Not sure how to approach this. I have been with the S system since the S2 via the S006 to now S007. I have gathered 6 lenses through the years, half used, half new. 2 CS. Stayed put through all the AF-problems, when a solution finally came, I sent in all my lenses for upgrade and paid a minimal fee.
I have travelled the world with the system: New York, California, Karakoram Highway, Kenya, Faroe Islands, Northern Norway. I am actually extremely happy with the system. When I look through my photos, 8 out of 10 of my favourites are taken with the S. I own a Canon Pro-2000 printer, and have printed images up to 60*210 cm, again very happy.
What are in my opinion the strengths of the system?
- I do a lot of travel and hiking, and prefer the DSLR format over the digital back format
- I need a weather sealed system, as I often travel in rough climate, snow, rain. The battery is very strong, even in tough climates.
- I prefer an optical viewfinder. I have had the SL. EVF is for framing, with OVF you can nail the perfect smile at the exact moment.
- I have a Profoto system, and need leaf shutter sometimes. I have 2 CS lenses (70 and 120mm)
- For me, the S is ergonomically perfect. I note that some criticise Leica for using the same body over 10 years. Well, it works, so why change? Has P1 or Hasselblad fundamentally changed?
To sum up: The key is versatility.
Personally, I am very happy with the optics. I have not done scientific comparisons with other brands, I am just very happy with the results. My understanding is that most S lenses have apertures close to 2-2,5, much stronger than many competitors. They give a "Noctilux" feeling, at Medium Format, very delicate.
So, the S3 comes out, late, and at a high price. I guess it has the same "overpriced ratio" as most Leica products, be it FF or APS-C. But it is a lot of money. The new Fuji comes out as low priced, but the standard Hassy and P1 are still priced very high.
What are the new features of the S3, and how the they play out in my situation?
- 64 mpix. Quite optimal for handheld in my opinion, which is what I do most. Yes, I know it is possible to shoot 150 mpix handheld as P1 has demonstrated, but in realistic situations, I very much doubt how much you benefit from higher mpix handheld. If you do more tripod/studio type of photography, and need higher mpix, feel free to pay for it. I will not. But I will consider 64. See Ming's articles about shot discipline.
- S3 brags about ISO 50.000. Let's conservatively assume it is 2 stops better that the S007. For me, going from S006 to S007 was a great step in expanding the usage envelope for Medium Format. You need a certain shutter speed handheld, and it is more critical with MF than FF. S3 is another major step into using MF in demanding situations. This has value for me, and as far as I know it is the best ISO performance of any MF camera.
- 3 pictures per second? Fine, in some demanding situations, but I definitely don't need more.
24k Euros is a lot of money. If I can sell my S007 for 8k+, and get a good deal, the gap is closing in. I get a wider usage envelope, more mpix, in a body that I know and love, with all the features that I have listed above, that are important for me. I am not willing to give up any of these for 100 mpix.
So, yes, I will consider upgrading. But I would like to see RAW images from the new sensor first - can the difference justify an upgrade?