Digital Reflex S2 - please post all thoughts here...

[JohnG]

Looking forward to the live transmission on "the future of memories"

My local Leica dealer here in Perth WA said last week that the new R10? would be announced at Photokina and that the specs would be:

40mb sensor
AF
EUR 25000-30000

Will soon find out if he was telling the truth or spinning a story!

John G

[stunsworth]

John, I think he was telling the truth, but the camera is not the R10.

Not long to go until we know.

[pcsmythe]

What about a 4/3 Leica R? Panasonic has come out with a 4/3 camera (image) and Leica is said to be committed to 4/3. Could the press release be about an R-mount 4/3 camera?

[martinb]

Flickr Photo Download: leica-s-

This is it!
Very impressive! but probably a boring price tag of course..

[pcsmythe]

Geez Louise! Talk about a ground-breaker. Bye, bye Mamiya 7.

[andybarton]

That is what we have been waiting for

What an amazing achievement - now let's see some output!

[RobMac]

Re-cap for from link:

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.

Tech will eventually 'trickle down' to a new R
No word on if will take R glass, but will likely need adapters if will take them in any crop mode.

Logic - assuredly debatable.

IMHO - will have a TOUGH time permeating professional MF user market due to (in no order) only (I assume) Leica lenses can be used, cost, Leica service & support, penetration into rental houses, etc. Neat concept, but....

[mooky]

Assuming that is it, I think it's WAY COOL!!!!!!!

Yes, it probably will not fit many of our pocket-books, but the R is still coming!!!! It looks like Leica is back!!!! (if this is all true)

That camera would be something to save, and save, and save for.....But if I can still use my R lenses, I can live with the idea that this is a serious committment to all Leica users.

[sdai]

The new camera is supposed to be good ... looks ugly though.

So Andreas' webcast has only ONE thing left ... the fate of R.

[andybarton]

NO! It looks like son of R8/R9 - looks fine to me.

They said it would be a Canon/Nikon killer and they're right, on paper.

Who will be the first to ask for this sensor in an M9?

[sdai]

I assume the Summarit 2.5/75 is the standard lens of the new system, why can't they make it even faster? optics is always Leica's stronghold, Contax has a 2/80 for a real 645.

[martinb]

It's very impressive, but a big advantage with medium format to me is the digital back. You can use it on view cameras and when a new one comes around just change the back. You can also shoot film if wanted. Apart from this the S2 looks very impressive!

[jaapv]

That is quite impressive. I can imagine it will be a great system for professional use. Having one system for both MF and reportage is a decided advantage imo. I cannot say I see any amateur buying into it, certainly not at that price level. But I take heart from the last paragraph. Let´s see what Leica has to say about the roadmap for the R system this Photokina.

[mooky]

It looks like a Leica,,,,,,

I think I said this already but if not; Most Excellent!!!!!! How many years have we all been waiting for something like this??? I think I'm going to have few good German beers ready to go with the chips at 12 CDT!!!!!!!!

[pierovitch]

Textless

[jackal]

20k minimum GBP


clever though... if it can manage a significantly higher framerate than 1 /sec and is smaller than a 1ds MKii then they have created something for the moment that is unique and something that should definitely sell/get hired

cant see it being long though before canon drop a 40-50mp sensor in the 1ds

[andybarton]

This is a new type of camera. It's not an MF with interchangeable backs. It's not a FF "35mm" digital. It's something in between, in the body of an R9 on steroids.

It's that paradigm shift, that was discussed 6 months ago.

It's very, very welcome.

[sdai]

Originally Posted by andybarton

Who will be the first to ask for this sensor in an M9?

Leica could build a larger format rangefinder camera of course, the S sensor format is no where close to the size of a 6x7 Mamiya M7 so apparently there's a lot can be done.

Good luck to the M users, now start to pray that Leica won't drop the traditional M in favor of a super M. LOL

[jaapv]

Originally Posted by sdai

I assume the Summarit 2.5/75 is the standard lens of the new system, why can't they make it even faster? optics is always Leica's stronghold, Contax has a 2/80 for a real 645.

I guess because they want to keep the lenses smallish, to settle the camera as a top/end DSLR that just happens to be a MF camera.

[sdai]

Originally Posted by jaapv

Having one system for both MF and reportage is a decided advantage imo. .

No one will bring this to Iraq, what reportage? taking a street shot through your office window?