Leica S Typ 007 Review | 108 Data compared

The Leica S (Typ 007) is a highly responsive medium format digital camera that effectively balances ultimate image quality with DSLR-like handling. Its standout pros include a newly designed 37.5 MP Max CMOS sensor and Maestro II processing engine that achieve a class-leading 15 stops of dynamic range, excellent shadow recovery, and a blazingly fast 3.5 frames-per-second continuous shooting speed. The camera also features exceptional weather sealing, a crisp and lag-free 60 fps live view mode, an incredibly legible transflective monochrome top display, and an innovative dynamic depth-of-field (DOF) readout. Furthermore, it boasts versatile lens adapter compatibility that retains full autofocus functionality for third-party systems like Hasselblad and Contax, alongside stellar low-light performance up to ISO 12500. On the downside, the camera is constrained by strict exposure time limits that aggressively scale down as the ISO increases—dropping from 60 seconds at base ISO to a restrictive 2 seconds at ISO 12500. The physical footprint of the body and its ultra-sharp lenses is considerably bulky, making it less discreet for casual street photography and potentially fatiguing during long days of handheld...

The Leica S(007) is a large, weather-sealed medium format DSLR featuring a 37.5-megapixel CMOS sensor and one of the market's largest and brightest optical viewfinders. The camera excels in its exemplary build quality, tactile feel, and access to top-tier Leica S-system lenses. Its new sensor delivers excellent, essentially noise-free image quality up to ISO 1600, closely matching top-performing full-frame and medium format competitors in dynamic range. Additionally, it introduces Cinema 4K video recording at 24 FPS with a high 349 Mbps data rate and a built-in GPS antenna. However, the camera suffers from several functional and ergonomic drawbacks. Its user interface lacks sufficient direct physical controls, forcing photographers into tedious menu diving for common tasks like mirror lock-up. The autofocus system relies on a single center point that hunts slowly in contrast-detection Live View mode. Video shooters face challenges due to a heavy 1.5x sensor crop factor in 4K, a lack of image stabilization, and an unarticulated rear screen. Finally, the review notes a launch-day GPS software bug that mistakenly logs unacquired location coordinates in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Leica S (Typ 007) is a medium-format camera that merges high-end image quality with the ergonomics of a traditional DSLR, featuring a 37.5-megapixel CMOS sensor that delivers exceptional color, 15 stops of dynamic range, and improved low-light performance up to ISO 6,400. Key strengths noted include a large optical viewfinder, robust weather sealing, and the fast Maestro II processor supporting 3.5 frames per second. Conversely, the review highlights that the 37.5MP resolution falls behind competing 50MP and 100MP models, offering less flexibility for extreme cropping. Additionally, the camera is limited by a single-point phase-detection autofocus system and an unconventional four-button rear interface that requires adaptation.

summary of the Leica S Camera Review: The Leica S (Typ 007) is a compact, medium-format DSLR camera designed for professionals shooting landscapes, portraits, and high-end commercial work. Equipped with a 37.5MP CMOS sensor and paired with the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH CS lens (a 24mm full-frame equivalent), it delivers extraordinary image sharpness, color accuracy, and micro-detail resolution. The primary pros of this system include its outstanding dynamic range, rich tonal gradations that excel in monochrome conversions, and an exceptionally robust, weather-sealed build quality that allows studio-level medium-format performance out in harsh environments. Furthermore, its upgraded CMOS sensor provides improved low-light capabilities compared to older CCD-based models. However, the reviewer highlights several significant cons and physical limitations inherent to the system. The camera requires a tremendous amount of light to properly expose its large sensor, which can necessitate studio strobes indoors. It is also large, heavy, and unforgiving with unsteady hands, making a sturdy, heavy tripod an absolute prerequisite for critical focus. On the technical side, data transfer times are slow due to massive file sizes, requiring intentional "breathing...

The Deployant review provides a detailed user evaluation of the Leica S Type 007 medium format DSLR paired with the Summarit-S 70mm f/2.5 ASPH CS lens after a three-week trial. The review praises the system's "ProFormat" 45mm x 30mm CMOS sensor, which retains a familiar 3:2 aspect ratio while delivering top-notch image quality, beautiful color science, and stellar dynamic range. The Summarit-S 70mm lens is highly commended for its exceptional optical quality, delivering edge-to-edge frame sharpness and a smooth, creamy bokeh. Additionally, the review highlights the camera's superb build quality, intuitive button layout, and a highly precise phase-detect autofocus system that performs reliably for studio work and outperforms some mirrorless medium format competitors. The massive, bright 98%-coverage optical viewfinder also stands out as a major benefit for professional use. However, the review outlines several prominent drawbacks, primarily centering on the camera's heavy bulk and very high price tag. Weighing over 2kg with the lens attached, the system quickly becomes tiring to carry, making it less than ideal for street photography or candid shooting where its massive professional size also destroys...

The Leica S (Typ 007), code-named "Hollywood," breaks away from traditional medium format constraints by offering a highly responsive, reactive shooting experience akin to a top-tier DSLR. In his hands-on field test, Jono Slack highlights several major pros, including a beautifully minimalist and customisable ergonomic design, an exceptionally bright viewfinder that makes manual focusing easy, and a highly responsive shutter mechanism with zero noticeable lag. Furthermore, the camera excels in low-light and action scenarios, boasting accurate autofocus tracking and delivering breathtaking RAW image quality with superb dynamic range, deep colours, and highly flexible files that easily withstand heavy post-processing up to ISO 1600 and beyond. Despite these strengths, the review notes a few notable cons and limitations. The camera's autofocus, while improved, occasionally suffers from "hunting" in low-light environments or when a subject's distance changes abruptly from distant to close. Additionally, due to the large physical size of the Leica S lenses and the distance their glass elements must travel, the autofocus system faces inherent physical demands when shifting focus. Lastly, the author was unimpressed with the camera's out-of-camera JPEG...

The Leica S (Typ 007) proved to be an exceptionally rugged, weather-sealed medium format camera during a grueling, water-heavy field test across Iceland's harsh environments. The camera's main advantages include its superb dynamic range, which allowed for extensive shadow recovery in high-contrast scenes, and its flawless mechanical reliability in torrential downpours, freezing waterfall mist, and saltwater spray. Furthermore, its well-designed physical interface allowed for seamless operation and quick adjustments even while the reviewer wore soaking wet, freezing gloves. However, the field test highlighted a few notable challenges and limitations when shooting in these conditions. Keeping the front element of the lenses free from water droplets and smudges was the biggest operational hurdle, as constant rain and mist rendered several long-exposure shots unusable by smearing haze over the filters. Additionally, from a technical standpoint, the autofocus system on the accompanying S lenses required workarounds for action shots; for example, when capturing waves crashing against the ice beach, the reviewer found that manual pre-focusing on a specific point was a much more reliable approach than relying on the camera's active tracking.

The Leica S (Typ 007), code-named "Hollywood," is a medium format digital camera that bridges the gap between traditional large-sensor quality and the agile handling of standard DSLRs. Designed with an elegant, minimalist body, it shifts away from analogue markings to feature highly customisable, non-engraved buttons and dual LCD control screens. In real-world testing—ranging from fast-moving children and dogs to low-light music festivals—the camera breaks traditional medium format limitations by performing exceptionally well during handheld, spontaneous, and action-oriented shooting without the strict need for a tripod or flash support. The camera boasts several significant advantages, most notably its breathtaking RAW image quality, massive dynamic range, and rich colour depth. Its massive, bright viewfinder makes manual focusing a pleasure, while the system delivers instantaneous shutter response with zero apparent lag. Additionally, its low-light performance is highly impressive for a sensor of this size, producing clean files at ISO 1600 and remaining entirely usable up to ISO 6400. However, the camera does have drawbacks: the standard autofocus can experience hunting in low-light environments or during sudden depth transitions when tied to the...

The Leica S (Typ 007) is a robust, weather-sealed medium-format DSLR that bridges the gap between high-resolution imaging and 35mm-style shooting speeds, powered by a 37.5-megapixel CMOS sensor and the Maestro II processor. Key strengths include exceptional dynamic range, accurate raw color reproduction, and an outstanding optical viewfinder, alongside practical features like 60fps Live View and Cine 4K recording. However, the camera is hampered by a limited single-point autofocus system that often struggles with tracking, a slow start-up time, and an unintuitive four-button rear interface, according to Trusted Reviews. Additionally, while the image quality is superb, the 37.5MP resolution is outpaced by newer, higher-density medium-format competitors, making the high price point a significant consideration.

System Overview and Strengths The Leica S system represents a discontinued but highly regarded line of weather-sealed, handheld medium format DSLRs designed to bridge the gap between studio-level image quality and 35mm-style usability. Built around a 30×45mm "Pro Format" sensor, the system’s standout feature is its ability to produce highly malleable RAW files with stunning 3D depth, cinematic focus fall-off, and exceptionally true-to-life skin tones. Reviewer Milan Swolfs praises the final iteration, the 64-megapixel Leica S3, for its updated color science—particularly in rendering accurate red tones—and an expanded, cleaner high-ISO performance usable up to ISO 6400. Optically, the system thrives due to its unmatched, natively designed autofocus S-lenses. These primes feature mechanical manual focus overrides and fast maximum apertures for the medium-format world, enabling shooters to capture organic, sharp portraits straight out of the camera without relying heavily on digital software corrections. System Drawbacks and Quirks Despite its exceptional optical capabilities, the Leica S system suffers from notable performance bottlenecks and physical demands. The native single-point phase-detect autofocus system is slow and prone to hunting in low light, making the...

The DPReview sample gallery for the Leica S (Type 007) highlights the shift to a 37.5MP CMOS sensor paired with the Maestro II processor, delivering exceptional image quality, high dynamic range, and 3.5 fps, making it a fast, versatile medium-format option with added 4K video capabilities. While praised for its image rendering, the system shows significant noise at ISO 6400 and above, relies on a limited single-point autofocus, and is physically bulky for handheld shooting.