36 Megapixel Shootout: Nikon D800 vs Leica S2
Related: digital sensor, Leica, Leica M, Leica medium format, medium format, Nikon, Nikon D800, Nikon D800E, Nikon DSLR
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact me if you have 1/2 day for me to run around with you and your Leica S2 to compare to the Nikon D800, ideally with the Leica S 120mm. Probably will shoot at Purissima Creek.
There is essentially no difference in sensor resolution between the two.
The Leica S2 has a less than state of the art sensor, but the photosites are 51% larger in area. (23% linearly), e.g., the Leica S2 has photosites the size of the 24MP Nikon D3x.
The S2 sensor is a CCD sensor incapable of Live View, which raises a key issue I found and documented when I first reviewed the S2— the S2 resolution was compromised by autofocus error. Perhaps current firmware is better.
It’s high time Leica offered a ~80-megapixel S3, the S lenses are clearly up to the task. One wonders if Leica can find a suitable sensor.
- Can 2-3 years of sensor development (Nikon D800) equalize the difference in Photosite size?
- How would the Nikon D800E improve the relative results? (this will have to wait until the D800E ships).
- Can the best glass available for Nikon (Zeiss 100/2 or Leica 100/2.8) match the none-better Leica S 120/2.5 APO-Macro?
Leica S2:7500 X 5000, 37.5 megapixels, 45 X 30 mm CCD sensor, ISO 80-1250
Nikon D800: 7360 X 4912, 36.3 megapixels, 35.9 X 24 mm CMOS sensor, ISO 50-25600
