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I think it will need to be a hell of a camera simply to exist…which may explain why we have heard next to nothing about it. If one will ever exist… I’m still not sure about the latter but think it more likely than not and if one ever does appear, probably last chance saloon for them at that level? The ‘S2R’ seems far more likely doesn’t it and ‘should’ be a re-bodied SL3. I have my fingers crossed for that for mid-Spring latest or it won’t work for me this year. Or possibly ever. (Pure business perspective). For video I have needs and they are covered. For photo I have both needs and wants and those are technically also already covered, but I want to have everything within one system ideally.

Keep in mind that you're comparing an outlier low price on a used camera (at least in the US, going rate for a used GFX 100 in good condition is closer to $3k) to MSRP on a brand new camera that many people purchase as much as a lifestyle/fashion item as they do for any other reason. Most of the people who buy an X100 VI would be better off just spending the money on the latest iPhone Pro if they don't already have it. It'll look just as good for most of their use case, give them an integrated wide angle and telephoto option, and it can use apps to post directly to their social media platforms of choice. 😅 I can also say that after years of travel and trying to fit the GFX 100 into various smaller camera bags, the size of the GFX 100 II was a major selling point for me.

Just the other day a friend posted his painting of one of these on his blog. https://geraldsaul.blogspot.com/2025/01/running-out-of-cameras-again.html Interesting how the camera is held horizontally but the film still goes up and down normally. It's almost like when DSLRs first started to be used for video. People assumed that you were shooting stills because of the camera shape. Back in the day, one of these would've looked like a bulky still camera.

All this needs is an old Ninja 2 to make an interesting DIY CCD ProRes shooting cine camera with a smaller sensor 😉 https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003731513738.html

The GFX100 devaluation is hard to understand. This was a $10k camera, and although nearly 5 years old, nobody seems to want one. Hence the crazy low prices. They all want the crappy GFX100S which feels cheapo, with a much worse viewfinder and build quality. Something I will never understand about the used market is how a GFX 100 can be worth X100 VI prices and that something as ordinary and humdrum as a Canon Powershot G7X from 10 years ago can be in such demand that it regularly goes for over $800. You have to say the average customer is a bit of an idiot. Good for us though, with all these bargain 100 megapixel 4K cameras!

Interesting - I will take a look!

My money would be on the SL3 body with a 24mp sensor. Leica would be mad to use the S5II body as it’s not in the same league build-wise. They might have got away with it on some rebadged Sigma lenses but with the body, can’t see it.

Well the rumors about the SL3-S are starting to heat up and there’s an event on 1/16/2024 that is supposed to offer the details. Maybe we will finally see the roadmap for Leica/Lumix unfolding. Or maybe just Leica? So far things sound underwhelming. https://leicarumors.com/2025/01/13/here-are-the-leica-sl3-s-camera-specifications.aspx/amp/

I preferred the body/build of the S1H over my S5II. Easily. All an S2H would need to be for me is FF 6k 60p version of the S5II internals and it’s a done deal for me. If it wasn’t for the less than stellar AF, I’d still have my S1H. Decent, but not Sony level stickiness, ie, could be better.

I love your Sci-Fi tracks

Wide end of the Panasonic 20-60mm kit lens on an S5ii capturing some people so desperate to avoid the outlandish parking charges at British seaside town that they've decided to parachute in.