Over the course of two days with the S2, I took about 700 pictures. The first day was half in studio and half outside. The following day was all outside. I shot mostly handheld as well as on a tripod, during the day and at night. I did my best to test out as many different shooting scenarios as possible to get a feel for the capabilities and limits of the system.
Link: David Farkas Photography Blog: Leica S2 Review: Test Shooting in Germany
The details are sketchy at that point, but the word on the street is that Leica will be coming up with a new Leica M design. It will be a film camera (not sure whether M7 or MP). Also, not clear if this will be a limited edition (probably not) or a regula
via Leica Rumors: http://leicarumors.com/2009/11/10/a-new-leica-m-design-coming-soon.aspx/
Related posts: Interview with Henri Cartier-Bresson from the 1950s Henri Cartier Bresson – Just Plain Love (documentary) Leica Camera interview from the Stockholm Photo Fair Rankin interview on S-Magazine (video) Interview with Henri Cartier-Bresson (vide
via Leica Rumors: http://leicarumors.com/2009/11/10/interview-with-leica-s2-product-manager-video.aspx/
Is it possible for a lens to make you a better photographer? That was the selling point the salesman used when trying to convince me to purchase a $10,000 camera lens. The Leica Noctilux-M 50mm F/0.95 ASPH lens is way out of my price range at $9,995. I would have to sell all of my camera equipment plus add a few extra dollars to purchase it. I knew I could not afford it but I was curious…what made this lens worth $10,000.
Link: A $10,000 Camera Lens – is it Worth It? – Associated Content – associatedcontent.com
What makes the M9 an important development beyond providing long-term Leica stalwarts with a dream come true, is its size. It is no small feat of engineering to bring forth a full 35mm-frame digital camera in such a compact camera. I was struck by this image in a Leica training document comparing the M9 footprint to those of DSLRs.
For those who’ve never really understood the mystique and allure surrounding Leica’s retro-styled cameras (and their stratospheric price tags), here’s a galler…
via Engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/08/leica-x1-photo-gallery-proves-that-big-shots-do-come-in-little-p/
For those who’ve never really understood the mystique and allure surrounding Leica’s retro-styled cameras (and their stratospheric price tags), here’s a gallery of shots that might just lend a little insight into the fixation.
Leica has placed an 18-megapixel full-frame CCD sensor designed by Kodak into a classic M-series rangefinder body. So what’s not to like?
Link: Leica M9
The french site Summilux has a petition for Leica to produce a R10 camera. Currently 204 people have signed the petition. Leica S2 test and sample images from PDN. Sample file #1 | Sample file #2 (warning: large files – Leica S2’s DNG files were opened in
via Leica Rumors: http://leicarumors.com/2009/10/31/leica-links-4.aspx/
Since the announcement of the Leica M9, there has been much interest in the powerful but little camera. The main reason for this is the full frame sensor in such a small body. I had the pleasure an…
via Photography Bay: http://www.photographybay.com/2009/10/26/leica-m9-hands-on-review/
Since the announcement of the Leica M9, there has been much interest in the powerful but little camera. The main reason for this is the full frame sensor in such a small body. I had the pleasure and opportunity to finally fondle the Leica M9. I previously brought up the issue of really needing a rangefinder for street photography, and while I have not solved that question yet, I can tell you that the M9 has characteristics that surely can help with doing such things even at close range. However, it is not perfect.
Link: Keep x Tobin Yelland: Camera Tee:
In collaboration with Keep, photographer Tobin Yelland’s fascination with his camera has taken on a new form with a graphic tee emblazoned with one of his drawings. Known for taking pictures of skateboarders, like any good photographer, Yelland loves his camera. But unlike most other photographers, he fanatically draws his Leica. He looks for interesting subjects when he takes photos, but when he draws, he draws his camera.
The camera is even positioned on the shirt in the same set-up as he uses. Yelland says, “I am obsessed with my Leica camera. I love the way it looks and I’ve drawn it hundreds of times. It’s the best subject because it’s always near me and if I’m bored and on an airplane, I like to draw my camera. I have drawn my camera from every angle.”
Link: PDNPulse: One Man, A Leica M9, and a Dream (& a bunch of t-shirts):
Ok, so we got an email from a guy this morning who is so obsessed with owning a Leica M9 he’s set up an entire website devoted to the cause.
Rudi Spiller, CEO of Germany’s Leica Camera AG, has a square jaw and stands as though rooted to the floor. His hair is closely cropped, and behind his rimless glasses his eyes are keen. In opening remarks at a recent press conference trumpeting three new
via WIRED: http://www.wired.com/rawfile/2009/10/leica-gallery/
Wired.com visited the Leica factory in Solms, Germany, before the M9 was released and looked behind the scenes to see how Leica builds its renowned cameras. Here’s a glimpse of the historic company, with photos of its meticulous manufacturing process and the looming digital crossroads that will determine its future.
Link: An M9 In Paris – A Field Review – Luminous Landscape:
Choosing a Canon over a Nikon, an Olympus over a Pentax, or any other combination, comes down to matters of brand preference, feature comparisons, and personal whim. They all pretty much do the same thing, but of course with some differences in user interface, control placement and specific features, which may or may not appeal to any one individual. In addition there are a wide range of models (with new ones introduced every few months) to satisfy just about any budget. That’s fine. That’s the nature of the mass market and it means that we have some amazing cameras available to us at ever decreasing prices.
But for some the camera that they use is about more than being a tool for getting a certain task done – whether its a feature magazine assignment or simply recording a family vacation. For these photographers the camera becomes an extension of their ability to see and record, a tool for actualizing that process. The tool and the process become inseparable. It is for photographers that approach their work in this manner, and who have developed an appreciation for a minimalist esthetic that the M Leica appeals.
Link: An Interview with Leica’s Stephan Daniel – Luminous Landscape:
We had the great pleasure of interviewing Stephan Daniel, Leica’s M9 Product Manager. This video interview runs 70 minutes and in it Stephan provides a wide-ranging discussion regarding the new Leica M9.
Link: David Farkas Photography Blog: Leica M9 Review: Shooting in Wetzlar, Germany:
The two most significant advances from the M8 are pretty obvious: it offers a full-frame 24x36mm capture and doesn’t suffer from IR sensitivity. So, no crop factor and no IR filters, precisely what the Leica community has been hoping for. Leica has been telling us for quite some time that both of these items were near impossible obstacles to overcome. So, what happened? The first step was to go further with offset micro lenses. In the Kodak KAF-18500 CCD, the pixel spacing is increased towards the corners to accommodate even greater offsets. The second step was to increase the thickness of the IR cover glass from 0.5mm to 0.8mm, which, combined with a new type of IR-absorbing glass, eliminates IR bleed and still preserves red channel information into the corners. With a new red color filter in the Bayer matrix, the red channel performance is improved further, increasing accuracy and tonal range.
via Leica Rumors
Link: Leica M9 First Look – Luminous Landscape:
With the M9 it is my opinion that Leica has finally fulfilled its mission to produce a true digital version of the classic M camera. The original M8 was exciting but was flawed in many ways. While the M8.2 addressed many concerns it still needed IR filters, and didn’t give full expression to Leica’s wonderful lenses.
Now, with the M9, not only have the M8 series’ teething pains been overcome but numerous worthwhile suggestions made by users and reviewers have been implemented.
