DxOMark on the Leica SL: best-performing Leica to date (with Nikon D750, Leica Q and Sony A7 II comparisons)

By LR admin | Published: January 21, 2016

Leica SL Typ 601 camera DxOMark test review
Leica SL Typ 601 camera DxOMark test review 2
DxOMark published their test results from the Leica SL Typ 601 camera – as you can see the SL offers a slightly better dynamic range compared to the M 240 and the Q, something Louis mentioned in his SL review:

Leica seems to have set up the SL sensor to offer better dynamic range around base ISO, which might have sacrificed some high ISO performance when compared to the Q, because 12,500 ISO is not as usable as it was on the Q. The SL has the potential to be sharper and has greater dynamic range than my M240 at low ISO, but I still would greatly prefer my Q and M240 when walking around a city at night.

More from DxOMark’s test results:

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Posted in Leica SL| Tagged | 21 Comments

2016 Leica Oskar Barnack Awards to open in 40 days

By LR admin | Published: January 21, 2016

2016-Leica-Oskar-Barnack-Awards
The Leica Oskar Barnack Awards will be returning in 2016. Photographers can submit their applications and projects at www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com for the chance to win one of several prizes, amounting to a total cash value of over €80,000. Entry for the 2016 Leica Oskar Barnack Awards begins on March 1, 2016 and runs through April 15, 2016.

Full press release:

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Lomography announces new Jupiter3+ 1.5/50 lens (L39/M)

By LR admin | Published: January 21, 2016

Lomography-Jupiter3+-50mm-f1.5-lens-1.550-Leica-L39-M6
Lomography-Jupiter3+-50mm-f1.5-lens-1.550-Leica-L39-M8
Lomography announced a new Jupiter3+ 1.5/50 lens for L39 and M mounts.

Technical information:

  • Focal Length: 50mm
  • Aperture: f/1.5 – 1/22
  • Lens Mount: L39, includes Leica M- mount adapter
  • M-mount Adapter Frame Line Triggering: 50mm frame line
  • Rangefinder Coupling: Yes
  • Minimum image circle: 44mm
  • Field of view : 46 degrees
  • Flange distance: 28.8mm (L39 mount) 27.8mm (M mount)
  • Closest Focusing Distance: 0.7m
  • Filter Thread Requirement: 40.5mm
  • Lens Construction: 7 elements in 3 groups

Sample photos (flickr):

Lomography Jupiter3+ 1.5/50 lens sample photos

Press release:

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Posted in Leica Lenses| Tagged | 7 Comments

ExperimentalOptics 42mm and 50mm f/0.75 lens for Leica M project on Kickstarter

By LR admin | Published: January 21, 2016

ExperimentalOptics 50mm f:0.75 lens for Leica M 6
ExperimentalOptics 42mm f:0.75 lens for Leica M 2
There is a new project on Kickstarter from ExperimentalOptics for a 42mm and 50mm f/0.75 lenses for Leica M cameras. Read all the details here:

“The most challenging endeavour when making a new lens is, well, the lens, its optical construction. Experts on supercomputers can spend years calculating the perfect formulae, and the faster the lens gets, the more difficult the task. Luckily we don’t have to do that.

The lenses we use are finished, built and have been well-proven. They come from one of the most traditional, prestigious names in lens manufacturing: The Oude Delft, a highly acclaimed optics company from the Netherlands.

We have been able to secure a very small batch of these very rare lenses – in pristine condition. We are an expert company able to fit them with an M mount bayonet. The work we do is thus purely mechanical (including, of course, checking and cleaning the original lenses inside and out).”

Additional pictures:

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Posted in Leica Lenses| Tagged | 8 Comments

Leica X-U Typ 113 waterproof and shockproof camera officially announced

By LR admin | Published: January 20, 2016

Leica-X-U-Typ-113-waterproof-camera
Leica-X-U-camera-in-sand
Today Leica announced a new X-U Typ 113 waterproof and shockproof camera (already in stock). The main features and specs are:

  • Waterproof up to 15 meter/49 feet
  • Shockproof to falls from 4′ / 1.2m high
  • Dustproof to protect the internal components of the camera
  • Integrated UW protective glass filter
  • 35mm lens with manual focus ring (Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH)
  • 3.0″ 920k-dot LCD screen
  • Built-in flash
  • 11 points AF system
  • Special mode for taking pictures underwater
  • Camera body made out of plastic core and aluminum covers
  • Rubber exterior
  • Made in Germany
  • Buil-in flash
  • Floating strap available as accessory
  • Adobe Lightroom included
  • UK price: £2,400 inc VAT
  • US price: $2,950 (currently in stock)

Pre-order links:

Sample photos from the Leica X-U can be found here:

Leica X-U Typ 113 camera sample photos

Detailed technical specifications, press release and additional pictures:

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Posted in Leica X-U| 15 Comments

Overstock.com now sells Leica gear

By LR admin | Published: January 19, 2016

Leica-at-overstock.com
Leica-at-overstock.com-2
Overstock.com now has a ton of Leica gear for sale on their website. The price are completely out of whack – the M 262 for example is more expensive ($6,972.99 vs. $5,195) but the Leica APO-Summicron-M 50mm f/2 ASPH lens is cheaper ($6,719.99 vs. $7,260). The Noctilux is also cheaper ($9,181.99 vs. $9,675.60)

Posted in Deals| 9 Comments

Macphun Aurora HDR Pro v1.2 released with support for the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera

By LR admin | Published: January 18, 2016

Macphun-Aurora-HDR-Pro-software
Macphun released Aurora HDR Pro v1.2 with support for the Leica M Monochrom (Typ 246) camera. The new version also brings support for Photos for Mac extensions, better RAW file handling for a variety of cameras and improved performance when used as a plug-in to Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Additional information can be found here.

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