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


JohnG

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The camera having an integrated back, which you can't take off, is a plus and minus, but not a deciding factor for success in the market, imo.

 

That way it is "fully" integrated; Hassy went a similar way and some folks were extremely upset, but the H3D-II seems to be selling well...

 

The H3 back can be removed and used on other cameras. It's just that the H3 can't be used with a Phase One, Sinar, Mamiya, or Leaf back.

 

Consider if you bought the Hassy with a 39 megapixel or lower res back. Then a job came up that required higher res, you could just rent the 50 megapixel back or even a higher res one in the future for that one job. The fact that the back is removable also gives you a larger potential market when you upgrade. As you can sell your old back to Hassy users and also to view camera users. Some might want an older one as a backup. I'm not sure if the H3's digital backs can be used on other brand MF SLRs (Other Hassy backs can be adapted to a variety of cameras.)

 

And if you have a Hassy V system, Mamiya, Contax, the Rollei 600X series, or the new Rollei AF, you have a choice of several backs from Hassy, Leaf, Sinar, Mamiya, and Phase One. The same is true with the custom wide angle cameras and small view cameras. Some of these cameras are very light weight and compact - not to be confused with traditional large monorail 4x5s.

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More info from this Japanese web site: y‘¬•ñzƒ‰ƒCƒJAAF“‹ÚƒfƒWƒ^ƒ‹ˆêŠáƒŒƒtuS2v‚ð”*•\ (www.dc.watch.impress.co.jp)

 

And the complete list of "S" lenses:

  • Summarit-S 1:2.5/35mm ASPH. CS
  • Summarit-S 1:2.5/70mm ASPH. CS
  • APO-Macro Summarit-S 1:2.5/120mm CS
  • APO-Elmar-S 1:3.5/180mm CS
  • Elmarit-S 1:2.8/24mm ASPH.
  • Summarit-S 1:2.5/100mm
  • Elmar-S 1:3.5/30mm Tilt-Shift
  • Vario-Elmar-S 1:3.5/30-90mm ASPH.
  • APO-TELE-Elmarit-S 1:3.5/350mm

Very difficult to get more info than what has been published here - and on many other web sites so far. The back 3 inch OLED has a res of 420,000 pixels. Top (Focal Plane) shutter speed of 1/4000 sec, but still no indication of max ISO or max motor drive speed (2 fps ?).

 

John F.

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I thought I'd read that the MD is 8 fps.

 

Very unlikely.

 

The 50MP sensor for Hasselblad based on the same platform can do only 1fps, Since Leica says the Fujitsu processor has twice the speed of other MF DSLR processors, I guess the S2 shall be up to somewhere between 2-3 fps.

 

LFI has a feature article on S2 in the last issue, here's one interesting comment you can read on their web site:

 

A Leica R10 – i.e., a Leica R with full format sensor as anticipated by some of the fans and for which initial blueprints do, in fact, exist – would simply not achieve the necessary specs.

 

Can you guess what "necessary spec" can't be achieved at current stage?

 

High ISO noise performance?

fps rate?

AF performance?

 

I have a strange feeling, they may finally announce it at the next PMA, there's no need to wait till 2010 ... Vegas, I'm comin' :)

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The back 3 inch OLED has a res of 420,000 pixels. Top (Focal Plane) shutter speed of 1/4000 sec, but still no indication of max ISO or max motor drive speed (2 fps ?).

 

John F.

 

According to David Farkas blog, it'll be ISO 1600 or 3200 (not yet decided).

 

Edit: Oh, and I saw somewhere 1.5 fps.

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So, Hasselblad is on the move too. I'm enclosing their newsletter that just came in. Guess they noticed the S2 as well ;-)

 

But frankly, part of selling a "tool" to photographers is to deliver the overall package in a way so that it's good business for all. And not surprisingly, the price of the "tool" is an important factor. So developing products is one side, massaging the market is another.

 

 

"If "no news is good news", then what is a lot of news?

 

One of the big news items at the opening day of this year's Photokina is that, in addition to launching a range of new products, Hasselblad has also announced a dramatic new pricing strategy, with up to 40% savings on all of our digital camera products.

 

We are thrilled to be able to offer the finest camera systems in the world at a price that will allow even more photographers to enjoy the Hasselblad level of quality and performance, and want to be absolutely clear as to what this new pricing strategy means for you the photographer.

 

What does the new pricing strategy entail?

 

Simply put, it means lower prices on all Hasselblad digital products. The new, lower price level is based on two primary cornerstones. Firstly, most new high-tech products begin with a high price point, and high-end digital camera products have been no exception. Over time, increased volume and improved production techniques eventually allow lower prices and more accessible products. This is now happening in our industry. We can now produce our cameras at a lower cost and we can pass the savings on to photographers.

 

Secondly, by significantly lowering the retail price we are able to remove the necessity of a trade-up program, which means that even lower pricing is possible. The end result is a simple and straightforward pricing model which allows us to bring the full range of H3DII cameras, from the entry level H3DII-31 to the new H3DII-50 and upcoming H3DII-60, to photographers at a dramatically lower price. And in addition, as the proud owner of a Hasselblad H3D camera, this means that in the future you will be able to purchase new Hasselblad cameras at a lower cost, and be able to keep your previous camera as a back-up.

 

For most discerning photographers the only reason not to have a Hasselblad has been that they couldn't afford one. We hope that our new pricing will enable a whole new generation of photographers to experience these amazing cameras"

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Yes, I received the e-mail this afternoon.

 

particularly liked this sentence:

 

And in addition, as the proud owner of a Hasselblad H3D camera, this means that in the future you will be able to purchase new Hasselblad cameras at a lower cost, and be able to keep your previous camera as a back-up.

 

to me it read something like: At the moment we have nothing new, but you can buy are products cheaper and when we have something new, you can buy again and you get to keep the one you buy now... :D :D :D

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Guest guy_mancuso
Yes, I received the e-mail this afternoon.

 

particularly liked this sentence:

 

And in addition, as the proud owner of a Hasselblad H3D camera, this means that in the future you will be able to purchase new Hasselblad cameras at a lower cost, and be able to keep your previous camera as a back-up.

 

to me it read something like: At the moment we have nothing new, but you can buy are products cheaper and when we have something new, you can buy again and you get to keep the one you buy now... :D :D :D

 

Actually that is a bad statement from Hassy . The back and body are tuned to each other. You can't buy a body and a separate back and put them together. Frankly you can't buy either of them separate . There a kit, so that statement is very misleading. Beciuse you really can't buy a H3 than later down the road add a 60 mpx back to it. You have to buy them together, this is considered a closed system. Sinar,Phase and Leaf are open systems. Example i can buy any Phase back for a Contax, Hassy H2, Mamiya, Hassy V system . You can't do that with a Hassy back. You can with Sinar and leaf also with different adapters.

 

Surprised that line got through there legal dept., although worded differently than what i described it is the assumption that folks will take from it. Sure you can have a backup but it will be with the same body you bought the back with

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l think the statement from Hasselblad is an indication that MF systems are undergoing pricing pressure. Surely the recent introductions of inexpensive hi res 35mm DSLRs is not helping sales either. The next top of the line Canons and Nikons will most likely be priced lower too.

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Was really waiting for a 16Mb sensor for an M9. Instead of this, Leica presents a camera that is supposed to be carried out, but I have big doubts about street photography, the historical meaning of Leica.

 

Nice SLR at first sight, anyway. Wait and see for precise specifications that make the price worthy, but hopes are shady for a Hassy lens adapter...

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Thorsten,

 

Thank you for the post. I was just reading about Hassy's new pricing on Hasselblad Announces New Pricing for H3DII-31 Camera Kit. What Guy wrote is very true - the H3 series is the first in the Hasselblad H system that is "closed". Unlike the H1/H2, If you got an H3, you're stuck with using Hassy backs only - nothing else.

 

Going back to the S2, for those who might not have seen it yet, there is an interesting video interview with two Leica reps on imaging-resource: Photokina 2008 Live Tradeshow Coverage - Video Clips

 

So, the S2 is not a medium-format camera, it's a "30x45" camera ...

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Was really waiting for a 16Mb sensor for an M9. Instead of this, Leica presents a camera that is supposed to be carried out, but I have big doubts about street photography, the historical meaning of Leica.

 

Michel,

 

Keep in mind that Photokina is not over yet, we might see more news from Leica (keep an eye on Chasseur d'Images's excellent blog: http://cicfou.com/).

 

Et n'oublions pas la PMA aux USA l'an prochain. Avec ce "nouveau" Leica (nouveau management), tout devient possible .... :)

 

John F.

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