S2 is a Dream

[roguewave]

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Amy let me take some frames today at the rollout. This camera is best thing I have ever had in my hands that captures images. The camera feels smaller than my DMR, the shutter damping is incredible, the images look terrific. This is what I want for the holidays (no chance). Everything feels just right. Like riding a bike. This is a game changer for sure.

[dfarkas]

Amy let me take some frames today at the rollout. This camera is best thing I have ever had in my hands that captures images. The camera feels smaller than my DMR, the shutter damping is incredible, the images look terrific. This is what I want for the holidays (no chance). Everything feels just right. Like riding a bike. This is a game changer for sure.

 

Agreed!

 

As I've said for quite a few months now, photographers need to actually get an S2 in their hands and start seeing the unbelievable image quality of the files for themselves.

 

David

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[ddp]

I played with one for a bit as well tonight in New Jersey (Bergen County Camera) - had the 70 on it. Wow. Reminded me of the first time I picked up an R8 with the motor drive....just seems like a very well balanced machine. Size no issue for me. Nice to dream though...looking forward to seeing some work from it at some point.

[sdai]

Did they allow you to take away some photographs? I'm suppose to go to their road show on this Friday but I don't want to waste my time if they won't allow me to do that.

[Gentleman Villain]

Ben, Thanks for the quick review...glad that you enjoyed the camera

 

I'm very excited about the direction that Leica is taking both with the M9 anid S2

[Arif]

I played with it at B&H Leica event for a while in NY today and agree that it is great. Felt very comfortable and was a joy to hold. Not as heavy as I had thought considering other MF cameras. The 70 was a joy to shoot through. Files were very good and clean. AF was a very slightly slower than I had expected but was dead on. I am sad that I had to go back empty handed on this US trip for both the S2 and the M9 since prices in Japan will be astronomical and the exchange rate are great now.

 

David, I may be coming to you next time I am in the US (alternately you can bring the cameras to me in Japan and you will have a loyal customer for life

 

Arif

[Overgaard]

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Agreed!

 

As I've said for quite a few months now, photographers need to actually get an S2 in their hands and start seeing the unbelievable image quality of the files for themselves.

 

David

 

Coming from you I believe that would be deadly to my bank account

 

When I look at my 35-70/2-8 and what that is capable of (and somehow I feel it's very much the style they wanted the S lenses to go by), and then heard Seal say already 11 months ago "Ooh, those S glasses," knowing how he loves low light glass ... It's simply going to be a deadly camera to touch.

 

On the good side, it will teach you how to make or find money despite financial crisis

 

Looking forward to your article on the S2. I know you have special love for this camera.

[wildlightphoto]

A question for those who have had the chance to use the S2: how responsive is the shutter release? I'm not expecting M-quick but something close to R8-quick would be good.

[paulmoore]

A question for those who have had the chance to use the S2: how responsive is the shutter release? I'm not expecting M-quick but something close to R8-quick would be good.

 

the shutter felt similar to the r9 and from what I remember the r8..

[roguewave]

A question for those who have had the chance to use the S2: how responsive is the shutter release? I'm not expecting M-quick but something close to R8-quick would be good.

 

Doug, it's not easy to explain, but the actual activation of the shutter seems immediate, it's the dampening of the mirror that's so effective & cool. There's not a lot of movement and it's apparent that one can hand hold at low shutter speeds. The AF is a bit less than lightening fast, but I would manual focus & did with this camera. It's pure magic.

[troyfreund]

Saw the updated S-site and yeah, OK, I want one now too. Geebus.

[dfarkas]

Coming from you I believe that would be deadly to my bank account

 

When I look at my 35-70/2-8 and what that is capable of (and somehow I feel it's very much the style they wanted the S lenses to go by), and then heard Seal say already 11 months ago "Ooh, those S glasses," knowing how he loves low light glass ... It's simply going to be a deadly camera to touch.

 

On the good side, it will teach you how to make or find money despite financial crisis

 

Looking forward to your article on the S2. I know you have special love for this camera.

 

Well.... If you'd like just a little something to tide you over, I just posted a studio image I shot with the S2 on my blog, with a 100% crop.

 

David

[wildlightphoto]

Doug, it's not easy to explain, but the actual activation of the shutter seems immediate, it's the dampening of the mirror that's so effective & cool. There's not a lot of movement and it's apparent that one can hand hold at low shutter speeds. The AF is a bit less than lightening fast, but I would manual focus & did with this camera. It's pure magic.

 

the shutter felt similar to the r9 and from what I remember the r8..

 

Uh oh, now I'm sorry I asked

[mgcd]

Ok I confess I'm getting S2 lust now...

[sdai]

If you guys are interested, you can download a P40+ full size jpeg below which is quite similar to the 100% studio crop David has posted in his blog.

 

This was shot by Japanese photographer Koji Ueda.

 

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/dcw/docs/313/117/019.jpg

 

Since I already have a full set of Mamiya lenses so the choice is quite easy, this wasn't my first post so you all know about my bias toward a detachable back due to its immense flexibility.

 

But, as many people have pointed out, it's all about the Leica lust ... LOL I don't think that I can get any chance to do anything David has tried ... not even close, but I'll report back in any case.

[roguewave]

If you guys are interested, you can download a P40+ full size jpeg below which is quite similar to the 100% studio crop David has posted in his blog.

 

This was shot by Japanese photographer Koji Ueda.

 

http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/img/dcw/docs/313/117/019.jpg

 

Since I already have a full set of Mamiya lenses so the choice is quite easy, this wasn't my first post so you all know about my bias toward a detachable back due to its immense flexibility.

 

But, as many people have pointed out, it's all about the Leica lust ... LOL I don't think that I can get any chance to do anything David has tried ... not even close, but I'll report back in any case.

 

 

Not a very flattering picture to my eyes. By the time a retoucher takes all the bumbs & grit off the face, you'll have a M9 image. Last night, as I weaved through the new issue of New Yorker, I was struck by the fact that there were only 2 double page spreads, one for Louis Vutton & one for Movado. The Vutton was processed to take away most of the detail & give it some grit & blown highlights, in short to make it more interesting for people under the age of 35 & more like 25 & under. The aesthetic is changing quickly and more pixtals isn't important unless you are selling cars. Of the over 100 adds with pictures, they appeared all to be 35 mm shots that are very ordinary & not over top.

 

People want a "Street look", because they want to be conformed in the choices not to run after expensive, useless fashion anyone. They want to belong to to a view that goes against the grain & makes a new statement.

Studio images aren't that interesting to a public that doesn't buy into a manufactured sense of what's beautiful anymore. As James Morrison so eloquently sang, "Your Ballroom days are Over!".

Edited September 11, 2009 by roguewave

[sdai]

Thanks a lot for sharing you thoughts, Ben.

 

I went to the road show at Leica's S2 dealer (Vistek) in Toronto today, there were Leica's Amy Kosh and Brian Bell to introduce the S2 and M9.

 

I have nothing good nor bad to report back to the forum, most of us should have already read Michael's review on LL.

 

I've only got about 2 minutes to handle the S2 before I should pass it on to the next person, my first impression is ... it's a camera ... LOL

 

The viewfinder is bright (not quite if you are used to real MF gears), especially when you have it side by side against the M9 ... man, there's no comparison, and the feel with a SLR beats crap out of a rangefinder.

 

Focusing is quite good, manual engagement feels right, which have all been covered by many reviewers already. When I pointed it to a dark corner in the seminar room, I did feel it ... no biggie really, medium format isn't supposed to act like a Canon or Nikon. I can't say anything else because time was too short.

 

Curiously, nobody asked whether it's allow to shoot with our own cards ... one can't get a decent image in that room anyways.

 

I didn't ask question because I figured it's probably better to hear what other people are interested. And there are something we've never heard before, not even mentioned by Michael or anyone anywhere else.

 

1. I think Leica has a mind to design the S2 for the rental market already. According to Amy, the customized settings can be saved directly on to your SD cards, so different users don't have to bother with the camera settings everytime he/she get it from another hand 'cause all stuff is on your card.

 

2. ISO 80 is ISO 100 pull, and so on so forth. I took about 1 minute to run through all levels of the menu (very intuitive if you are familiar with the Phase One style 4 button layout and menu structure) and even saw a PULL 50 in ISO.

 

3. Leica is already thinking of its next generation, and they'll probably adopt a CMOS sensor in order to achieve better high ISO performance.

 

Since Amy says she isn't a marketing nor technical person so none of these sort of questions were answered.

 

When asked about future lens plans, she mentioned about the NDA. One person asked about diffraction limit stuff and she recommended to read Daivd's blog ... there was a smile on almost every face in the room at that time and you can hear people chuckling.

 

Several individuals asked about the X1, Brian said he tried to smuggle one out of Germany but wasn't successful.

 

Time ran out very quickly and I had to rush back because of the meetings I was gonna host. That was it.

Edited September 11, 2009 by sdai
typo, typo, typo ...

[markowich]

Well.... If you'd like just a little something to tide you over, I just posted a studio image I shot with the S2 on my blog, with a 100% crop.

 

David

 

honestly, this is not impressive for people who are used to MF. my H3DII 50 and P65 do much better. but maybe that file does not show the max S2 potential. i need much more to be convinced.

peter

[markowich]

Thanks a lot for sharing you thoughts, Ben.

 

I went to the road show at Leica's S2 dealer (Vistek) in Toronto today, there were Leica's Amy Kosh and Brian Bell to introduce the S2 and M9.

 

I have nothing good nor bad to report back to the forum, most of us should have already read Michael's review on LL.

 

I've only got about 2 minutes to handle the S2 before I should pass it on to the next person, my first impression is ... it's a camera ... LOL

 

The viewfinder is bright (not quite if you are used to real MF gears), especially when you have it side by side against the M9 ... man, there's no comparison, and the feel with a SLR beats crap out of a rangefinder.

 

 

Focusing is quite good, manual engagement feels right, which have all been covered by many reviewers already. When I pointed it to a dark corner in the seminar room, I did feel it ... no biggie really, medium format isn't supposed to act like a Canon or Nikon. I can't say anything else because time was too short.

 

Curiously, nobody asked whether it's allow to shoot with our own cards ... one can't get a decent image in that room anyways.

 

I didn't ask question because I figured it's probably better to hear what other people are interested. And there are something we've never heard before, not even mentioned by Michael or anyone anywhere else.

 

1. I think Leica has a mind to design the S2 for the rental market already. According to Amy, the customized settings can be saved directly on to your SD cards, so different users don't have to bother with the camera settings everytime he/she get it from another hand 'cause all stuff is on your card.

 

2. ISO 80 is ISO 100 pull, and so on so forth. I took about 1 minute to run through all levels of the menu (very intuitive if you are familiar with the Phase One style 4 button layout and menu structure) and even saw a PULL 50 in ISO.

 

3. Leica is already thinking of its next generation, and they'll probably adopt a CMOS sensor in order to achieve better high ISO performance.

 

Since Amy says she isn't a marketing nor technical person so none of these sort of questions were answered.

 

When asked about future lens plans, she mentioned about the NDA. One person asked about diffraction limit stuff and she recommended to read Daivd's blog ... there was a smile on almost every face in the room at that time and you can hear people chuckling.

 

Several individuals asked about the X1, Brian said he tried to smuggle one out of Germany but wasn't successful.

 

Time ran out very quickly and I had to rush back because of the meetings I was gonna host. That was it.

 

leica adopting CMOS technology....hmmmm...you can guess already now what will happen:

 

1) outraged comments by leica fans along the lines 'CMOS are crap, they give washed out images, no detail in high iso shots, bad in-camera noise reduction and so on and so on'....

2) a trusted photographic reviewer will be invited to visit the the leica factory (most likely the one who will now rave about the S2 for about 3 months before dumping it when he realises that it does not support his photographic style) and come back happily reporting in his hands-on review that leica did something very special to CMOS and now it is wonderful...

3)the leica community will happily embrace CMOS technology, knowing that theirs is still very different from canikon and other lowlife camera makers...

 

well fine with me as long as we get live view, state-of-the-art 1600iso, 1080p video with a great codec and so on...----))))

peter

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[dfarkas]

honestly, this is not impressive for people who are used to MF. my H3DII 50 and P65 do much better. but maybe that file does not show the max S2 potential. i need much more to be convinced.

peter

 

After chekcing the images on an Eizo at work I realized that I had processed the files pretty badly on my laptop screen. So, they were oversharpened, noisy in the shadows and off-color.... other than that....

 

Anyway, I reprocessed the files using the desktop with a calibrated Eizo and replaced the picutes. You may want to check them out again.

 

David