Just Posted: Our preview samples gallery from the Leica X1. We've had a fully functional sample of Leica's high-end large-sensor compact for a few days now, just long enough to grab a few sample shots to give you an initial impression of the image quality attainable at a range of ISO settings and apertures.
Leica X1 preview samples gallery
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Just Posted: Our preview samples gallery from the Leica X1. We've had a fully functional sample of Leica's high-end large-sensor compact for a few days now, just long enough to grab a few sample shots to give you an initial impression of the image quality attainable at a range of ISO settings and apertures.
Panasonic Leica 45mm F2.8 macro lens review
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Just posted! Our lens review of the Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm F2.8 Macro ASPH Mega OIS (or, obviously, the H-ES045 for short). Rounding off our Micro Four Thirds mini-season, we take a look at this latest marvel of miniaturization, which shoehorns 1:1 macro focusing and optical image stabilization into a lens just 2.5" in each dimension. Click through to found out if it's a hat-trick of hits for Panasonic's September releases.
Leica delays shipping of S2 DSLR
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Leica has announced a delay in production of its new S2 autofocus medium format DSLR. According to the company, this delay has been caused by 'higher than expected' demand. To us it seems more likely that higher than expected demand for other recently announced Leica products may also be having a knock-on effect. The camera, announced at Photokina last year was supposed to hit the shelves this month, but will now be available from December 2009 (hopefully).
Leica X1 hands-on preview
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Just Posted: Our hands on-preview of the Leica X1. This retro-stlyed compact promises SLR-level imaging with its fixed high quality lens and large APS-C sensor, but in a much more portable package. We borrowed an early sample camera from Leica for a week to take a close look at its design and operation.
Leica M9 and hands-on preview
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Leica has officially revealed the M9 - a full frame version of its M-mount rangefinder. The Leica M9, with its 24 x 36mm, 18 megapixel sensor is, according to the company: 'the world's smallest full-frame system camera.' The body is available in a new 'Steel Gray' finish and offers minor button re-arrangement over the M8 - all the major changes relate to the internals. The Kodak-developed CCD sensor features improved offset microlenses to optimize performance at the edges of the frame along with a sensor cover with improved filtering of infrared light so lens-mounted IR filters are no longer needed. Most importantly, the 35mm film-sized sensor means every Leica M-mount lens provides the originally intended field of view.
Leica X1 and brief hands-on
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Alongside the M9 Leica has also announced the X1, a compact camera with a large APS-C sensor and a fixed 35mm equivalent field-of-view F2.8 autofocus lens. Featuring a design reminiscent of M-series rangefinders, complete with analogue-style shutter speed and aperture dials, the camera offers a choice of fully automatic or manual control. A 2.7" LCD and 12Mp CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 100 to 3200 round off the specification. Registered owners will be able to download a copy of Adobe Lightroom to process the camera's DNG raw files. During our visit to Leica two weeks ago we were lucky enough to get our hands on a pre-production camera, click through for our initial impression and hands-on pictures.
Leica Factory Tour
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Two weeks ago we visited the Leica Factory in Solms, Germany, for an introduction to the M9 and X1 cameras, and the S2 medium format DSLR system. As well as discussing these new products, we were given a guided tour of the production and assembly areas for the M series rangefinders (including the M9), the M lenses and the S2. Click through for an insight into the painstaking process by which Leica puts together its cameras and lenses.
