Seeking access to an S3 or S2-007 in France

[mdrips]

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Is anyone in this group who has an S3 or and S2-007, who is living in France, preferably Paris?

I am designing an exhibition in Paris and want to see if the actual quality of the photos is as good as I have read about or if I have read a lot of fanboy hype.

Yes, I know the photos will be at a certain level of Leica standards, but I am interested in a more hands on viewing. Thanks.

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[Stuart Richardson]

If I put on my master printer hat for a moment, what you will be seeing in prints is primarily a consequence of the skill of the printer and image editor/technician, not the camera, at least not at this level. Unless you are printing around 100x150 or larger, you will probably not see a large difference in detail between the S3 and S007. The differences in the cameras are more pronounced in the way that the files handle, but when it comes to a final print any camera of this caliber is now more than capable of producing a stunning print. I don't want to say that there is no difference between cameras or lenses anymore, not at all, only that you are not really going to be able to glean what those differences and nuances are unless you have some sort of controlled test. What you will be seeing is more "what do photos by someone who uses an S3" look like, rather than "what do photos from an S3 look like". It is a small, but important difference.

[mdrips]

Stuart Richardson:

I need to print on a very large format, so the larger sensors and megapixels in these two camera models will make a noticeable difference.

What you will be seeing is more "what do photos by someone who uses an S3" look like, rather than "what do photos from an S3 look like".  <-- that sentence makes absolutely no sense.

[Stuart Richardson]

Hello. I am sorry if I was not clear. Maybe it will be helpful if I elaborate. I am a former S3, S2 and S006 user. I am also a practicing artist. My main job is as a master printer for a Hahnemühle certified studio. My last large show at the museum of photography here featured prints up to 140x170 from the S006. This is only to say that I am in a good position to answer your question. What I meant was that unless you are printing 100x150cm or larger, you will not see a large difference between an S007 and an S3. If you are printing 100x150 or larger, then the S3's extra resolution will make a difference.

When I said the sentence you are confused by, what I was trying to convey is that if you just look at the prints someone who is using an S3 has made, the most important aspects of those prints (sharpness, detail, tonality), are more about the skill and taste of the photographer and the skill and taste of the printer than they are about the camera. High end cameras are now so good (things like the GFX100, S3, Hasselblad X series), that the differences even in large prints are usually more due to the operator, than to the camera. If you really want to test the S3 and S007, the only real way to do that is to try them yourself.

I bought my S3 through Leica Paris in 2020. The lead there at the time was a man named Jean-Jacques Karatchian. You might consider reaching out to him and seeing if he can help you get access to one for a demo.