Leica introduces new imaging format and boosts resolution

Leonard Goh | Sep 23, 2008

Image credit: Leica

Although Leica is more renowned for its rangefinder cameras, it makes SLRs shooters, too. At Photokina, the German company bucked the trend by using a radically designed sensor for its new shooter and unveiling new lenses to use with this system.

With a 37-megapixel sensor, the Leica S2 steals the title of "highest-resolution dSLR" from Sony, which held the title briefly with the Alpha A900, a 24.6-megapixel full-frame shooter. But what's more interesting is that Leica is using a non-traditional-sized sensor, one that is 56 percent larger than the current 24 x 36mm full-frame offering. To process such large files, Leica is utilizing the MAESTRO image-processing engine, which was co-developed with Fujitsu.

The camera body is weather sealed and can protect the internals against dust and splashes. This is especially important for photographers looking to use this shooter as their workhorse.

Leica was unable to provide pricing and availability at press time, but knowing the prestige of the brand, we'll probably have to pay a lot more for the S2 than other dSLRs.

Filed under: Digital Cameras
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