Leica S2

    63
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    Highlights

    • 38 MP Medium format CCD Sensor
    • 80 - 1,250 Native ISO
    • 3.0" 460k dot Fixed Screen
    • Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder
    • 1.5 fps Continuous Shooting
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    Disclosure: We earn money from the affiliate links to products associated with content in this article.

    Overview

    Leica S2 was announced in 2008 and is a Medium format (45 x 30 mm) DSLR camera with 38 Megapixel CCD sensor. Its native ISO ranges from 80 to 1,250. The camera has a Fixed 3.0" screen with 460k dot resolution and built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder.

    Table of Contents
    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Screen and Viewfinder
    4. Sensor
    5. Photography Features
    6. Connectivity, Battery and Storage
    7. Other Features
    8. Physical Parameters
    9. For Different Types of Photography
    10. Evaluation
    11. Specifications  

    Here is the Leica S series lineup, where you can view and compare the main specifications of the cameras within the same series.

    Leica S series lineup
    Model Date Sensor Native ISO Screen Price
    Image cannot be found Leica SL2-S
    Compare
    		December
    2020    		 24.6 MP
    Full Frame    		 100 - 50,000 Fixed 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica SL2
    Compare
    		November
    2019    		 47.3 MP
    Full Frame    		 100 - 50,000 Fixed 3.2"
    2,100k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica SL Typ 601
    Compare
    		October
    2015    		 24 MP
    Full Frame    		 50 - 50,000 Fixed 3.0"
    1,040k dot
    Touchscreen
    Image cannot be found Leica S2 September
    2008    		 38 MP
    Medium format    		 80 - 1,250 Fixed 3.0"
    460k dot

    You can view their side-by-side comparison here: Leica SL2-S vs SL2 vs SL Typ 601 vs S2.

    Pros and Cons

    In this section we present pros and cons of Leica S2.

    PROS

    •   Large Sensor
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,250 Highest Native ISO
    •   High Bit Depth
    •   HDMI Output
    •   Long Battery Life - 1000 shots

    CONS

    •   No Video Capture
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Heavy - 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz)

    And here are some specifications which fall into average criteria and are neither in PROs nor in CONs category:

    AVERAGE

    •   Sensor Resolution - 38 Megapixel
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   DxO Overall Score - 76

    Screen and Viewfinder

    Fixed screen

    Leica S2 has a 3.0" Fixed screen with 460k dot resolution which is quite low by today's standards.


    Optical (pentaprism) Viewfinder

    Camera has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder. It has a 96% coverage and 0.86x magnification.

    Sensor

    Leica S2 features a 38 megapixel Medium format CCD sensor with dimensions of 45 x 30 mm and a total area of 1350 mm2. Its native ISO range is 80 - 1,250.


    Here is a sensor size comparison chart where you can see how Leica S2's Medium format sensor compares with other types of sensors:

    Sensor size chart
    Sensor Dimensions Area Aspect Ratio Crop Factor
    Image cannot be displayedMedium Format45 x 30 mm1350 mm24:30.79x
    Image cannot be displayedFull Frame36 x 24 mm864 mm23:21x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-H27 x 18 mm486 mm23:21.3x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C23.6 x 15.6 mm368.2 mm23:21.5x
    Image cannot be displayedAPS-C (Canon)22.3 x 14.9 mm332.3 mm23:21.6x
    Image cannot be displayedMicro Four Thirds17.4 x 13 mm226.2 mm24:32x
    Image cannot be displayed1-inch13.2 x 8.8 mm116.2 mm23:22.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/1.7-inch7.44 x 5.58 mm41.5 mm24:34.7x
    Image cannot be displayed1/2.3-inch6.17 x 4.55 mm28.1 mm24:35.6x

    Photography Features

    Camera can take pictures up to 7500 x 5000 resolution.


    Lens Mount

    Leica S2 has Leica S lens mount. Due to Medium format sensor its crop factor (also called lens multiplier) is 0.79x. This means that a 35mm equivalent focal length of the mounted lens will be equal to its actual focal length times 0.79.


    No In-Body Image Stabilization

    The camera does not have in-body image stabilization (IBIS) so it needs lenses with optical image stabilization for vibration reduction.

    Check out the cameras which are frequently compared to Leica S2.

    Leica SL2
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    47.3 MP

    Leica SL Typ 601
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24 MP

    Leica SL2-S
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.6 MP

    Sony a7 II
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    24.3 MP

    Canon 5DS
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    50.6 MP

    Nikon Z8
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    45.7 MP

    Nikon D5500
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    24.2 MP

    Fujifilm GFX 100
    Image cannot be found

    Medium format

    102 MP

    Sony ZV-E1
    Image cannot be found

    Full Frame

    12.1 MP

    Sigma SD15
    Image cannot be found

    APS-C

    5 MP

    Olympus PEN E-P5
    Image cannot be found

    Micro Four Thirds

    16.1 MP

    Kodak Z5120
    Image cannot be found

    1/2.3-inch

    16 MP

    Connectivity, Battery and Storage

    USB Input and HDMI Output

    Leica S2 has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) input for data transfer. There is an HDMI connector for video signal output.

    Other Features

    Shutter

    Leica S2's shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec. Camera can shoot continuously up to 1.5 fps.


    Flash

    Leica S2 has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Hot Shoe or PC Terminal.

    Physical Parameters

    Leica S2 has dimensions of 160 x 120 x 81 mm (6.3 x 4.72 x 3.19"). It weighs 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz), so it is a heavy camera.

    160 mm (6.3")

    120 mm (4.72")

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    120 mm (4.72")

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    81 mm (3.19")

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    Leica S2 dimensions

    Leica S2 for Different Types of Photography

    We give scores to the camera for different type of photography based on its features and specifications. Let us see how Leica S2 is suitable for six different types of photography.


    Landscape Photography

    GOOD
    76

    Leica S2 gets a score of 76 and is GOOD choice for Landscape photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing

    Sports Photography

    AVERAGE
    60

    Leica S2 gets a score of 60 and is AVERAGE choice for Sports photography.

    •   1,250 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
    •   Long Battery Life - 1000 shots

    Wildlife Photography

    AVERAGE
    58

    Leica S2 gets a score of 58 and is AVERAGE choice for Wildlife photography.

    •   1,250 Highest Native ISO
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Long Battery Life - 1000 shots

    Portrait Photography

    GOOD
    80

    Leica S2 gets a score of 80 and is GOOD choice for Portrait photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   No Face Detection
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View

    Street Photography

    AVERAGE
    67

    Leica S2 gets a score of 67 and is AVERAGE choice for Street photography.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Live View
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Heavy - 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz)

    Travel Photography

    POOR
    46

    Leica S2 gets a score of 46 and is POOR choice for Travel photography.

    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Heavy - 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz)
    •   Long Battery Life - 1000 shots

    Leica S2 Evaluation

    We evaluate Leica S2 and give score of 63 out of 100. We also give separate scores for 7 different categories according to the available features and specifications some of which are listed below. These evaluations are relative and may change each time a new camera is added to the database.


    OVERALL
    63

    Sensor

    GOOD
    82

    We give Leica S2 a score of 82 for Sensor parameters.

    •   Large Sensor
    •   Sensor Resolution - 38 Megapixel
    •   80 Lowest Native ISO
    •   1,250 Highest Native ISO
    •   DxO Overall Score - 76

    Photo

    AVERAGE
    68

    We give Leica S2 a score of 68 for Photo parameters.

    •   High Bit Depth
    •   Timelapse Recording
    •   No Image Stabilization
    •   Max Shutter Speed (Mechanical or 1st Curtain) - 1/4000 sec
    •   Low Max Continuous Shooting - 1.5 fps

    Video

    BAD
    0

    We give Leica S2 a score of 0 for Video parameters.

    •   No Image Stabilization

    Focusing

    GOOD
    70

    We give Leica S2 a score of 70 for Focusing parameters.

    •   No Face Detection

    Screen and Viewfinder

    GOOD
    71

    We give Leica S2 a score of 71 for Screen and Viewfinder parameters.

    •   Fixed Screen
    •   Screen Size - 3.0"
    •   Low Resolution Screen - 460k dot

    Connectivity

    AVERAGE
    57

    We give Leica S2 a score of 57 for Connectivity parameters.

    •   HDMI Output
    •   No Built-in Microphone
    •   No Microphone Input
    •   No Headphone Output
    •   No Built-in GPS
    •   No Built-In Wi-Fi
    •   No Built-In Bluetooth

    Battery, Storage and Physical

    BAD
    38

    We give Leica S2 a score of 38 for Battery, Storage and Physical parameters.

    •   No Environmental Sealing
    •   Heavy - 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz)
    •   Long Battery Life - 1000 shots


    For a full specification list please go to the specifications page:

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