S2 at Samy's Camera, L.A.

[wilfredo]

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I picked-up a new printer at Samy's Camera, in L.A. today and to my surprise a Leica rep was there with the S2 complete with a model and studio set up for potential buyers to try the camera and take pictures of the model. Perhaps they will be there tomorrow Sunday? I don't know but you can google Samy's, call the store, and find out.

 

I was too busy with the printer to take pictures of the model, but I did get to handle the camera and take a few shots. I would have loved taking my own model there if I knew about the event, perhaps an elderly person with lots of wrinkles on their face. The feel of course is solid. The ergonomic feel is great if you have large hands (I wear medium size gloves) so for me it was a bit bulky. It is a bit on the heavy side for someone used to DSLR's and Leica M's.

 

I got the sense that Leica is targeting the fashion industry with this camera, otherwise why have a studio set-up with a hot model? I have no doubt that it is a fantastic camera but certainly not a walk about camera, hence It did not wet my appetite -- which is great since I can't afford membership to the S2 members club. I didn't ask questions about availability since in my case it would have been a mute point.

 

Cheers!

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[peterv]

Thanks for the report, Wilfredo.

And I think it's a great idea to make portraits of elderly people with lots of wrinkles on their face. The sharpness of the S2 lenses can probably help to bring out 'character' in faces that show their age and the many long years gone by.

 

I understand the fashion industry is mostly about youth and health, but IMO portraits of interesting, wrinkled faces would be a welcome change from the young models we've seen untill now.

 

I'd very much like to see what the S2 can do in the hands of a good portrait photographer.

 

Peter

[marknorton]

Whether this camera would whet my appetite is a moot point...

[wilfredo]

Thanks for the report, Wilfredo.

And I think it's a great idea to make portraits of elderly people with lots of wrinkles on their face. The sharpness of the S2 lenses can probably help to bring out 'character' in faces that show their age and the many long years gone by.

 

I understand the fashion industry is mostly about youth and health, but IMO portraits of interesting, wrinkled faces would be a welcome change from the young models we've seen untill now.

 

I'd very much like to see what the S2 can do in the hands of a good portrait photographer.

 

Peter

 

Perhaps Leica is taking the wrong approach in the promotion of this camera? Old wrinkled faces would really result in stunning photos, but I suspect they are targeting the fashion industry because that's probably the cash crop they are after.

[proenca]

Wilfredo, thanks for posting this Always nice to hear feedback from the S2

[barjohn]

I thought from the beginning that the S2 was a major mistake and that Leica should have invested that R&D money in other directions. If this S2 forum thread and the GetDPI MF forum are any indication the camera is not selling well. I figured the biggest indicator was that Guy (a known camera junkie) didn't rush out and sell his other gear and buy and S2 was a definite indicator that Leica had made a mistake. I sure don't see all of the people that said they were going to buy one posting now on this thread with their excitement over this camera. So what happened?

[Guest guy_mancuso]

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Well as I have said several times is that I need 4 lenses on release to make any kind of switch going from the start since i don't have a Canon/Nikon system in hand. Plus it's a new system with it's own development needs. Leica certainly wanted me to jump on it and I had to say no for now. I will look at it again when all 4 lenses are out but I have a very good system as it is today so to make any switch it has to make a lot of sense to consider it plus the need to afford it as well. They will run into the same thoughts as others that are sitting on Hassy, Sinar , Leaf and Phase systems.

[barjohn]

Guy, based on your review I could see no compelling business reason for anyone to buy one. Those already in the MF arena have an investment that it would not make good business sense to toss out and the performance did not appear to have an advantage in any area that would compel a purchase of this magnitude. Unless one could discern a clear image performance enhancement that just was obviously better, or lenses that were clearly superior in every way and tethered performance that put the others to shame with lightening fast AF, clearly better high ISO performance and a lens range that met the needs of the market or a price so low that it shouted take a chance and buy me, the camera would be a no purchase.

 

I think, sometimes Leica gets wrapped up in believing their own B.S. and think everyone will just jump in and spend great sums of money because it has the red dot on it. It works to some degree in some markets but it is less likely in a market requiring a $30K to $50K investment.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Yes there is a no clear image advantage over my P40+ system and main reason not to move a inch at this time. If there was a compelling performance advantage on image quality than I would think more seriously about it. It does offer some nice features like LCD and dual slots that interest me and little more 35mm feel but not enough to make me switch on that alone. Plus other reasons as well.

[mhoersch]

It does offer some nice features like LCD and dual slots that interest me and little more 35mm feel but not enough to make me switch on that alone. Plus other reasons as well.

 

Thanks, Guy, now I understand why they left out the top LCD on the M9: customers who want that can buy an S2. Makes sense, should have figured that out sooner.

[JMacD]

I agree with Guy on the need for more than one lens at the moment to buy the camera this week.

 

I intend to buy this camera when the 120mm and 35mm are available. I have no existing investment in MF digital so no legacy issues. I have a real need for huge files as I do huge landscape prints and can use the resolution vs stitching. It will be a winner for me, and no, I don't want to pay for a 65+

 

So perhaps my needs for landscape are unusual, I need big files, I am stepping up from 35mm to do so, and I have no legacy lens issues. Others may already have other MF equipment, and if I did, I would be trying like crazy to justify why my equipment is plenty good enough for me, and the S2 not a big enough improvement.

 

I agree this camera is aimed at fashion, and not just in a studio, but on location.

Those shooters are not often writing on any of these forums. Those shooters may have not used Leica since film M days.

 

I do get the feeling that Leica is handling quality issues much faster and better on the S2 than on the M9 and certainly the M8. I hear it's like two different companies. All in house development is an advantage for them on the S2. This is very important for me.

[AlanG]

 

...I agree this camera is aimed at fashion, and not just in a studio, but on location.

Those shooters are not often writing on any of these forums. Those shooters may have not used Leica since film M days...

 

 

That's their market (along with high end ad shooters) but they'll have to have good tethering software for it to be usable in that field.

 

Last week our chapter of APA had a meeting featuring Steve Hendrix from Capture Integration at a food photographer's studio. He brought some Phase One backs, a Phase One camera, an Arca Swiss mini view camera that was used to shoot a still-life and a Cambo solid body wide angle camera that has back shifts and a sliding back. Also there was a friend who is an architectural shooter who uses the Cambo Wide. He gave me some tips on how he uses it efficiectly. It occurred to me that a general commercial photographer has a lot more functionality by having a removable back that can be used on several different kinds of cameras.

 

And perhaps the Cambo Wide along with 23mm and 35mm lenses will be cheaper than the Leica 30mm TS lens alone. I was told that the 23mm lens will give about 12mm of shift with a 36x48mm back. That's wider than a 24 on an S2 which can't shift. And if you shoot products or food, the S2 really won't cut it due to lack of movements. The Arca Swiss and a lens probably will also be less expensive than an S2 macro lens.

 

There were about 25 photographers there and I didn't hear anyone ask about or even mention the S2.

 

I really expect the S2 to be a bigger attraction to well heeled enthusiasts.