Next Fuji camera: a baby M9?
Two days ago Fujifilm announced their plans for a new mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. The new X system camera will be a “premium” camera” with “resolution and low noise that will surpass the 35mm full size sensor”. There were some speculations that Fuji may actually use Leica’s M mount for their upcoming mirrorless camera (FYI: Fuji did produce Leica L39 mount lenses in the past).
Leica Italy is currently running a photographic contest (in English) in order to find 24 photographers that will get an assignment to take 36 pictures of their hometown using a Leica X1. The voting is done through Facebook “Likes”. The terms and conditions can be found here (open only to Italian citizens).
Thanks Alfonso!
A new Leica store could be coming in Mexico (probably Mexico City) in the next few months. The store will probably be managed by Film Mates Mexico which is part of the Themates Group.
The current LX5 and D-Lux 5 cameras
In a recent interview with TechRadar, Yoshiyuki Inoue ( Senior Engineering Planner) mentioned that the LX5 camera sales are not as good as Panasonic had hoped. One of the possible improvement for the LX5 (and D-Lux 5) replacement could be the sensor size. A new 1 inch sensor (like the new Nikon 1) was mentioned, but nothing was officially confirmed (FYI: the Leica D-Lux 5 has 1/1.63″ CCD image sensor).
The Leica D-Lux 6 is expected to be announced in 2012, probably in September during Photokina.
Those are the top 10 most visited LeicaRumors posts for September 2011:
The 20th WestLicht Photographica camera auction will take place on Saturday, November 12th, 2011 between 11am and 6pm. The auctioned cameras can be previewed from November 1oth, 2011. Here are the Leica highlights:
Leica I Mod.A Elmar ‘Calfskin’ from 1930
“Very rare and absolutely original Leica Model A, with calfskin body-cover (LEANEKALB) with brown chequered pattern. According to Hahne, only 180 examples of the calfskin Leicas were produced in 1930/31. Many of these have been later replaced during restoration by Leitz with regular vulcanite, when the genuine leather was worn off. So, the number of original calfskin Leicas still in existence today is even lower. Of the brown chequered version only three examples are known to exist, none of the others in such good condition. The calfskin Leica is mentioned in the chapter ‘Luxus Leica’ of the 1930 Leitz catalogue, next to the gold-plated version. It is described as a black paint camera, covered with “coloured calfskin”. In the chapter about the cases, the individual colours available are mentioned, such as “green, red, violet, dark- and light-brown, as well as brown chequered”. The offered camera no.50058 is listed in Hahne as a calfskin Leica. In the Leitz shipping records it is listed as “Leanekalb kariert (chequered)”, delivered to Boesens, Stockholm, on December 23rd,1930. In fantastic, almost like new condition. With original black painted domed Leitz cap.”
