New book: Leica M10 – The Expanded Guide

By LR admin | Published: August 6, 2017


There is a new Leica M10: The Expanded Guide book that you can pre-order today at Amazon:

Book’s description:

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Posted in Leica M10| Tagged | 10 Comments

Leica is rumored to announce another camera with TL-mount and EVF

By LR admin | Published: August 5, 2017


I already reported that Leica is expected to announce another camera by the end of the year. The new model will be made in Germany and was already registered with the Indonesian telecommunication agency under the code name 7323. Here is some additional information I received in the past few days:

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Posted in Leica CL, Leica TL2| Tagged , | 82 Comments

7Artisans 50mm f/1.1 Leica M-mount lens review

By LR admin | Published: August 4, 2017



Leica lenses have excellent image quality combined with a solid build. Zeiss and Voigtlander also produce some stellar optics. I have always been interested in other “cheap” third party options for the Leica M mount. Several manufacturers produce M mount lenses, but most are not rangefinder coupled (for example Meyer-Optik-Görlitz). Handevision was one of the first brands to produce a series of rangefinder coupled Iberit lenses for Leica M. Recently, another Chinese manufacturer came up with the 50mm f/1.1 lens for Leica M-mount (Sonnar design) that is sold under the 7artisans and DJ-Optical brand names.

The 7Artisian 50mm f/1.1 lens for Leica M-mount costs $370 and can be purchased at Amazon US, Amazon DE, Amazon UK and eBay. I received a lens for review from the manufacturer – here is my preliminary report that will be updated in the next few weeks as I have more time to shoot with the lens (fyi: the lens is shipped from Asia and I did not have to pay any import duties in the US):

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Posted in Leica Lenses, Leica M10, LR Reviews| Tagged , , | 12 Comments

The silver Leica TL2 camera is back in stock

By LR admin | Published: August 3, 2017




After Leica released a fix for the Visioflex issue, the new TL2 mirrorless camera is back in stock at B&H (silver version only).

Posted in Leica TL2| Tagged , | 3 Comments

New MS-Optics Historica Prot 40mm f/6.3 lens for Leica M-mount

By LR admin | Published: August 2, 2017





Mr. Miyazaki has a new MS-Optics Historica Prot 40mm f/6.3 lens for Leica M-mount that is based on a historical lens design known as the Protaria lens formula. This lens has 4 elements in 2 groups and weights only 47 grams. The minimum focusing distance is 60cm. The price of the lens is around $700 and you can get one from Bay.

Aditional pictures from the eBay listing:

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Posted in Leica Lenses| Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

The new Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lens will be available for Leica M mount (with rangefinder coupling)

By LR admin | Published: August 2, 2017





A few days ago I reported rumors about a new Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lens – I can now confirm that this lens will be released soon. The new lens will be available in Leica M mount and will have with rangefinder coupling. I will have more details next week, so stay tuned. Here is some additional information:

  • The Biotar name is registered by Globell – a subsidiary of net SE group, who is the company behind the Meyer-Optik Görlitz brand.
  • The new Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lens is created in collaboration between Meyer-Optik Görlitz and some other well-known names in the industry.
  • Production of the lens is not going to be done by Meyer-Optik Görlitz.
  • I was also told that an award-winning designer who used to work for Leica is on the Biotar team.

Here are a few pictures from old Biotar 75mm f/1.5 lenses:

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Posted in Leica Lenses| Tagged , | 15 Comments

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:

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Posted in Other Leica Stuff| Tagged , | 12 Comments