Leica S2 Review

Name: Leica S2
Brand: Leica

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Main Features

38MP - Medium format CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1250

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

2.0fps continuous shooting

1410g. 160 x 120 x 81 mm

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Leica S2 Overview

First introduced in September 2008 , Leica S2 is a 38.0MP Pro DSLR camera with a Medium format (45 x 30 mm ) sized CCD sensor and Leica L lens mount.

Leica S2 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Leica S2 is the latest member of Leica's Pro DSLR class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

Leica Pro DSLR Series History

	Model	Release Date	Sensor	Max FPS	Dimensions	Weight
	Leica S2	2008	38.0MP - Medium format	2.0 fps	160 x 120 x 81mm	1410g

Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
Leica S2

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Leica S2 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Leica S2 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

38.0MP - High Resolution Sensor

Long Battery Life (1000 shots)

0.86x magnification - Large Viewfinder

Top LCD Display

Flash Sync Port

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CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Sensor shift Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No Face Detection Focusing

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.250

Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps

Heavy Body: 1410g

No Environmental Sealing

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Leica S2 Physical Specs

Leica S2 weighs 1410 g (3.11 lb / 49.74 oz) and has external dimensions of 160 x 120 x 81 mm (6.3 x 4.72 x 3.19″). Considering that the average weight of DSLR type cameras is 773g, Leica S2 is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 81mm, it has an average thickness.

Weight Comparison

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Leica S2

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Thickness Comparison

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Leica S2

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In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Leica S2, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Physical size of the Leica S2 Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery

Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Leica S2 with its main competitors:

Leica S2 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs S2	Thickness	vs S2
Hasselblad X1D Compare	725g	685g lighter	71mm	10mm thinner
Sony A7 III Compare	650g	760g lighter	74mm	7mm thinner
Fujifilm GFX 50S Compare	740g	670g lighter	91mm	10mm thicker
Pentax 645D Compare	1480g	70g heavier	119mm	38mm thicker
Pentax 645Z Compare	1550g	140g heavier	123mm	42mm thicker
Nikon D850 Compare	1015g	395g lighter	79mm	2mm thinner
Leica SL2 Compare	835g	575g lighter	42mm	39mm thinner
Fujifilm GFX 100 Compare	1320g	90g lighter	103mm	22mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Leica S2 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top DSLR Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Leica S2 Lens Mount and Lenses

Leica S2 has a Leica L lens mount and currently there are 62 native lenses available for this mount.

Leica S2 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 10 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization.

Weather Sealed Lenses for Leica S2

There are 52 lenses with weather sealing for Leica S2 but bear in mind that S2 body doesn't have weather sealings.

Here are some of the most popular Leica S2 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Leica L Mount Lenses for Leica S2

Model	Focal Length equiv.	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Panasonic Lumix S 35mm F1.8	0mm	35mm FF	295gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S Pro 24-70mm F2.8	0-0mm	35mm FF	935gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Panasonic Lumix S 24-105mm F4 Macro OIS	0-0mm	35mm FF	680gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Leica APO-Vario-Elmarit-SL 90-280 mm F2.8-4	0-0mm	35mm FF	1710gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG DN OS S	0-0mm	35mm FF	2100gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 70mm F2.8 DG Macro Art	0mm	35mm FF	515gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Sigma 24-70 F2.8 DG DN Art	0-0mm	35mm FF	835gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90mm F2.8-4 ASPH	0-0mm	35mm FF	1140gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Here you can find the lenses that are compatible with S2 classified by suitability to certain photography types:

Check our Leica S2 Lenses page for more detailed lens search.

Leica S2 Sensor and Photography Features

Leica S2 has a 38.0MP Medium format (45 x 30 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 7500 x 5000 pixels. S2 has a native ISO range of 80 - 1250 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Leica S2 is not the highest resolution Medium format camera. Fujifilm GFX 100S with its 102.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Leica S2 vs Fujifilm GFX 100S or take a look at Highest resolution DSLR cameras list.

Leica S2 DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Leica S2 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 76 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Leica S2 here.

Let's look at how the size of the Leica S2's Medium format sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Comparison image of Leica S2 Sensor Size with other standard sensors

Leica S2 LCD and Viewfinder

Leica S2 has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 460k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

Unfortunately Leica S2 doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best DSLR Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.

S2 has a built-in Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor. The viewfinder has a coverage of 96% and a magnification ratio of 0.86x. 96% coverage means that what you see in your viewfinder while shooting will slightly be different from the actual image.

Leica S2 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect S2 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Leica S2 Battery

Leica S2 is powered by a proprietary battery which provides a battery life of 1000 shots according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of DSLR type cameras is 944 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Pro DSLR Cameras

Leica S2

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Nikon D3X with its 4400shots is the model with longest battery life among Pro DSLR cameras. Check the comparison of Leica S2 vs Nikon D3X or take a look at Longest Battery Life DSLR cameras list.

Leica S2 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Hasselblad X1D Compare	1920 x 1080	shots	Yes	No	No
Sony A7 III Compare	3840 x 2160	610shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fujifilm GFX 50S Compare	1920 x 1080	400shots	Yes	No	No
Pentax 645D Compare	None	800shots	No	No	No
Pentax 645Z Compare	1920 x 1080	650shots	No	No	No
Nikon D850 Compare	3840 x 2160	1840shots	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leica SL2 Compare	3840 x 2160	370shots	Yes	Yes	No
Fujifilm GFX 100 Compare	4096 x 2160	800shots	Yes	Yes	No

Leica S2 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Leica S2 can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately S2 doesn't have a built-in flash but it has a flash shoe for mounting external flashes.

Focusing

Leica S2 features a Phase Detection autofocusing system.

What type of Photography is Leica S2 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Leica S2 in 5 different photography areas.

Leica S2 for Portrait Photography

Leica S2 has a score of 66 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Portrait Photography list.

Large Medium format (45 x 30 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 38.0MP

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Leica S2 for Portrait Photography

Leica S2 for Street Photography

Leica S2 has a score of 49 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Street Photography list.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Large Medium format (45 x 30 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Leica S2 for Street Photography

Leica S2 for Sports Photography

Leica S2 has a score of 71 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Good Battery Life: 1000 shots

Good Ergonomics&Handling
Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Read the details of how we scored Leica S2 for Sports Photography

Leica S2 for Daily Photography

Leica S2 has a score of 72 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 DSLR Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Large Medium format (45 x 30 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Leica S2 for Daily Photography

Leica S2 for Landscape Photography

Leica S2 has a score of 57 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top DSLR Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

Large Medium format (45 x 30 mm) sensor

Very High Resolution Sensor: 38.0MP

Read the details of how we scored Leica S2 for Landscape Photography

Leica S2 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Leica S2 compares with other DSLR cameras within a similar price range.

Read a more detailed analysis of Leica S2 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Leica S2

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Leica S2 amongst Camera Decision readers.

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Leica S2 Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Leica S2 with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Leica S2's price range.

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Leica S2 Conclusion and Scores

Currently, Leica S2 has an Overall Score of 56/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Leica S2 is ranked #109 out of 209 in DSLR cameras (Top 20 DSLR), and ranked #373 out of 1259 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

#373 out of 1259 in Top Ranking Cameras
#109 out of 209 in Top Ranking DSLR Cameras
#14 out of 36 in Top Ranking Pro DSLR Cameras
#10 out of 12 in Top Ranking Medium format Sensor Cameras
#16 out of 17 in Top Ranking Leica L Lens Mount Cameras
#7 out of 379 in Largest Viewfinder Magnification Cameras (0.86x)
#1 out of 4 in Lightest DSLR Cameras with Medium format sensor(1410g)
#118 out of 918 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen
Geek Score: 0

Main Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Frequently Asked Questions about Leica S2

Does the Leica S2 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Leica S2 have RAW support?
Does the Leica S2 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Leica S2 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Leica S2?
What is the Sensor Size of Leica S2?
is the Leica S2 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Leica S2 have Touch Screen?
Does the Leica S2 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Leica S2?
What is the Weight of Leica S2?
What are the Dimensions of Leica S2?

Leica S2 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Leica
Model	Leica S2
Announced	2008-09-23
Body Type	Large SLR
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Leica L
Number of Lenses	62
Focal Length Multiplier	n/a
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	3.00"
Screen Resolution	460k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	96%
Viewfinder Magnification	0.86x
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	32s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Max Continuous Shooting	2.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	no built-in flash
Flash Modes	no built-in flash
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	76
DxO Color Depth	23.9
DxO Dynamic Range	12.2
DxO Low Light ISO	824
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Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	Medium format
Sensor Dimensions	45 x 30 mm
Sensor Area	1350.00mm²
Sensor Resolution	38 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	7500 x 5000
Max Native ISO	1,250
Min Native ISO	80
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	None
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	1410g
Physical Dimensions	160 x 120 x 81mm
Battery Life	1000 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Other Features
Self Timer	n/a
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Slots	1