Just some links/updates from the past few days:
Update: the price of the Leica D-Lux 4 will go up to $799 (currently $699 on Amazon).
As reported before Leica US will raise their prices on January 1st, 2010 (price increase is also expected in the UK). David Farkas just posted online the new price list for the US:
Leica has confirmed on Facebook what a LR reader already reported over the weekend:
“We have put the new D-Lux 4 firmware update since there still was a small mistake in the French menu. All other languages will not have the problem. We are presently working on a new, perfect version. Please excuse the inconvenience.”
The bug in the v2.10 firmware has been described as:
“when you select french language and choose the Lens Resume setting, everything freezes”.
I will update my D-Lux 4 tonight and will report more details on that bug. Other languages should be working fine.
Leica D-Lux 4 firmware v2.10 was released today. The following improvements have been implemented:
1. Improved auto white balance performance.
2. Auto Focus speed-up.
3. Recording function with an aspect ratio of 1:1 has been added.
4. A white balance (WB) bracket function has been added.
5. [HIGH DYNAMIC] has been added to scene mode.
6. [LENS RESUME] has been added to the [SETUP] menu.
7. [MENU RESUME] has been added to the [SETUP] menu.
8. The exposure compensation and the auto bracket compensation can now be set up to ±3EV.
9. Position of the guide line can now be set.
10. It is now possible to display the highlights in playback mode.
11. It is now possible to record the user’s name in the picture.
12. Digital red-eye removal has been modified.
13. Items saved in the custom set have changed.
14. Improved auto white balance performance in sunset mode.
15. Improved recovery operation from unremoved lens cap.
16. Improved operation of MF ASSIST/AF area selection.
17. Improved display of Manual Exposure Assistance.
Delivery of the LEICA S2 has begun. The first camera goes to Jim Rakete, the prominent photographer from Berlin.
Jim Rakete is considered to be one of Germany’s most famous photographic artists. His work is particularly characterised by perceptive portraiture of musicians, actors and actresses and also numerous politicians. His connections with Leica are founded on many years of mutual friendship. His first contact with the S2 this year was such an intense experience that he spontaneously made the decision to buy the system. Jim Rakete: ‘The S2 is a camera that embodies the best characteristics of good tools – it never tries to tell me what to do. It fits my hands like a glove, and doesn’t make any superfluous suggestions when I’m shooting. For me, it’s an absolute superlative in digital quality – for the first time in ages you can really feel the depth of focus in your shots’.
