Leica X1 firmware update v2.0 before and after AF speed comparison (video)

Two days ago Leica released new firmware for their X1 camera. The new firmware mainly contains improvements in the AF/MF functionality – for example the depth of field scale is displayed when in manual focusing mode:

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Posted in Leica X | Tagged | 11 Comments

Leica & Magnum: Past Present Future (video)

In February of 2011, Magnum Photos and Leica Camera AG announced a technological and photographic collaboration. Today Leica released a new videos on past, present and future of Leica & Magnum:

Leica & Magnum: Past Present Future from leica camera on Vimeo.

A core principal which framed the establishment of Magnum Photos in 1947 was the belief that photographers should have a point of view in their imagery that transcended any formulaic recording of contemporary events. This tradition continues today with the new series of photographic essays being produced by Magnum and Leica.

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Record number of entries for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2011

Leica announced today that this year there is a record number of entries for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award:

International photography competition receives nearly 20% more entries

Solms, Germany (March 28, 2011) – Leica Camera AG announces a record number of entries for the 32nd annual ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award,’ an international professional photography competition. After the deadline for entries closed on March 1, 2011, the jury recorded over 2,000 submissions from photographers in 89 different countries, up from 1,700 entries in 2010. The majority of this year’s submissions came from Germany, the United States, China, France and Russia.

The ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ is a highly respected competition for professional photographers. The number of entries continues to grow from one year to the next and within the last three years alone, the number of entries has almost doubled. The increased value of the winners’ prizes in this year’s competition plays a decisive role in this record number of entries. For the first time, the winner of the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2011’ will receive a Leica M9 camera and lenses worth 9,500 euros (approximately US $13,000), in addition to a cash prize of 5,000 euros (approximately US $7,000). The prize value for the ‘Newcomer Award’, the section of the competition open to all (aspiring) professional photographers aged 25 and under, has also increased with the winner of the first prize awarded a Leica M9 and lenses.

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Leica X1 vs. Nikon D300s ISO comparison

Leica X1 has a 12.9MP APS-C CMOS sensor and I wanted to compare its ISO performance to a APS-C type DSLR camera. I chose the Nikon D300s because both cameras were announced around the same time back in 2009 (the ISO of the latest Nikon D7000 goes up to 25,600). About the test:

  • All images are 100% crops taken at f/2.8 (I used the Nikkor 24mm f/1.4 lens on the D300s which on a DX sensor equals aprox. 35mm).
  • The native ISO range of the D300s is 200-3200 (the camera has also Lo-1 ISO 100 and Hi-1 ISO 6400 settings)
  • The native ISO range of the X1 is 100-3200.
  • The high ISO performance seems to be identical for both cameras.
  • Leica X1 has an advantage at its native ISO 100.

Images after the break:

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Posted in Leica X | 8 Comments

Leica X1 firmware update v2.0 is now official

Allendale, NJ (March 28, 2011) – Leica Camera Inc. is pleased to announce a firmware update for its high-performance digital compact camera, the LEICA X1. Users wishing to benefit from the new offerings can download the firmware update from the Leica website and take advantage of new, improved features beginning Tuesday March 29, 2011.

The new X1 firmware offers the following features and benefits:

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Posted in Leica Press Releases, Leica X | Tagged | 16 Comments

Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M Aspherical lens video review

Kai from DigitalRev does another entertaining video review of the Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M Aspherical lens (it seems that DigitalRev has one in stock):

Posted in Leica M | 12 Comments

Leica X1 firmware v2.0 will be out on March 29th *updated*

Leica X1 firmware v1.0 will soon be history

Leica Camera Russia just reported that firmware V2.0 for Leica X1 will be out on March 29th. The new firmware version includes the following changes (Google translation):

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Leica working on a new firmware for the M8 and M9 cameras

Leica is about to release a beta version of a new firmware for the M8 and M9 rangefinders.

Posted in Leica M9 | Tagged | 12 Comments