LEICA S-E / S2

A review of using the Leica S-E typ006 and S2 digital camera.

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Review

Overview
Usage
Add info

1．Overview

The Leica S-E is a medium-format digital sensor SLR camera that is a minor change to the Leica S2.
The shooting sensor, the heart of a digital camera, is equipped with a KODAK CCD sensor (KAF-37500), and as the name SLR suggests, it is equipped with a mirror in front of the shutter.

This sensor has a problem with coating peeling, which will be discussed later.

When a Leica S or Hasselblad H lens with a shutter is attached, the lens shutter can be used.

The shutter mode can be switched depending on the position of the power button; when the power lever is set to CS (central shutter), the leaf shutter is used, and when FPS (focal plane shutter) is selected, the body shutter is used.

2．Usage

The body of the LEICA S-E/S2 is big, like holding a lunchbox. The shutter sound is not so loud, but there is a vibration from the huge mirror going up and down.

I use Hasselblad lenses with leaf shutters, but the camera’s metering is via the mirror, so when you press the shutter, the mirror goes up first, and then the leaf shutter operates, so it doesn’t feel much different from using a normal mechanical shutter. The camera’s specifications mean that it is not possible to use only the leaf shutter like a mirrorless camera, so it can’t be helped. I don’t actively use the leaf shutter except for flash synchronization.

Unlike mirrorless cameras, the mirror goes up before the shutter is released when shooting, so there is a misalignment between the mirror up and the leaf shutter, which is a little different from the shooting interval when using the camera shutter, so it takes some getting used to.

When using the standard battery charger, the terminals of the charger are inserted into the square recess of the battery, which is similar to the old DMR (Digital Module R).

3．Add info.

A genuine mount adapter is provided for the LEICA S, and I purchased the 16030 Leica S Adapter H to mount a Hasselblad H lens.

The genuine adapter is very well made and holds the H lens securely.

Firmware 2.5 seems to be available, but I can’t find it on the LEICA site. I saw information that the firmware can only be obtained from registered users. It seems that the S3 can be downloaded from the normal website, so the policy may have changed. I tried to register my Leica product, but couldn’t find the firmware.
I found a US download site that had firmware for the S2/S typ006/S-E typ006/S typ007.

I will post the results of operating the H lenses I have immediately after arrival.
The HCD24mm is not on the list, but it worked normally.
The HC35mm is a FUJIFILM brand lens, but it worked fine.
As shown in the operation list, when extension tube H and teleconverter H x1.7 are used, the lens cannot be authenticated and does not work properly.

Lens name	AF	Shutter
HCD24mm	○	○	19.1
HCD28mm	○	○	19.1
HCD 35-90mm	○	○	19.1
HC35mm(Fuji version)	○	○	9.0
HC50mm-II	○	○	19.1
HC 50-110mm	△	△	10.0
HC80mm	○	○	10.0
HC100mm	○	○	19.1
HC120mm Macro-II	○	○	19.1
HC150mm	○	○	10.0
HC210mm	△	△	12.0
HC300mm	○	○	19.1

On the HASSELBLAD X series, only new lenses called Orange Dot can use AF, but on the LEICA-S series, AF operation is possible with older H lenses using the S-H mount adapter.
I was surprised that the HC120mmII, which in no way works except MF with the X series, is also AF capable.
Among the lenses I had on hand, the HC 50-110mm and the HC210 with the triangle mark were not AF-enabled and did not recognize the lens. I wondered if there was a problem with the lens, but found the following note on the National photo web site（Link to web archive for removal of page from original site）, which seems to apply to the third item.
I checked the firmware and it is not that old, so I think the AF motor in the lens is dead.

Requires latest camera body firmware upgrade.
The Hasselblad Tilt-Shift Adapter HTS 1.5 cannot be used.
There is a possibility of malfunction or non-recognition with Hassel HC lenses with older firmware.
FUJIFILM GX645 lenses are not supported. There is a possibility of malfunction or non-recognition.
We judge that the rangefinder eye-measuring is designed to be misaligned.

There are only a few websites in Japan that carry information on the Leica S series, and the amount of information is limited.
There are only a few personal websites and camera shop websites (see reference links).

Circumstances Leading to Purchase

I finally got my hands on an S series lens because I found an S-H mount adapter at a map store for 75% off, and since I have a complete set of H lenses, this adapter and a camera body would complete my system.
I couldn’t resist the temptation to use my H lenses on other platforms.
When using Hasselblad H lenses on other platforms, there are three options: the genuine X series, FUJIFILM GFX series, and LEICA-S. Although the GFX has a mechanical shutter, it is not so different from the X1D/X2D in terms of sensor, so it was not a candidate. I was not a candidate for the X1D/X2D.
After I bought the mount adapter, I looked for a used camera body on the used market and found a LEICA S-E in good condition. The gray color of the Leica E model is also my favorite, and I pressed the button while thinking of a way to make money. However, the LEICA S-E is the last model with a CCD sensor, and there is a risk of the sensor cover peeling off, so I had to think of a workaround if it actually peeled off.
I thought it would be no problem if the symptoms appeared after a few months of use, but I suspected the sensor was detached from the first day, and when I checked the surface of the sensor by mirroring it up, it was clearly detached. The body is gone.
The body was gone and only the HASSELBLAD mount adapter for the LEICA S remained in my possession.

I saw the S2 at a reasonable used price and bought it, but when I looked at it in the sensor cleaning mode, the sensor coat was in worse shape than the S-E. Moreover, I could see many marks from wiping by an amateur. I took a picture of a white wall to try it out, but the deteriorated sensor coat was too much to even go outdoors.
Recently, the mail-order industry is riddled with vendors who do not check their products at all, and I cannot buy a product unless I confirm the points of concern and get the assurance of a return. This time, too, I tried to buy the product after confirming it and was prepared to return it, but I lost. I was able to return it and get a refund, so I am happy with the result, but I don’t want to continue to gamble too much. If it was treated as junk from the beginning and was super cheap, I would be willing to try to peel off the coat.

Around 2021, there was a lot of discussion in the LEICA FORUM about sensor detachment. The information I gathered is as follows.

If the sensor has already been replaced, it should not delaminate. (According to an old post, it will be replaced with the same one as the original, so it will eventually delaminate over time.)
Leica customer will know if the sensor has been replaced and will tell you if you inquire.
In fact, Leica customer told me that they know if the sensor has been replaced on the body that is on sale.
According to the Leica customer, it is rare for the sensor to detach (although I think it’s a real possibility).
After the warranty period, the response to sensor detachment is a paid service and is handled at the amount of the window in each country.
Repairs should be looking at 400,000 yen or more.
Many people say it is recommended to use S2/S,S-E typ006 as a source and aim to replace it with S typ007

I see threads about whether it makes sense to use a 2009 camera in 2023, but I think there is meaning and value in using an older model if I am interested in it and can use it without problems.
As for Leica, the M series is in a cooling off period, the L series is in a mood to forgo it due to the T series disconnect and lack of progress since the SL2, and the S is something I’ve been wanting to use, but the sensor issue has left it in limbo.
I hope for a Leica model of the Pana S5II, but I feel that hope is slim as well.
Japanese cameras are more reliable and reassuring than Leica, but if you get used to unstable and inefficient cameras, you may end up feeling like you’re loving a bad child.

Specification

Items	S2	S/S-E(Typ006)	S(Typ007)	S3
Effective Pixels	3750	3750	3750	6400
Sensor type	CCD	CCD	CMOS	CMOS
storage media	CF/SDHC	CF/SDXC	CF/SDXC	CF/SDXC
Weight	1410	1260	1260	1260
Release date	2010	2012/2014	2015	2018