Leica has a stranglehold on the the hearts and minds of photographers everywhere. Even if the professionals call it a “dentist’s camera,” as in a camera that is popular with folks with too much money and not many photography chops, there’s something about that little red dot that is as iconic as the black and white of a Speedmaster or the clean lines of a Ferrari GTO. It’s something that survived the ravages of time relatively unscathed – perhaps worn down by evolution and advancement but still, at least to the part of the brain that desires comfort in the permanence of the material, the same. → Read More
Oh, look, another limited edition Leica that none of you will ever be able to afford. (I’ll never afford one either, so don’t despair.) It’s the result of some sort of partnership between Leica and Hermès. (Fun fact: Hermès makes a cologne I use. I hope that gets picked up by Techmeme.) → Read More
Again, if I had any amount of money to my name, the first thing I’d buy would be a pair of alligator shoes. The second thing I’d buy? Probably a Leica, just because. But would I get this one, this “safari edition”? Not sure—that white one looks pretty mean. Or maybe I’d get a really old one! → Read More
As I just said in out little chat room, brought to you by Campfire, if I won the lotto, the first, and possibly only, tech thing I’d buy would be that special edition Leica. I’d have no idea how to properly use it, of course, but I’d be willing to fly out to Germany and have the Leica folks teach me how to use it. It would only cost me ¥880,000, or just shy of $9,000. → Read More
Better get a good look at this camera. You’ll never ever own one. Not that we would endorse spending more than $10 large on a camera even if it’s a special edition Leica M8. Oh, and the Audi R8 in the background is nice too. I’ll take two of both please. One more pic after the jump. → Read More
Me, “Biggs, yo. Buy me this. Love ya.”
UP FOR SALE E.LEITZ WETZLAR (LEICA) ORIGINAL LUFTWAFFE ARTILLERY RANGEFINDER. USED AT THE SOUTHERN RUSSIAN FRONT IN 1942. 100% WORKS, NO CRUCKS ON THE LENZES. COMES WITH AN ORIGINAL WOOD AND METAL MILITARY BOX, SIGN ON THE SIDE E.LEITZ WETZLAR. THERE IS ABOUT 10-16 SMALLER PIECES COMES WITH THE RANGEFINDER,- BUT NOT SURE IF THE WHOLE ITEMS IS A COMPLIET PACKADGE (SET)- SMALL ELECTRICAL CABLE IS MISSING FOR SURE. I PUT LUFTWAFFE IN THE DESCRIPTION, BECOUSE THEY USE TO COMUNICATE AND SUPORT LUFTWAFFE AIRPLANES FROM THE GROUND, ASWELL AS ARTILLERY FIRE.
A couple more pics after the jump. → Read More
Sebastião Salgado (time.com & Wikipedia) has photographed some of the world’s most impoverished citizens. His photographs, while visually stunning, are often eye-opening for another reason. Perhaps by using cameras presented to him by Leica will improve your budding photography skills. Too bad the set is more expensive than a Tesla Roadster. → Read More
Chances are that only a few of our peeps will be able to afford this sexy Leica M8. The price hasn’t been announced just yet, but seeing as the recently released Safari edition cost 10 large and this camera will only be available in a very limited run, this boy will probably fetch a similar price. After all, someone has to support the union of handbuilding camera makers. → Read More
Rumor has it that Leica is considering selling off its low-end digicam business to Panasonic. Panasonic already OEMs Leica’s point-and-shoot line so it makes a lot of sense but of course Leica is denying it. → Read More
There’s nothing solid on this yet, but there are murmurs (from respectable, if not necessarily reliable sources) that Panasonic may be girding its loins to buy itself some Leica. Perhaps not all of it, perhaps just a little bit, but they’re definitely sniffing around. Given Leica’s skill with glass and Panasonic’s with consumer electronics, they might make a good team in the digital camera sector. Panasonic is no stranger to purchasing a missing piece; they just bought Sanyo after a few tense months, and that’s (they hope) a match made in electronics heaven. → Read More
I’m always a sucker for a good camera story and this one was too good to pass up. Nick Devlin brought his Leica M8 to Japan to do a little shooting and a friend suggested he carry the Canon G9, a 12-megapixel point and shoot that costs about $4500 less than the Leica M8. → Read More
What digital shutternut doesn’t covet the Leica M8? It’s the pinnacle of compact digital cameras done up in the classiest digs. The latest color scheme, Safari, is damn fine look’n. The matte green body combined with the brushed silver accents are simply stunning and almost breathtaking. Plus, the green canvas and brown leather case completes the look ever so gracefully on the €7500,00 ($10,000 USD) camera and Summicron 28mm F2.0 bundle. The best looking digital camera available? Perhaps. More pics after the link. → Read More
Although these special edition Leica C-Lux 3 point-and-shoots boast performance suspiciously similar to Panasonics half the price, they certainly have most of the camera world beat on looks. And they have that fabulous Leica logo. Like the titanium D-Lux we saw and the rumored Safari M8.2, these are pure vanity. And that’s why I love them. More pics after the hump. → Read More
So the rumors were true: Leica has announced that they will be producing the limited edition Leica D-Lux 4 Titanium. This very exclusive camera is expected to ship on January 9th, 2009, and will be limited to a run of 500. The price is expected to be $995, assuming you can find one of course. → Read More
If the original M8.2 wasn’t expensive enough for you, maybe the special edition will make you pull that wallet out. There are two on the way, and one special D-Lux4, according to the rumor irresponsibly posted here. The M8.2 will come in special Safari edition and a Hammertone or gunmetal grey edition. Safari will likely look like an updated version of this M6 Safari. The D-Lux4 is actually pictured here, and looks nice, though I would like to have that little red “Leica” dot. If I’m paying the premium, I want people to know it when I take their picture! [via Leica Rumors and... Leica Rumors. thanks for the tip, Peter] → Read More
This is interesting. I really had no idea that Kodak was the sensor provider for both Leica and Hasselblad, whose near-medium-format professional DSLRs have been the talk of the town lately. Good for Kodak! I like it when companies are behind the scenes and don’t steal the thunder — companies like IBM and Broadcom that make the hardware that makes the hardware. I wonder then if Kodak is in Red’s sights as well? They have said they are going to take on Canon and Nikon, but with the idea being that their sensor is far better, that also puts Kodak in the kill zone. → Read More
That is a lot of megapixels. Leica has been burning up the internet lately, what with its sweet F/0.95 lens, new M8.2 camera, and even a nice-looking projector. But this monster is surely going to generate the most buzz, especially with Nikon and Canon bickering over the megapixel count in their flagship cameras. The new S-System has a 30mmx45mm sensor, which puts it in between 35mm and medium format, and allows ample space for 37 million pixels to do their thing with a minimum of crowding. It’s weather-sealed, has a nice 3-inch LCD, and a dual-shutter system for focal-plane purists. They say their autofocus system will be twice as fast as Hasselblad’s, and they intend the camera to be as usable as a mid-range prosumer DSLR. Sounds like they’re trying to be all things to all people, or at least all people with (I’m going to guess here) $50,000 to spare. → Read More
Oh man, I desperately want one of these cameras. If you look in the sidebar, you’ll see a BlogTalk Radio thing where you can hit play and almost immediately listen to me salivating over the new Leica gear. I can’t afford it, of course, but I can’t afford your mom either and I still talk about her! Moving on… the Leica M8.2 is not an SLR, but I trust them to make a very responsive and high-quality non-SLR camera. I know they’re expensive as hell (~$1500)(lots more than that) but I want one. There’s lots of specs here and the press release (translated from Polish) is here. Also officially announced is the Noctilux F/0.95 lens and a few pals. This is of no interest to anyone but lens junkies, I guess, but since I’m one of those — posty posty! Pics after the bump. [via Leica Rumors] Update: The $1750 I saw quoted was the upgrade price if you’re rolling with a Leica M8 already. I thought it seemed slightly off — by an order of magnitude. No price on the M8.2 at the moment but I think the commenters below know what they’re about when they estimate at least $5000. → Read More
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