Leica S sensor review: Consummate performer 2020

introduction

Launched at Photokina in 2012, the Leica S is a modified version of the original Leica S2, the firm's professional medium format camera aimed at both field use and studio photography.

Like the original, it adopts a custom-made Truesense imaging 45 x 30 mm (3: 2 aspect ratio) 37.5-Mpix CCD, but image processing is improved with increased sensitivity, including auto ISO selection options from ISO100-1600 .

 Other upgrades include a larger buffer (now 2 GB) and faster transfer rates, which allows up to 32 lost DNG files to be captured continuously.

Although the environmentally sealed magnesium alloy shell remains virtually untouched, the Leica S has built-in GPS.

 Leica S sensor review: Consummate performer

In fact, the inclusion of the GPS antenna on the top plate can be used to identify the new model, while in the rear, a new rocker switch for better menu navigation replaces a push-button on the previous iteration. .

 As a system intended for commercial use, the Leica S features a focal plane shutter with 1 / 125th second flash sync, using the firm's CS (central shutter) lens with flash syncing up to 1 / 1000th second.

 There is an option to do. Leica delayed the launch of the CS lens until they were certain that the internal shutter mechanisms were durable enough for professional use - they guaranteed a minimum of 100K actuation.

Measuring 6.3 x 3.1 x 4.7 x (160 x 80 x 120 mm) and weighing 2.78 pounds. (1260 grams) Leica S is now available for $ 21,950.

Leica S sensor Main Specifications:

    37.5-Mpix 30 x 45mm CCD Sensor

    ISO100-1600, plus auto

    Single Cross-Point Array PD-AF System

    Focal aircraft shutter 1 / 4000–32 seconds. Flash sync in 1 / 125th second

    Optional central shutter (CS) lens with 1 / 1000th second flash sync

    3.0 s 920 K-dot tilt LCD (covering sRGB color space)

    Continuous shooting up to 1.5 fps

    Environmental sealing

    Dual CF and SD Card Slots

    Built-in GPS

The Leica S achieves a DxOMark sensor rating of 76, such as lower than expected scores for larger high-quality sensors.

 It ranks 57th overall, and ranks 7th out of ten medium format cameras in our database, equivalent to the older Phase One P45 Plus and Leaf Aptus 75S.

Although the color sensitivity is relatively high at 23.9 bits, it is actually marginally lower than the Phase One and Leaf models described earlier.

The dynamic range is also slightly narrower than 12.2 EVs.

The low-light score also appears on the low side, but it's worth noting that the 824 ISO is actually a good score for a medium format sensor ...

Compared to two more recent medium-format models that we had the opportunity to analyze, the LeEco S sensor lagged far behind Phase One IQ180.

 In addition to being a cool $ 42,500, it should be noted that the previous flagship model adopts a larger 42 full-frame, 80-Mpix resolution with a 645 '(40.4 x 53.7 mm) sensor and a smaller pixel pitch than the Leica is.

Nevertheless, it has a high color sensitivity (currently the best performing sensor in that category) and a wide dynamic range of close to 1.5 eV at base ISO. Considering the sensor + oversampling of the IQ180, the low-light ISO performance between the two is similar.

Compared to the more accessible price of the $ 9,400 Pentax 645D, the Leica performs in a similar way, although the Pentax has a slight edge in each of the three 'case case' scores.

It has almost indirectly color sensitivity, and a similar (less than +0.5 eV) maximum dynamic range but the Pentax has very impressive low-light capabilities with + 2 / 3rds that prevent improved sensitivity.

Given the Leica's modest advantage in pixel pitch, the 41-mPix 6 Cropped 645 '(33 x 43 mm) size CCD in the Pentax actually performs very well.

Compared to the other medium format, the Leica S has competitive low noise capabilities. Working with best-in-class models with a 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor,

 the Leica CCD sensor looks slightly bereaved, and all this due to their exceptional low- photosensitivity and wide dynamic range.

Both the Sony A7R and Nikon D800E have slightly better color sensitivity at the base ISO, but both models (with their Sony sourced 36-Mpix CMOS) have a maximum dynamic range of +2 eV at the base ISO and only around +1 2 / is. The gain of 3rds in low light sensitivity turns off.

The Leica S sensor has low noise and consistently performs well up to its maximum sensitivity (ISO 1600)

In the rare environment of professional medium format cameras, the Leica S actually performs very well. It has both a very good color and dynamic range and, surprisingly perhaps, has excellent low noise features.

 While this distinctly small 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor has superior dynamic range and low noise at ultra-high ISOs, the Leica S lives up to its promise as accomplished in the studio by virtue of being in the studio.