Anyone still buying into/investing in the S system at this point?

[willeica]

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4 hours ago, davidmknoble said:

 

THis is a lot like the real estate market - it is a buyers market, not a sellers.

Not where I live, David. Real estate here in Dublin is a complete sellers' market with demand outstripping supply. Thankfully, my two adult daughters have their own homes, but for many younger people things are not so good, even in a booming economy. I am sure that the US has many different property markets with varying supply/demand situations.

I have no comments on S cameras, as I have not used them, but I have seen some reports about Leica planning a new 'larger format' model. Whether that will follow the S format remains to be seen. I am sure, though, that the existing S lenses should be usable on any new camera model. 

William 

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[davidmknoble]

@willeica, what I meant was that sometimes it is a seller’s market and sometimes a buyer’s market.  When the S was released it was a seller’s market, there were not discounts and pre-owned items were so few.  Yet, now as it is “discontinued” without a clear path of what comes next, it is a buyer’s market.

How different this is from the Leica M series where lenses from 1956 still fit a 2024 digital body.  The market there is very different because compatibility is not the issue.

The R system is also different because you can stil shoot film with the R series or mount it on an SL or M digital camera.

The S remains unique to a degree because the SL lenses are so spectacular there is less desire to use an S lens on the SL system.

As an aside, the United States is more of a seller’s market because the supply is less and demand for housing remains higher. Interest rates are higher than the last 8 years and those with low rates do not want to sell just to get a higher interest rate when they buy again.  Yet the rental market is flooded with those that do not want to lock in and will wait and see if rates come down.

Edited July 31 by davidmknoble

[Pieter12]

10 hours ago, davidmknoble said:

The R system is also different because you can stil shoot film with the R series or mount it on an SL or M digital camera.

How is support for the R cameras? Does Leica stock parts and work on them?

[kipdent]

Hello, everyone. I thought I'd let the Forum know I have a listing for a Typ 007 body, 70mm Summarit, 30mm Elmarit and Contax 120mm Makro (with the Leica S adapter) on fredmiranda.com. We all know it's a painful time to let go of this wonderful equipment, but I've made the decision.

Edited July 31 by kipdent

[shedboatshed]

I've been having a hard time justifying continuing to buy S equipment, mainly the S 45mm which I have my eye on. I'd pull the trigger at the right price, but if a new S system is released, I hope they would come out with a more compact and faster aperture version of a 45mm (that I wouldn't be able to afford anyway I guess).

[Pieter12]

Since I seriously doubt any successor to the S3 will not have an optical viewfinder and will stick to the 3:2 format, I don't see myself buying anything new. Except for a raging bargain on a 45S and a 100S.

[davidmknoble]

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2 hours ago, Pieter12 said:

How is support for the R cameras? Does Leica stock parts and work on them?

Support is good from 3rd party repairers for the R SL, SL2 and the R6 and R6.2, which had mechanical shutters.  None of the electric parts are available.  

I have purchased several R8's and R9's at good prices and in great condition over the years and have two R6.2's that have been CLA'd for the shutter speeds only. I actually shot film in an R9 in Antarctica with the R 28mm f/2.8 version II and the R APO 90mm summicron in January this year.  The images came out really nice.

Its about finding a durable body model in good working condition.

[davidmknoble]

1 hour ago, shedboatshed said:

I've been having a hard time justifying continuing to buy S equipment, mainly the S 45mm which I have my eye on. I'd pull the trigger at the right price, but if a new S system is released, I hope they would come out with a more compact and faster aperture version of a 45mm (that I wouldn't be able to afford anyway I guess).

THe 45mm is one of my favorite of the S lenses.  I shoot landscapes and the 35 and 45 are my most used by far.  It's a fantastic lens.

[shedboatshed]

6 hours ago, davidmknoble said:

THe 45mm is one of my favorite of the S lenses.  I shoot landscapes and the 35 and 45 are my most used by far.  It's a fantastic lens.

Good to know, thank you. the 35mm equiv focal length is my favorite. I have an S35 but its not the most enjoyable to use for me.

I do still plan to buy a spare battery as I only have one. Dont think I want to fork over the money yet for a spare charger and would rather wait until I needed one. If anyone is selling a spare 007 battery let me know!

[davidmknoble]

4 hours ago, shedboatshed said:

Good to know, thank you. the 35mm equiv focal length is my favorite. I have an S35 but its not the most enjoyable to use for me.

I do still plan to buy a spare battery as I only have one. Dont think I want to fork over the money yet for a spare charger and would rather wait until I needed one. If anyone is selling a spare 007 battery let me know!

And I’m sure you know the S35 = 28mm in standard format and the S45 = 35mm in the standard format. That is why I like the S45 so much.

[Stuart Richardson]

I will say, without being able to explain why, that I tended to get more use out of the 35mm on the S cameras than the 45mm. Which is very strange as I don't typically like a 28mm as much as a 35mm on 35mm format. I think part of it was cropping most things to 4 to 5, but I also think that the 35mm S lens was wide but since it was a longer focal length for the same angle of view, it has more bokeh and a bit more depth than a 28mm typically does on 35mm format. Or perhaps I just preferred the lower weight and higher speed? That said, the 45mm was certainly the standout optically, and I used it happily as well. But when making a three lens kit, for example, I think 35mm, 70mm and 120mm are a better spread than 45mm, 70mm and 120mm in most cases.

Edited August 1 by Stuart Richardson

[HuntingSand]

I bought the 180 APO Elmar today. The price was right. It will replace my Zeiss-Contax 140mm Sonnar, which is fine, but this Leica Elmar is in a different league. Have to mind my speeds, though. I used it all evening at a street festival in San Francisco, which proved to be fertile hunting grounds.

[davidmknoble]

@Stuart Richardson, I felt the same way at times, so I rotate them.  Almost like I don’t know what I want!  I have the same trouble with the 30 and 35.  I love the 24mm focal length in the M, for certain subjects.  So, I will also throw the 30 on, but it can get too wide at times.  Overall, it’s always good to remember that a 35mm has nice out of focus areas in full frame, but if you get a 28mm field of view added on it can be really nice.  Hard choice.

[da_eltsch]

Am 30.7.2024 um 22:50 schrieb HuntingSand:

That's a very nice setup. Welcome back. Please share some images when you get around to it.

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Leica S007 - S 120mm wide open 

This lens draws so beautiful. 

[Pieter12]

On 7/31/2024 at 11:12 PM, shedboatshed said:

Good to know, thank you. the 35mm equiv focal length is my favorite. I have an S35 but its not the most enjoyable to use for me.

I do still plan to buy a spare battery as I only have one. Dont think I want to fork over the money yet for a spare charger and would rather wait until I needed one. If anyone is selling a spare 007 battery let me know!

I actually prefer the HC 28mm if I want a real wide angle lens look. Makes for nice panoramas without stitching on the S3.

[ropo54]

S 100

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[Shane Guthrie]

I have, starting from December 2022, when I got a great deal on a barely used S3 through my regular photo store, Camera Electronic.

Since then, I have added: 

• Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 ASPH
• Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH; CS version 
• Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH; CS version 
• Elmarit-S 45mm f/2.8 ASPH
• Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 ASPH; CS version 
• Summicron-S 100mm f/2 ASPH
• APO-Macro-Summarit-S 120mm f/2.5 ASPH; CS version 
• APO-Tele-Elmar-S 180mm f/3.5; CS version 
• ELPRO-S 180 Close-Up Converter Lens 
   
• Leica Grid focusing screen-S
• Five batteries; second-hand 
• Leica S-Adapter L; to use these lenses on SL 

All the lenses are used. The first few I got didn't seem greatly discounted, but the last few seemed lower than I would have expected. I didn't track price changes, but felt I got a good set of prices overall. There was a problem with the aperture blades on the Elmarit-S 30mm, but my store sorted it out, sent it to Germany, and it came back serviced and perfect. 

I think that's all I'll purchase for the S system. I might consider a CS version of Elmarit-S 45mm, but I feel I've got enough range in CS lenses. A CS version wasn't available when I wanted the Elmarit-S 45mm. 

My favourite set up is an M rangefinder. I went to a rangefinder as I no longer wanted a bulky SLR, around 2016, and stopped using my Nikon DSLR gear. 

The most important things that motivated my S system purchase are: 

• 1/1000 flash sync speed on CS lenses; this has been magnificent for family and community portraits, and environmental portraits with high ambient light 
• Amazing quality and unique feelings to images with these lenses
• Working in dusty, dirty, wet environments with no concerns for the gear 
• All this in a package that while large compared to M and SL, it's small compared to other formats larger than 35 mm 

I'm particularly enamoured with the 100, 120, and 180 lenses. I've not been much into wide-angle lenses, but I've used the 24 much more than I expected. 

I love using it. 

[Shane Guthrie]

Walking in a forest by sand dunes, in the rain, we just don't have to worry

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear

[Shane Guthrie]

Getting into the dirt; no worries 

S3
Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 ASPH

 

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[irenedp]

I have been offered a 100 macro and a 180. Still thinking about it but maybe end up buying both. The S3 is a good camera and a portable backup to the Phase One.