I don't think there is a big enough market for an over-sized Nikon or Canon. .....
We have to remember that Leica basically had to start from scratch. The R system was all manual focus lenses, so not only did it need all new AF lenses, the body also had to conform to AF. Leica said there was no way they could compete with Nikon or Canon with a 35mm DSLR, so they went their own way. Given today's sensor technology and pixel pitch, I could easily see a 60 meg S3 without changing the current sensor size or size of the camera ... and the lenses are more than up to it. It'd be over-kill IMHO, but would make a nice studio and location camera for some applications I suppose.
-Marc
I guess I have to agree with Marc (see my bolded area) ...and it is one reason I revived this thread...although limited to three cameras, it raises overall issues of where MF is going...
I have been so busy I missed the last 12 mos of thinking here, and now look back on the P25, P45, P65 IQ180 asw ell as several trips with the S2 and M9. I am wondering whether the 40-50MP range really IS the 'sweet spot" MAYBE up to 60. I think Guy made a persussive argument for the IQ160, and I feel IQ,
useable IQ leveled off at the p45+. (Son recently said he thought that was the Phase One "peak")
Now, for various reasons I am reworking my whole setup (also had a whole room of almost new, unused equipment to sell) and wanted a clean start. I consideredP1/IQ160, Alpa with P45+ and an M9 or just the S2...
Although this thread tested more head to head in the 40MP range, it does open up the thinking on where we should focus...maybe better ISO? better lenses?
So many people here mention the Leica S2 "je ne sais quoi" that I don't think it is all imagination. So, all measurements aside, when you SEE that a camera captures the quality you want, does it matter if you pick up a few more cracks in the cement floor in the shadows???
One last observation; this is the only real MF thread I found on MF backs (and no dedicated Phase One IQ1x0 thread!!!) for a couple of weeks, and nothing on the backs (and even the S2 images are relegated to a forum that is for "Leica M,X,R" no mention even of the S2. Yet is gets mentioned in BOTH sub fora.)
Oh well, just some random observations relative to MF...the bottom line is this; MF threads are talking about ancillary issues, DSLRs (D800 etc) and 'quasi-MF" (the S2) so that I wonder whether there really is now, a leveling off of technology, where we can get back to mostly talking about photography and less about equipment...
NOT!!!!!!:ROTFL:
Regards
Victor