- Q&A on Leica Cinema lenses (scroll down to page 50 of the PDF file).
- Leica M-E now also in stock at Amazon.
- Sarantel to supply GPS antennas to Leica.
- Interview with Stephan Schulz (head of Pro Imaging Leica):
In a recent interview with Leica executives l-camera-forum asked about the previously rumored Leica mirrorless system camera:
Question: An EVIL system camera has been announced some time ago. Can we still expect one?
Stefan Daniel: We do not speculate. We’re not happy about the interview which started that rumour. We feel that it rather misrepresented what was said. However, we know that there is a gap between the X2 and the M, both in terms of pricing and features. We do not comment on possible future products.
Alfred Schopf: What was asked was whether Leica was going to make cameras with Live View. We’ve given the answer with the LEICA X2 and the LEICA M
To refresh your memory, here is a rundown on how the Leica mirrorless system camera rumor started:
June 22, 2012: in an interview with BJP and AP, Leica’s CEO Alfred Schopf confirmed that Leica will be announcing a new compact mirrorless system camera (EVIL) at Photokina 2012:
Speaking to BJP and other representatives of the UK press at a Paris-event, Leica’s chairman Dr. Andreas Kaufmann and CEO Alfred Schopf have confirmed that the German company is developing a new compact camera system. [BJP]
But, Leica says that the camera will differ from what other manufacturers, such as Panasonic, Olympus, Samsung and Sony, are doing in the EVIL market.[BJP]
Both executives declined to provide more details about the new system, but hinted that the electronic viewfinder used will depend on the sensor selected. [BJP]
“It’s more than an idea, you will see something at the next Photokina. The new system will use an “APS-C sized sensor at least”. [Alfred Schopf]
Leica bosses have revealed plans to announce a compact system camera at Photokina 2012 in a bid to compete with the likes of Panasonic, Olympus, Sony and Samsung. [AP]
Details are scant, but the camera will feature an imaging sensor at least as large as an APS-size, said Leica CEO Alfred Schopf who sees a market for a Leica camera aimed at the consumer market. [AP]
We are looking into that… it’s more than an idea… You will see something at the next Photokina. [Alfred Schopf]
The main shareholders now own all shares of Leica Camera AG. The company shares are no longer traded at the Frankfurt Stock Exchange:
The Leica M-E is now shipping in the US and is currently in stock at the Leica Boutique in Palm Beach and at Dale Photo and Digital.
Here is a the new M-E next to the M9 and M9-P:
Bonhams will hold an action for rare Leica cameras in Hong Kong on November 23. The top lot is a Leica Luxus I camera (1930) No. 48048 with 50mm f/3.5 Elmar lens and faux lizard skin body covering. The camera is expected to reach HK$1,200,000-1,800,000 (£100,000-150,000). The Luxus cameras were produced on special order only in very small numbers between 1929 and 1930, using serial numbers falling between 28692 and 68834. Just 95 units were originally produced and many less are known to exist today.
Provenance: this camera was from the collection of E. J. Newton (Jack), one of the founder members of the Leica Historical Society and its first president. It remained within his private museum in Sutton Coldfield, England, and later, along with most of his collection, went on display at the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, Milsom St., Bath. Thence to current vendor.
Those are the top 10 most visited LeicaRumors posts for September 2012:
There is a new version of Leica: Witness to a Century book that will start shipping later this month.
Leica Camera book is described as “high quality content by Wikipedia articles“.
Erwin Puts announced his latest book called Leica Chronicle. A sample PDF with a few pages from the book can be downloaded here.