Leica Rumors

Leica Interim report as of September 30, 2009

By LR admin | Published: December 6, 2009

The full pdf file can be found here.

Leica M9 was in development for 2 years (code name “P864” – full frame sensor is 24×36=864)
Leica X1 was in development for 1 year (code name “Louisa”)
Total number of employees: 1,072, (11 more since a year ago)
Sales details:

Leica stores: “In cooperation with national partners Leica Camera AG has opened further Leica stores. After Berlin, Tokyo and Paris, in June 2009 Moscow become the fourth metropolis where the Company’s international store concept could be implemented. September saw the opening of a store in London and October the opening of second Leica stores in both Tokyo and Paris.”

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Leica M9 lottery

By LR admin | Published: December 6, 2009

LeicaShots.com just announced their Leica M9 lottery. Tickets costs $1 each. You can buy as many as you wish. Chance of winning: 1 in 9,999. If you are located in the US, you may even get a free lens, since the winning amount is $10,000 and the M9 body costs “only” $7,000. Please pay attention to your local rules/laws/regulations. I just hope they can find one in stock.

Just a reminder that the Leica Historical Society of America also has an ongoing Leica M9 raffle.

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Leica M9 in stock now!

By LR admin | Published: December 5, 2009

The Leica SIS in Palm Beach has one Leica M9 in stock right now. Hurry!

Phone: (561) 253-2606, email: [email protected]

I will continue to provide in-stock alerts. If anyone has an unsold M9 in stock, drop me a line.

Posted in Leica M9| 2 Comments

Leica store opening in Palm Beach with Ann Curry

By LR admin | Published: December 5, 2009

Those videos are from last night – sorry about my shaking hands:

I did not mean to cut the speech of the President of Leica US Roger Horn – YouTube allows only 10 minutes videos. I will upload the full speech later on.

Posted in Leica Photographers| Tagged Leica stores| 2 Comments

Leica prices in the UK: +6%

By LR admin | Published: December 4, 2009

David Bell, managing director of Leica in the UK confirmed it (via BJP):

“In combination with the VAT increase on 01 January 2010, Leica Camera will also have a price increase. The increase is approximately 6% across all ranges and is due predominately to exchange rate.”

Leica M9 price will stay unchanged. It is not clear if the prices of the S2 and X1 will be increased as well. In the US the price increases is expected to be between 8% and 15% and it will not include the M9, S2 and X1.

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Leica MS @ Westlich Auction

By LR admin | Published: December 1, 2009

Besides the Leica M9 prototypes, Westlich-Auction has listed also a Leica MS for auction that will take place this weekend (December 5th):

credit: westlicht-auction

Starting price is EUR 60,000, expected selling price is EUR 100,000 – 120,000 (EUR 1 = US $ 1.5). Here is the machine translations of the description:

“This M camera in a gray version was produced by Leitz Canada during the Cuban missile crisis for the U.S. aerial reconnaissance. She served the American pilots flying low to photographed the Soviet missile-laden ships on their way to Cuba. To the camera, there is the special mechanical lift with a handle in a gray version, which for this camera produced Elmarit 2,8 / 135mm Nr.2064146 Visoflex III and with a special version of the (New York Hangriff engine with only 2 copies are known). This housing was not intended for use with the big viewfinder (only simple engraving of 3 times) on Zeitenrad. All the cameras are located in the famous number range 3490-3495, so one can assume that only about 6 cameras were produced, first, a Leica MS offered at an auction! Camera, lens and winder are in excellent condition”

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Leica S2, M9 workshops in South Florida this weekend

By LR admin | Published: December 1, 2009

There are still spaces available for the Leica M9 and Leica S2 workshops that will take place in Palm Beach this weekend (you can sign up here). Don’t let the $25 fee scare you – it is refundable with a purchase at the Pro Shop of a higher value.

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

M9 Street Photography Workshop with Justin Stailey, Leica Product Specialist.

Ever wondered why so many photojournalist and documentary photographers prefer rangefinder cameras? They don’t miss the decisive moment! Please join us for this opportunity to discover the advantages of rangefinder photography for yourself! LEICA M9 System rangefinder cameras and lenses will be provided for this shoot at the Green Market in West Palm Beach. We’ll meet at the Leica Shop in Shop, Space Limited, $25.00 Fee. The workshop fee is refundable with a purchase at the Pro Shop of a higher value.

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

S2 Lecture and Photo Shoot with Justin Stailey, Leica Product Specialist.

Find out for yourself what the buzz is all about. Justin Stailey will present the groundbreaking Leica S system in a studio setting that will allow you to see the outstanding image quality with your own eyes. Developed from the ground up by Leica Camera this new system combines the image quality of Medium Format with the compact size and handling of 35mm dSLRs. Please join us when we put the camera to the test. Bring your own SD or CF card and you can take your files with you.

Palm Beach Photographic Centre Photo Studio (2nd Floor). Space Limited, $25.00 Fee. The workshop fee is refundable with a purchase at the Pro Shop of a higher value.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Product Demonstration of the new Leica M9, X1 and S2 in the Leica Shop in Shop. FREE

“These workshops will be a unique opportunity for photographers to actually work with Leica’s best and newest cameras, the M9 and the S2. In fact, this will be the first M9 workshop and one of the first S2 Photo Shoots in the country,” said Roland Wolff, Leica’s director of new business development.