BIG announcement from Leica in 10 minutes.

Leica is holding a press conference at Photokina in a few minutes. An announcement of the new Leica S2 SLR is expected. Like the specs of the original S1 digital studio camera back in 1997, the specs for the S2 are said to be staggering! 30x45mm sensor - 37MP. Leica invented auto-focusing back in the 1970's but it has finally decided to add the feature to a camera. 9 new lenses are expected. It camera is basically a medium-format digital SLR that is roughly the same size as the top Canon/Nikon.

Haha... is someone excited?

Yes, hopefully people will start selling their R6.2's now. Can't get any info on what's happening... The L-Camera (semi official Leica) forum is too slow and keeps timing out. Obviously from the excess load.

A scan of a leaked article is already on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/29782425@N08/2879015170/sizes/l/

This is smaller than the Canon 1DS Mk III according to the article. Also suggests that the technology will trickle down to other Leica products - e.i. a new R10. It is ugly looking but in my eyes its better looking than most Batman cameras.

I don't know about this, they're re-inventing the wheel. They should be concentration on the M, in my opinion. get it to where people want it... full frame.

This is an even more niche product sandwiched between a Canon or Nikon and a Hasselblad. I'm just not so sure there's a market for it, especially at the likely price point.

There are still many periodicals that demand medium-format slides for their photos - Architectural/Design magazines especially. I think that the S2 will be very attractive to the pro photographer that specializes in that field. The prices that I've seen thrown around in the last few hours ($23,000 USD)places it lower than a classic Hasselblad V with a digital back. The form factor of the camera itself is that of a regular high-end dSLR, which differentiates it from the Mamiya and Hasselblad digital systems.

A full frame M is certainly what the members of RFF want but they're a small group in the photography market. Apparently the problems associated with the very short flange-to-sensor distance with a full-frame sensor haven''t been solved yet. Once they are, I'm sure that Leica will be among the first with a full-framed rangefinder. Personally, I'm not really thinking that far ahead. I already got my M's. I wouldn't mind an R (for not so much money). My primary concern is having Leica around. I want them to make enough money to survive and take care of the employees and their families.

Let's see if Nikon unveils a 'full-frame' rangefinder in M-mount! This is supposed to be Nikon's big birthday party.

Photos of this beastly camera:
http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/photokina-live-ticker/64267-leica-s2-images-more-details.html

The controls look about right. Shutter speed dial on the top. I've yet to determine if aperture control is on the lens.

It's unlikely most people on this board will sign up on that board to see the pictures, myself included.

Pictures work for me without having to loging in.

Weird. Not me. There's a pic on electronista.com

They're now on the Leica website:

http://www.s.leica-camera.com/

And here too:

http://www.1854.eu/2008/09/leica_s2_13_photos_of_the_new.html

Looks like there is no aperture ring on the lenses. It looks like its controlled from a jogger's dial on the body. There's no DOF scale either. But the lack of the usual plethora of needless buttons is refreshing.