Leica Rumors

Ralph Gibson – Live at Leitz Park (video)

By LR admin | Published: January 20, 2015

The Leica Monochrom “Ralph Gibson” edition camera

The Leica World in Wetzlar started out with a special cultural event in the New Year. Ralph Gibson, master of shadows and elegant nudes, talked about his life as photographer and about his experiences with the Leica M Monochrom during a lecture on January 16, 2015.

After using analogue Leica cameras since 1961, Gibson explored the potential of a digital camera for the first time with the Leica M Monochrom after a visit from Duncan Meeder, owner of the Leica Store Lisse/Henny Hoogeveen near Amsterdam in 2013. The result was his “Mono” series that was taken in ten different countries – a journey around the world in contrasting black and white. The “Mono” exhibition is on display at Leica Gallery Wetzlar until March 2015.

Posted in Leica Photographers| Tagged Ralph Gibson| 14 Comments

Current Leica rebates extended, now include also the Monochrom camera ($750 off)

By LR admin | Published: January 13, 2015

I already reported few days ago that Leica has canceled their price increase plans for the US. A proof for that is today’s news that the company has extended their current discounts ($750 off the M 240 and $250 off M lenses) till March 31, 2015.

Leica also introduced a new $750 instant saving on the Leica Monochrom camera (valid for both black and silver models). The new Monochrom price is now $7,200. At the time of this post only B&H had the new pricing active online, but in the next few hours the discount should be reflected also at Adorama, Amazon, Leica Store Miami and Leica Store San Francisco (use M750 code upon checkout for the M240 and Monochrom and MLENS code for M lenses).

Posted in Deals, Leica M, Leica M Monochrom| 25 Comments

Leica M 240 US price increase rescinded?

By LR admin | Published: January 10, 2015

I received some information that the Leica M 240 US price increase for February has been canceled. The whole thing did not make any sense anyway: first to introduce a $750 rebate and then to increase the price of the M 240 camera to $7,450. Leica inventory is currently moving very slow – this combined with the strong dollar explain the recent US discounts on Leica gear, the first I’ve seen in a very long time. Soon potential Leica buyers will shift their focus to the upcoming new Monochrom camera.

Posted in Other Leica Stuff| 11 Comments

F11 Photographic Museum in Hong Kong

By LR admin | Published: January 10, 2015

CNN has a story on Douglas So and the F11 Photographic Museum in Hong Kong that has many Leica cameras on display (I reported about this museum on Facebook few weeks ago):

Among F11 Photographic Museum’s collection is a display of 60 Leica cameras — each with their own story and history — including a 1954 Leica M3, which according to So, is one of the most popular cameras Leica has ever produced.

Posted in Other Leica Stuff| Tagged Leica museum| Leave a Comment

Now you can buy a smartphone with a Leica lens

By LR admin | Published: January 5, 2015

The Panasonic CM1 smartphone equipped with a Leica DC Elmarit f/2.8 lens is coming to the US this summer. The price for an unlock version will be around $1,000 (check availability on Amazon). More information on the CM1 can be found here.

Here is a close-up of the lens unit:

Posted in Other Leica Stuff| 24 Comments

Rumors: the new Leica Monochrom camera will be announced in February/March

By LR admin | Published: January 5, 2015

Back in September I already reported that a Leica Monochrom replacement will be launched after Photokina. The latest rumors I received indicate that the new Monochrom will look similar to the M-P version but without any letters on the top plate. The camera will have a new 24 MP CMOS sensor. Shipment will start few months after the official announcement. Stay tuned for more details. If you have any inside information on the new Monochrom, you can contact me anonymously here.

Posted in Leica M Monochrom Typ 246| 20 Comments

Checkout this new J.B. Camera Designs bamboo grip for Leica M240 camera

By LR admin | Published: January 4, 2015

Checkout this new J.B. Camera Designs bamboo grip for the Leica M240 camera. Handmade in the USA, this new Leica accessory will be released on January 7th (available for pre-order now). Here is some additional information: