Leica Rumors

Blackstone in talks to sell stake in Leica, Zeiss is “potentially interested”

By LR admin | Published: August 2, 2017

Reuters reports that Blackstone is in talks to sell their stake in Leica:

The investor has teamed up with an investment bank to work out strategic options for the company and has already held talks with several potential acquirers, the people said, adding no official auction process was underway.
“ACM has long-term goals with Leica Camera,” Leica Chairman and ACM managing director Andreas Kaufmann told Reuters, adding that his family’s definition of long-term was that of a 100-year horizon.

Potential buyers are Zeiss, a few Asian companies and private equity funds:

5 reasons to buy the old Leica T mirrorless camera

By LR admin | Published: August 1, 2017

The Leica T has already been replaced by the TL and TL2 models, but this also means that T prices have dropped. Right now you can find a used Leica T camera for as low as $600 – check the prices at B&H, Amazon, KEH and eBay.

Here is the “5 reasons to buy the Leica T” video:

Posted in Deals, Leica T| Leave a Comment

Zeiss Biotar lens coming back to life?

By LR admin | Published: July 31, 2017

This rumor consists of two parts – the first part is coming from RetroCamera who recently reported that Zeiss will bring back to life the Biotar 1.5/75 lens:

“When I was in Denmark, a photographer in Ribe told me that I had a very nice (and long) conversation, that Zeiss would like to move in this direction. Supposedly – and now comes the blast! – the Biotar 1.5/75 is to be produced again!”

The second part comes from a LeicaRumors reader who found a recent (April 2017) trademark registration for the name Biotar (the Biotar logo above was taken from the actual documents submitted for the trademark):