Confession of a Leica M Shooter: a narrative of how a brief flirtation with the Sony A7rII convinced me to accept the Leica SL

By LR admin | Published: August 20, 2016

Confession of a Leica M Shooter

Confession of a Leica M Shooter: A Narrative of how a brief flirtation with the Sony A7rII convinced me to accept the Leica SL

This article is by Horatio Tan (Website | Instagram | Facebook). It is written as a parody of a Leica M photographer’s conflicted journey to accepting and getting the Leica SL. Check out his other articles, also available on his website.

I wasn’t going to get the Leica SL. I was very disappointed when Leica first introduced it. In fact, I was downright offended. I am a loyal Leica M-body photographer. And like all loyal M-body photographer, I am waiting for Leica to introduce the next generation M-body with a working electronic viewfinder (and not that excuse of a time-lagged external EVF/LCD monitor of the M240 body). So you could imagine my surprise when Leica decided to forsake their core M-body customer by introducing the SL – just for the sake of expanding their customer base. I felt so hurt… so abandoned. I wanted nothing to do with the SL.

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Posted in Leica SL, LR Guest Posts| 84 Comments

Leica introduces new Noctivid binoculars

By LR admin | Published: August 20, 2016

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Leica introduces Leica NOCTIVID: for an extraordinary new view of the world

Revolutionary new binoculars created from a century of knowledge, optical expertise and craftsmanship

Leica Camera has unveiled a brand new range of binoculars – the Leica NOCTIVID – designed to provide an extraordinary, unparalleled viewing experience, whatever the weather or lighting conditions. Based on more than 100 years of optical and mechanical expertise, Leica has developed this next generation of premium, full-size binoculars to offer users the highest quality optics combined with a revolutionary, almost three-dimensional view of the world around them.

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Posted in Leica Press Releases| Tagged , | 4 Comments

Leica M trade-up program in the US (up to $750 for a trade-in)

By LR admin | Published: August 18, 2016

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In case you missed the official email from Leica on the ongoing Leica M trade-up program in the US, here are the details:

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Posted in Deals| 11 Comments

Leica APO Vario-Elmarit SL 90–280mm f/2.8–4 lens designed by Panasonic?

By LR admin | Published: August 17, 2016

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Panasonic filed a patent in Japan for a 90-280mm f/2.8-4 full frame mirrorless lens. Coincidentally Leica has a identical APO Vario-Elmarit 90-280 mm f/2.8–4 lens for their SL full frame mirrorless camera.

It is a known fact that Leica worked closely with Panasonic on the Q and SL cameras, but it is interesting to see that Panasonic had input even on the design of the lenses.

For comparison, here is the lens described in Panasonic’s patent:

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Posted in Leica SL| Tagged , | 41 Comments

Leica X Vario camera (black) listed as discontinued

By LR admin | Published: August 15, 2016

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Another one bites the dust: the black Leica X Vario camera is currently listed as discontinued at B&H and Yodobashi.

The silver version, which was announced after the black model, is still available and is currently selling almost at a $700 discount from the original price of $2,850 (you may find an even lower price at Amazon).

It will be interesting to see if Leica will refresh the X Vario product line at Photokina since this camera has been widely criticized for its slow Vario-Elmar 18-46mm f/3.5-6.4 lens.

Posted in Leica X Vario| Tagged , | 13 Comments

Leica T camera listed as discontinued, new model expected to be announced next month

By LR admin | Published: August 14, 2016

Leica-T-camera-discontinued
The silver Leica T camera is already listed as discontinued at B&H (refurbished models still available) and is out of stock in many Leica retailers:

Leica-T-camera-discontinued
The black version is currently deeply discounted: $1099 vs. the original price of over $1,600.

A new Leica T model (with code name “8854”) is already rumored to be announced next month at Photokina.

Posted in Leica T, Leica TL| Tagged , | 20 Comments

Huawei P9 with dual Leica lens wins European Consumer Smartphone 2016-17 at EISA

By LR admin | Published: August 14, 2016

Huawei-P9-smartphone-with-dual-camera-Leica-lens-systemHuawei-P9-smartphone-with-dual-Leica-lens-system
The Huawei P9 smartphone with dual Leica lens won the 2016-17 EISA European Consumer Smartphone award (see also the recent review by Kristian Dowling):

August 12, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) is honoured to announce that the Huawei P9 has been named ‘European Consumer Smartphone 2016-17’ by the European Image and Sound Association (EISA). Furthering its commitment to pursuing the best quality and design without compromise, this is the fourth consecutive year that Huawei has been recognized in this category.

Designed to reinvent smartphone photography, the Huawei P9 is the first smartphone co-engineered with the global iconic brand, Leica Camera AG. The P9’s dual-lens camera takes smartphone photography to the next level, allowing people to capture both vivid colours and striking black and white images of unmatched clarity, richness and authenticity.

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Posted in Leica Press Releases, Leica Smartphones| Tagged , | 1 Comment