Leica claims it’s their most perfect lens ever – the MTF charts certainly support this, but we will of course have to use it in the field to see if a) these claims bear out, and more importantly b) whether we can see the difference under typical shooting conditions.

can be set to ISO 2500 with little noise penalty – at 100% magnification it appears as very, very fine grain; perhaps comparable to an ISO 400 B&W film. Better yet, there doesn’t appear to be much loss of dynamic range, either

Leica has hinted that it will introduce high-definition video recording features with its long-awaited M10 camera at Photokina this September.

So that said, I scratched my head in puzzlement at Leica’s chutzpah in announcing this model which still retains an old LCD screen and no auto-focus, and that can be pre-ordered at a number of retailers (Adorama has it) for $7,950 or about $1000 more than the M9!

Link: Luminous Landscape

M Leicas are a niche product. Ignoring collectors for the moment, these cameras are for people who understand and appreciate the gestalt of rangefinder shooting. A digital M Leica is also old school, though having digital and old school in the same sentance may at first seem an oxymoron. Prime lenses, manual aperture ring and shutter speed dial, and little else. Just what you need and little more. But the Leica Monochrom is even older school because it hearkens back to the days of shooting B&W film. Put the two together and you have a niche product within a niche.

Regular readers will know that I’ve been calling for a monochrome digital camera since forever. Historically, there have been a few—an early one from Kodak, a monochrome medium format scientific back. Today, another one has been announced.

I shot some video of the event and took some shots and will have those up later but wanted to throw this quick post up showing some high ISO images that I snapped with the Leica Monochrome.

Keep in mind these were quick grab shots in darkness so I am not evaluating anything until I get to use the camera in daylight and while really concentrating on using it.

Link: Leica News & Rumors

the Leica X2 features a new APS-C-format professional CMOS image sensor with over 16.5 megapixels (effective 16.2 MP). In combination with the high-performance Leica Elmarit 24 mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens

With the goal of creating a lens that fully achieves the opportunities offered by high-resolution camera systems, Leica engineers have successfully redefined the limits of what is technically possible. The result is an extremely high-performance lens that sets entirely new standards and currently stands as an exceptional talent amongst the standard lenses of the Leica M portfolio.

Link: Leica News & Rumors

As the sensor does not ‘see’ colors, every pixel records true luminance values – as a result, it delivers ‘true’ black-and-white images that are significantly sharper than comparable exposures from a camera with a color-sensitive sensor

“This allows twice the amount of light to reach the sensor. So we combined this special sensor with our rangefinder system and we present you the M Monochrome with the maximized image quality available with Leica lenses.”

All black camera body with no red dot or any other markings on the front, there will only be a Leica Monochrome engraving on the top plate (similar to the M9-P). The M9-M will  basically be a M9-P but with a monochrome sensor.