S2 at the Leica North American Road Show

[JMacD]

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I just completed a session of the Leica North American Road Show for the S2.

If one is considering an S2, the investment of four hours and a little refundable cash is well worth it.

I am primarily a landscape photographer, so I was evaluating the S2 from that angle. I was also shooting the S2 side by side with my M9.

My first reaction is that Leica was correct to make a S2 rather than an R10. The R10 would have required new auto focus lenses anyway and then had to compete head to head with Nikon and Canon etc. who can subsidize their offerings with all their consumer cameras. I would not have bought an R10. There are very few R shooters left for a reason. If I were an R shooter would I migrate to an S? Assuming I could afford it, yes, no question.

So Leica must have said that if we invented the 35mm format, we can invent another format as film sizes are now meaningless.

I have shot SLRs in many size formats. A Pentax 67 and Canons. So I like the dSLR form over the normal box like medium format configuration. I have big hands and found the S2 easy to hold and use. The finder is incredible. I always think that what you see through a viewfinder determines how much you want to shoot photos. This is a wonderful view.

The autofocus was quieter than I expected and very fast. I was shooting at 1/350th handheld with a 70mm so no camera shake problems. Seeing the camera info on the top of the camera display in bright light required a hand shadow for visibility, as has been noted.

I was alternating M vs S and didn't feel like the extra size and weight was an issue given obtaining the bigger image. I set both cameras with closely matched lenses of f2.5 70mm and 75mm rather than trying to match image sizes. On the computer I overlapped the images to observe differences. There was I slight edge to the S2 in sharpness, and once, a major difference due to what must have been a manual focus error on my part with the M versus autofocus on the S.

For landscape work, I have regularly shot photomerge to give myself enough resolution for the extreme enlargements I sell. With the overlap required, it would take two M shots to cover the one S shot. Two shots are not always possible in scenes that have movement.

Of course, with the S, I don't have to worry about weather for landscapes.

When I read Michael Reichman was using the M9 more often than his Phase 65+, I had to ask myself will the S2 help me make better, more enjoyable, more saleable photos? Well I sell prints. Extra resolution is needed in very large prints I have to now print one of my images to the huge size I want. I'll let you know what I think then.

Frankly, the outdoor shooting subjects outside a hotel were not what I usually would want a big print of, but oh well, that's testing. That's why I do not show any images with this post. Besides, one should test for oneself.

Had I not already upgraded from a M8 to a M9, the addition of an S2 would be an easier purchase decision as step from the M8 to the S2 would have been a four fold resolution increase. The question of moving to other makes of larger-than-35mm format cameras is not an issue for me. I trust Leica to be around longer than the others. given the deep pockets of the owner. The people I met gave me the reassurance that the support would be strong.

 

Comments on the Road Show. Great to meet the people who are backing this equipment for Leica. Got to listen to a fine landscape shooter who had shot the S2 on snow and near waterfalls. It's always useful to learn from others. Justin was loaned the camera and he said he will probably rent the S2 for his architecture work, where he can bill the client for the cost. Leica also discussed a very attractive leasing program that can be obtained through your dealer, but underwritten by Leica. Definitely worth checking out.

 

If you get a chance to attend the Road Show, you should do so. As far as I can tell, the S2 is doing very well, especially given how few lenses are currently available. This will be a more effective camera when more lenses are out. Those who buy it are out using it rather than posting, which may be unfortunate in that fewer people will be able to ask questions on the forum that will be answered. On the other hand, the strong support from Leica is there to answer questions. It is like two different companies right now, the Leica S2 company is very oriented to the professional and built for the future.. I also attended the excellent M Road Show and that is discussed on the M9 forum.

[Gentleman Villain]

JMacD, Thanks a lot for the summary and it's great to know that you enjoyed the seminar. Hopefully your post will encourage others to attend.

 

 

So Leica must have said that if we invented the 35mm format, we can invent another format as film sizes are now meaningless.

 

+1000

 

Some might consider it the first true professional digital camera in the sense that there are no burdens of legacy from film to overcome...

 

 

I trust Leica to be around longer than the others. given the deep pockets of the owner. The people I met gave me the reassurance that the support would be strong.

 

+1000

 

With the release of the M9, cine lenses, and S2 etc...it should be plainly obvious to everyone at this point that the "deep pockets" owner has some serious long terms plans for Leica.

[Wolf96]

It is good to read that the comments on the forum getting in theright direction from LEICA hatress towards to a more objective discussion.

 

In the beginning I had been disappointed with the annoncement that there will be no R10 but after I read the articles and also faces some problems with the NIKON lenses on the D3 I see the decission by Leica in a different aspect an think that they has been a right decission at all for the future. The have the freedom to go ahead with new ideas where the rest of the companies are trapped. Every way has his good and bad.

 

Furthermore I dont think that we should think int he old catogeries, small format middle format etc. Leica has been design the tecnical biggest sensor into a camera body not larger then a Professional 35mm camera and of course that has an impact of the design of the lenses.

 

The price is ofcourse very high, the question is whether the price is far to high or not. If you compare the NIKON D3 and the D3x then only the change of the sensor double the price already what to say to a much larger sensor in a much smaller quantity.

 

There might be some spaces for a price reduction but I dont think that it will be as high as people wrote in the forum on other places.

 

As for me I wish Leica a great succed with that camera.

 

HEHE, I also have a wish a LEICA S2a with 20 mio. Pixel for the half price

[troyfreund]

JMacD, where did you attend the Roadshow? (I"m in WI also) Have you, or anyone for that matter, posted any photos from the Roadshow? I'm curious to get a peek at the event. The write-up is great, but I want to see some photos too!

Troy

[JMacD]

Troy,

As there is no Road Show in Milwaukee, try to go to another city.

I was in Phoenix when the Road Show got there. I am on the road again myself right now, so don't have easy access to my photos of my lens and equipment tests, as they are on LR hard drives. Rather than setting that up, I can give you a quick D-lux4 shot I had stored on my laptop of the room where the event was held. It was a standard hotel conference room in Phoenix. This is a snapshot, not a fine art photograph, so viewers please skip the analysis of noise, down res problems, color fringe,and composition. You can evaluate the demographics, as it was more diverse than others have reported. You can see there was strobe lighting available inside, and we were able to take the S2 outside too. The event was very user friendly. I'm thankful they had it. Evaluating equipment in this setting was superior to an alternative of being in a photography store. While I have had an S2 on order for some time, this was the first time I had been able to use one over time, and it confirmed my decision. As reported on the M9 forum, I came back the next day just to check out a 21mm 1.4, and found that very useful too.

I see they still have Road Shows near you in Cleveland, Minneapolis, and Indianapolis yet to occur, so if you care to take a drive, they are available. Unfortunately, the event nearest to Milwaukee, Chicago, just happened.

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[troyfreund]

Thanks for the quick reply and photo! I would have liked to have gone to the Chicago event, but honestly forgot when it was. I've kinda written off the event, as neat as I think it is, because really, what's the point in my spending the $ on a camera system that I will likely never be able to afford? Glad you had a good time and that is was such a worthwhile event. Now back to my R8 and DMR....

Troy

[tllabron]

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Troy,

 

Here are the other roadshow dates that are left:

 

Irvine, CA May 19, 2010

Calgary, AB May 26, 2010

Toronto, ON June 4, 2010

Minneapolis, MN June 10, 2010

Orlando, FL June 18, 2010

Nashville, TN June 23, 2010

 

Tom L.L.

[troyfreund]

thanks for the dates; unfortunately geography and $ will keep me from all those! Someday I'll get to see and S2 "in person" I'm sure.