dfarkas Posted May 17, 2009 Share #1 Posted May 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I just updated my blog with photos and measurements from yesterday when I had an S2 mockup in our store. David Farkas Photography Blog I have side-by-side photos of the S2 and Nikon D3x, S2 and Mamiya 645 AFD, as well as some comparisons of S lenses to Hasselblad HC lenses. I hope this settles some of the debate on the size of the S2. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 17, 2009 Posted May 17, 2009 Hi dfarkas, Take a look here S2 side-by-side with D3x and 645AFD. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
andybarton Posted May 17, 2009 Share #2 Posted May 17, 2009 Thank you David What I think is key is that, unlike certain competitors I could mention, it looks like it was designed by someone who cares what it looks like Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 17, 2009 Share #3 Posted May 17, 2009 Your also not using the latest D lenses made by Mamiya which are much different than the old 80mm for example. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfarkas Posted May 17, 2009 Author Share #4 Posted May 17, 2009 Your also not using the latest D lenses made by Mamiya which are much different than the old 80mm for example. Guy, You're right. I only had about half an hour to round up all the gear and shoot my pictures. This was after a very busy demo day when we were all getting ready to go home. If I had more notice or more time, I would have tried to wrangle up a D700, 5DII, 1DsIII and H3DII, as well as newer D series Mamiya lenses. I did check the weight of the new metal 80mm D vs. the plastic 80mm AF that I used. The new one weighs just 32g more, about 10%. David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stunsworth Posted May 17, 2009 Share #5 Posted May 17, 2009 Thanks David, if it was a beauty contest I know which one would win. The back of the Leica is so much more elegant than the other two. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
delander † Posted May 17, 2009 Share #6 Posted May 17, 2009 Well I like the s2 shape although it does look a bit pyramidal which makes the hand grip very deep at the bottom. Howver comparing it with a Nikon D3x is no contest since that is the ugliest top class DSLR around. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
lct Posted May 17, 2009 Share #7 Posted May 17, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) Not fair to compare the S2 to a D3x sizewise IMHO. The Nikon has a built-in grip/battery pack already. How much bigger will the S2 be with its removable one? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
carstenw Posted May 17, 2009 Share #8 Posted May 17, 2009 lct, no one is handing out achievement points here, it is just a comparison to give an idea. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
R10dreamer Posted May 17, 2009 Share #9 Posted May 17, 2009 Not fair to compare the S2 to a D3x sizewise IMHO. The Nikon has a built-in grip/battery pack already. How much bigger will the S2 be with its removable one? I think we are all capable of seeing that and then figuring that out. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandokan Posted May 17, 2009 Share #10 Posted May 17, 2009 What is the reliability and usability of the S2 against Hasselblads (V & H) and Mamiya? Ravi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Baker Posted May 17, 2009 Share #11 Posted May 17, 2009 I just updated my blog with photos and measurements from yesterday when I had an S2 mockup in our store. David Farkas Photography Blog I have side-by-side photos of the S2 and Nikon D3x, S2 and Mamiya 645 AFD, as well as some comparisons of S lenses to Hasselblad HC lenses. I hope this settles some of the debate on the size of the S2. David Thanks David, its good of you to take the time to do this. However, I must add one thing with regard to comparing the size of the Leica lenses to the size of the Hasselblad "H" lenses and its something that you did not mention .... the Hasselblad lenses are designed to cover the full 645 frame, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe the Leica's cover only the smaller sensor of the S2 and not full 645. If I am correct then it stands to reason the 'blad lenses will be larger and most likely heavier too, but of course they can be used with film backs, current 36 x 48mm sensors and the new 60mp sensor. Still the S2 is a very nice looking camera and I hope it succeeds, time will tell if it takes a decent market share off 'blad and Phase One. For anyone looking to enter the MF digital domain then its got to be worth looking at, if you're already committed to an existing system ( like me, H1 and Phase back) with several lenses then it really doesn't make a lot of sense to dump it all to switch to the S2, especially in the current economic climate. Still, well done Leica for this bold move and I really do hope it succeeds in the long term. Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted May 18, 2009 Share #12 Posted May 18, 2009 Guy, You're right. I only had about half an hour to round up all the gear and shoot my pictures. This was after a very busy demo day when we were all getting ready to go home. If I had more notice or more time, I would have tried to wrangle up a D700, 5DII, 1DsIII and H3DII, as well as newer D series Mamiya lenses. I did check the weight of the new metal 80mm D vs. the plastic 80mm AF that I used. The new one weighs just 32g more, about 10%. David Yea if I can line up my 4 D lenses sometime tomorrow you can get a good idea , they really are much better built and better looking than the old stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted May 18, 2009 Share #13 Posted May 18, 2009 Like the comparison! Maybe it will start some MF manufacturers think about their current lineup. As I always said - if nothing else (which I do not believe) - Leica will at least shake up the MF market significantly with the introduction of the S2. This alone is a huge achievement! If above all of that the S Systems turns out to be as good as on paper and also the support rom Leica is great (which is in my eyes th biggest question mark) and they get the right SW partner for post processing then the S System should become a great success. We will see Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooky Posted May 18, 2009 Share #14 Posted May 18, 2009 Thank you David......... your efforts are appreciated. The S2 keeps getting better and better. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevelap Posted May 19, 2009 Share #15 Posted May 19, 2009 Thanks David, useful and interesting. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted May 21, 2009 Share #16 Posted May 21, 2009 Without wishing to be labelled as a Nikon fan-boy by Andy and Steve, I agree the Nikon is no beauty in comparison but it's the ability to get the job done which counts. It will be interesting to see how well the Leica user interface works to accomplish particular tasks such as changing ISO, EV, bracketing, zooming to maximum magnification, intervalometer and the rest. What do you mean "The S2 doesn't have an intervalometer?". It's interesting what Leica have been able to do starting from a blank sheet of paper and that lens mount is huge. Like the M, Nikon (and Canon) cameras are constrained by a somewhat dated look - when I bought my D3(x), it was much more important to me to continue the Nikon way of doing thngs than tear up and start again. The same argument which keeps the M the way it is applies to Canikon DSLRs as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted May 21, 2009 Share #17 Posted May 21, 2009 Without wishing to be labelled as a Nikon fan-boy by Andy and Steve, I agree the Nikon is no beauty in comparison but it's the ability to get the job done which counts. It will be interesting to see how well the Leica user interface works to accomplish particular tasks such as changing ISO, EV, bracketing, zooming to maximum magnification, intervalometer and the rest. What do you mean "The S2 doesn't have an intervalometer?". It's interesting what Leica have been able to do starting from a blank sheet of paper and that lens mount is huge. Like the M, Nikon (and Canon) cameras are constrained by a somewhat dated look - when I bought my D3(x), it was much more important to me to continue the Nikon way of doing thngs than tear up and start again. The same argument which keeps the M the way it is applies to Canikon DSLRs as well. While we all know this for ages and most of us are handling it the way you describe (including myself) I think it is good to have a fresh new design and especially because it is coming from Leica it makes it even more interesting! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrc Posted May 27, 2009 Share #18 Posted May 27, 2009 One of the major differences between the Nikon/Canon and the Leica is that the Leica is not meant to be a photojournalist's camera, and you could argue that photojournalism is really the underlying design principle of the Nikon/Canon lines (although the biggest sensors are somewhat overspecified for pj work.) Not having a priority on doing things quickly allows Leica a certain leeway to create clean designs... JC Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptomsu Posted May 28, 2009 Share #19 Posted May 28, 2009 One of the major differences between the Nikon/Canon and the Leica is that the Leica is not meant to be a photojournalist's camera, and you could argue that photojournalism is really the underlying design principle of the Nikon/Canon lines (although the biggest sensors are somewhat overspecified for pj work.) Not having a priority on doing things quickly allows Leica a certain leeway to create clean designs... JC You are right! Of course at least the top models of Nikon and Canon are built or photojournalism and fast operation which results in kind of the designs we see today. Not always one needs all these buttons, knobs 100eds of AF points etc etc, which for landscape work for example is rather disturbing - and there are many other examples where one prefers just 1 or a few controls and buttons but those with right functionality and on the right place. So this reduction to the real necessary things makes a Leica S2 (and already made all R models and of course the M line) very unique and optimally functional for a large amount of people, who do not earn their money by photojournalism and daily photographing celebrities or politicians or make reports or work on formula 1 races with cars heading towards them with 200mph and still need to get a sharp picture. What I actually critisize with Nikon and Canon is, that their top models are without compromise tailored towards the PJ group, and then there is usually a big gap towards the next smaller models which are then somehow tailored to mass market. I would like to see Canon and Nikon bring a kind of "Art-Version" of their top models, without that massive battery grip and without all those AF points and controls which normally you will hardly need in daily more artistic work. So Leica has a unique chance to fulfill the needs and wishes of these people who are looking for a bit less in controls but a bit more for great and useful design and high quality and IQ. Meanwhile I count myself into this group Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
t024484 Posted May 29, 2009 Share #20 Posted May 29, 2009 You are right! Of course at least the top models of Nikon and Canon are built or photojournalism and fast operation which results in kind of the designs we see today. Not always one needs all these buttons, knobs 100eds of AF points etc etc, which for landscape work for example is rather disturbing - and there are many other examples where one prefers just 1 or a few controls and buttons but those with right functionality and on the right place. So this reduction to the real necessary things makes a Leica S2 (and already made all R models and of course the M line) very unique and optimally functional for a large amount of people, who do not earn their money by photojournalism and daily photographing celebrities or politicians or make reports or work on formula 1 races with cars heading towards them with 200mph and still need to get a sharp picture. What I actually critisize with Nikon and Canon is, that their top models are without compromise tailored towards the PJ group, and then there is usually a big gap towards the next smaller models which are then somehow tailored to mass market. I would like to see Canon and Nikon bring a kind of "Art-Version" of their top models, without that massive battery grip and without all those AF points and controls which normally you will hardly need in daily more artistic work. So Leica has a unique chance to fulfill the needs and wishes of these people who are looking for a bit less in controls but a bit more for great and useful design and high quality and IQ. Meanwhile I count myself into this group Well said, and exactly what I am looking for. I feel like a fool carrying a huge MF camera, although the results are superior. The S2 really fills a gap. Hans Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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