Leica related news/links

By LR admin | Published: July 25, 2010
  • Leica SIS in Palm Beach has some B-stock Leicas for sale. My understanding is that B-stock items are refurbished by Leica and are sold with full 1 year warranty. The price is generally 10% off the MSRP:

Leica 21mm 1.4: $5890
Leica 28mm f/2.8: $1795
Leica 75mm f/2.0 $3095
Leica M9: $6295
Leica X1: $1795

If you are interested, the contact info is: phone (561) 253-2606, email: [email protected]

  • PDNPulse has an article about the Chineses website www.leica.org.cn that is allegedly publishing work of photographers without their knowledge or permission. Leica representative confirmed that the site is not associated with Leica Camera AG. Some of the published photos are from Phillip Toledano, Steve McCurry, Marcus Bleasdale, Annie Marie Musselman, Robbie Cooper, Kosuke Okahara, Dominic Nahr and Michal Chelbin. The site is pushing also their own iPhone app that contains copyrighted images. An Austrian store and WestLicht Auction are listed as sponsors of the site.
  • Rumors started floating about a Leica X1 firmware update that will bring improved auto focus speed.
Posted in Deals | 4 Comments

Testing white background on LeicaRumors.com

By LR admin | Published: July 24, 2010

I will be testing white background on LeicaRumors this weekend. I still have to make some small adjustments. I would like to know what do you think – should I keep the old (black) background or change it to white:


This is how the new picture gallery will look – still dark background when displaying images in full size, while keeping the white background for text. Click on the photos to see the new gallery in action:

Read More »

Posted in Other Leica Stuff | 18 Comments

Leica M9 firmware update 1.134 should be available any moment now

By LR admin | Published: July 23, 2010

Those are the official details of the previously rumored Leica M9 firmware update v.1.134:

“Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We would like to inform you that we will put a new Firmware-Update 1.134, for the LEICA M9, onto our homepage. The download, which is free of charge, is expected to be available by Thursday July 22nd, 2010. All new LEICA M9 are being shipped with the new firmware as well.

The improvements in the Firmware Version 1.134 are:

Camera Performance

Improved compatibility of SDHC cards. Therefore, we recommend for example the “Extreme III” or “Professional” cards from the leading brands “SanDisk” and “Lexar”.
Improved AWB in conditions with power saving lamps and tungsten light

Bug Fixes

Saving user profiles has been improved (changing from one profile to another has sometimes caused problems)
Warning levels for battery capacity have been optimized
Time display in “American” format corrected
Auto power off bug fixed (camera doesn’t turn off automatically when using the gallery or scrolling through the menu when Auto power off is activated)

We are convinced that the new firmware version will have a positive effect on the great popularity of the LEICA M9, and we are looking forward to your cooperation.”

Source

Posted in Leica M9 | Tagged | 4 Comments

Leica D-Lux 4 listed as discontinued @ B&H

By LR admin | Published: July 22, 2010

Leica D-Lux 4 is listed as discontinued at B&H. Not really a surprise, after the new Panasonic LX5 was announced yesterday. The word on the street is that Leica D-Lux 5 will be announced at Photokina and of course, it will be based on the Panasonic LX5.

Andreas Kaufmann mention in the DiePresse.com (in English) article that “there could be one or two new products” at Photokina this year. The second product is expected to be some kind of a Leica R-lens solution.

Posted in Leica D-Lux | 2 Comments

Leica M9: “We will probably produce more than twice as many as planned”

By LR admin | Published: July 21, 2010

An interesting article in the Austrian newspaper DiePresse.com (in English) about Andreas Kaufmann (Chairman of the board at Leica Camera). One of the quotes, referring to the Leica M9:

“The camera is sold out for months. We will probably produce more than twice as many as planned.”

Posted in Leica M9 | 10 Comments

Leica C-LUX 3 Chibi Maruko-chan limited edition

By LR admin | Published: July 19, 2010

Leica Japan release a new limited edition Leica C-LUX 3 Chibi Maruko-chan camera:

  • Product Name: Leica C-LUX 3 model of Chibi Maruko Chan
  • Limited number: 50
  • Price: 77,000 yen
  • Dealer: Futago Tamagawa Leica Shop

“Chibi Maruko-chan (ちびまる子ちゃん) is a shōjo manga series by Momoko Sakura, later adapted into an anime TV series by Nippon Animation, which originally aired on Fuji Television from January 7, 1990 to September 27, 1992. The series depicts the simple, everyday life of a little girl nicknamed Maruko and her family in suburban mid-seventies Japan.” (source)

Posted in Leica Compacts | Tagged | 16 Comments

A very good guess of what’s next for the Leica D-Lux 5

By LR admin | Published: July 17, 2010

Panasonic’s website leaked the long expected Panasonic LX5 (replacement of the LX3) which should give us a pretty good idea of what the next Leica D-Lux 5 will look like (probably announced at Photokina):

direct link

direct link

Main differences between the LX5 and the older LX3 version:

  • the LX5 has 3.8x zoom 24-90mm (the LX3 has 2.5x and ends with 60mm)
  • LX3 has 8 elements in 6 groups, 4 aspherical lenses and 4 aspherical surfaces. LX5 will have 10 elements in 9 groups, 3 aspherical lenses and 5 aspherical surfaces.
  • LX5 wit 80 to 12800 ISO (the LX3 80 to 3200)
  • Shutter speed of the LX5 is 1/4000 sec (up from 1/2000sec of the LX3)
  • It records in HD 60p (sensor output is 30p) AVCHDlite
  • Optional electronic and optical viewfinder
  • LX5 will have step zoom
  • both cameras will have almost identical weight, slightly bigger dimensions
  • LX5 will have a Orientation Detector
  • LX5 will add also Movie Zoom, Wind noise cut and a direct movie button

Those will be the Panasonic LX5 accessories (click for larger view):

Full LX5 specs after the break:
Read More »

Posted in Leica Compacts, Leica D-Lux | 19 Comments

Leica M9, X1 and 50mm 1.4 ASPH now in stock

By LR admin | Published: July 16, 2010

PopFlash Photo currently has the Leica M9 (black), X1, 50mm 1.4 Lux ASPH (black) and the 1.4x viewfinder magnifier in stock. They won’t last long.

Posted in Deals | 7 Comments