Leica has just announced the V-Lux 3 superzoom camera, 12.1-megapixel CMOS camera with 4.5-108mm F2.8-5.2 lens with 1080p60 video capture. Not surprisingly, this thing is actually a rebadged Panasonic DMC-FZ150 which lends truth to the old adage “A fool and his money are easily duped by camera companies.”
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Comparing Leica and Kodak is an interesting exercise. While they’re not the same by any stretch of the imagination, both rode the wave of photography throughout the 20th century and, come the age of digital imaging, both stumbled. Kodak is starting to leverage its IP and Leica has found a new prosperity in its high-end digitals.
But Kodak is still in its crisis period and Leica appears to be well past. So much so that they’re selling nearly half of the company in order to make a big push in emerging markets. What use “emerging markets” have for $5000 cameras, clearly Leica knows better than I. → Read More
Leica’s CEO, Alfred Schopf, has abruptly and rather casually announced a new line of compact cameras being planned for a Photokina debut. The new system will have “at least” an APS-C sensor and will “do things differently” from the rest of the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) cameras — serious competition like the NEX, PEN, and G series.
The unnamed camera would presumably be a non-rangefinder camera and would likely be placed above the X1 but below the M series in price and capabilities. Whether it would use existing Leica lenses or a new mount was not mentioned, but as Photokina is coming right up in September, we don’t have long to wait.
[via DP Review] → Read More
In what could amount to a very hefty haul, Moscow thieves took a sledge to metal security shutters and then a glass case to grab twenty items including a Leica Pro Set with three lenses. Interestingly, they left a $32,000 Leica S2 on the shelf and, not surprisingly, focused mainly on lenses and the familiar standard M9s.
Serial numbers are after the jump if you ever spot these in the wild. → Read More
Watch as a ratty 1938 Leica is transformed into a modern digital camera with the guts of a Lumiz FX70. The video above isn’t a step-by-step video that holds your hand with detailed instructions. Nope, instead it’s a toe-tapping slideshow of the creations development. It is in fact more enjoyable this way. Get a fresh cup of coffee, sit back and watch an old Leica get a new set of innards. [via LeicaRumors] → Read More
LEICA ‘BIRDIE” from Philip Escobar Jung on Vimeo. As you’ll see this isn’t an official Leica commercial. It should be, though. Why? Because you’ll remember it and that’s the most important aspect of any advert. [via Leica Rumors] → Read More
Our own review of the M9 pales in comparison to thislabor of love by Thorsten Overgaard who has been shooting with the storied digital since 2009 and continuously updates his post with commentary, pictures, and advice. Not only is he a great, quirky photographer he writes passionately about the places he visits and, most important, the camera itself. → Read More
While it’s not the carbon copy some seem to think it is, the X100 does take a lot of design cues from Leica and this generation of cameras in general. I’m dying to get my hands on one of these, though that $1200 price tag is a little intimidating. Lots more comparison pics and other X100 porn at Nokton’s Flickr page. [via 43rumors and PetaPixel] → Read More
I’m genuinely surprised that the $32,000 Titanium Leica M9 ships in a cardboard box. I’d expect nothing less than a titanium crate and a Jack Bauer wannabe. That said, it if can’t handle a little FedEx abuse, how’s it going to survive war zones, impoverished countries, and misuse by trust fund babies? [via Engadget] → Read More
Leica likes to make special edition cameras. Good or bad, that’s how they roll. The latest is a special BMW edition of the X1 camera. What’s special about it? Nothing. Not a damn thing. → Read More
It’s not every day you see how the sausage is made. This is how Leica puts together their famous M9 camera – by hand, all done by men in white lab coats. It’s an impressive bit of engineering to be sure and pricing aside, this is an incredible camera. Click through for one more walk-through video. → Read More
As much as I’d like to say it’s ridiculous that someone has paid half a million dollars for this experimental 1958 MP2 Leica, it’s really no more ridiculous than paying for a piece of art by an old master or famous contemporary artist. In that case, you’re paying for a piece of art history, and in the Leica’s case, it’s a piece of photographic history. Try telling me one is more ridiculous than the other. → Read More
We didn’t get a chance to go out to Photokina this year so Photokina – or at least Leica’s portion of it – came to us. I got a closer look at four of Leica’s new cameras, the all-black X1, the DLUX 5, and the V-LUX 2 along with the new Titanium M9, one of the most outlandish cameras I’ve seen in a while. The V-LUX 2 is Leica’s ultrazoom priced at $849 and available this month. It has a 4.4-108mm lens and takes full 1080i-AVCHD video. It is quite light and feels on par with similar point and shoots except for the fast lens and focus features. → Read More
Honestly. At this point these people are just releasing a new finish for each of their cameras every few months and seeing who bites. Personally, I don’t have enough cash to be dropping used-car cash on a camera, though I might make an exception for Fujifilm’s FinePix X100, which can truly be said to be fine — in the flyest sense of the word. [image: David Farkas; via Leica Rumors] → Read More
Leica rumors are usually pretty subdued, since the company doesn’t exactly make consumer cameras. But if they’re getting on the EVIL train, that’s worth shouting from the rooftops. → Read More
This review is by photographer Rich Svinkin. “Nice Equipment.” It took a second to process that the wedding photographer was talking about my camera. It was the shock of phrasing, not the awe displayed, that startled me. When I’m carrying this beauty around I get stopped by strangers all the time. Camera junkies are boundary blind like dog lovers. And like a champion breed, the M9 takes some effort to tame and train if you aren’t a professional. But if you go into it eyes open and put the effort in, get ready for blue ribbon results. → Read More
So you can’t afford to pop for a real Leica MP camera. Not a problem! Some enterprising bloke has a cheapskate alternative for you, the Likea MPH. Sure, it’s not the real thing, but it looks close and it’s $4,575 cheaper then an actual Leica. → Read More
