There are some amazing and unique lenses in the S lineup. Besides the APO macro 120 2.5, I find the 35 2.5 really great. It allows you to do environmental portraits which really pop - fantastic lens. It is a distinguishing factor that the S lenses all have a wider aperture than the X lenses except the 80 1.9, of course, which is the only lens I would buy from the X system. They are all also highly corrected with some APO designated lenses such as the 120 and 180.
The X system, on the other hand, has the advantage of being able to adapt M or Zeiss Otus lenses right now already and you can get a special look with the Otus 85 / 100 1.4 or the Nocti 75 1.25. I even saw some great pics on Flickr of the Apo Summicron 35 on the X system with barely vignetting - in my view a very enticing combo.
Once the mirrorless S4 comes out with the ability to adapt, SL with AF, S with AF and M / R lenses you truly have an ultimate camera that can also adapt all the other lens systems such as Otus in Nikon mount for example. I think it is still way off though, with 2022 being M11 year, 2023 being the SL3 / Q3 year (moving to the 60 MPX sensor) and then the S4 at one point thereafter I'd assume -> moving to 100 MPX or above and finally into mirrorless. It was Kaufman who said the S has the right amount of MPX as is, but MPX isn't its issue price and functionality are its biggest challenges.
One advantage of Hassy is their colour science which in effect is just a kelvin dependent LUT transformation (there are different transformations depending on the illuminant condition at the time of the image capture, ie to adjust for the specific light at recording) at raw file level to get pleasing tones reminiscent of analogue especially on the skin tones. The colours of the S system are also fantastic though, I think here both systems are markedly better than the Phase files which have a bit of a digital touch in comparison. Agreed but H has also fallen down with its crippled antics, lack of sensible CEO with direction and drive to make the right deals back when,
If you can, though, would suggest to try out an S system - if you go to a Leica dealer they will somehow make it possible after some talking although it may require a few days waiting in case they need to procure the demo unit from some other Leica centre. Judge by the quality of the files.
Finally, understand that Mr. Kaufmann is a big fan of the system, so I think it will not be killed off at all and also during the M11 presentation video you can see the Leica systems roadmap on a wall and on the S side it is continuing to the right ... S4 can't wait for you to come! I would also assume that this is then the time for Leica to introduce a mirrorless S line, maybe called "SX" or something like that, including the possibility for amazing stuff as new APO summicrons or summiluxes or a reference grade noctilux. Whether we will see a fully fledged SX lens line will also depend on the state of the global economy down the line as my understanding of how Leica works is that they have product management which dictates based on market research the design goals in the systems departments based on a target price they deem marketable. S system will never be competitive in todays world.
So they will say there's a market for 10k EUR SX summilux lens or not and depending on that the optics department will produce a lens backtracking based on margin needs the maximum production costs. The close focusing ability of the APO 35 M was also based on the target specs of the product management team as was the need to develop a unified system to produce the APO SL Summicron lenses in a cost efficient manner. Summilux lens or not several lenses being produced today W AF and Stabilization rival Summilux's of yesterday's.
On Hassy's future - it is widely believed that the X1D III is coming with improvements across the board (EVF, speed, 100 MPX), but given war, supply issues, could take a bit longer than expected. Pls. note that the price of the Phase One IQ4 also increased during the last months due to the input cost inflation, namely Sony raising significantly the cost of the sensors ... in addition to components being more difficult to procure. And as DJI already got what they wanted - namely colour science and brand equity to slap onto their drones it could be that indeed the H system is dead and the X system will from now on be milked given the lenses have more or less been finally developed - not aware of any other upcoming lens on the X side ...You said it!!!!
I think it is therefore bright for both systems with me leaning to think that based on the size of Leica the latter is for sure more secure in the long-term. You never know how DJI will decide to "optimize" the Swedish HQ, production, etc. if the profitability declines, for example "the path has been there for years DJI for some unknown reason has chosen to ignore it and go another way. Any deals that could of given life to the H system have long been extinct and what they have in store for the X is... should, would ,might, be to release a new body. However bear in mind that DJI only funded H on sold orders... This is in contrast to Leica who has two cash cows with the Q and M systems and lightly profitable SL line and a passion project with the S line which I'd strongly assume is also still profitable given R&D of S3 was limited and S lenses have been fully developed and are produced in batches.
