Leica

Leica Camera just unveiled the Leica V-LUX 3, the latest addition to the company's all-in-one compact digital camera line.

The V-LUX 3 features a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and has a 3-inch LCD display that can be turned in practically any direction, allowing you to take pictures at almost any angle. It has an ISO of 100-3200 and offers high-speed burst-shooting of 12 frames per second at full resolution or 60 frames per second at a resolution of 3.5 megapixels. In addition, its macro mode can focus on subjects as close as 1cm away. But perhaps the greatest feature of this compact camera is its 24x superzoom lens – the Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 4.5 - 108mm f/2.8 - 5.2 ASPH – which has an "enormous range of focal lengths" equivalent to 25–600mm in 35mm format.

As far as video is concerned, it records Full HD video (1920 x 1080) at 60 fps in AVCHD format. Also, the camera's 24x zoom isn't just limited to still shots; the entire range can be used during video recording. An integrated stereo microphone with an electronic wind noise filter is also included.Read more

Earlier this month Leica unveiled a new special edition digital camera, the Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium. Featuring 10.1 megapixels, this compact camera comes as a set with a premium titanium-colored leather case as well as the latest Adobe Photoshop Lightroom professional image-processing software.

The special edition features the same specs of the standard model Leica D-LUX 5, offering a fast zoom lens with a focal length range from 24 to 90 mm (35 mm equivalent), a wide viewing angle, 460,000 pixel resolution, along with manual settings and 720p HD video capture.

Optional accessories for the Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium include the Leica EVF1 electronic viewfinder, Leica CF 22 accessory flash unit, and a handgrip for steady and safe handling of the camera.

The Leica D-LUX 5 Titanium has an MSRP of $1,195.

Leica Camera announced on Friday three new Leica S-Adapters for the Leica S2. Available in August 2011, these accessories will allow photographers to attach medium-format lenses from other manufacturers to Leica S bodies. The Leica S-Adapter V can be used for Hasselblad V System lenses, the Leica S-Adapter P67 for the Pentax 67 system lenses and the Leica S-Adapter M645 for the lenses of the Mamiya 645 system.

Leica S-Adapter V
H=30.2 mm (1.2 in); W=81 mm (3.2 in)
138.75 g (4.9 oz)

Leica S-Adapter M645
H=15.5 mm (.61 in); W=78 mm (3.1 in)
93.5 g (3.3 oz)

Leica S-Adapter P67
H=37 mm (1.5 in); W=90 mm (3.5 in)
222.5 g (7.8 oz)

For more information on the LEICA S-System, visit www.leica-camera.com.

Leica Camera and Lonely Planet have partnered up to offer photography tours of five historical North American cities with a Leica camera in hand. The tours begin in July 2011 and are limited to twelve participants. Cities include San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; New Orleans, LA; Savannah, GA and Los Angeles, CA, and were selected based on Lonely Planet's "Top Ten Places to Visit in 2011" as well as the book USA's Best Trips: 99 Themed Itineraries Across America.

Lonely Planet's Leica Akademie day long workshops are geared towards both amateur and professional photographers. Amateurs will be able to explore the world of point-and-shoot photography using Leica's compact cameras - the X1, D-Lux 5 and V-Lux 2 and the just released V-Lux 30. Experienced photographers can utilize Leica's flagship M9 rangefinder camera along with the entire portfolio of M lenses including the latest Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH. and the world's highest-speed aspherical lens, the Leica Noctilux-M 50 mm f/0.95 ASPH.

Participants will also have the opportunity to submit their best images taken during the workshops for a chance to be featured online and for possible inclusion in future Lonely Planet guidebooks. Read more

It has been said that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away: A child's graduation, a 25th wedding anniversary, the birth of a grandchild. Mothers often wish that these fleeting moments could last a lifetime. With the stylish and classic Leica X1, they can. This Mother's Day say "I Love You" by giving Mom the Leica X1 and allow her to capture these moments that take her breath away in equally breath-taking quality.

Complete with a 12.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and outstanding Leica lens, the Leica X1 delivers the best picture quality among compact cameras to capture images of unmatched brilliance. The chic, elegant finish of the X1 ensures that Mom will have the perfect companion for all life's important occasions.

The Leica X1 is available in both black and steel-grey finish and retails for $1,995.

Leica just announced a firmware update for its 12.2-megapixel compact digital camera, the LEICA X1. The firmware update will be available for download from the Leica website on Tuesday March 29, 2011.

The new X1 firmware offers:

• Improved manual focusing, with the focus screen showing the image based on an open aperture
• More accurate manual focusing with finer steps, when scrolling slowly with the click wheel
• Two manual focusing speeds for more accurate and faster manual focus operation
• Manual focusing lock now available
• Enlarged manual focusing scale display
• Depth of field scale displayed in manual focusing mode
• Manual focus settings retained in memory when camera is switched off
• Improved autofocus speed in low light conditions and with low contrast subjects, in particular when shooting multiple images of the same subject
• ISO setting displayed in Auto ISO mode
• Improved JPEG image quality

For more information, visit: http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/compact_cameras/x1.

Have you ever wanted to create your own customized camera? You can with the Leica à la carte program. The program allows you to configure a Leica M7 or MP rangefinder camera to suit your own taste and style, creating a camera unlike any other. There are over 4,000 possible combinations of designs and features, including technical options such as the layout of controls. You can also choose the color, leather finish and even add personal engraving to your M-System camera.

Leica à la carte cameras are available in two classic M-System analog models, the M7 and MP. Once configured, the individual Leica M à la carte camera models can be ordered from selected Leica dealers. Leica à la carte cameras retail from $4,995.

Visit www.leica-camera.com for more information.

Admit it…men have it pretty easy when it comes to buying their significant other a Valentine's Day gift. But what does a girl get the man in her life to say "I love you"? If your man is into photography, the Leica Camera portfolio offers the perfect gift to show him just how you feel.

Who he is:

• The father who accidentally covers up the flash while taking pictures
• The husband who frequently gets lost on road trips but loves documenting them
• The boyfriend who makes an album for every vacation adventure

What he wants: LEICA V-LUX 20

The Leica V-LUX 20 is the ideal camera anytime, and it's so easy to use that photographers at any level can have fun taking pictures. With features like intuitive controls and a high performance Leica 12x zoom lens, plus fun extras including HD movie recording and GPS tagging, the 12.1-megapixel Leica V-Lux 20 is perfect for any photographic event. The V-Lux 20's innovative tracking system allows photographers to record the exact geographical coordinates of their location and also has the ability to display the names of 500,000 interesting sightseeing locations across 73 countries. The V-Lux 20 retails for $699.Read more

It's that time again. Time for professional photographers to submit their entries to the 'Leica Oskar Barnack Award' international photography competition. Photographers may submit their entries online from January 15, 2011 to March 1, 2011 at www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de. This year, the value of the competition prizes has significantly increased, with the award winner receiving their own piece of Leica history.

For the first time, the winner of the 'Leica Oskar Barnack Award' will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens worth 9,500 euros (approximately $12,300) in addition to a cash prize of 5,000 euros (approximately $6,500). For the 'Newcomer Award,' open to all (aspiring) professional photographers aged 25 and under, the award has also been increased. The winner will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens. Read more