X1

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.

Earlier this year Leica introduced its first North American Road Show, giving photographers a chance to experience the Leica M and S Systems first-hand. The company is hitting the road again with its second North American Road Show beginning October 5, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. Leica will be traveling across the United States and Canada, hosting a series of shooting workshops for the Leica M-System and X1 Camera. The Road Show concludes on December 11, 2010 in Tampa/St. Pete, Florida.

Topics covered during the Leica M-System and X1 Camera Events will include camera and lens orientation; troubleshooting and maintenance; understanding the digital imaging process; configuring your computer; organizing and storing your images; Adobe Lightroom introduction; color management introduction and methods to produce better work in less time. Two-hour on-location field trials at each of the workshops will further enhance the experience. Read more

Targeting the Toyota Rav4 and the Honda CR-V, the BMW X1 will be a compact SUV offering RWD and xDrive AWD configurations. The X1 will debut in Europe this fall with a choice of four engines - one petrol and three diesels in both RWD and AWD configurations. The most efficient of the range, the RWD sDrive18d, achieves a fuel economy of up to 45.2mpg (5.2L/100km) while still being able to hit a top speed of 124mph. The BMW X1 will go on sale in the U.S. in 2011, with (what most speculate) 2 new engine variants.

Engine specs:

xDrive28i 3.0L petrol engine (standard)

• 258 hp (190kW) and 228lb-ft (310Nm) of torque
• 0-62mph in 6.8 seconds
• Top speed of 127mph
• Fuel economy of 25mpg (9.4L/100km)

Read more