Seems the wait was worth it. While Leica may have just barely made their Summer 2015 delivery estimate, they have given S users cause for celebration. The new S (Typ 007) was originally priced at $25,400 when it was announced at Photokina back in September. Now, with shipments hitting dealers’ shelves within the next week or two, Leica has gotten a little aggressive on the pricing (in no small part due to the current weak Euro, I’m sure), slashing $8,500 off the price tag, for a final price of $16,900. Considering the technology packed into the new S007, this becomes a very attractive offering.
The new S is now the fastest and most responsive medium format digital camera on the market, churning out 3.5 frames per second, and featuring 60 fps live view with contrast detect AF and focus peaking, Full HD and Cinema 4K video recording, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, a 15 stop dynamic range and ISO from 100-12,500, all care of a cutting edge Max CMOS sensor and a newly designed Maestro II image processor. It is also the most rugged system available with full weather and dust sealing on the body and all lenses.
If you've been following the S007 since announcement, you might notice some subtle changes to the specs. First, is that the original ISO range of 200-6400 has been expanded on both ends to 100-12,500. The second is that the dynamic range that was shown as 13 stops has been kicked all the way up to and industry-leading 15 stops. This is not a typo.
The S007 looks to be a significant upgrade for current S owners and a perfect opportunity for those looking to get into cutting edge medium format digital tech with a familiar DSLR feel and speed. Here is chart showing some of the differences between the three generations of S camera bodies:
| Leica S2 | Leica S (Typ 006) | Leica S (Typ 007) | |
| Introduction | 2009 | 2012 | 2015 |
| Sensor Technology | Leica CCD | Leica CCD | Leica CMOS |
| 30x45mm, 37.5MP, 6µm | 30x45mm, 37.5MP, 6µm | 30x45mm, 37.5MP, 6µm | |
| Processor | Maestro I | Maestro I | Maestro II |
| Live View | Yes, 60 fps refresh rate | ||
| Live View AF | Yes, Contrast detect AF anywhere in frame | ||
| Motion | Medium format Full HD, Super 35 Format 4K | ||
| Audio | Stereo mic onboard | ||
| External Audio In/Out | LEMO Audio-Adapter with Time Code In | ||
| Rear LCD | 3″ 420,000 pixel | 3″ 922,000 pixel | 3″ 922,000 pixel |
| Top Panel | Color OLED | Color OLED | Transflective illuminated LCD |
| ISO Range | Pull 80 to ISO 1250 | ISO100-1600 | ISO 100-12,500 |
| Dynamic Range | 12 stops | 12 stops | 15 stops |
| Frame Rate | 1.5 fps | 1.5 fps | 3.5 fps |
| Buffer Memory | 1 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Virtual Horizon | Yes | Yes | |
| File Format | DNG, JPG | DNG, JPG | DNG, JPG |
| Motion Recording | .MOV in Motion JPEG | ||
| USB Interface | USB 2.0 | USB 2.0 | USB 3.0 |
| GPS | Yes | Yes | |
| WLAN / Wi-Fi | 802.11n | ||
| Control via iOS App | Yes | ||
| Shutter Rating | 100,000 min | 100,000 min | 150,000 min |
If you're thinking about placing a pre-order for a new S, head over to Leica Store Miami, or give a call at 305-921-4433.
To learn more about the S007, be sure to check out some of my previous articles where I discussed the camera with the product managers and head of R&D at Leica:
Photokina 2014: Day 2 – Everything You Need to Know About the Leica S (Typ 007)
Why Leica is Staying at 37.5 MP for the S (Typ 007)
More to Come
Stay tuned for more coverage of the S (Typ 007) here on Red Dot Forum in the coming weeks. We'll be getting more in-depth with the camera, seeing what it can do and how it compares to the S (Typ 006).
And… if you want to get your hands on the new camera and try it in the field, join me and Josh Lehrer for our New England Fall Foliage photo adventure in early October!
Leave a Reply