Leica S2 Professional Digital Camera

8 October 2009

The new S format camera from Leica combines high resolution digital sensor with rugged ease of use.

The Leica reputation is built on their iconic 35mm film rangefinder cameras and the company struggled to come to terms with film SLRs and then digital cameras, until now. The new Leica M9 digital rangefinder promises to resurrect Leica’s reputation while the S2 sets out to forge a new identity for Leica.

Using the research relating to fitting large digital sensors into compact camera bodies Leica and Kodak have created a compact DSLR with 39 megapixel medium format image resolution and quality. Leica’s failure in the SLR marketplace now becomes a plus as they do not have an user base with legacy lenses and compatibility issues to factor into design of a new camera.

The S2 Body

This is more compact and easier to carry and handle than the top end pro-style offerings from Nikon and Canon. Another positive in the portability of the Leica S2 is the comprehensive weather sealing of the body and, importantly, all the lenses for their system. This should appeal to landscape and location wedding photographers who need high quality cameras to use in unpredictable weather conditions.

The Kodak Sensor

This 39 megapixel medium format sensor rivals offerings from medium format heavyweights such as Hasselblad and Phase One. The Kodak sensor uses the same design techniques to overcome the problem of light fall off at the edges of large digital sensors placed close to the camera’s lens.

A special micro-lens pattern allows complete capture of angled light rays on the image periphery for optimal use in available light. The ISO sensitivity has a maximum setting of 1250 allowing the capture of low-noise images under marginal lighting conditions.

Image Storage

The LEICA S2 has slots for both Compact Flash and SD, with an option for saving RAW format Adobe DNG data onto Compact Flash and JPEG to the SD card, simultaneously. This makes it easy to quickly check images on the set while streamlining post-processing. Using Adobe DNG for raw image data gives photographers the utmost in flexibility because this open-source data format is supported by all major graphic editing and workflow solutions. Leica supplies the universal Adobe Lightroom with the camera.

In the Studio

The Leica S2’s dual nature is evident in its capabilities in the studio as well as on location.

Leica’s own Image Shuttle software allows all of the S2 features to be controlled remotely from a computer. Image files are written directly onto the hard drive for immediate processing. An HDMI interface allows images to be presented and checked directly on monitors, television sets, and projectors.

The Lenses

Leica are renowned for the unsurpassed optical quality of their rangefinder lenses and they applied this knowledge to the design of the Leica S lenses. Their sophisticated design features special grades of glass and aspherical surfaces rarely found in optics of this size.

The lenses are manufactured to extremely narrow tolerances with each lens centred by hand, guaranteeing superior optical performance. The full performance of each lens is available even at full aperture setting or when shooting from a distance or capturing close-up images. Vignetting, distortion and chromatic aberrations have been reduced to the point of imperceptibility, simplifying digital post-processing considerably.

The Leica S2 comes with a standard DSLR style focal plane shutter built into the body. However, a selection of S lenses will also be available in a CS variant with an integrated leaf shutter designed by Leica engineers. Photographers can use the camera’s main shutter release button to operate the leaf shutter.

The integrated leaf shutter allows flash units to be used at the fastest shutter speed of 1/500 second, giving photographers more options for suppressing unwanted ambient light.

Pricing and Availability

LEICA S2 is set for Australian release at the end of September for a RRP $36,499.00 at Specialist Leica “S” dealers. At RRP $43,499.00 the LEICA S2-P with sapphire display includes the Platinum service package.

The LEICA SUMMARIT-S 70 mm f/2.5 ASPH. for RRP $7,099.00 and the LEICA APO-TELE-ELMAR-S 180 mm f/3.5 for RRP $10,399.00 will also be available when the S2 is launched.

The LEICA APO-MACRO-SUMMARIT-S 120 mm f/2.5, also priced at RRP $10,399.00, and the LEICA SUMMARIT-S 35 mm f/2.5 ASPH, priced at RRP $8,299.00, will reach the market in late 2009.

The CS variant models of the S lenses will be introduced successively over time. The first CS

models to reach dealers will be the LEICA SUMMARIT-S 70 mm f/2.5 ASPH. CS (RRP $9,199.00), the LEICA APO-MACRO-SUMMARIT-S 120 mm f/2.5 CS and the LEICA APO-TELE-ELMAR-S 180 mm f/3,5 CS (the macro and telephoto selling for RRP $11,799.00 each). The LEICA SUMMARIT-S 35 mm f/2.5 ASPH. CS will follow for RRP $9,699.00.

Many of the accessories will be available at the market launch, including the professional S charging unit that recharges two batteries at a time (RRP $599.00) as well as various components such as alternative viewfinder screens.

Specialist dealers will also have many other accessories such as lens caps, cable releases and the LEICA SF 58 flash unit. An S all-purpose grip will be available starting in early 2010 for RRP $1,999.00. Prices include GST.