The Leica S Medium Format Complete Review

[Stef63]

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I'm not the biggest fan of the man behind the website, but a really nice guest article by @Milan_S was recently published : The Leica S Medium Format Complete Review

I couldn't agree more with this line : 

"For those willing to embrace its weight, deliberate pace, and niche quirks, the S3 is an absolute masterpiece – and, for me, one of the best cameras Leica has ever made."

@Milan_S thanks for the enjoyable read!

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[Milan_S]

3 hours ago, Stef63 said:

I'm not the biggest fan of the man behind the website, but a really nice guest article by @Milan_S was recently published : The Leica S Medium Format Complete Review

I couldn't agree more with this line : 

"For those willing to embrace its weight, deliberate pace, and niche quirks, the S3 is an absolute masterpiece – and, for me, one of the best cameras Leica has ever made."

@Milan_S thanks for the enjoyable read!

Thank you Stefan for sharing this and glad you enjoyed my review! When you are in Antwerp let me know always wonderful to meet a fellow S photographer! 

[davidmknoble]

Milan is right on point with his article. The body lenses and files are what made me stick with the system for landscape work. Great read!!

[Milan_S]

On 5/12/2025 at 8:39 PM, davidmknoble said:

Milan is right on point with his article. The body lenses and files are what made me stick with the system for landscape work. Great read!!

Thank you David, glad you enjoyed the article and images. Let's keep the S legacy alive...

[mdrips]

That was an excellent review and has led me to plan to purchase a used S3 or S2 007 for an exhibition I have planned to do in Paris in 2026.

[Milan_S]

21 hours ago, mdrips said:

That was an excellent review and has led me to plan to purchase a used S3 or S2 007 for an exhibition I have planned to do in Paris in 2026.

Thank you @mdrips I would advice you to start with a S007 and see how the system works for you! You will appreciate the files and the look of the lenses. Good luck with your exhibition. 

[mdrips]

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2 hours ago, Milan_S said:

Thank you @mdrips I would advice you to start with a S007 and see how the system works for you! You will appreciate the files and the look of the lenses. Good luck with your exhibition. 

Certainly you know better than I do, but the price difference between an S2 007 and an S3 isn't so huge, so are you saying to try the 007 first as I may discover that I don't like the medium format? My planned exhibition will use large prints with extreme B&W for one exhibition and extreme and detailed color for the second. I don't want to acquire 2 cameras and since the prints will all be large, the medium format seems to be the optimum solution. Thanks in advance for any of your experience you wish to share.

[HuntingSand]

Milan, I appreciate the write-up. This is a special system which doesn't deserve to be thrown into the dustbin of history, so it is nice to have a comprehensive record of its components and capabilities. My 007 and 006 will see continuous use for a great while to come.

[Chris Akin]

I've been walking around town with the S3, and though it is large and in charge at 6.5 lbs. give or take, the images it is capable of producing are incredible. I'm not a tripod guy, but I am rather deliberate in my approach nonetheless, and yet if the shutter speed is below 1/250, and I'm in an awkward position, it's likely to be just a tad out of focus. However, a portrait shot in window light hand held is no problem. That being said, using shallow depth of field is esp. challenging with close subjects hand held. You might be disappointed with what the camera focuses on, or it might be a bit soft, because critical focusing is left up to your eyesight through the viewfinder, and for small details like you might find on an orchid, the thing you wanted to be in focus might not be. But, for most things, it's a camera that will give you a sense of confidence, not unlike driving a Mercedes to your high school reunion. And the print size potential is incredible. I've never been so pleased with an image file as what the S3 produces, and they hold up very well in post. I say get one, and the more you use it, the better you will be at managing its weaknesses while maximizing its strengths. The fact that it's a crop-medium format sensor in the 3:2 aspect ratio is what makes it so special. I thought I would be more inclined to use the Type 006 which I have as well, but once you use the S3 and see the files, you won't miss not having a CCD sensor. 

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