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Software Correction vs Other Brands
The Leica S2 includes a free copy of Adobe Lightroom. This is a Good Thing, but Lightroom has no special support of S2 files eg no optimizations for Leica S lenses in particular. Lightroom is more or less generic for all cameras.
By comparison, both PhaseOne and Hasselblad supply software optimized for their cameras and lenses. This software can address certain lens flaws during RAW conversion, including correction of various aberrations.
Since RAW conversion is mandatory, is a lens flaw relevant if it can be corrected during conversion?
My take on this is that better lens performance is always preferable, because a different RAW converter can be chosen, possibly simplifying workflow, and providing better future-proofing— images endure, but companies don’t always stay in business. Of course, one workaround to that calamity is to convert to TIF, thus enjoying the current benefits, and be done with it forever (and optionally retaining the original RAW).
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