Leica M9 listed as 18MP, full frame, price = EUR 5,500

By LR admin | Published: August 10, 2009

A reputable French Leica dealer (from what I’ve been told) has listed a Leica M9 on their website as 18MP, full frame, price = EUR 5,500:

Leica-M9

It seems that they are also taking “reservations”.

Posted in Leica M9| 15 Comments

Leica finances (fiscal year 2008-2009)

By LR admin | Published: August 7, 2009
  • In fiscal year 2008/2009 (ended March 31), Leica registered sales of EUR 134.2 million. This is a 14.1 % decrease as compared to the sales of EUR 156.2 million posted in the previous year.
  • Rudolf Spiller, Chairman of the Board of Management of Leica Camera AG: “The reasons for the decline in sales and earnings are to be found in the negative economic developments of our relevant international markets, the phasing-out of products due to their life cycles, as well as the delayed market introduction of new products.”
  • In fiscal year 2008/2009, sales of system cameras fell by 26.9 % to EUR 41.8 million. Sales of compact cameras decreased by 10.3 % to EUR 44.3 million. Leica sports optics saw a sales decline by 16.6 % to EUR 24.8 million.
  • Sales abroad stand at EUR 115.8 million or 86.4 % of total sales of Leica Camera Group. At EUR 49.1 million or 36.6 % of total sales, the Asian market is the most important individual market for Leica Camera AG, followed by the US, Canada and Mexico, which account for EUR 27.9 million or 20.8 % of total sales. Sales in the home market, Germany, fell by 15.9 % to EUR 18.3 million.
  • The average number of employees in the Leica Camera Group increased from 991 in the previous year to 1,058 in the year under review.

Source

Posted in Other Leica Stuff| 2 Comments

Leica AG: What Leica M9?

By LR admin | Published: August 5, 2009

‘We are not making any comment on any of the rumours,’ said Leica Camera Limited marketing manager Jenny Hodge.”

Via Amateurphotographer – the article also remind us that the previous CEO Steven K Lee dropped the bomb about a full frame Leica M last year.

Posted in Leica M9| 7 Comments

Andre© Colette Leica C-Lux 3 Limited Edition

By LR admin | Published: August 4, 2009

This Leica limited edition will be really limited: only 30 cameras will be available. Andre© is a famous French graffiti artist. Price for the Leica C-Lux 3 Andre© x Colette will be £424.60 500.00 VAT included/USD$ 715.15.

leica-limited-edition-1

leica-limited-edition-2leica-limited-edition-3

Source

Posted in Leica Compacts| Tagged | 2 Comments

Chasseur d’Image magazine: Leica M9 in September

By LR admin | Published: August 2, 2009

Besides the Nikon VP650 camera with a built-in projector, the French Chasseur d’Image magazine writes in its latest issue (#316, July 21 September 21 2009) that Leica M9 will be released in September and it will be full frame. They also wrote about the Olympus EP-2.

Posted in Leica M9| 5 Comments

Leica M9 makes a guest appearance on Capture One Pro v4.8.2

By LR admin | Published: August 1, 2009
Leica-M9

Leica M9 concept (not the real deal)

First I would like to remind you that Leica and PhaseOne are no longer partners (Capture One software is still distributed with Leica cameras). This makes the following rumor even more interesting: in the latest version Capture One Pro 4.8.2 there is a file called Leica M9-Generic.icm (for Windows under Program Files(x86)\Phase One\Capture One 4\Color Profiles\DSLR) which corresponds to a ICC profile for “Leica M9 Generic”. The result from a RAW conversion to JPG is very close to that of Canon 5D MK II. Which reminds me of another rumor: Leica M9 will use the Canon 5D Mark II sensor. I do not have the Pro version of Capture One, but if someone can make a comparison between the Leica M9 and Canon 5D MK II RAW conversion and send it to me, I would appreciate it.

I think we are getting closer to Leica M9 on 09.09.09 @ 09:09.

Click here for more Leica M9 rumors.

Posted in Leica M9| 4 Comments

Leica responds to S2 price criticism

By LR admin | Published: July 31, 2009

Leica Camera’s Vice President of Marketing Christian Erhardt talked to PDN Gear Guide:

“People always forget when looking at the camera the fact that it’s actually a medium format solution with a sensor that is 56% larger than a full-frame 35mm digital SLR, many people have been comparing it to SLR cameras and there are certain features (on the S2) that just cannot be compared to a DSLR.”

He went further to comment on the Leica S2 AF system:

“Speed was a primary concern when we designed this product,” he said. “We believe we will have the fastest autofocus in the medium format category, the fastest frame rate, and the fastest image processing.”

Posted in Leica S| 14 Comments