Analog charm in digital times: With the new M-Series camera, Leica omits the display. Through this reduction, the user of the Leica M-D should only focus on their subject
Source: Ohne Display: Leica M-D ist eine analoge Digitalkamera - Golem.de - the joke is, I would actually like that. I ignore the screen on my M8 anyway and if my camera offers it (like the GH1), then I fold away the display. But for 6000 Euros? Nope.
Exclusive premiere: The full Leica X2 review – Ming Thein | Photographer. Certainly, the X2 (especially together with the electronic viewfinder) will not run even approximately in the category "cheap", but somehow it sounds like a really good update to the X1. And compared to the, in my opinion, completely absurd overpriced M9-M, the X2 is at least roughly within the range of "could consider it if you have some money left over".
Ricoh GXR A12 Field Report - just when you think you've made your decision, someone comes along and throws everything up in the air again, and you have to sort it all out from the beginning. Sure, the NEX 5n, which I favor, probably has the better overall features - but the lack of an anti-aliasing filter really appeals to me, as does the fact that microprisms are also used here to optimize imaging with M optics. Well, I'll have to ponder a bit longer. But even after the article, it will probably remain with the NEX system - because with the M8 I already have a compromise camera, the GXR doesn't really deliver much more beyond that - and the technical gimmicks (video and panoramas) are just fun with the NEX. Especially since the linked text suggests that the 5n also has a rather weak AA filter.
match Technical Services. Or also "Pimp your Leica" - because he delivers some interesting accessories (ocular loupes, thumb holders, silly-looking soft releases) and the practical M-Coder Kit, with which you can apply the coding to the Leica lenses (or also third-party lenses) for automatic recognition on the M8/M8.2/M9 yourself (temporarily, as the color wears off when changing). I'm still considering whether it's worth it - the M-lenses (and the Zeiss lens) that I have are characterized by very slight deviations from the optimum. Both in terms of distortion and vignetting (it has advantages when you waive ultra-brightness), so I haven't felt the need for the corrections from the lens profile yet.
the m8 metadata project. Information about the EXIF metadata in Leica M8 image files. Very interesting, especially because of the information about the estimated aperture - the M8 has the mysterious blue dot for this, which is used to determine the ambient light and then, by comparing it with the TTL measurement, an approximate aperture is derived. I had already wondered why in Lightroom my pictures had meaningful aperture values ...
Leica Summilux 35mm / 1.4 ASPH FLE. Does anyone have 3700 Euros to spare for me? Unfortunately, I don't, and that's how much this gem would cost me. I'll probably stick with my 700 Euro Zeiss C-Biogon 35/2.8, though I'm missing two stops of light intensity.
BoPhoto.com: M8 coder - simple manual handcoding of M lenses. Another useful template to apply lens coding. Some Zeiss and Voigtländer lenses have a small gap at the bayonet, where you can even use paint for the marking, which then holds better and doesn't wear off as quickly. Or you can make the markings on thinner paper and clamp it between the lens and the body. It's a bit fiddly, but perhaps practical for occasional changing.
Leica M Lens Codes. Since I bought a used M8 (yes, yes, quiet, no chatter) and now don't want to spend money on lens adapters (hey, you in the back, I heard you giggle!) - they cost around 100 euros per lens. Maybe later, but in the meantime, I might get by with a stencil, a black permanent marker, and this table.
Leica X1 Review: 27. Conclusion: Digital Photography Review - one does wonder, when reading the "Cons", what Leica was thinking with this camera. Sure, the criticism isn't devastating, but we're talking about a €2000 camera here. Things like "Accurate manual focus impossible" and "Live histogram unreliable" or "Camera locks up completely when buffer is full" are simply unacceptable.
Leica M9 Hands-on Preview: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review - well, it does have the full-frame sensor to itself and still has an acceptable size. However, I'm not so sure anymore that full-frame sensors are really the ultimate solution. I mean, realistically speaking: the 35mm format that we so highly praise today was just an emergency format at its inception, not really comparable to the more common roll film and large format cameras of the time. So what is really "full-frame"? Just because Oskar Barnack halved a 70mm film and used it for his compact camera? And whether I would buy a manual focus camera today is rather doubtful - which has less to do with the quality of an M (I have always preferred the split-rangefinder - I still have my M6), but more to do with the performance of my eyes (which are definitely more affected by quality loss over time than my cameras).
Leica X1 and brief hands-on - well, the look is good, but whether this "quick through many automatic functions" really means quick in the sense of an M or just sluggish in the sense of an M8, that remains to be seen. And without sample images, you can't say anything, because after all, it's about the images that come out at the end. A price is not yet revealed, which would probably have a deterrent effect. Let's see what comes in January.
Leaked! Leica M9 - Leica is going digital again, a bit. The rumored specs sound good, but the M8 didn't have the problem of the cropped sensor, but the problem of the sensor in general, and the slow handling (startup times of 2 seconds on an M-Leica? Hello? Really?). Oh, and the problem of the purchase resistance of 4500 Euros ... (the X1 sounds like it might be something, but the price will surely be unrealistically high there as well). Sorry, Leica, too late. I think, with the Panasonic Micro-4/3 I have much more fun for much less money. And that they can do it, the GH1 has proven to me in Norway deployment.
Leica M8 Review: 1. Introduction: Digital Photography Review - to be honest, at that price, some of the quirks are simply not acceptable. Sorry. And for the Leica fans who might want to hit me: I myself have an M6 and am very satisfied with it. The M8 is simply not the digital M I had hoped for (and the poor rangefinder base plays a part in that).
Leica 25mm F1.4 Four Thirds lens - ok, now 4/3 is getting interesting. A normal focal length with the familiar 1.4 aperture, that's something. And the Lumix or Leica for the 4/3 system is bulky, but still looks quite nice, in terms of features.
M8, a missed opportunity - ok, thanks Fazal, that saves me a lot of pondering (and a lot of money). Since Fazal thinks about photography in many ways similar to me, it's very practical when he does a "test" of equipment that would also suit me ...
Leica M8 Review - 2 second startup time? Hmm. I'll cling to the reason not to buy it ... (for now?)
Leica M8 Hands-on Preview - ok, I am officially in love with the camera. Including the very stylish Tri-Elmar for the digital M. Modern shutter (finally better shutter speeds than the mechanical ones), DNG storage for RAW format, compatible with the M lenses, operation like a classic M - how cool is that?
Speaking Frankly: From Leitz sublime to Leica splitsville - no, I didn't know that Leitz helped Jews during the Nazi era to emigrate from Germany and start over abroad. Respect.
Digital rangefinder camera Epson R-D1s is coming - and doesn't sound bad at all, the price has come down significantly. So I will probably postpone any camera purchases until after Photokina.
It was clear to me that after Zeiss entered the market with the ZF lenses and Nikon with the D200, I considered switching to Nikon. And now Leica is also in the mix, announcing the Leica D 14-50 mm F2.8-F3.5 for the four-thirds system. This not only brings the newly announced Panasonic Digi-SLR into play (which is likely based on the Olympus E330), but also the entire Olympus system. So another possible choice when switching? Especially since there are quite usable adapters for Contax-Yashica for the Four-Thirds system, so that I can probably continue to use all Zeiss lenses - unlike with Canon. Interesting is then also the image stabilizer and - probably inherited from the Olympus system - the ultrasonic chip cleaner in the body.
And while we're on the topic of Speculoos (which also fits the season): Leica wants to build a Digital M. There have been rumors and considerations for a long time, but this is quite concrete in the LFI. Sounds very good - a digital M-body would definitely be something I would find exciting. However, I will probably find the price of a digital M less exciting, so I should just keep buying film until I have saved enough from the film material to cover the price of a digital M, which would probably take a few centuries.
Leica has a successor for the D-LUX in the works: the D-LUX 2. The name may be boring, but the specifications sound nice - 16:9 format, wide-angle setting of the lens equivalent to 28mm on full-frame, 8 megapixels, image stabilizer, manually adjustable aperture and shutter speed, RAW format.
That's not particularly exciting yet, but it has again what the old Digilux 1 had, but the Digilux 2 did not: an adapter for the Leica Spective. Which makes it interesting for Jutta again.
However, it will likely also get a Leica-typical price ...
Leica has a brand new lens. A 75/2 APO Asph. - looks really very cute. Nice and compact, built-in lens hood (which you can finally lock so it doesn't push in) and of course the usual Leica quality. Unfortunately, the purchase resistance with just over 2000 Euros is then a bit large. But especially for owners of the classic 0.72x viewfinder magnification, this is of course an interesting lens: it offers the 75mm focal length with a still focusable wide-open aperture and is significantly lighter and smaller than the 75/1.4. Why bother with the 75/1.4 behemoth if you can't use the f/1.4 aperture on the camera anyway because the focusing accuracy of the rangefinder isn't sufficient...
The crazy thing is: I hadn't heard any rumors about the device beforehand (ok, I only rarely read the Leica Users Group anymore - but none of the photo sites had anything either) and Leica doesn't have anything on the websites. But the thing is already in the store (no, I didn't buy it - the purchase resistance...).
Apparently, Leica wants to renovate some of the old gems - first the 90/4 Macro, then the 50/1.4 and now a 75/2. Quite impressive - of course, due to Cosina and the Voigtländer lenses, it's important that Leica shows some activity, but still, you don't just pull new lens designs out of your sleeve - there's a lot of work involved.
Fortunately, my Leica equipment is very close to perfect condition (50/2.8 and 90/4 collapsibles - I'm only missing the macro adapter for the 90mm and possibly, in the long run, a 35/2) and I'm therefore not really at risk of Leica temptation at the moment.
News from the God of Camera Lens Cross-Adapters: an adapter from SLR bayonet to Leica M with rangefinder coupling. Crazy: you focus with the adapter and read the distance from the adapter and transfer this distance setting identically to the SLR lens. So only a half coupling, but better than nothing.
Okay, I wouldn't want to focus a 100/2.0 from Zeiss on my M at full aperture, but for the usual suspects this whole thing could be quite practical. You save the purchase of a rather expensive Leica lens in some cases.
On the other hand, the adapter costs $325, which is a bit much just to use such exotic combinations. And in some cases it's simply better to get the cheaper Voigtländer lenses.
The idea is just so crazy that it's good again.
Epson R-D1 Review - I think I already said it, but does anyone have 3000 dollars for me?
Leica in financial crisis - oh Shit. Hopefully it works out anyway, or Hermes will shoot after. It would be a shame about Leica.