Be there! (to see the new Leica products on 09.09.09)

By LR admin | Published: August 30, 2009

I found this info on the Internet (secret location for now with the hope to get more in the next few days): Samy’s Camera (Hollywood location?) store has been chosen for the West coast unveiling of the new Leica products on 09.09.09. My gut feeling says three new products (I had a dream about a medium format and/or something compact with a big sensor). They will also have a working Leica S2 model in the store that day. Customers will be able to pre-orders the new equipment.

Posted in Leica M9, Leica S | Tagged | 3 Comments

Leica S2 System Launch

By LR admin | Published: August 28, 2009

leica-s2-introduction

Leica S2 System launch event (free) With Amy Kosh, Leica S2 product specialist: Friday, Sept 11, 11:00 am & 12:00 pm (45min sessions), Vistek Toronto

Link for more info

Posted in Leica S | 5 Comments

Stores taking pre-orders for Leica M9

By LR admin | Published: August 28, 2009

M9

From a LeicaRumors reader:

“I thought I would share that I just pre-ordered my M9 from a Leica store in Frankfurt, as I am planning to travel through Frankfurt shortly after September 9th. The price is 5,500 Euro, but you get a 19% VAT refund when you leave Europe. And by the way it will be in Grey or Black. Grey not in the sense of traditional silver, might be more like the R9 grey.”

Posted in Leica M9 | 5 Comments

Another white Leica…

By LR admin | Published: August 26, 2009

Updated: I was asked to remove some of the information and images from this post. Unfortunately I cannot discuss the reasons behind that move.

Here we have another white Lieca M8 which is slightly different from the officially announced model:

white-leica-m8.s-2

white-leica-m8.2-3

The differences: the original white M8 has a white shutter speed dial and the character of the serial number are decorated with a white color. This White Leica model has black serial number lettering and a silver shutter dial.

Posted in Leica M | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Clarification on the upcoming Leica store in West Palm Beach

By LR admin | Published: August 26, 2009

The upcoming Leica store in West Palm Beach is not own by Leica but by the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. I have compared the upcoming Leica sotre incorrectly to the Apple and Microsoft stores which are owned by the same companies. Here is the official press release for more details:

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre, one of south Florida’s leading non-profit visual arts organizations, is announcing that the Centre’s photo supply store, The Pro Shop for Photographers (proshopforphotographers.com) is partnering with Leica Camera, the world’s leading manufacturer and purveyor of fine photographic equipment, to open a dedicated Leica Shop-in-Shop in its new location in West Palm Beach. This will be the first Leica Shop-in-Shop in the United States to introduce the new Leica Store design to the U.S. market following locations seen in Berlin, Paris and Moscow.

The Pro Shop for Photographers (at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre) will offer Leica’s full product portfolio from point and shoot cameras to rangefinder and medium format systems and binoculars. Similar to Leica’s products, this setting will follow Leica’s newly reinvented retail display presentation, both of which utilize premium design and materials to offer an impressionable experience.

An opening event is planned for Q4 2009.

For further information, please contact:
Mitch Polikoff
Evins Communications, Ltd.
[email protected]
212.377.3594

Posted in Other Leica Stuff | Tagged | 4 Comments

Leica M6 Sultan of Negeri Brunei Darussalam silver jubilee 24ct gold edition (eBay Madness)

By LR admin | Published: August 25, 2009

I could not resist this one: Leica M6 Negara Brunei Darussalam Edition, currently for sale on eBay for US $21,525.00:

leica-m6-limited-edition

More info on this model available here. There is also a platinum edition that has a diamond on the top plate. Crazy…

Posted in Leica Auction Madness | Tagged | 4 Comments

Leica store in store to be opened in West Palm Beach (updated)

By LR admin | Published: August 24, 2009

Update: The upcoming Leica store in West Palm Beach is not own by Leica but by the Palm Beach Photographic Centre. Similar shops already exist in NYC (Photo Village) and in Monterey (Camera West). Here is the official press release for more details.

Leica already did open a store in Moscow and another one is scheduled to be opened in London. The first Leica store in the US will be located in West Palm Beach, Florida. I had the opportunity to visit the location and here is my report.

The new Leica store will be part of the new Palm Beach Photographic Centre (http://www.workshop.org), located on the trendy Clematis street in downtown West Palm Beach. The Centre is just over 26,000 net sq. ft. of classrooms, museum, studio, store and administration and occupies two stories of a brand new building (still under construction). The emphasis will on digital photography and there are no plans for a dark room. The general photography store (http://proshopforphotographers.com) is going to be 3,000 sq. ft., which will include the Leica Store in Store (SIS). The opening is expected to be in approximately 6 weeks. My understanding is that Leica is planing to open more stores in the US and across the world. This seems to be the latest marketing trend to promote a brand – even Microsoft decided to open their own stores after the success of Apple. Are we going back to the good old “brick and mortar” solution?

Here is the rendering of the new Leica SIS in West Palm Beach. The custom made furniture is currently in transit and should be installed in the ProShop either the first or second week of October.

leica-store-sis-concept-drawing

Image courtesy of Palm Beach Photographic Centre

One of the entrances: 415 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida, US

One of the entrances: 415 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Florida, US

The future location of the Leica Store in Store (SIS)

The future location of the Leica Store in Store (SIS)

The future photo studio on the second floor

The future photo studio on the second floor

One of the classrooms

One of the classrooms

Special thanks to Art NeJame from the Palm Beach Photographic Centre who gave me grand tour. I will have another report once the store gets close to completion.

Posted in Other Leica Stuff | Tagged | 9 Comments

Will a full frame sensor fit in a M8 body?

By LR admin | Published: August 22, 2009

An interesting experiment at the l-camera-forum (registration required): a forum member created a dummy full frame sensor and inserted it in a M8 body. The result: “clear vignetting left and right and in the corners” and “doesn’t appear possible to fit an FF sensor in the current body with the current battery”. Hit the link or full details and pictures.

Posted in Leica M9 | 4 Comments