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State of S


Paul J

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As I said, I stand corrected about Hassy H (see edited post). Other than that, again you said: "With no film back to use S lenses, it becomes a far less desirable system than a modular one."

I said: "pretty much no other DMF camera you can buy new today supports film backs as well, Phase and Hassy stopped doing that a few generations ago".

True fact: pretty much no DMF camera you can buy new today support film backs. Only Hassy does. A Pentax film body is not a DMF camera you can buy new today. Old Phase/Mamiya bodies are not DMF bodies you can buy new today. So, I am sorry but what I said is exactly true.

Best,

Vieri

You are being pedantic. Paul is referring to systems and he is right that the S system is pretty much the only MF one without a film body or film back option.

 

That said, some of the S lenses probably rely on some fairly wild in-camera digital corrections so they might not be that great on film.

 

 

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

You are being pedantic. Paul is referring to systems and he is right that the S system is pretty much the only MF one without a film body or film back option.

 

That said, some of the S lenses probably rely on some fairly wild in-camera digital corrections so they might not be that great on film.

 

 

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I will try my 70mm on my M6 when I get home.......pictures to follow :)

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Whats the discussion exactly about?

 

The S doesnt shoot film, everybody knows. People who want to shoot film should not buy the Leica S.

 

The speculation how much those lenses rely on software correction doesnt change anything about the fact that The S doesnt shoot film.

Even though I dont really believe that the S lenses would be so misarable without software correction (if there is any).

 

By the way I wouldnt mind if there was a film option for the S, but then if we want to shoot film one get a lot of film MF equipment used for very low prices.

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The discussion about film is very relevant. There is a big movement going back to film in my part of the industry. Many of my colleagues already have, and some are in the process of going back.

 

Why would you shoot film when you have a $10K sensor? There are lots of reasons. Because of the way it looks, something digital can mimic but not match, It's more natural and organic looking and doesn't need the work that digital does to do so. Because photographers are claiming back their art and process.

 

Having a modular system that allows you to shoot film and digital is very important from a workflow perspective during a shoot, again for many reasons, and at this point buying into a system that does not shoot film is certainly a consideration for some, especially when there are very good systems that offer both.

 

I add Mamiya RZ to the list because it is currently a very popular system offering both film and digital with excellent lenses in plentiful supply and at ridiculously low prices.

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Yesterday I asked Leica via email about the development of this 30mm PC lens for the S.

 

The answer came in during that very same morning: There won't be a 30mm shift lens for the S. The way to go is the Sinar shift camera + a new back 30/45 developed around the S(007) camera. ¿Lenses to be used? Rodenstock and Schneider, and via an adapter, the S lenses with internal shutter.

 

That's it.

It's to bad they decided to can it, when the S2 was introduced, this photo actually showed both a 30 T/S and a 350:

 

Leica-S-System.jpeg

 

So they must at least have made some calculations on it. The 350 is maybe more of a "nisch market" then the 30T/S, but both should actually be very useful also on the SL-system with the adapter.

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In many ways the unavailability of a film option is moot bearing in mind the relatively small image circle the S lenses are designed for. Smaller even than 645.

 

 

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I've been wondering a little bit about this. Are the lenses truly limited to the 54mm image circle? I'm still waiting for my first S-lens (the first one I got had fungus...) but I'm currently playing with making a "larger dummy sensor" to see it that could be an option :).  If Leica were to increase the sensor size to say 50mm*35mm (60,65mm image circle) and at the same time bump the resolution to 80MP (if they keep the pixel pitch of 6u it would get 48MP) it might get competetive again:

 

"Standard sensor":

32326361766_e3530ff1bf_z_d.jpg

 

50*35mm:

 

32326361506_f9d48cc205_z_d.jpg

 

Of course I don't know if this actually will work with all the sensor, but the S-mount seems at least able to handle an increased sensor size. Maybe a new S008 mirrorless body with focal plane shutter also could be an option.

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I doubt the image quality holds up outside the current sensor size, but I just did a VERY unscientific test estimating the image circle of the 70 Summarit by holding it up near a window and projecting onto a ruled piece of paper and I got SOME image over a 69mm diameter circle. Maybe I'll mount the S lenses on my friend's Graflex Super D and do a proper test  B)

 

--Matt

 

Looking back, statements made at the S2 intro were clear that there was no room for a larger image circle - whatever that means - but that higher pixel pitch was planned for.

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but I just did a VERY unscientific test estimating the image circle of the 70 Summarit by holding it up near a window and projecting onto a ruled piece of paper and I got SOME image over a 69mm diameter circle.

Was that projected circle with the lens at the correct distance from the film/sensor plane?

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I doubt the image quality holds up outside the current sensor size, but I just did a VERY unscientific test estimating the image circle of the 70 Summarit by holding it up near a window and projecting onto a ruled piece of paper and I got SOME image over a 69mm diameter circle. Maybe I'll mount the S lenses on my friend's Graflex Super D and do a proper test B)

 

--Matt

 

Looking back, statements made at the S2 intro were clear that there was no room for a larger image circle - whatever that means - but that higher pixel pitch was planned for.

The mirrorbox is very tight (although my dummy fits all the way), so that might be a limiting factor. But the most interesting aspect is what the lenses actually can do. A new mirrorless body could very well support a larger sensor. Maybe a new mount which allows S-lenses with adaptor, hmm, sounds very much like a X1D :):)

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Was that projected circle with the lens at the correct distance from the film/sensor plane?

 

The lens was focused at infinity and the image on the paper of a distant object was as sharp as I could make it in this horribly hand-held estimated experiment. At least I DID put measuring marks on the paper, and I wasn't "hmmm.. looks like 69 mm to me", but it was close!

 

I would not take it at all seriously. I was a bit surprised that it was clearly larger than the necessary ~54.1mm needed to cover the sensor, but I fully expect the MTF chart to be laughably bad outside the necessary image circle. Lens design is all compromise, and why would any designer waste effort outside the image?

 

--Matt

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I've been wondering a little bit about this. Are the lenses truly limited to the 54mm image circle? I'm still waiting for my first S-lens (the first one I got had fungus...) but I'm currently playing with making a "larger dummy sensor" to see it that could be an option :).  If Leica were to increase the sensor size to say 50mm*35mm (60,65mm image circle) and at the same time bump the resolution to 80MP (if they keep the pixel pitch of 6u it would get 48MP) it might get competetive again:

 

"Standard sensor":

32326361766_e3530ff1bf_z_d.jpg

 

50*35mm:

 

32326361506_f9d48cc205_z_d.jpg

 

Of course I don't know if this actually will work with all the sensor, but the S-mount seems at least able to handle an increased sensor size. Maybe a new S008 mirrorless body with focal plane shutter also could be an option.

 

If they move to a higher MP sensor (70+) I will get back in to S system again. Not sure but I think the next announcement for the new S (if that happens) will be in two to three year (correct me if I'm wrong). 

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If they move to a higher MP sensor (70+) I will get back in to S system again. Not sure but I think the next announcement for the new S (if that happens) will be in two to three year (correct me if I'm wrong).

When S2 was introduced in 2009 it was very "right" in terms of speed, handling and resolution. But I think that it was a big mistake by Leica not to bump the resolution when the S007 was introduced in 2015. Instead they decided to make "the worlds fastest medium format camera". For most people 37.5MP is of course more than enough, but in the segment where the camera is selling all competitors have moved up to at least 50MP.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

On digiloyd there is an account from a reader that says they had head from several sources that Leica has all but abandoned the S System and it has put the S R&D budget into the SL. It's looking like another R scenario.

 

Got this off LUL yesterday

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On digiloyd there is an account from a reader that says they had head from several sources that Leica has all but abandoned the S System and it has put the S R&D budget into the SL. It's looking like another R scenario.

 

Got this off LUL yesterday

 

Now I'm going to quote you on Fred Miranda

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On digiloyd there is an account from a reader that says they had head from several sources that Leica has all but abandoned the S System and it has put the S R&D budget into the SL. It's looking like another R scenario.

 

Got this off LUL yesterday

 

 

Leica have some explaining to do.

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Guest NEIL-D-WILLIAMS

Leica have some explaining to do.

 

I guess even if they stop making the Leica S system they will at lease service it as and when it needs it..............IRDGAF what happens with it as I plan to just shoot LF and MF film along with Leica SL for travel............

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