Exactly what Ive will be doing with the Leica M hasn’t been discussed, though the camera itself is an alluring starting point to work from.  Its retro-styled metal casing hides a 24-megapixel full-frame Leica Max sensor, with ISO 200 to 6,400 support, and Full HD 1080p (24/25) video recording.

Somewhat bizarrely, Ive was meant to be at Leica’s presentation to help announce the special edition, but was forced to cancel at the last moment. Leica intended to slice the news from the announcement, but Dr. Kaufmann kept it in his speech anyway.

Designing the camera is apparently yet to begin, but we already know that the auction process will be carried out in collaboration with U2 lead singer Bono. Exactly how much it will reach is hard to predict, but with the “basic” Leica M expected to come in at around $7,000, we’d expect a healthy premium on top for the promise of an Ive-exclusive.

That EVF pairs with the Leica M’s 3-inch 920k dot display, which Leica has sensible placed behind a sheet of toughened Gorilla glass. Inside, Leica’s new Maestro image processor does the heavy lifting, protected by dust/splash-proofing.

Perhaps most exciting for Leica aficionados, however, is the fact that the Leica M will not only work with the company’s dedicated M-series lenses, but with classic R-series lenses too. You’ll need an adapter in order to do that, but we can see plenty of shutterbugs happy to put up with that.

As for the Leica M-E, that’s a more affordable – in Leica terms, of course – version, with an 18-megapixel full-frame sensor and a focus entirely locked onto photography. The M-E won’t shoot video, but does offer ISO 160 – 2500 and a 2.5-inch 230k dot preview display, along with an integrated viewfinder.

The Leica M-E is available now, priced at around $5,450, while the Leica M will follow on early in the new year, price to be confirmed. We’d be surprised if it came in at under the $7,000 tag of the M9 it replaces, however.

The actual photographic theory behind the Monochrom is pretty sound: Leica created the camera without a color filter array, which should allow it to to take some excellent black and white shots  -  and it had better, since that’s all it will be taking. Other key specifications include and 18-megapixel full-frame sensor and an ISO range topping out at 10,000. The camera doesn’t come with a lens, but you could add on a brand new Summicron 50mm f2.0 prime lens for a mere $7,195. I kind of hope this idea catches on – maybe Samsung will release a TV that only displays black and white movies. Or better yet, only Humphrey Bogart movies.

Leica shooters are something like the Rolex or Ferrari collectors of the camera world, and no doubt they’ll find more than a few willing to pony up for the M Monochrom. They’ll only find three hundred buyers at most for the $50,000 Edition Hermès Série Limiteé Jean-Louis Dumas M9-P, since it’s limited to 300 editions. If you miss the June shipping date you’ll have to “settle” for the $25,000 version that is simply labelled Edition Hermès. Both are variants of the $8000 18-megapixel Leica M9-P.

[via Cnet]

The invitation sent by Leica CEO Alfred Schopf was posted up by Steve Huff. It doesn’t give away too much information on what to expect, but Huff believes that new M-series and X-series cameras will be part of the event. According to Huff, Leica’s Stephen Daniel had at one point told him that the company plans to release new M- and X- line cameras every two to three years, making now a ripe time for updates to both lines.

The above rendering of the M10 is a concept design by Svein Gunnar Kjøde and unfortunately not the actual camera itself. Although no details are available yet on the M10, we can expect it to improve on the M9, which is the world’s smallest full-frame interchangeable lens camera and boasts a 18-megapixel CCD sensor. The M9 costs about $8,000, so the M10 may carry just as hefty a price tag if not more.

The camera company is particularly proud of its zoom, a Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 1:2.8-5.2/4.5-108 mm ASPH. lens. Capable of going from a 25 mm wide angle to a 600 mm super-telephoto, it still manages to fit into a 124 x 80 x 95 mm, 540g form-factor.

On the back is an adjustable 3-inch 461,000 pixel LCD display with approximately 100-percent field of view, and there’s a stereo microphone and 70MB of internal memory, augmented by an SD/SDHC/SDXC card. Connectivity including USB 2.0, mini HDMI, analog A/V output and a microphone/remote jack.

Pricing on the new camera is yet to be confirmed, but it will go on sale in January 2012.

There’s a 3.8x optical zoom, face detection autofocus mode and various preset scenes to get the best of the lighting and shooting conditions, along with both RAW and JPEG support. ISO 80 to 12,800 is supported, along with 60s to 1/4000s shutter speeds and 2.5fps continuous shooting. On the back there’s a 3-inch preview display, though you can also slot on the optional Leica EVF1 electronic viewfinder.

Up to 720p video recording is supported, complete with mono sound, while connectivity includes USB, HDMI and analog TV output. No word on pricing for the Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium edition, which is set to go on sale sometime this month, but the regular D-Lux 5 is priced at around $785.

Ricoh recently announced it was purchasing Pentax to expand its consumer digital camera business, specifically in the lightweight interchangeable lens camera department. But that doesn’t mean that Ricoh will discontinue its own GXR series cameras, which are preferred by some for the ability to swap out not only the lens but also the camera sensor so that they can better adjust for varying shooting conditions.

The new GXR module is called the A12 and it uses a 12.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with a Leica M mount. It also comes with its own focal plane shutter so that it can be used instead of the camera’s electronic shutter. The module is expected to become available on September 9, priced at $649.

[via Electronista]

The little accessory screws into the tripod bushing on the bottom of the camera. It has a lens opening that the user can attach an extra lens to for safekeeping. Once that extra lens is attached to the accessory, the shooter can even use the lens as a handle. That extra handle can help improve the stability making your photos better too.

Leica claims that the accessory won’t affect film changing at all. It has a hinged base plate that unlocks to provide complete access. This is a pretty cool accessory and I am surprised we haven’t seen something similar in the past for other cameras. The order number is 14404 and pricing is unknown.

Here it is, the entirely-paper-made 35mm Lie-ca M3, a camera that from afar appears to be quite the classy number, able to take the nicest of photos from an around your neck position with style. What you’re going to get instead is a printed paper object that’s part of a collection of status-symbols as made available by designer (and artist) Matt Nicholson, a fellow who doesn’t take the folding of fine printed paper for granted.

This object, though it doesn’t at first appear to be able, is fully ready to take pinhole-grade photos using only its paper self and a standard roll of film. You’ll have to be careful you don’t leak in too much light though – tape may be your friend! That said, a pinhole camera such as this has never before seen such classy digs – look at that fine detail!

Matt’s project also currently includes a 2011 Fauxlex (Rolex) Submarinar 5512 watch, a Bespoke suite, and a pinhole CCTV camera kit, amounts an ever-expanding collection. Each of these items is made as a pattern that you can download, print up, cut out, and create on your own. Cant wait for the rest!

[via Yanko Design]

Leica is not saying that a compact camera system will be debuting at Photokina 2012. Since it has already said no micro four thirds will be adopted by the brand we have to suspect that the company will be launching a new platform. There are few details on exactly what Leica has in mind. What we do know comes from Leica CEO Alfred Schopft who has noted that the imaging sensor in the new platform will be at least APS-size.

Schopft said that Leica is right now investigating what sensor it would use in the camera and what manufacture will provide it. He also noted that sensors are cheap and are becoming a commodity; the lenses are what are costly. He said that Leica would prefer a built-in EFV for the camera. We will have to wait until next year to see just what Leica has in mind and how crazy expensive it will be.

[via Amateur Photographer]

The price falls in line with the original M9 released back in 2009 but adds several new features and takes away some visual elements for a very minimalist aesthetic. The iconic red Leica logo is now gone from the front and placed on top as an engraving to possibly reduce distraction and unwanted attention from thieves.

New features include a scratch-resistant and unbreakable sapphire crystal covering on the LCD along with anti-reflective coating. The M9-P also now has a coarser leather texture to improve grip and has an almost silent shutter. It also features an 18-megapixel full-frame camera sensor that will work with Leica’s interchangeable lens system. It comes in either silver or black and should be available by the end of this month.

[via Electronista]

The camera has a 16x zoom lens and integrated GPS functionality. It also has a new 3D mode for shooting images, but the key feature is the new video recording mode. The quality is promised to be comparable to what you get from a normal digital camcorder. The video mode records in 1080i AVCHD format. The recording capability can use the entire 16x zoom range the camera offers and a stereo microphone is built-in as well.

The mic has an electronic filter that eliminates wind noise for clearer sound. The integrated GPS capability allows for the tagging of photos. The camera also has a POI database that allows the camera to help people on a trip find interesting things to do. The rear LCD is 3-inches wide and for the first time on the Leica brand the screen is touch sensitive and allows features to be controlled using the screen. The V-Lux 30 camera will ship in June for $749.

The concept is called the Leica i9 concept and it is from designers Black Design Associates LLC. The company points out that it is in no way affiliated with either Apple or Leica. That would mean this is no official design concept and the product will never come to market. Combing the iPhone with the little camera is weird to me, but I guess with all the apps to help you take better photos by measuring light and other things perhaps this would be useful.

The designers say that the concept has 12.1MP resolution. Strange as it may be, the design certainly looks cool. The retro style of the Leica line is my favorite things about the cameras. The big downside to Leica for many of us is that the cameras are very expensive. Leica was rumored to be moving into the Micro Four Thirds market earlier this year and then the company came back and said the M9 was as small as Leica cameras would get.

[via Black Design]

The M9 has an 18.5-megapixel Kodak KAF-18500 Full Frame CCD image sensor, larger than the sensors Panasonic and others use in their Micro Four Thirds cameras. A smaller sensor might allow Leica to produce a more compact version than the M9 – which measures in at 139 x 80 x 37 mm, versus the Panasonic LUMIX GF2‘s 112.8 x 67.8 x 32.8 mm body – but with a concurrent reduction in image quality.

Despite only having a single lens, 3D Photo creates 3D stills by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best to create an image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. There’s also Full HD video recording and optical image stabilization.

Various in-camera editing and retouching options round out the main specs; more details in the press release below. The Panasonic LUMIX FX78 will go on sale in March 2011 in black, gold and white; pricing will be confirmed closer to the time.

Press Release:

PANASONIC INTRODUCES STYLISH AND ULTRA-COMPACT LUMIX FX78 DIGITAL CAMERA WITH FULL-HD VIDEO CAPABILITIES

The LUMIX FX78 Features a F2.5 Super-Bright 24mm Ultra-Wide-Angle Leica Lens for Superb Photo and Video Quality and a Large 3.5-inch Smart Touch LCD for Intuitive Operation

SECAUCUS, NJ (January 25, 2011) – Panasonic today expands its LUMIX FX-Series of stylish and compact digital cameras, with the LUMIX FX78, which features a new Smart Touch operation on the large 3.5-inch 16:9 aspect LCD, allowing for intuitive touch operation, including Touch AF, Touch Zoom, Touch Shutter, and Touch Playback. The LUMIX FX78 also incorporates a new LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMARIT, 24mm ultra-wide angle lens that has a 5x optical zoom with F2.5 aperture. The 24mm wide-angle lens offers approximately 213% larger viewing space when compared to a traditional 35mm camera. This high-performing lens has been designed to fit the slim body while still offering exceptional photo and video quality. With its wide and bright lens, the LUMIX FX78 excels when shooting dynamic landscapes and in low-lit situations.

The LUMIX FX78’s Smart Touch Screen allows for the Auto Focus (AF) to be set by simply touching the subject on the LCD and a touch can even release the shutter. Once locked on the subject, the LUMIX FX78 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function even if it moves. With the Intelligent Scene Selector in the iA mode, the FX78 automatically switches to the appropriate mode according to the subject touched. For example, a touch on a human face switches to the portrait mode, and a touch on the background or a landscape changes to the Scenery mode, while a touch on the subject close in the foreground changes to Macro mode. All menu settings are now available with touch control. The touch-screen operation excels not only for shooting, but also in playback, allowing the user to drag the images across the screen with a finger and browse the collection of photos as though flipping the pages of the book.

“With its super-bright and wide-angle lens, the LUMIX FX78 is a high-performing digital camera that excels in image quality, producing exceptional full-HD videos and still photos,” said David Briganti, Senior Product Manager, Imaging, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. “With the new touch-screen operation, the FX78 is intuitive to use and allows the user to take a photo, track a subject and even touch-up a face with just the touch of the finger.”

The LUMIX FX78 also features the Panasonic 3D Photo mode, which produces a realistic 3D photo by taking 20 consecutive photos and overlaying the two best to create a 3D image that can then be played on a Panasonic VIERA 3D HDTV. The format of 3D images is compatible with MPO, and can also be played back on other MPO-compatible equipment such as a televisions, digital photo frames and printers. Panasonic also adds the LUMIX Image Uploader, for seamless and instant sharing via Facebook (for digital photos) or YouTube (for videos). Users can checkmark the photo or video files they want to share, connect the camera to a PC with the included USB cable or by inserting the SD Memory Card directly into the PC’s SD Card slot, and then the uploading automatically launches with an easy-to-follow menu option.

Incorporating a newly developed 12.1-megapixel Hi-Speed CCD sensor, the DMC-LUMIX FX78 is compatible with high-speed, large-capacity signal processing required for 1920 x 1080 full-HD video recording in AVCHD and high speed continuous shooting. The AVCHD format almost doubles the recording time in HD quality, when compared with the conventional Motion JPEG. The LUMIX FX78 also boasts Dolby Dolby® Digital Creator to record high quality audio.

The advanced image processing LSI, the Venus Engine FHD, assures high picture quality in both photo and movie recording. It also incorporates the Intelligent Resolution technology to perform the optimum signal processing to give the entire image outstandingly natural clearness with fine details. The LUMIX FX78’s 5x optical zoom is available when shooting video. Thanks to the Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom is available with the LUMIX FX78 which extends the zoom ratio by approximately 1.3x maintaining the picture quality and extending it to a 6.5x zoom equivalent. The Sonic Speed AF, which gains approximately 33% higher speed compared with its predecessor DMC-FX75, has a quick shutter release time lag as short as approximately 0.005 second.

The LUMIX FX78 is not only a high-performing digital camera when it concerns image quality, but it also includes a host of entertaining features that brings photography to a new level of fun with features such as Art Retouch and Beauty Retouch. The Art Retouch function lets the user change the original photo in brightness and color saturation. The Beauty Retouch mode allows users to digitally touch-up faces by applying different effects, such as skin texture, lifting up the face and whitening of teeth. In addition, the Make-up mode gives the user the option to change the face’s complexion, lips, cheeks or eye-shadow coloring.

Panasonic’s iA Mode, a suite of technologies that engage automatically, has evolved for more powerful image stabilization while video recording and taking still photos with Active Mode which boosts MEGA OIS to excel in suppressing blur when recording videos at wide angle while walking. Other features of iA include: Motion Deblur, MEGA OIS, Face Recognition, Face Detection, AF Tracking, Intelligent ISO Control, Intelligent Scene Selector and Intelligent Exposure. With iA, taking beautiful photos is possible for users at any level. In addition, the Intelligent Resolution technology is always activated in the iA mode, which helps produce even clearer photos by precisely performing signal processing pixel by pixel to help ensure clear and sharp images.

The LUMIX FX78 will be available in March 2011 in black, gold and white models and pricing will be announced approximately 30 days prior to shipping date. For more on these Panasonic LUMIX models, please visit www.panasonic.com/lumix.

The Leica X1 BMW Special Edition camera features the same 12MP CMOS sensor, and the F2.8 24mm optics that the original X1 features. The differences come in the different skin on the BMW special edition, along with “BMW” stamped onto the top of the camera. Other than that, the Leica X1 BMW Special Edition camera is exactly the same as the standard issue version.

The cost? $3,500. That’s compared to the $2,600 that the original costs.

[via CrunchGear]

I think the cameras look really cool, but there is no way that most of us will spend that kind of money on a digital camera. If you are like me as close as you will get to owning one of these high-end cameras will be reading stories about them and watching the two assembly videos below.

The gang at the Leica factory made up a couple videos to show off their sweet camera and they are good to watch. Check them both out below and feast your eyes on the camera you won’t own.

Via A Continuous Lean

That superzoom lens is good for 24x optical zoom with a focal range equivalent to 25-600mm in 35mm format. The camera can also record video in 1080i resolution in AVCHD format. Leica uses a newly developed 14.1MP CMOS sensor in the camera that is tuned for high performance shopping. The rear 3-inch LCD has a 460K pixel resolution and it can be tilted and pivoted in almost any direction.

Leica claims that the camera is one of the world’s fastest consecutive shooting cameras with bursts of 11 frames per second in full resolution or at 60 frames per second in 2.8MP resolution. The camera is set to launch in October in the UK with a price of £675.

From Around the Web

Kudo Tsunoda Says Hardly Anyone Plays FPS Games on PC: If hearing Kudo Tsunoda, one of the creators behind Microsoft’s upcoming Kinect, talk about how Microsoft’s future motion-sensing peripheral will outsell the iPad isn’t enough for you, here we’ve got the Microsoft head saying that no one plays First Person Shooter (FPS) titles on PC anymore. He goes on to say that “It’s all about the console now.” Of course, he was talking about how Halo made console FPS titles what they are today, and that’s to be expected. But we imagine there’s plenty of PC gamers out there, with their mouse clicking away to fire their favorite assault rifle in their favorite FPS, that would disagree with this statement. [via GameInformer]

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The Titanium limited edition is, at its most basic level, a far more equipped M9, but that’s not stopping Leica from releasing it. For instance, the trim features leather that is usually used in Audi’s premium automobiles. Other additions to the camera include fingerprint resistant overlays, the handstrap will come in two sizes, and the frame lines will be illuminated by LEDs. And you get a fancy new holster, too, which was designed specifically for this new edition.

If you were to buy one of these limited edition cameras, you’d get the camera, 35mm Summilux F/1.4 prime lens, that new holster, and a lens hood in the box. There’s a new electronic illumination system in place, too. Unfortunately, Leica only made 500 of these, and by now there’s probably already a handful that’s been bought up. As for the pricing, that’s said to be marked at 22,000 EUR. Yes, 22,000 EUR. It will be made available some time in November,

[via Leica Rumors]

Unfortunately, as great as all that is, you do lose one key feature: autofocus. You obviously get autofocus is you stick to the standard Sony lens, but the moment you pop on that adapter and shove, say, that Leica lens on, you’ll just have to deal without it.

As for pricing, you’re looking at spending between ¥19,950 and ¥25,200, depending on the lens adapter of your choice. That breaks down to between $220 and $275. You could be spending a lot more on a camera, sure, and if you like the body of the Sony NEX-3 or NEX-5, but you want a better lens, then this is probably a small price to pay to make that happen.

[via Wired Gadget Lab]

Now that the camera is officially official, we have all the specs you can want. The V-Lux 20 has a focal length of 25-300mm and a 12.1MP sensor. The camera is a point and shoot, so a wide range of automatic settings are included. It can record movies in 720p HD resolution and GPS tagging for video and photos is available.

The camera will ship with Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 for image editing. The camera has a full range of automatic settings, but those wanting to play with manual settings can also adjust aperture and shutter speed to their liking. Continuous shots can be made at up to 6fps for 15 photos on internal memory or 100 photos using a SD card. The camera support SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards. The rear LCD is a 3-inch TFT unit.

Along with that megapixel count, you’ll also get 720p video recording, and that oh so important feature: geo-tagging with built-in GPS. You also get a 3.0-inch LCD screen on the back, and a 25-300mm zoom range. If you’re a camera hound, and you keep tabs of all the details, then you’re probably thinking this sounds a lot like a Panasonic ZS7. And, you’d be right. Because, it is a Panasonic ZS7, with some aesthetic tweaks to the body (which, we admit, makes it look a whole lot better), the software inside running the show, and ultimately –sadly– the price.

If you thought the Panasonic ZS7 was expensive, coming in at a cool $343, then you probably won’t want to even give the Leica V-Lux 20 a second glance: it’s supposedly going to come in at double the price of the Panasonic version. It’s supposed to be announced on the 20th of April, and it should be in stores some time around the 9th of May, if you’re interested.

[via Leica Rumors]

However Bell also insists that film-based cameras are still relevant, pointing to a strong second-hand market and a cultish popularity in Japan.  He blames the US obsession with the latest gadget for the disparity in figures, suggesting that “‘new’ tends to command greater attention”.  Still, it remains to be seen whether refreshing Leica’s two analog cameras, the MP and M7, is a priority for the firm.

[via Amateur Photographer]

Interestingly, according to Amazon’s “Frequently Bought Together” panel, customers often buy the steel gray M9 with the black version of the camera, for a bargain $13,990.  Thanks for the the suggestion, Amazon!

[via CrunchGear]

If the color scheme wasn’t enough for you, there’s an inscription of what’s said to be Mao Zedong’s front type – “Long Live The People’s Republic of China” – a picture of Tiananmen Square and plenty of Chinese calligraphy.  There’s even a “luxury wooden box” to hide it in.

Since owners may want to take some photos with their limited edition camera, there’s a special Leica Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 Gold lens in there too, though the plastic lens cap looks a bit cheap.  Figure on putting aside 199,900 Chinese Yuan ($29,300) if you want one yourself, though you’ll probably have to book a flight to China, too.

[via iTechNewsNet]

The M9 has an 18MP image sensor that allows the capture of full 35mm film format and can use all M lenses with focal lengths form 16 to 135mm. The camera measures 139 x 37 x 80mm despite its large sensor. The camera will come in a standard black finish and a steel-grey with leatherette finish. The shutter of the M9 has speed of up to 1/4000 of a second. The camera will ship today in the UK for £4,850.

The X1 looks very much like the M9 with its old school looks and compact design. The X1 is significantly smaller than the M9 with a 12.2MP image sensor. The cam has a 2.7-inch rear LCD and supports up to ISO 3200. Shutter speed is as fast as 1/2000 of a second and numerous flash modes are built-in. Images are stored to SD/SDHC cards and power comes from a lithium-ion battery. Dimensions of the camera are 60 x 124 x 32, and it weighs 286 grams. Pricing is undisclosed, but it will ship in January 2010.

The X1 is a fixed-lens camera with 24mm optics and a 12-megapixel sensor.  Meanwhile the M9 is said to have a full-frame 18.2-megapixel sensor and improved low-light performance.  Both cameras are tipped to get an official announcement on Wednesday September 9th.

The Leica S-System S2 is priced at £15,996 ($26,277) while the S2-P comes in at £19,092 ($31,362).  For that, you get a 30mm x 45mm sensor which is 56-percent larger than full-frame, all in a 35mm-sized body. 

Unfortunately, what you don’t get is a lens, so expect to budget between £3,096 ($5,086) and £5,160 ($8,476) for one of Leica’s accompanying lenses. More images, including of the lenses, here.  The system will launch in the UK come October.

[via DPReview]

The LEICA ELMAR-M 1:3.8/18 mm ASPH optics are constructed with eight lenses in seven groups, one aspherical element and coated with high quality multi-layer coating. When use on the 1.33 crop sensor Leica M rangefinder, it has a field of view of 24mm lens (35mm equiv.).

Another item new to Leica is the SF 58 flash unit that’s made compatible oto all Leica rangefinder, SLR cameras and can also be used with the new Leica S-system. Both the new Super-Elmar-M and SF 59 are shipping from March with prices to announce later.

LEICA ELMAR-M 1:3.8/18 mm ASPH

Focal length – 18mm
35mm equivalent focal length (APS-C) – 24mm
Diagonal Angle of view (FF) – 100°, 90°, 67° (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)
Diagonal Angle of view (APS-C) – 84°, 74°, 53° (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)
Maximum aperture – F3.8
Minimum aperture – F16
Lens Construction – 8 elements/ 7groups
Aspherical surfaces – 2
Working Range – 2.3 ft [0.7 m] to infinity
Weight – 10.9 oz
Dimensions – approx. 48.8/57.7 mm ( 1.92/2.27 in)
Diameter – 61mm
Lens Mount – For Leica cameras

Leica SF 58 flash

Full compatibility with:
M System – M6 TTL, M7, M8, M8.2
R System – R8, R9
S-System – S2
Limited compatibility with all Leica system cameras featuring a hot shoe
(in automatic or manual flash mode)
Guide number – Max. 58 (ISO 100 / 21°)
Flash modes - TTL, automatic, manual, strobe
Swivelling reflector Vertical (-7° / +90°)
Horizontal (-180° /+120°)
Automatic / manual zoom reflector- 24 mm, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm, 90 mm, 105 mm (35-mm format)
Display – Dot-matrix display
Automatic white-balance adjustment – Yes
Power supply – 4x AA, alkaline batteries (1.5V), lithium (1.5V), NiCad rechargeable (1.2V), NiMH rechargeable (1.2V), external power pack
Number of flashes (full power) – Alkaline (1.5V) – 180
Lithium (1.5V ) – 320
NiCad rechargeable (1.2V/600 mAh) – 70
NiMH rechargeable (1.2V/1600 mAh) – 140
Weight – 12.5 oz [355 g]
Dimensions – 2.8 x 5.8 x 3.9 [71 x 148 x 99 mm]
Optional Accessories – Diffusor

The companies have dismissed such speculation. Panasonic with Leica’s expertise remains as far as ‘Lumix’ at this point, the sell-off is just another hot air. After all, words from a serious bank banker with no proof is rumor at its best.

Nevertheless, in a separate quote, a Lecia UK spokesman told the Amateur Photographer that Leica will ‘always be at the receiving end of company strategy speculation’. Simply put, Leica alone can’t hardly stand in the cut-throated digital cameras market, their best seller so far is a re-branded Panasonic, can you blame them keeping that option open? On the other hands, that makes you second guess the banker’s rumor. Does it?

1. Angle of view: With M8 (18x37mm): 84 °, 74 °, 53 ° (diagonal, horizontal, vertical)
2. Optical Formula : Number of 8 lenses in 7 groups (2 aspherical lens)
3. Distance adjustment from 0.7m to infinity
4. Dimension : length 48.8mm
5. Weight : 310g
6. Cost : 2,290 Euros ($2,956)

[via lecirque.fr]

The optics are the LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens, in this case silver anodised, keeping weight down to just 180g.  Inspiration for the limited edition was apparently the M cameras supplied by Leitz to the “Bundeswehr” (German Army) in the 1960′s as well as the LEICA R3 “Safari”.

Just like a safari holiday itself, though, the Leica M8.2 Safari Edition doesn’t come cheap.  Budget £10,000 ($14k) for the limited edition, and then a little extra for a matching hat and shorts.

[via T3]

The beamer has recently made its debut in Japan, with targeted audiences from professional photographer, hardcore Leica fans to business users. Leica representative, Sascha Noack was very confident with its Pradovit’s offering to the already-crowded digital projector market, and commented on the adoption of DLP were the superiority of image sharpness and better color rendering in comparing to LCOS or SXRD technology. My guess? Brightness and heat resistance could have something to do with the decision too. Also, Noack said the availability of high resolution WUXGA panel finally sealed the deal for the company’s first entry in digital Projector.

The Pradovit D-1200 sports the Leica VARIO-ELMARIT-P 1:2.8-3.1/33-42 mm/59 mm-74 mm zoom lens with 120% vertical lens shift. Its image can display at brightness of 2,000 lumens and 2,500:1 contrast thanks to the adoption of TI’s DMD-0.98-inch DLP, 6-segment color wheel technology and Philips’ 220W FusionPlus VIDI UHP bulb, which has a life expectancy of 3000 hours for standard applications and 4000 hours when operated in power-save mode.

It’s available now at a suggested retail of 115 million yen in Japan, US buyer should be able to locate one online from B&H for less than $12,000 (ouch!)

[Leica via Impress]

If you are a Leica fan, It would be a great collection for that piece of precious machinery, consider its limited run of only 500 units will be issued. But latest report said otherwise, there would be 10,000 units to be available coming this January. Look like there would be plenty of Leica to pass around.

New function:

Detection of 6-bit coding for new M lenses. The 6-bit coding and the correction profiles of the new Leica M lenses LEICA SUMMILUX-M 21mm/f1.4 ASPH., LEICA SUMMILUX-M 24mm/f1.4 ASPH. and LEICA ELMAR-M 24mm/f3.8 ASPH. have been implemented. The profile of the lens LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50mm/f0.95 ASPH. will be implemented in a later firmware version before the first shipments will start.

Bug Fixes:

If you can’t wait for the formal announcement (expect anytimenow), here’s another leak with good-looking Leica S2 37MP Digital SLR gallery and lenses, 13 of them. Enjoys!

[via blog]

The prototype of the new S2 was previewed at an exclusive briefing in London by Professional Photographers. They placed the size of the camera in between Canon’s EOS 5D and 1DS mark III and said the design and handling of the body is ergonomic. Few details are available at this time, but Leica said S2 is twice as fast as Hasselblad H-series with better high iso performance and there are 9 S-system new lenses to come.

[update : leak of the S system images, 13 of them ]
Detail of S2

Large 30x45mm sensor containing 37-million pixels

Small body similar to that of a professional 35mm DSLR

Weatherproof seals

Three-inch high-quality LCD screen

Dual shutter system – focal plane or leaf

Records files in open DNG format

Range of nine new lenses, including a 120mm macro, tilt-and-shift 30mm, 70mm f/2.5 standard lens and 24mm ultrawide-angle

Weights in 7.5lb, the compact Pradovit D-1200 sports a Texas Instrument’s WUXGA 1920×1200 DLP panel; offering 2500:1 contrast ratio, 1400 lumens and is capable to throw up to a 432-inch diagonal size picture despite its diminutive dimensions. The unit also offers a set of component input ,hdmi 1.3, DVI digital interfaces and high end video processor from Crestron and Pixelworks. The Pradovit D-1200 will be available from November with pricing information to be released later.

[via adorama]

The C-Lux 3 features a smaller 1- 2.33-inch CCD sensor and a one-stop slower Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4.4-22 mm f/2.8-5.9 ASPH with 35mm equivalent focal length of 25 to 125mm. Compare to Lux-4, it has a smaller 2.5-inch TFT-LCD monitor with 230,000 pixels and ISO sensitivity of 100 to 1600. Both come with 50MB internal storage, support SD/SDHC storage and video recording mode in 640×480, 848×480 and 1280×720 format. Availability is set for October with price to be announced later.

[via impress C-LUX 3 D-Lux 4]