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Leica’s medium format S3 DSLR is out and it can be yours for “only” $19,000

Mar 6, 2020 by Dunja Djudjic 8 Comments

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First photos of Leica S3 leaked ages ago, and earlier this year we saw the specs leak as well. But now it’s official: Leica S3 is out. It’s a medium format DSLR with 64MP 30 x 45mm CMOS sensor and 4K and full HD video, and as you have probably expected, it’s a pricey piece of gear. Let’s dive in and find out more about what Leica’s new medium format camera has to offer.

The Leica S3 sports a 64MP 30 x 45mm CMOS sensor, with dynamic range rated for up to 15 stops. This “Leica ProFormat” sensor also omits an optical low-pass filter. This means that it offers “the greatest sharpness possible.” The ISO ranges between 100 and 50,000 and the camera supports continuous shooting up to 3 fps. When it comes to autofocus, the S3 packs a predictive phase-detection autofocus system.

Other than shooting photos, the S3 can also be used for video. It features a DCI 4K recording at 24 fps and full HD up to 30 fps. You can add an external microphone via the 3.5mm port and external recording at Full HD is supported via HDMI Type-C with 4:2:2 8-bit color sampling.

Here are the full specs of the camera:

Imaging
Lens MountLeica S
Camera FormatMedium Format
PixelsEffective: 64 Megapixel
Aspect Ratio1970-01-01 03:02:00
Sensor TypeCMOS
Sensor Size30 x 45 mm
Image File FormatDNG, JPEG
Bit Depth14-Bit
Exposure Control
ISO SensitivityAuto, 100 to 50000
Shutter TypeFocal Plane Shutter, Leaf Shutter
Shutter SpeedMechanical Shutter
1/4000 to 120 Second
Metering MethodCenter-Weighted Average, Multi-Zone, Spot
Exposure ModesAperture Priority, Manual, Program, Shutter Priority
Exposure Compensation-3 to +3 EV (1/2 EV Steps)
Metering Range1.2 to 20 EV
White BalanceAuto, Cloudy, Color Temperature, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Halogen, Incandescent, Shade, Tungsten
Continuous ShootingMechanical Shutter
Up to 3 fps at 64 MP for up to 6 Frames (Raw) / Unlimited Frames (JPEG)
Interval RecordingYes
Self-Timer2/12-Second Delay
Mirror Lock-UpYes
Video
Recording ModesMOV/M-JPEG 4:2:2 8-Bit
DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) at 24.00p
Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p
External Recording Modes4:2:2 8-Bit
Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p
Video EncodingNTSC/PAL
Audio RecordingBuilt-In Microphone (Stereo)
External Microphone Input (Stereo)
Focus
Focus TypeAuto and Manual Focus
Focus ModeContinuous-Servo AF (C), Manual Focus (M), Single-Servo AF (S)
Viewfinder and Monitor
Viewfinder TypeOptical (Pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage0.98
Viewfinder MagnificationApprox. 0.87x
Diopter Adjustment-3 to +1
Monitor Size3"
Monitor Resolution921,600 Dot
Monitor TypeFixed LCD
Flash
Built-In FlashNo
Flash ModesFirst-Curtain Sync, Hi-Speed Sync, Second-Curtain Sync
Maximum Sync Speed1/125 Second (Focal Plane Shutter)
1/1000 Second (Leaf Shutter)
Dedicated Flash SystemTTL
External Flash ConnectionHot Shoe, Proprietary
Interface
Memory Card SlotSlot 1: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Slot 2: CompactFlash (UDMA 7)
ConnectivityLeica S Remote Terminal (USB 3.0), HDMI C (Mini), 3.5mm Microphone
WirelessWi-Fi
GPSYes
Environmental
Operating Temperature32 to 113°F / 0 to 45°C
Operating Humidity15 to 80%
Physical
Battery1 x S BP-PRO1 Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, 7.3 VDC, 2300 mAh
Dimensions (W x H x D)6.3 x 3.15 x 4.72" / 160 x 80 x 120 mm
Weight2.77 lb / 1260 g (Body Only)

And here are more photos of the Leica S3:

The Leica S3 is available for preorders and it can be yours for $18,995. It’s expected to start shipping in late March, hopefully without any delays.

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The world’s first single shot 8×10 large format digital camera can be yours for a mere $106,000 Why I switched from a full-frame DSLR to Pentax medium format How to simulate a medium format camera with a DSLR A primer on shooting 35mm, medium format and large format film

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: Digital Medium Format, Leica, Leica S3, Leica S3 medium format camera

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.net

About Dunja Djudjic

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

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