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S4

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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
iiiNelson said:
Yeah I was contemplating going with the Hasselblad XCD series but perhaps I’ll hold off and see what comes of this. I still “need” an updated color camera.
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I think it is quite sensible to wait for the S4 before jumping into a new system. Leica just posted record sales and is a behemoth nowadays - the optics will be awesome and let’s not even start talking about the cool stuff like SL compatibility with larger crop, Leica M autofocus - I heard it was high on the list of things to add - etc etc
 
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akaru

Active member
I’ve used the af adapters for an A7 for M glass, and it worked ok, when it worked. One camera for it all would be really nice. Wonder how the FLE would fare.
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
Leica has the benefit that they can make sure that the sensor IR and protective glass are factored in across camera platforms during lens design and thus lenses from Leica work the best with Leica cameras.

Especially mirrorless wide angles - ie “super” lenses from the M and SL Systems - benefit from this as smearing of corners of lenses which sit below 24mm equivalent in 35mm terms is minimized in Leica camera systems.

They are also working hard on making sure the colour signature of the new S is “S class” ie one notch above the SL line meaning more akin to the S3, Arri cinema and Hasselblad HNCS Color signatures which aim for a subtle filmic representation of hues and saturation meaning not 100% repro but more akin to film
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
YES. Now is the time.

Its incredibly undervalued - the S glass typically retailed in the range of 5-9k and the reason it is depressed, besides being mirror based, is because literally the only mount available are S bodies.

This is all set to change with the S4 which will be able via adapters use:

M
SL
S vintage glass

If you buy S glass, all lenses are great to be honest. I cannot fault a single optic.

The S24, S100 command a heavy premium because they were produced later and are rare. If you can get these in mint condition, IMHO, any price below retail is amazing.

I hear that M glass will be even adaptable via an AF adapter ... how amazing is this?

Latest update I have on the next-gen S glass is that it'll be 2.5 AF APO, couldn't validate CS, but I think they are.

The dream kit for me personally therefore is:

M12M
S4
Alpa with P1 backs
Arca R+F for film

The S4 covers colour Leica, the M12M will be a 100 MPX B&W camera so both systems are complementary in terms of capabilities.

For the hardcore IQ and res you pull up P1 with tech cam. Arca is unmatched for hybrid, IMHO, especially due to the interchangeability between bellows and pancake cams + the rotaslide.
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
algrove said:
If it will have a 44x33 sensor like Hasselblad, and Fuji, how on earth can they charge over $10k for the body?
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They can charge whatever they want … and people will buy within reason - there’s a premium with Leica products and always has been. The S series was priced too high and too long a bit behind technologically besides the optics which are class leading. A shame. But the S4 is the time when Leica catches up - they are stronger than ever and had a record result last year; Leica’s earnings have never been higher in fact, it’s the literal antithesis of the whole industry - they have grown steadily over the last years with smash hits like the Q series, the evergreen M series and of course the slowly maturing SL system.

Haven’t you yourself bought an SL3 which costs almost double what similar other cameras cost from Panasonic et al?

Why do people pay 9k for an M?
 
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bags27

Well-known member
Beat me to it. The camera body is actually free. It's the red dot that costs 10s of thousands of dollars. (Seriously, although I don't own an S, I do think it produces the most beautiful rendering of any digital camera made, with the possible exception of the original Foveons.)
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
bags27 said:
Beat me to it. The camera body is actually free. It's the red dot that costs 10s of thousands of dollars. (Seriously, although I don't own an S, I do think it produces the most beautiful rendering of any digital camera made, with the possible exception of the original Foveons.)
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Its not arbitrary through. Every Leica product is exceedingly well made and the machining and materials feel premium. There’s no cheap plastic and the optics are in a sphere of their own. The Summiluxes on the M catch light in a unique way, the SL APO optics are arguably the finest in 35mm land and the S glass is a whole class of its own. From an MF AF glass perspective it’s the best glass I know in terms of bokeh, micro contrast and overall look. Magnificent stuff.

It is really time to pick up S glass now and it seems to me that right now certain lenses are hard to get like the S100 for example which beats wide open every MF100 2.0 ish legend eg the 110 2.0 etc
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
In fact, that's why one of my next year's projects is to commission a cold S adapter for Alpa and Alpa FPS because according to my tests the S100 fully illuminates the IQ4 sensor and jointly with an FPS it should be the ultimate MF portrait machine.

The 100 2.5, 70 2.5, 45 2.8 should all by absolutely awesome handheld with the FPS wide-open.
 
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bags27

Well-known member
I was sort of kidding, because I agree that Leica is pretty special. My favorite all-time lens, though I don't own it either and perhaps never will, is the M50 f/2 APO. Sometimes the rendering with that just takes my breath away. The other 50s are great, too (I have the 50 Lux), but the Cron APO can be truly magical and worth every penny.
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
In any case - besides Rodies and SK Magic Four (28, 43, 60, 120 ASPH) you can't go wrong with the S lenses. Many of them a true APO, the 120 AF Macro is a legend. I was told once by one of the key S sales heads that the 120 2.5 was so difficult initially to produce that it took them years to get it into serial production at reasonable cost from the prototype stage.

Bokeh to die for, 0 aberrations, sharp at 2.5 at infinity and close up. What more can you wish for. If it had manual aperture control its value would be double!
 
PeterA

PeterA

Well-known member
bags27 said:
I was sort of kidding, because I agree that Leica is pretty special. My favorite all-time lens, though I don't own it either and perhaps never will, is the M50 f/2 APO. Sometimes the rendering with that just takes my breath away. The other 50s are great, too (I have the 50 Lux), but the Cron APO can be truly magical and worth every penny.
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Well think about getting yourself an SL body and a used SL 50 APO and enjoy the same rendition with autofocus even - OR if you can get over the silly three coloured stripes- get a Voigtlander 50 Apo Lanthar for 1/10th of the cost and 99% of the performance - I know- I have all three.
 
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Paul Spinnler

Well-known member
John_McMaster said:
There is now an AF converter to fit to Fuji bodies....

john
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Wow, that's cool! As said S glass will rise in price. If anyone is foolish enough to let such fantastic optics like the Summarit 120 S sit around in the forum now its their fault.

OR to sell these IN THE FIRST PLACE given there's now a bridge to GFX. If only they did a Hasselblad X adapter.

I really do think it is now time to buy up these lenses - this adapter is a big plus, lens for lens, bokeh wise, sharpness wise, overall look wise, they are spectacular.
 
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