Leica V-Lux 20 is already available in several stores (the Leica SIS in Palm Beach where this video was recorded still have some in stock). Of course no product is official until the unboxing video is posted on YouTube:
And few pictures of the Leica V-Lux 20 size-compared to the D-Lux 4:
Some Leica dealers in the US got the first V-Lux 20 shipments yesterday. I got some info that Ace Photo and Leica SIS currently have few pieces in stock.
Amazon has listed the V-Lux 20 as available on May 14th.
After Really Right Stuff now Arca Swiss announced a new L-bracket that, among others, will also fit a Leica M9 rangefinder. The price will be 190 Euros. The original info is in French but Arca Swiss confirmed compatibility with M8/M9:
“Thank you for your message, our design department will send you a simulation of your Leica M9 with L-brakets ARCA-SWISS. We confirm that our L-brakets fit your device (and also with the M8).”
Besides eBay, there are few other places that have specialized in Leica auctions. The most famous auction house dealing with Leica equipment is Westlicht Auctions located in Vienna, Austria. They have an upcoming auction on May 29, 2010. Some of the more interesting items (complete list available here):
“Italian or French (?) spy outfit of Leica Standard body with Elmar 3.5/5cm, very interesting mechanism built by high standard built in a brown ladies handbag”
“Completely destroyed by fire camera of Prof. Dr. Ankel from Darmstadt (name engravings on top plate still visible). Dr.Ankel received a new camera by Dr.Ludwig Leitz.”
“Genius design of a 18x24mm half-frame camera by Leitz developer Adam Wagner, the concept was to built a camera that was still smaller, more convenient to use and simpler to operate. For some reasons this forward-looking camera with slide-out lens feature was never put in production, only approx. 3 prototypes are known to exist, this particular camera comes from the Leitz Museum.”
Images and text credit: Westlicht-Auction – while there check also the Daguerréotype Giroux (from 1839) – the first commercially produced camera in the world. The estimated selling price is between 500.000 – 700.000 Euros.
Update: here is another rare Leica M6 at Christies: