The Leica S-System numbering scheme is a bit confusing. There was a scanner camera called the S1 back in the 90s, while in 2008 the S2 started the medium format DSLR line that we know today. The S2 was then replaced by two iterations of the simply named Leica S, which featured minor improvements. Now, 10 years after the release of its first medium format DSLR S2, Leica properly introduces the flagship successor S3.
The S3 features 64 megapixels, which is considerably more than its direct medium format competitors like Hasselblad and Fuji, and impressive uncropped 4K video even with said pixel count.
Make no mistake; the Leica S3 is a dauntingly big camera with massive lenses and a hefty price tag of $20,000 or higher, but it’s the best that Leica is offering at the moment. If you want uncompromising Leica quality in medium format for studio photography, this is it. For travel (or handheld for any length of time), it’s best to look elsewhere.