Leica X1

The 12.2 megapixel camera isn’t cheap – the list price is $2,200 – but it should do most of what the M9 does. First, that lens. You can’t change it, and it doesn’t zoom, but as most Leica-M users stick to a 35mm lens anyway, the Elmarit 24mm f/2.8 Ashperical should do the trick. The math nerds will have noticed that 35 divided by 24 is 1.46. This betrays the X1’s huge sensor. It is bigger than the micro four thirds sensors, and essentially puts a DSLR-sized (APS-C) chip into a compact camera.

ISO runs from 100 to 3200, shutter speeds up to 1/2000th of a second, and there are 11 focus points plus face-detection. There is also a pop-up flash and a 2.7-inch, 230,000 dot LCD screen.

In addition to the usual auto-modes, the X1 has manual aperture and shutter-speed dials on the top plate, and that when you buy it, it comes with a license for Adobe’s Lightroom software, a very welcome addition as bundled software is usually awful.

The one thing missing is an optical viewfinder, but following the trend set by the Olympus EP-1, you can buy one to slot into the hot-shoe mount up top. It’ll cost you, of course (another $350), but if these optional finders become popular then a third-party market might grow to sell them, just like in the olden days of ‘finder-less “rangefinders”.

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We’re looking forward to this. It could actually be the true spiritual successor to Leica’s now anachronistic M-series.

The X1 will be arriving in January 2010.

Via Wired

Leica M9

According to the German manufacturer, the Leica M9 is "the world’s smallest full-frame system camera", with its 24 x 36mm, 18-megapixel sensor. Kodak has developed the CCD sensor features, which include improved offset microlenses for optimizing performance along the frame’s edges and a a sensor cover for improved filtering of infrared light. The camera features an ISO range of 160 to 2,500, 2.5-inch LCD screen and is still compatible with Leica M8 and M8.2 accessories. It starts shipping in the United Kingdom today for a price tag of £4,850 (~$8,004).

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More details / press release

The LEICA M9 is available in two different styles: a standard black with ‘vulkanit’ finish, and for the first time, a version in steel-grey with classic leatherette finish.

M9 Sensor
The CCD, specially developed by Kodak for the LEICA M9, has been optimised to exploit the particular qualities of the Leica M lens system. As a result, the LEICA M9 achieves the highest resolution values, which in turn guarantee outstanding image quality.
The M9 sensor employs further advanced and meticulously-designed micro lenses with a low refractive index. The micro lenses at the sensor edges are laterally displaced towards the image centre to match the characteristics of M lenses precisely. This optimised micro lens design captures and concentrates even the most oblique rays on the sensor, and reliably prevents image brightness fall-off at the edges and corners of the image. As a result, all existing Leica M lenses maintain their full performance when used for digital photography.
A moiré filter has not been integrated, allowing full exploitation of the superb resolution of Leica M lenses. Any moiré patterns occurring are eliminated in the camera’s signal processing software. The optimised signal–noise ratio reduces the need for digital post-processing, and results in high-contrast, high-resolution exposures with natural colour rendition from corner to corner.

Lenses
Performance criteria, such as the individual coating of each element, have long been a Leica standard. For the first time, the immense performance potential of the M lenses is fully maintained and can be exploited for digital photography. In line with Leica’s commitment to system compatibility, almost all Leica M lenses built since 1954 can still be used on the new M9, as a result of their mechanical and optical precision.
The M9 sensor demands a particularly high spatial resolution, as offered by the latest M lenses. Their high resolution and efficient correction of optical aberrations make them all the more suitable for digital use. Current M lenses are supplied with a 6-bit code on the bayonet mount that is scanned optically by the M9. Using this coding, the M9 can compensate for any vignetting effects, if required. In addition, the lens type is recorded in the EXIF data and, when using the latest flash units such as the LEICA SF 58, automatically adjusts the reflector to match the focal length of the lens attached.

The viewfinder / rangefinder system
The Leica viewfinder / rangefinder system sets the LEICA M9 apart from SLR and compact digital cameras and makes it particularly suitable for reportage, ‘available light’ and discreet portraiture. Photographers become part of the action and frame their subject in the viewfinder, while still being able to see the full scene outside the viewfinder frame. The decisive moment can be anticipated and captured at precisely the right instant, resulting in particularly authentic images.
The clear view of the subject remains during the full exposure and, even in the most adverse lighting conditions, the bright, high-contrast viewfinder guarantees extremely fast and precise focusing. The minimal delay between shutter release and capturing the shot, together with the viewfinder / rangefinder system, positions Leica M cameras amongst the fastest in the world.

Shutter
The LEICA M9 features a new, microprocessor-controlled, particularly silent, metal-leaf, focal-plane shutter that enables shutter speeds of up to 1/4000 seconds. This means that the photographer still has complete creative freedom by using selective focus at maximum apertures, even in bright situations. The short flash synchronisation speed of 1/180 seconds enables daylight flash exposures with selective focus.
Together with its compact form, the camera’s almost silent shutter is another enormous advantage for discreet and unobtrusive photography. Photographers can also select the appropriate moment for re-cocking the shutter. When longer exposure times requiring an extremely steady camera stance are essential, a slight pressure on the shutter release button in ‘soft release’ mode is sufficient.

Intuitive handling
The M9 offers a simple, clearly laid-out and intuitive menu system that concentrates purely on the essentials; eliminating any multifunction buttons or complex menu hierarchies. The key control is an intuitive four-way switch and dial combination that enables fast menu navigation. Pressing the set button calls up the capture menu on the 2.5" monitor, and the most commonly-used functions are quickly and easily set in the menu: sensor sensitivity, exposure correction, white balance, image-data compression and resolution. Furthermore, favourite profiles can be named and saved for quick and easy access.
Sensitivity ranges from ISO 80 for wide-open apertures on bright days to ISO 2500. Very low-noise and finely detailed images are achieved throughout the sensitivity range, even at the highest settings, while the low noise characteristics, low-vibration shutter and fast lenses make the M9 the perfect camera for ‘available light’ photography.

Innovative flash technology
The LEICA M9’s M-TTL flash technology enables both precise and creative control over flash and mixed lighting effects. Prior to the actual exposure, a measuring flash is emitted that is metered through the lens. The flash power is then precisely determined according to the natural lighting situation. Due to the precise and delicate level of flash illumination, the natural lighting mood is maintained. In combination with aperture priority exposure mode, the auto-slow sync function ensures a particularly subtle lighting of the subject.

Tonal value histogram
The LEICA M9 offers an RGB tonal value histogram, which can be displayed at any time for image assessment, and is available in conjunction with automatic image review. A clipping warning indicating any overexposure of the image is also included. These two quality control tools are updated during zooming, allowing the quality of even the finest image details to be assessed.

Digital workflow
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, a professional digital workflow solution for Apple Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows, is available as an online download for all LEICA M9 customers. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom offers a vast range of functions for the management, processing and presentation of digital images, whether in JPEG or DNG format. If the images are saved as raw data in Adobe Digital Negative Format (DNG), Adobe Photoshop Lightroom guarantees direct and high-quality image processing with maximum image quality. The 14-bit-per-channel colour information captured by the image sensor is maintained throughout the processing workflow until the final presentation, and ensures that the most delicate tonal differences are preserved.

Build quality and materials
Experienced Leica technicians in Germany are responsible for the assembly and calibration of the M9 camera bodies, as well as the precise testing of all mechanical and electrical components. In addition to the solid brass top and base plate and magnesium alloy body, several other structural features of the camera will ensure a long and reliable working life. The rechargeable battery and SD card slot are protected from dust and moisture under the base plate, while the locking mechanism prevents unintentional opening and the possible loss of the battery and SD card, even under the hardest reportage conditions.

Sensor cleaning
The LEICA M9 offers a special function for manual sensor cleaning: selecting the appropriate item from the menu and pressing the shutter release locks the shutter open to allow access to the sensor for cleaning purposes. Thanks to the short register of Leica M cameras, the sensor is easier to access than in a DSLR camera, where the sensor is located behind the mirror box and shutter assembly.

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Via DPReview,  ZDNet

Leica S2 spotted

Devin Coldewey at CrunchGear says:

For those pros out there working in print, medium format is king. Portable yet powerful, they can be deployed anywhere. With large but not crowded sensors, they provide excellent sharpness and color fidelity with reasonable exposure times. Of course, they do cost upwards of twenty grand. Leica’s S2 is an evolution of the medium format: a medium-format sensor in a DSLR body, a sort of spiritual big brother to the Sigma DP2, which has a DSLR sensor in a point-and-shoot-esque body.

Unlike the DP2, however, the S2 isn’t likely to suffer from its change of form; Leica is too good for that. It’s still not in production, but a few prototypes were available for handling at a recent Foto Care event in New York.

Via CrunchGear

Leica S5 Concept Design

Stefan Radev has a post on Yanko Design where he conceptualized the Leica S5, his version of a followup to the S2 announced last year. He explains that the design for the shooter is to emit harmony and at the same time show the technological advances of the new S system.

While it looks pretty much like any other dSLR, Radev's specifications for this camera is every gearhead's dream. He envisioned a 50-megapixel sensor, 3-inch 950k-dot LCD and onboard image stabilizer. Within the shooter are also a GPS receiver for geotagging and wireless LAN for transmitting images to computers. To keep up with the trend of top-notch dSLRs, the designer also added an HD video-recording feature into the S5.

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News via cnet Crave via Yanko Design

Leica D VARIO-ELMARIT 14-50mm f2.8-3.5 lens reviewed by CameraLabs

Pretty old article, but worth a read...

When Panasonic announced its debut digital SLR, the Lumix L1, back in February 2006, it’s fair to say a great deal of attention was focused on its kit lens – after all this was no ordinary bundled optic. The D Vario Elmarit 14-50mm was not only Leica’s first lens designed specifically for a digital SLR, but by sporting optical stabilisation, also became the first Four Thirds lens to actively combat camera-shake.

In the months following the announcement, existing Olympus DSLR owners wondered if the Leica zoom could be an option for their cameras; indeed such was the hype behind the lens some even discussed the possibility buying the Lumix L1 kit just to get hold of it. Their prayers were answered in September 2006 when at Photokina, Panasonic confirmed the Leica lens was not only fully compatible with existing Four Thirds DSLRs, but would also be sold separately in the near future. Now that time has come, we’re pleased to publish our full test report of the Leica lens.

Read the full review here.

Carl Zeiss, Leica and Voigtlander macro lenses comparative review

slrlensreviews.com has a review comparing three macro lenses: Carl Zeiss Makro-Planar 100mm f/2 ZF, the Leica APO Macro Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 and the Voigtlander APO Macro Lanthar 125mm f/2.5.

From the review:
From price perspective, all three lenses trade at about the same level these days (as of late 2008). However, there's one caveat here (or two). As mentioned earlier, Voigtlander APO Lanthar 125mm f/2.5 SL Macro is no longer being manufactured. Back during production years, this lens was priced at ~US$600. That is the price I paid for it back in late 2006. However, since the lens was discontinued, the price for new old stock, as well as used copies was climbing higher and higher, reaching ~US$1,500. Combination of the hype among users as well as the 'rare-iness' fact certainly contributed to such dramatic hike in prices. However, Voigtlander is not the most expensive lens in the group, since new copies of Carl Zeiss Makro Planar T* 100mm f/2 sells for ~US$1,500, while new copies of Leica APO Macro Elmarit-R 100mm f/2.8 gor for as much as US$4,500 (used copies go for much more 'reasonable' ~US$1,400).

Leica Digilux 3 Review at photographyreview

The latest from Leica's popular Digilux series, the Digilux 3, has been redesigned using the Four Thirds digital SLR standard. It comes with Leica's first image-stabilized, interchangeable zoom lens, the LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT f/2.8-3.514-50mm ASPH. The Digilux 3 features a 7.5-megapixel LiveMOS sensor with ultrasonic dust protection. The built-in flash can be tilted for bounce-flash use and the camera's processor filters out digital and color noise. Leica's Additional Risk replacement warranty and high-quality construction insure camera reliability and continued manufacturer support.

Right out of the box, the Leica Digilux 3's image quality is terrific. Auto exposure delivers natural color with strong saturation, good skin tones, and good shadow detail with minimal digital noise. White balance has Auto and presets for daylight, cloudy skies, shadow, tungsten, and flash, as well as color temperature settings from 200 to 10000 Kelvin in 31 steps. In-camera image saturation and sharpening are evident in JPEG images. The RAW files yield high resolution, Adobe-standard DNG files which must be converted to a useable file format like TIFF or JPEG, later. Leica supplies a copy of Adobe Elements 4 image editing software for that purpose.

Read the review here