Last year I had the chance to participate in one of the Leica Akademie Weekends with Craig Semetko and I can highly recommend it. The price of the 2012 course is $495, but you will receive a $150 voucher that can be used toward the purchase of any Leica serial numbered M products plus other freebies.
For more info check those links:
Craig Semetko also has a new book out:
Several readers asked me about the future of the M9 and S2 cameras since they use Kodak sensors and the company recently filed fot chapter 11 bankruptcy. First, last year Kodak sold their sensor division and Leica can still get their sensors from the new owner Platinum Equity. Second, I believe that Leica will go with a Sony CMOS sensor for the M9 replacement at Photokina and the old Kodak sensor may be needed for just few more months of M9/M9-P production.
For all film users: Kodak's film division is still profitable.
In conclusion, I basically do not see Kodak's bankruptcy filing to impact Leica's business in any way.
DSLR Magazine, who has a pretty good track record when it comes to "predicting" upcoming products, posted on Twitter that Leica is working on two new cameras for Photokina and one of them will have a "reasonable" price tag (for Leica's standards).
Leica will host three separate shooting programs during Fotofusion 2012 in West Palm Beach, Florida. Offered in collaboration with the 17th Annual International Festival of Photography and Digital Imaging, these workshops on January, 24th,26th and 28th, 2012 provide the perfect opportunity to "test drive" the Leica M9 or select compact cameras, while working in real world situations with a Leica representative:
For detailed information on all Fotofusion workshops click on www.fotofusion.org.
Leica Camera AG sets cash compensation for squeeze-out at EUR 30,18 in order to get a small portion (2.44%) of stock owned by third party shareholders. Here is the full press-release:
