new Leica system-- larger than full frame

[haven]

At the Photokina show in germany this week:
Leica announced the S System built around a 30x45mm sensor.
That's 56% larger than 35mm full-frame film camera negative,
which measures 36x24 mm.

The first S System camera will be the S2, a DSLR, with a 37
megapixel 30x45 sensor. That's about halfway between current
DSLR sensors and the 60 megapixel Phase One digital back for
medium format cameras.

Leica also announced a set of eight lenses designed to work with
the S2.

Now I know how to use some of the lottery winnings that are sure
to come my way next week. :sombrero:

 

[Michael Slade]

Sounds pretty sweet. It'll be cheaper than the new 65mp back that Hasselblad is going to announce this week....

 

[haven]

Michael Reichmann says that Leica worked in partnership
with Phase One to develop this product. And it appears
that the sensor is manufactured by Kodak.

 

[Lost Canadian]

Of course if you put any weight into the rumors floating about, there is something similar coming down the pipe from Nikon. A 48x48mm medium format digital rangefinder with what is being called a MX sensor.

Interesting times...

 

[PhoenixGSU]

who's got $25k burning a hole in their wallet?

 

[bigreen505]

I've been following this very closely. The S2 looks very promising and really builds on the DMR technology, and marks a move from Imacon to Phase One for the electronics, but retains the Kodak sensor (Phase uses Kodak, Leaf uses Dalsa). There is still a R10 in the works to replace the DMR. There are several very fake looking photos of the S2 floating around, but they indeed were provided by Leica.

Haven, I'm really excited about the Phase P65+ for its full frame 645, though it is way out of my price range. A back like that coupled with a higher quality version of a Super Rotator and you have a 4x5 replacement.

 

[H2O_Doc]

Nice for landscapes, portraits, and maybe architecture, but no good for nature photography (telephoto at least). Having said that, I do applaud the effort as someone might want to take pictures of something other than critters (though I'm not sure why).

Paul

www.wagnerphotographic.com