Stuart Richardson
Active member
Even with the current economic difficulties aside, it seems like now the pace of the megapixel wars is slowing down a bit. Pixel size can only get so much smaller before it starts to interfere in major ways with the integrity of the signal. We have had 39mp packs in medium format and 16+mp full frame 35mm chips for a few years now, and we have not moved leaps and bounds beyond that yet. I think 40mp is going to be a completely acceptable file size for quite a time to come! I would assume at least 3-4 years before it started to get clearly outclassed. The Phase One P45 was released in December 2005 and though the back has been upgraded, the sensor is basically the same -- still one of the best you can buy 3+ years later.
I don't think Leica is trying to compete as being the highest resolution offering, but rather to field the most well rounded camera in the larger than 35mm arena. Sacrificing that last bit of resolution for a smaller camera body and lenses, faster performance and better ISO performance. Or at least that's the idea...we'll see how it goes.
I don't think Leica is trying to compete as being the highest resolution offering, but rather to field the most well rounded camera in the larger than 35mm arena. Sacrificing that last bit of resolution for a smaller camera body and lenses, faster performance and better ISO performance. Or at least that's the idea...we'll see how it goes.