and established reputations re: electronics reliability.
Also with MFDB prices dropping and the advent of $2700 21MP FF DSLRs, many photogs can more easily afford to have both a MFDB and DSLR and, with adapters, have a backup unit of some repute on hand.
Designed to appeal to photogs who have MF kit and DSLR - sort of hybrid between the two
Is 'long-term investment' for Leica (aka betting firm on it me thinks)
37MP
30mm x 45mm sensor - 56% larger than FF
SLR-esque body
New lenses, some leaf shutter for higher flash sync
$$$ - unknown but assured to be nasty (rumored at Euro 25-30,000 - I assume body or body+kit lens)
Tech will eventually 'trickle down' to a new R (that said, sounds as if S2 and M8 will be the linchpin products for Leica)
No word on if will take R glass, but will likely need adapters IF will take them.
Logic - assuredly debatable.
Very interesting tech but IMHO - will have a TOUGH time permeating professional MF user market due to (in no order) only (I assume) Leica lenses can be used, likely cost, Leica service & support, penetration into rental houses, etc.
Very neat concept but going smack up against 30MP+ MF systems from Hassy, Phamiya, Sinar, etc - all of which are dropping in price like a rock, have much greater market penetration, wider lens selection (and cross-platform use of lenses with stop-down), wider Svc & Support operation - and established reputations re: electronics reliability.
Also with MFDB prices dropping and the advent of $2700 21MP FF DSLRs, many photogs can more easily afford to have both a MFDB and DSLR and, with adapters, have a backup unit of some repute on hand.
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The ZD looked appeared to me as a somewhat "get into MF at the basement" sort of camera, and though it promised a lot, it was not making as many marks for the pros that needed it to perform and perform and perform. Not saying this S2 is going to make that grade, but it does seem to have thought about some of the needs (dual shutter options), faster (?) AF lenses, T-S lenses from the start, a more robust sensor most likely, etc. The ZD may have talked about some of these future capabilities, but is it really delivering there? (Not slamming the ZD, just do not hear folks raving about it, or really talking about it so much. Most move up to the replaceable back version for greater flexibility and better IQ.) This S2 could fall victim to the same sort of things.....being more locked into the DSLR frame of mind, which dictates throw-away body as tech improves. Then again, maybe not, if the 37MP sensor size hits a real operating and IQ sweetspot. Not everybody wants/needs 50MP, and 15-20MP is just not enough. 