Leica added a new lens to its S-System lens line-up, the Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH lens. It follows the earlier Summarit-S 70 mm f/2.5 ASPH and APO Elmar-S 180mm f/ 2.5 lenses. It is designed for the usage with the the Leica S2 camera and appears to be the first fast wide-angle lens of this system.

The lens produces an angle of view equivalent to a 28mm lens (with a crop factor of 0.8. So it can be used in landscape and architectural photography as well as some studio work.

The 35mm f/2.5’s maximum aperture of f/2.5 is more than other lenses in medium format photography can offer. It makes the usage of elective focus convenient, which is particularly effective for creative photography.

The lens’s optical construction combines 11 elements in 9 groups. These include 2 aspherical elements and 5 glass elements with anomalous partial dispersion to compensate for various types of aberrations. Combined with the lens’s rear focusing, they ensure consistent lens performance at all focusing distances.

The lens promises to deliver great image quality with an outstanding contrast and exact reproduction of details across the image field with practically no vignetting, distortion and chromatic aberration.

The lens is also built tough to ensure its long-life performance. It has a robust bayonet mount and is protected against dust and water spray.

Leica Summarit-S 35mm f/2.5 ASPH lens – Key Features:

• Belongs of Leica S-System
• Maximum Aperture: 1:2.5
• Focal length Equivalent: 28mm
• Crop Factor: 0.8
• Lens Construction: 11 Elements/ 9 Groups
• 2 Aspherical Lens Elements
• 5 Special Glass Elements
• Rear Group Focusing
• Minimum Focusing Distance: 55 cm
• UK Retail Price: £3,780
• Availability: May 2010

Leica has recently unveiled the Summilux-M 35mm F/1.4 ASPH lens that brings a new standard for Leica M photography. This is a universal wide-angle lens that delivers ultra-high speed, high contrast, and superb detail rendition in a compact package.

The lens’s 35 mm focal length is already standard for many Leica photographers. It can be used for medium-distance portrait photography as well as for landscape shots. It produces 63-, 54- and 38-degree angle of view in diagonal, horizontal, vertical mode respectively.

The 35mm F/1.4 ASPH lens’s optical designs combines 9 elements is 5 groups with an aspherical element to minimize various types of chromatic aberrations. Its f1.4 fast aperture provides nice bokeh as well as extends handheld shooting capabilities without using flash. The smallest aperture value is f/16.

The lens is promised to deliver excellent image quality across the field even at distances down to 0.7 meters (28 in). Its smallest object field is 420 mm x 630 mm while its highest reproduction ratio equals to 1:17.5.

The lens can be used with filters and features an internal thread for E-46 screw-in type filters. It also takes a separate clip-on type, lockable lens hood.

Leica Summilux-M 35mm F/1.4 ASPH Lens – Specifications:

• Angle of View: 63°, 54°, 38° (Diagonal, Horizontal, Vertical)
• Optical Design: 9 Elements / 5 Groups
• Focal Length: 35.6 mm
• Entrance Pupil: 16.8 mm
• Focusing Range: 0.7 m to Infinity
• Scale: Combined Meter/Feet-Increments
• Smallest Object Field: 420 mm x 630 mm
• Highest Reproduction Ratio: 1:17.5
• Diaphragm
  • Setting / Type: With Clickstops (Including Half Values),
  • Manual Diaphragm
  • Smallest Aperture: F/16
• Internal Thread for Screw-In Type Filters E 46
• Lens Hood: Separate, Clip-On Type, Lockable
• Length: 46.2 mm
• Largest diameter: 53 mm
• Leica M Quick-Change Bayonet

Leica has just announced the launch of its new digital camera, the V-LUX 20, featuring 12.1 megapixels, 12x optical zoom, 3-inch LCD screen and HD movie capture. Moreover, it comes with built-in GPS tagging.

The camera is equipped with a powerful lens that delivers not only extensive telephoto capabilities, but as the same time provides 25mm wide angle of view, which is more than the majority of modern digicams can offer. It also has one aspherical element in its design to correct for chromatic aberrations while integrated image stabilization will help overcome camera shale and handle tough lighting conditions successfully.

The V-Lux 20 offers both fully automatic functions for those who prefer to ‘point and shoot’ and full manual controls over camera settings for those who want creative freedom in the shooting process. There’re also 28 scene modes in the camera, which cover practically all possible life situations, and a well-known Face Recognition function.

The camera is the first one from Leica line-up to feature GPS tagging, the function that allows you to record the exact geographical co-ordinates of your location and the local time automatically, which is very handy when travelling as you will never forget when and where the photo was taken. Moreover, the camera can display the names of various places of interest around the world.

LEICA V-LUX 20 – Specifications:

• 1/2.33” CCD Sensor
• 12.1 Megapixels
• Maximum Image Size: 4000 x 3000 pixels
• 12x Optical zoom
• Aperture Range: f/3.3 (wide) –4.9 (tele)
• Focal Length Equivalent: 25-300mm
• 3” LCD Display with 460,800 pixels
• Metering: Face detection, AF tracking, 11 field, 1 field high speed, 1 field, spot
• Macro Mode: 3cm
• Exposure Modes: Program, Aperture & Shutter Priority, Manual, Snapshot, Custom, Scene, Movie, Clipboard
• 28 Scene modes
• Metering Mode: Multi-field, Centre-weighted, Spot
• Sensitivity: ISO 80-1600
• Shutter Speed: 60 s–1/2000 sec
• Continuous Shooting: 2.3 fps
• HD 1280 x 720 pixel Movies at 60 fps
• GPS Function
• 15MB Internal Memory
• SD / SDHC / SDXC Memory cards
• Dimensions: 103 x 62 x 33mm
• Weight: 218g

Official Information: leica-storemayfair.co.uk.

The Minox DCC Camera is a miniature version of the Leica M3, the first Leica camera introduced in 1954. This new Digital Classic Camera from MINOX comes in a really stylish format, and inside it is packed with innovative technology in the form of a powerful digital camera.

It features a 3.2 Mp CMOS sensor with an image resolution up to 2060×1920 pixels (5.0 Mp interpolated) and a 1,5 inch TFT LCD color monitor.

The new DCC features point-and-shoot operation and is said to deliver sharp and detailed images.

With the DCC, MINOX has demonstrated in a most impressive way how a legendary classic camera be revived: it is based on perfect, high-precision miniaturization of top technology combined with a touch of extravagance. It combines state-of-the-art technology and optical systems with the nostalgic look.

There is an optical viewfinder and 1.5-inch LCD display in the camera. The latter can optionally help the user compose the subject and provides information on the selected specific camera settings as well as on the number of images.

The images are stored on SD cards with a capacity of up to 4 GB or in 32 MB of internal memory.

The camera is extremely easy to use and excellently suited for beginners in digital photography. It also draws attention due to its compact dimensions.

Minox DCC  Leica M3 - Specifications:

• 3.2 Megapixels
• CMOS Image Sensor
• 5.0-Megapixel Interpolated Images
• Maximum Image Size: up to 2060×1920 pixels
• 1,5″ TFT LCD Color Monitor
• Technical data DCC 5.0
• Movie Mode: 320 x 240 pixels
• 32MB Internal Memory
• SD Memory Cards up to 4 GB
• Optical Viewfinder
• Focal Length Equivalent: 42 mm
• Lens Aperture: F3.0
• 4x Digital Zoom
• Self-timer: 10 seconds
• Rechargeable Lithium-Ion-Battery
• Auto power-off
• Dimensions: 74mm (L) x 47mm (B) x 44mm (H)
• Weight: approx. 110g

Official Information: minox.com.

The Leica M9 Rangefinder is the world’s first digital system camera of its size to be built with a 24×36mm CCD sensor so that it is capable of capturing the full 35-mm format in ultra-high resolution. The camera is desingend for those who set the highest standards in image quality.

The camera features 18 megapixels of resolution and 2.5-inch LCD monitor. The combination of a high-resolution sensor, high performance M lenses and careful processing of the digital picture data provides the best picture results under all conditions.

The menus of the Leica M9 include an intuitive four-way switch and dial combination. There’s an ISO button on the camera, and all other functions can be easily accessed by pressing the set button: white balance, image-data compression, resolution, exposure correction, exposure bracketing.

Also, the user profiles can be programmed with any combination of camera and shooting settings.

The M9 becomes the smallest full frame system camera in the world. Its closed, full-metal housing, made from a high-strength magnesium alloy, protects its inner mechanisms. The camera is available in classic black vulcanit finish or elegant steel grey with leatherette finish.

A license for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, a professional digital workflow solution, is available with the camera for both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The software is a free download for LEICA M9 customers.

Leica M9 Rangefinder Camera – Specifications:

• 35mm CCD Sensor
• 18.00 Megapixels
• Maximum Image Size: 5212 x 3472
• Non-TTL bright-line Frame Rangefinder w/ Automatic Parallax Compensation
• 0.68x Viewfinder Magnification
• 2.5 in. LCD Monitor with 230,000 dots
• Lens Mount: Leica M bayonet
• No Image Stabilization
• Manual focus only
• Sensitivity: ISO 80 - 2,500
• Shutter Speed: 32 - 1/4000 second
• Exposure Modes: Aperture, Manual
• Metering Modes: Center-weighted with working aperture
• Continuous Shooting: 2.0 fps for 8 Frames
• Recording Medium SD, SDHC, MMC Memory Cards
• File Format: .DNG Raw, JPEG
• Lithium-ion Rechargeable Battery
• Price: $6,995.00

Official Information: us.leica-camera.com.