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Digital Reflex S2 - please post all thoughts here...


JohnG

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If I won the lottery, would be cool and IQ would be amazing, but...

 

New (and thus used) MFDB prices are dropping like a rock. Used H3D-39 systems for $13,000, 503CWDs for $7000. The buy-in for a new 503CWDII (as an example) is $13,000, other systems form Sinar, Phase/Mamiya, etc for $20K or so - with replaceable backs and the ability, through stop-down and adapters to use lenses cross-platform.

 

You also now have 21MP FF DSLRS for $2700 (list) - and the performance/price curve of pro DSLRS just keeps getting better and better.

 

With such a new pricing/performance paradigm, a pro can now much more easily afford a MFDB and a high-res FF DSLR for far under the body-only of the S2, have a unit with adapters for backup, a better service and support structure, proven reliability, etc, etc.

 

Again, neat concept, but may have made more strategic sense a couple of years ago when MFDBs were priced in the stratosphere and 17-21MP FF DSLRS were $8000.

 

With the larger sensor, the 70/2.5 is more like a 50/2

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I assume the Summarit 2.5/75 is the standard lens of the new system, why can't they make it even faster? optics is always Leica's stronghold, Contax has a 2/80 for a real 645.

 

If I read the MTF tables right, the Summarit-M 75/2.5 wouldn't be up to Leica standards in the corners of the larger frame.

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Wow, that looks super cool. I guess that was what Dr. Kaufmann meant when he said they would make history in SLR ;-)

 

Notice that the pro's who's been dealing with the S2 prototype says it's in size between Canon 5D and Mark III..! And that is the MF camera, S2, not the R!

 

And then in the end of the articel, that the R system is far from dead. So we're talking both an R10 and a S2.

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Following on from all your comments my dealer had also said that there was to be a medium format and that Leica were backing away from the 4/3 interchangeable lens cameras.

 

He further said that manual focus R lenses were going to cease production!

 

To be honest if I was going for a nedium format digital system my choice (if cost was not a factor) would be the Rollei HY6, as I already have a Rollei 6008 system but the digital back for the 6008 is a scary price!

 

What I am looking forward to seeing is the Leica Pradovit digital projector, but I don't want to get rid of my 35mm Pradovits.

 

John G

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I think that we should all publically congratulate Dr Kaufmann and his team for an amazing coup. Excellent work, ladies and gentlemen

 

Three cheers for Dr K and everyone involved. Hip hip!...

 

Exactly, please accept my congratulations as well. Now the announcement is spoiled, they can officially turn the press conference into a cocktail party ... don't drive after drinking, folks. Leica will pay for the taxis. LOL

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Can't help but get excited about it technologically, but I also can't help but get this feeling of dread as to what the financial prospects for Leica will be.

 

We and the market didn't need a paradigm-shift and new format, we needed (new) more affordable R gear and FF AA-filterless performance with existing (and new) lenses in a DSLR body.

 

Oh well, we shall see. Interesting and a hell of an achievement regardless.

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It does look ugly but I'm sure the results are superlative. However, if I was in the market to buy a £20K digital camera I'd buy into the Hasselblad H system which is a proven system with lenses easily rentable from major cities. The Hasselblad is also a kind of 'high end' industry standard and well known to art directors, etc. When all the excitement of the S2 quietens down I don't really see the attraction of the S2 vis-à-vis the H3D and other well established MF back cameras.

 

Incidentally, the S2 is no more of a paradigm shift than the Mamiya ZD was.

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