Stefan Schulz, Head of Professional Imaging, Leica Camera AG Topics: the LEICA S
PY(Photo Yodobashi): Thank you for taking the time to talk to PY, Mr. Schulz. I have once tested the LEICA S2. I'd like you to tell me what are the changes to the LEICA S, say, the image processing and the picture quality?
SS(Stefan Schulz): As for image processing, we haven't made much changes, but we improved white balance. Also, we upgraded the sensor board. Even though we use the same sensor, we improved contrast from the shadow to highlight because, by upgrading the sensor board, we could rationalize and improve the entire image processing.
PY: That also means wider dynamic range I suppose.
SS: You're right.
PY: Will the price be different from the S2?
SS: It'll be a little more expensive, but it also includes our new services such as three-year extended warranty, 24 hour maintenance service, and arranging replacement equipment when the camera is being repaired. So, you can feel assured when using it.
PY: I think the S system is targeted to professionals, but there're a variety of professional markets. What kind of professional scenes are you focusing on?
SS: We're narrowing our target down to professionals because if they support the equipment, basically other users will support it, too. Actually, in this way, some high amateurs are using it.
PY: How long ago did you start planning for the S system including the S2?
SS: When we released the LEICA M8, we wanted to make digital cameras in earnest and grow more as a company. However, in the 35mm market, Japanese brands were already dominating the share and the market was already very competitive. On the other hand, in the medium format market, there were only a few brands such as Hasselblad or Phase One, and the market wasn't very competitive. So, we thought we can focus on this market and provide a new value, and then we started planning for equipment for medium format.
PY: I see.
SS: And, we didn't want to make just another new medium format equipment, but we wanted to create a medium format that is unique to Leica and its tradition. Then, we came up with ideas to use the 2 x 3 aspect ratio, to make the body compact, to make it versatile, and ro make it usable in the field. They are what Leica has valued for a long time.
PY: This question is more personal one as a Leica fan. When you were stepping into the medium format system, or the new digital SLR system, I'm sure you thought of the R system. But, you abandoned it in the end. What are your thoughts on that?
SS: We had a lot of discussion and some people said that abandoning the R system is a wrong idea. However, when we were planning for the LEICA S2, we wanted to make the system that is firmly recognized by the professionals so that we could produce the equipment that can truly race in the professional world. In this sense, we thought we should work in the medium format.
PY: I see.
SS: If you take a look at the LEICA M, you will know that it can take R lenses with the adapter, meaning that you can use R lenses on a digital camera. Generally speaking, I think the 35mm system for consumers is heading toward mirrorless. So, now I think we made a right decision not to digitalize the R system.
PY: I tested and write a review on the LEICA S2 when it was released. There, I wrote something like, "This is a new definition of the Leica format. Leica just pursued the best format to realize the best packaging. In doing so, the format had to be neither existing medium format nor 35mm." As far as what you have said, I think you made the camera thinking just like what I have written.
SS: Yes, that's right.
PY: I guess, perhaps the new LEICA S can do things that the S2 couldn't do at that time. I'd like to go back in time when the S2 was released. You were trying to make a new camera system with a format that is neither conventional medium format nor 35mm format. However, I think there were many choices of sensors in the market. I'm curious to know how you came up with employing this special packaging.
SS: First of all, the 2 x 3 aspect ratio comes from Leica's tradition. As for the sensor size, it had to be completely different from 35mm format, while we wanted the body size would be equal to the 35mm cameras. So, the packaging was determined by finding the best balance between the two factors.
PY: I see. Now, I'd like to ask about the product that was released this time. It's not dramatically smaller than the general medium format, but this zoom lens is impressively compact. What are the technical selling points of this lens?
SS: One thing is our concept that we don't use lens shutter. So, we don't need the space for that. Optically, we could make it small because it uses a 14-element structure and the best glass materials including the 3 aspherical lenses. Assembly was very difficult and required extreme precision, so we had to create a new know-how for production. As a result, we could realize this size.
PY: The new lens release includes a shift lens. I think it's us who have to know best, but what kind of lenses do professional photographers want from the S system?
SS: There're many kinds of professional scenes, so we think studio photographers want a shift lens while wedding photographers want a zoom lens like this. As a strategy, we are trying to make a system that can meet a variety of requirements and can be used in a variety of situations.
PY: For example, you have released the mount adapter for Hasselblad lenses (Adapter H) so that they can be mounted on the S body. And, it electrically couples with the aperture. I guess it's not easy to make such an adapter, but I can see you're trying to spread the S system by going to that extent. What else do you think it's necessary to spread the S system even more from now on?
SS: First, we have to construct a complete lens lineup. This time, we have released our first zoom lens as well as an ultra wide 24mm lens. As for the camera body, I think we must improve the flexibility in the ISO sensitivity so that it can reduce noises even at higher ISO sensitivity, in orde to make the system even more versatile. It's that kind of direction that we should head for.
PY: This may be a vulgar question and I asked the same thing to Mr. Daniel, but I think this camera should sell more. Although it's such a great camera, but the price tag seems to be a bit heavy for users to replace their system with this camera and lenses. Was it impossible to make the price of this system a little more affordable?
SS: We developed the "adapter H" for Hasselblad in order to lower the stakes of introduction. We think it was a big approach because we offered a solution for the Hasselblad users to be able to use the LEICA S system that can take their Hasselblad lenses without buying new lenses. I think the price is reasonable because it reflects our pursuit of quality and includes three-year extended warranty. In addition, this is about the whole Leica products and it's that you can consider them as one property because their prices don't go down very much even though they are used. It will take a long time until professional and amateur photographers to recognize, trust, and invest a lot of money into this new system, but it has only been 2 and half years since we started, so we have to hang on from now on.
PY: I see. Certainly, the price doesn't sound too expensive for those who start constructing a system from nothing. Or, I feel it may even be more reasonable because the system is highly integrated. You talked about the mount adapter as a solution. Are you considering mount adapters for other mounts, say, for CONTAX 645?
SS: We'll take the adapter for other mounts into consideration depending on the situation.
PY: Great. Thank you very much for your time.
SS: Thank you very much.
