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16 hours ago, Jan1985 said:

Last Night I drove along the Leitz Park in Wetzlar with Open windows. And what I did smell was some Kind of strong harsh flavor that there will be coming up something very big in september... 

I spoke to my dealer a few days ago and was told probably not in September but later still.

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I used to think that there’s no way Leica would release the SL2 before the S3, as the S line has seemingly been the lead dog in the product repertoire, at least in terms of the MP race. Now I’m not so sure.   If the SL2 emerges first, that would seem another subtle indication that the S, at least as currently configured, is losing steam.  Either that or there are some problems with the S3 release that are dragging on.

Jeff

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I’m willing to wait for release given that the delay is necessary for competitive reasons.  Given that even Leica glass is diffraction limited starting at f11,  focus stacking (phase one, Fuji, Nikon) as introduced by the immediate competitors, is a game changer for those who shoot landscape and wish to extract as much IQ as feasible.  An S3, at 64mp, with I’m camera focus stacking, accurate (or adjustable) AF would be an interesting improvement, while developing a mirror less MF option accepting current The S glass line.  That would be indeed of staying with the S ecosystem.  

This is interesting times for Leica.  And challenging decisions on its photography future.  Will the S line continue as the flagship?  Will Peter Karbe use the new technology employed in the SL glass transfer to a new S line?... all questions to be determined ..

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At the moment the market is dominated by the megapixel race... I really would know which aspect or criteria will be the main thing in the competition on this market in 5 years. This market is so heterogeneous that I guess each system will be so individual that there are a lot of specialized customers that make their choice especially for their needs... more niche markets... In this view Leica just now is a very individualized manufacturer. Hope we see the S3 soon. Because one day they will reach the border of the megapixel race where it doesn't make a lot sense to expand the MP.

Edited by Jan1985
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I was recently offered to be put on a waiting list for SL2 so it would seem it is in the foreseeable future so Leica still has the foot on the gas pedal. When I asked about S3 I was told prototypes have been recalled and there is no talk of a newer one anytime soon. We are in a tough market for camera sales and the curve appears to have more room to fall before it hits bottom. Not the best of times to introduce a 20,000+ camera. 

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vor 19 Stunden schrieb Jan1985:

Yes you are right Leica Lenses are somewhat special. Every time I just take a snapshot from a normal daily life moment the rendering of the picture is natural and organic with a nice presence.... the only thing what makes me angry that the rubber around the camera peels off. After my research I found out that Leica developed a new glue for the rubber elements because the previous doesn't resist in longterm usage and extreme weather situations... and this for a 18.600€ body... shame!

I agree, it is not what we would expect. Even though it is one of the things I could live with. And when you send in the camera for service you usually get a new "skin".

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19 hours ago, Jan1985 said:

At the moment the market is dominated by the megapixel race...

In medium format? Not so sure.

The big, inescapable trend is the advent of the two mirrorless "A7R competitors". This has created (or maybe just revealed) a new market: landscape/still life cameras for hobbyist hi-res shooters. I use the word hobbyist advisedly, they are 99% of the customer base for those cameras.

Other than that, the PhaseOne and Hasselblad SLR systems are chugging along. They release a new model when a new sensor becomes available,  and professionals depreciate them as they would any other tool.

That leaves Pentax and Leica to be accounted-for. No one knows what Pentax is up to. Leica seems to be selling to a more active crowd than the other SLR systems: better weatherproofing, more FPS, better autonomy. How is that working for them? They won't say. Apparently there's enough of a market there to release a new model every four years.

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1 hour ago, BernardC said:

In medium format? Not so sure.

The big, inescapable trend is the advent of the two mirrorless "A7R competitors". This has created (or maybe just revealed) a new market: landscape/still life cameras for hobbyist hi-res shooters. I use the word hobbyist advisedly, they are 99% of the customer base for those cameras.

Other than that, the PhaseOne and Hasselblad SLR systems are chugging along. They release a new model when a new sensor becomes available,  and professionals depreciate them as they would any other tool.

That leaves Pentax and Leica to be accounted-for. No one knows what Pentax is up to. Leica seems to be selling to a more active crowd than the other SLR systems: better weatherproofing, more FPS, better autonomy. How is that working for them? They won't say. Apparently there's enough of a market there to release a new model every four years.

You left out Fuji, a company that has  pushed MP without crazy pricing (GFX100 at $10k), with an apparently enthusiastic customer base.

Jeff

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The news that the prototypes have been recalled does not sound all that great to me...especially since we have not heard a thing about the launch times...I wish they would at least give us a hint about a timeline...and as to whether they intend to release it at all. This is a pretty frustrating situation to be in for a pro...trying to plan out your gear for the coming years and waiting on a camera that was announced, but still has not a single word of update for nearly a year. 

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No one is sitting around at Leica saying "It will be October 3rd, but no one will suspect. Hahahah!". There's a problem that needs fixing. You can't give a timeline on fixing a problem. Well, you can, but it's meaningless. Either the problem gets fixed before someone pulls the plug on the project, or it doesn't. Nothing Leica says now can change that. They could give it "100% support" and "great enthusiasm" and cancel it the next day. Or say nothing and suddenly have a great product ready to ship. You want guidance, but all you'd get would be noise.

They certainly won't ship a product that has a known problem, and I wouldn't want them to. If they kill the S then a) I still have a working 007, and it's taken the best of my work. and b) The lenses are staying. Like the R lenses, they'll find a use sometime.

Matt

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1 hour ago, Jeff S said:

You left out Fuji, a company that has  pushed MP without crazy pricing (GFX100 at $10k), with an apparently enthusiastic customer base.

Jeff

Fuji is one of the two mirrorless "A7R competitors" that I mentioned. They seem to be doing well overall, although the system only really took off when they started giving away lenses (with the purchase of a body). We'll see how that strategy gels with their new $10K camera. Their earlier cameras appealed because they were only slightly more expensive than a high-end Sony: a significant step-up in performance for a small step-up in price. The new camera doubles the buy-in, will their customers follow?

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I dont believe they will let us S-users down. And  I also think if they need to fix things they should take the time to do so. But they could tell us that the product launge will be delayed for some months because some functions will "be optimized". Saying nothing is not the best marketing for my taste.

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1 hour ago, Stuart Richardson said:

The news that the prototypes have been recalled does not sound all that great to me...

I don't know if I'd call it news, someone on a forum says he talked to someone who supposedly said something about recalling prototypes. I'm not saying jeff_m is lying, he could very well be right, I’ve also been suspecting that there is something with the S3 technically, that is more difficult than anticipated. I just don't know if you can call this news, for all I know it's just a rumour, we've heard nothing official yet.

That said, personally I have a lot of faith in the S system, I've been thinking maybe they just decided they needed to wait for a Maestro III 🙂

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Take time please and make it right  don’t create more victims.

I have been use to frustration within S system. I have no problem with paying premium on high quality reliable and trustable product, if that is the case.  At this time my less than a year old S007 at Germany test bench again. 

How many feel you were dragged deep in mud as S customers? A total failure. 

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21 minutes ago, Jeff S said:

Did I miss the announcement on the R system?

Jeff

Leica has at the time said that they would work on a solution for R lenses, I got the impression that the delivered quite nicely on that promise with the L-Mount?

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2 minutes ago, peterv said:

Leica has at the time said that they would work on a solution for R lenses, I got the impression that the delivered quite nicely on that promise with the L-Mount?

After how many years they dismissed R? Is there anything special other than a adapter we know they develop SL for R users compare to others such Sony or Nikon MILC?

BTW, I have been adapting R 35/50/90 cron and R 35/50/80 lux with leitax Canon and Nikon Mount years before we saw any effort coming from Leica. At the time, the lens price have tanked for a while.  

In that sense, I appreciate Leitax’s effort way more than those lenses’ mother who dump their children without mercy. 

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