Hi,
Leica could crop the 44x33 mm sensor to 44x30 mm and thus giving very much similar image size to the S (Type 007).
They could absolutely go with 44x33 mm, a lens that is good at 54mm diameter will also do well at 55 mm diameter.
The alternative is really 100 MP at 44x33mm, as Sony says that those sensors will be available 2018. Fuji has stated that the GFX lenses are designed for 100 MP and that obviously also applies to the X1D. I would expect that the 100 MP sensor will have on sensor phase detection.
So, I am 100% confident that:
- Both Fuji and Hasselblad go 100 MP in 2018 or early 2019.
- The new 100 MP sensor will yield better AF and better fetaures.
- I am also confident that the 2018 sensors will offer better DR and tonality compared to 2014 generation 50 MP CMOS.
One reason for this expectation is that the CMOS sensor used in the Nikon D810 seems to be a major improvement over say the Pentax 645Z sensor. It has significantly higher full well capacity per pixel than the 50 MP 44x33 CMOS.
Now, all this is based on experimental data and not real photographs. On the other hand, experimental data is sort of reliable, while in real world photography there are umpteen uncontrolled variables. Just as an example, ISO ratings may vary a lot.
DPreview does a lot of good testing, and they have raw files to download. If you have raw files, you can use a tool like RawDigger to find out exposure differences.
Just as an instance, MFD is often tuned towards protecting highlights. MFD systems typicall underexpose quite a bit and brighten the image in postprocessing. Sony has taken a similar approach on the A7rII. Histograms, zebras, everything is on the conservative side.
Once you open a correctly exposed file in say Capture One it looks overexposed, unless you select 'linear response curve". Lightroom takes another approach, they normally apply some highlight recovery by default, so images that are slightly overexposed look to be very good.
So, both Capture One and Lightroom do apply "alternate facts". That is a good reason for a photographer to use RawDigger, to find out about "true facts". But, alternate facts can work well. As an example, Capture One gives up on DR in order of protecting highlights while Lightroom goes the other way around, applying highlight recovery by default.
The Lightroom defaults make better use of the dynamic range of the sensor. On the other hand, Capture One always opt for aggressive noise reduction by default.
Best regards
Erik
An 80mpx S would have me pretty interested. Not that I could convert that interest into a purchase for some time–still paying off my Credo!–but I have a strong preference for the OVF. My only real dislike of the S is the 3x2 ratio sensor, as I much prefer 4x3. Would the S lenses cover the Sony sensor if they chose to go that way instead of CMOSIS?