fotografz;5992 wrote: 50 meg 1.3X crop frame MFD is now a reality. H and P1 have announced it. Others are sure to follow.
Personally, I’m firmly in the CCD camp, and really not all that interested in going beyond 40 meg.
It would be great if Leica were to produce a higher meg S camera for those that actually need it, while maintaining a more “usable” S camera like the S2/S.
IMO, a CMOS S camera wouldn’t necessarily suffer from the same color issues that the M240 has exhibited because it wouldn’t have to deal with wide angle lenses so close to the sensor.
However, I’ve yet to see a CMOS camera from anyone that exhibits a distinctive look and feel in the initial files … like the S2/S and M9 do. While it can be argued that this leaves it up to artistic interpretation, it then requires a degree from MIT and knowledge of color therory beyond the scope of most photographers. Simplicity does have its merits when working in post in the same valued manner it does with camera operations.
What I am far more interested in over yet another expensive S camera body, is more refinements of the one I’ve already invested in.
It’d be far more valuable IF Leica were to issue firmware that improved the higher ISO capabilities of the S2/S cameras. In past, Hasselblad did exactly that. They issued firmware that increased the sensitivity of existing H cameras a full stop. So the H3D/31 went from a top ISO of 800 to 1600 … which made 800 like 400 and 400 like 200 in IQ.
These are VERY expensive cameras, and the growing crop of far less expensive high res smaller formats are breathing down the MFD category’s back. While it is a bit easier to jettison a $2,500/$3,500 camera for the next generation, it is a monumental financial task to do so with cameras costing 10X as much. IMO, demonstrating on-going value with your existing MFD camera should be an integral part of the ownership equation. It keeps owners in your camp and less likely to bail for alternative choices.
– Marc
Good points about the flange distance Marc,I have never had these issues with wides myself but I have read about a lot of these problems with ray angles,Surprising that the M240 has this..I thought these issues were only with M glass used with other systems with adaptors,A7R for example.
Having seen some of the images from the IQ250 I would also prefer the look from the CCD and hope Leica stay with CCD(or continue to offer both,the exmor shadow detail and D.R is useful)),regarding resolution the only reason I would like more (60mp) is that the lenses are so sharp they out resolve the current sensor with ease,(Peter Karbe said they can resolve 2um)
I totally agree about the price of the body,it is substantial and not an amount that one would want to spend every two years,I would rather spend it on glass,firmware can improve iso response but technology changes and we cant do anything but accept that,still as you say,a commitment from Leica to continually improve existing bodies helps.
Rob