Leica Updates M8 Firmware

Fluorescent Light shot - Jean on the job Originally uploaded by etrigan63

Leica has released firmware 1.201 for the M8 Digital Camera on their website. The new firmware addresses several issues not the least of which is Automatic White Balance (AWB). White Balance (for the uninitiated) is a measurement of the color temperature of the light being used to illuminate a scene being photographed. Color temperature is measured on the Kelvin scale (the one with Absolute Zero). Varying light sources have different color temperatures and the lower temperatures are in the red part of the spectrum (oddly referred to as warm light) and the higher temperatures are more in the blue part of the spectrum (again, counter intuitively referred to as cool light). A sensor in the digital camera takes a reading at the time of exposure and makes a guess as to what the correct white balance is. Sometimes it makes a good guess and sometimes it doesn't. The film equivalent to this was film type. If you were going to shoot outdoors, you selected daylight balanced film. If you were going to shoot in a studio (with studio lighting), you selected tungsten balanced film. One of the Leica M8's more known quirks was a white balance sensor that waffled more than John Kerry. Shots taken in the same lighting condition would have wildly varying white balance settings. Most photographers got around this by shoot in RAW mode (the native format of the camera sensor). With firmware 1.201, Leica has made some real strides to correct this glaring problem. The shot above was taken in fluorescent light, a very cool light that often gives M8's fits. The shot was stored in RAW mode and processed in Adobe Lightroom 1.3.1. No adjustments were made to white balance. The color (to my eye on my calibrated monitor) seems spot on. Another shot taken in daylight shows similar results. You can view that photo here. For Leica M8 owners, this firmware is a must-have item for your camera. It won't help you take better pictures, but you'll have to massage them much less to get them to look really good. The firmware can be downloaded from Leica's website.

Leica Rumors

A website in the UK has posted the following information about a rumored update/upgrade to the Leica M8:

NO NEW M9
LEICA M8 UPGRADE
Leica to announce that there will not be an M9 as previously thought. Instead they will offer an Upgrade on all existing M8 cameras with the following modifications:

1. New Sapphire Viewing Screen (Virtually unscratchable)
2. Max Shutter speed to 1/4000th
3. Quieter actuation of Shutter mechanism
4. New Firmware
5. 2 Year Warranty with Upgrade

This modification will be available from March 2008 and will be booked through Leica Germany's Website at a cost to the owner of 1200 Euros.

Leica sees the M8 as being an ongoing camera that can be modified throughout its lifetime.

I have sent out feelers to my contacts at Leica as to the veracity of this rumor. Other notables have done so as well. This rumor has spawned a lot of speculation on the Rangefinderforum and Leica User Forum websites. No press release has been issued by Leica.

The implications of this rumor, if true, are staggering. Leica will be the only camera maker willing to retrofit improvements to already purchased cameras extending the usefulness and warranty. 1200 Euros is not chump change (that's about $1800 USD - roughly the cost of a Nikon D300) but many Leica users have expressed a willingness to do so.

Is this just more Internet smoke and mirrors or does the site owner really have a scoop on his hands? With PMA starting January 31, 2008 we may not have long to wait to hear a response from Leica.

Stay tuned...

[UPDATE]
Several registered Leica M8 owners have received e-mail from Leica confirming this to be true. I have not received said e-mail, but have included a copy for your perusal:

Dear LEICA M8 customers,
The desire to own a digital camera manufactured by Leica, possessing the identical lifelong value retention associated with every Leica product, was brought to us by many of our customers. Leica Camera AG has now configured the LEICA M8 to meet this demand. With today’s newsletter, we would like to inform you exclusively and in advance of an outstanding innovation regarding your cherished LEICA M8.

Subjects
LEICA M8: An investment in the future
What does the first upgrade kit include?
How do I get the upgrade for my M8?
Firmware update 1.201 available

LEICA M8: An investment in the future

With the introduction of a perpetual upgrade program, every LEICA M8 will forever be a state-of-the-art digital camera. Today’s and tomorrow’s users will always be able to incorporate the latest refinements and developments in handling ease and technology. It is our aim to secure your investment in the LEICA M8 for the future. “While other digital cameras quickly become outdated and are replaced by newer models, our new concept extends the value retention and resistance to obsolescence embodied in the Leica ethos. Over time, we will gradually offer new product features and developments as upgrade options,” declares Steven K. Lee, CEO of Leica Camera AG. “Our customers can therefore still invest in the photographic tools they need without worrying that they will miss out on improvements and technological developments along the way.
This information will be presented during the PMA fair in Las Vegas, beginning January 31st.

What does the first upgrade kit include?

• Scratch-proof sapphire glass cover for the LCD monitor.
• Noise-optimized shutter with a fastest speed of 1/4000s.
• If so desired, the camera will be picked up at your home and sent directly back to you, without any intermediary stage in the process.
• Health-check and complete adjustment of the camera, testing all its functions.
• Installation of the newest relevant firmware.
• New factory warranty of two years covering the same conditions as for a new camera.

How do I get the upgrade for my M8?

• This offer applies exclusively to all registered M8 users.
• We will inform you shortly via e-mail when the website is updated with detailed information about the new M8 upgrade program, and will also inform you as soon as possible how to purchase the first upgrade certificates.
• The fact that you are registered as a M8 owner will give you guaranteed access to an exclusive online area where you will be able to purchase your upgrade certificate.
• Purchasing the upgrade certificates will be possible as of March 2008 - the actual upgrading will commence as of August 2008.
• The upgrades will be fulfilled in the same order as the upgrade certificates were purchased. It is therefore advisable to acquire the certificate as quickly as possible.

Firmware update 1.201 available

In keeping with the overall sustainability of the concept of the rangefinder camera system, Leica Camera AG is now offering all LEICA M8 users an updated version of the camera firmware, which can be downloaded free of charge from Friday, February 1st from our website. Among other things, the new firmware version contains new, substantially improved automatic white balance algorithms for natural color rendering in nearly all light conditions. We will send you special information via e-mail which contains a direct link as soon as we post the firmware update on our website.

We would feel very honored if you would be amongst the first to participate in our new program for the lifelong value retention of your M8.

Yours Sincerely,
The Leica internet team

With this announcement, Leica has effectively set the economic model for digital cameras on its ear. This clearly follows Leica's ideal that one does not buy a Leica, one invests in Leica.

Unified Threat Management for the Home

Home networks are becoming more and more sophisticated. It used to be that a home computer was setup in a central location in the home with multiple accounts and a single modem or DSL connection directly attached to the "family" computer. Multiple computers on a network were usually found in an office setting or an Internet cafe. Such is no longer the case. With ISPs pushing wireless enabled DSL firewall/routers, wireless enabled laptop sales on the rise, and Internet enabled appliances (gaming and kitchen varieties), home networks are now downright commonplace. I have seen many home developers include wiring new homes with CAT6e network cables for use in data and VOIP applications. Wiring closets and patch panels are now as much a part of the home as the walk-in closet and the roman tub. However, not much thought is put into securing these networks. This makes them more vulnerable to attack and (if used to VPN into office networks) becomes an attack vector into secure office networks. Hope is not lost. Unified Threat Management systems (UTMs) are used in enterprise settings to mitigate break-in attempts and keep the network secure. Such technology is available for the home network and the price is far less than you think. I have already reviewed one the products in this roundup: Untangle. The other two products to be covered are Astaro Secure Gateway (v7) and ComixWall 4.2. The first two are commercial UTMs that offer free (restricted license) versions for home use. The last one is a FOSS project that provides a totally free, unrestricted product. It is also the only one in the bunch that is 64-bit. Once I finish testing, I will be publishing my findings on PlanetX64. Stay tuned for more updates!

Buddha in New York

Buddha in New York Originally uploaded by etrigan63

A recent trip to New York City uncovered a large Buddha hidden inside of the trendy Asian restaurant Tao. The Buddha stands (sits) over 20 ft tall and has an ever-changing light show playing over it. In it's base is a koi pond and the koi are not coy. If they spot you, they will poke their heads out of the water looking for a handout. Think of them as gold and white homeless people. The restaurant keeps the pan-Asian theme all the way down to the restrooms. On the walk downstairs you are met with images of the Dali Lama at various stages of his life. The restrooms are marked "Yin" and "Yang" ("women" and "men" respectively). Personally, if I hadn't seen guys coming out of the Yang Room, I would have probably entered the wrong room. Camera: Leica M8 Lens: CV 40mm Nokton Classic f/1.4 Shot RAW (DNG) and converted to B&W using Photoshop CS3 and Alienskin Exposure2.

***31 DAYS OF THE DRAGON CLUE ***

The Eastern Deity in the photo is your clue. Head over to PlanetAMD64. If you are a member, log in and add that clue to your profile in the custom profile field called "Dragon". If you are not a member, sign up (it's free) and you will be able to add it to your profile.

Lonely Sentinels

Lonely Sentinels Originally uploaded by etrigan63

Camera: Leica M8 Lens: Zeiss ZM 50mm Planar f/2 Shutter speed: 32 sec Aperture: f/4 ISO: 160 WB: Auto File Format: DNG Post Processor: Adobe Lightroom 1.3.1 + Custom M8-AWB profile No other adjustments made. The lowlight capabilities of this camera (when coupled with an excellent lens) never cease to amaze me.

Tim Isaac's M-Coder

In the world of rangefinder photography, the name Leica is revered. Creators of the 35mm film camera, this German camera maker is well known for its optics and build quality.

In late 2006, Leica introduced the M8 - the first digital camera in the M-series. With it's minimalist Bauhaus design, solid construction and the ability to use almost any M-mount lens made since 1954, Leica had a winner in its hands. Granted, the product has its quirks (like requiring the use of UV/IR cut filters to prevent black synthetics from looking magenta, or having to shoot RAW all of the time due to a weak JPEG conversion engine) and it is a mostly manual camera (no autofocus and aperture priority is the only "auto" mode), but it has been accepted as a true marvel by the rangefinder community.

One of the more ingenious ideas Leica had in developing this camera was coming up with a system to identify the lens mounted on the camera for EXIF data and (in some cases) in-camera vignetting correction and cyan drift adjustment. By adding a 6-bit code consisting of black and white dots painted on the mounting flange of the lens (in tiny little pits milled into the flange) an IR sensor on the camera body can then "read" the lens and make the appropriate adjustments. Leica will retrofit any compatible Leica lens with a 6-bit code for a small fee.

However, Leica would only do this for its own brand of lenses. The rangefinder community was justifiably upset about this. Lenses by Carl Zeiss and Cosina Voigtlander which were perfectly usable on film-based Leica M's were left out in the cold. It was in the midst of preparations for seppuku, when a clever Leica owner noticed that marks made by certain black permanent markers could be read by the sensor. Thus began a quest to come up with a method to code non-Leica lenses using permanent markers accurately.

This is where our hero, Tim Isaac, comes into the story. An engineer and CAD specialist, he had already made a name for himself in the Leica community with the development of his Thumbs Up grip adapter for the M8. Applying the same rat cunning to the problem of accurately marking lens codes, he developed his M-coder System.

The kit consists of a sturdy plastic tool (the M-Coder) that serves as the guide for placing the marks on the lens flange. The tool is keyed to the alignment holes on the flange so it is very easy to place correctly. Next is a guide wheel to tell you what codes to apply to the lens (the D-Coder). Lastly, Tim's kit provides you with a Japanese Zebra industrial marking pen that writes well on metal and can be read by the sensor on the M8. Finally, the whole thing is neatly stored in it's own carrying case (complete with CAD images of Tim's lenses).

I tried the M-Coder on my newly acquired Zeiss ZM 50mm Biogon f/2. The lens is M-mount, so it's compatible with my Leica M8, but cannot be coded by Leica as it is not a Leica brand lens. I slipped the M-Coder onto the lens mounting flange, checked the D-Coder for the appropriate code, (I had to surf to http://www.digital-leica.com for a lens compatibility list), and using the Zebra marker, added the two black marks needed to convince my M8 that I had just mounted a 50mm Summicron IV f/2 lens instead of the Zeiss. A couple of test shots later showed 50mm in the EXIF data confirming that the marks were successfully read.

Tim's documentation states that his kit provides temporary lens coding and that is correct. Considering the tight tolerances between the lens and body flanges, I would expect the marks to come off after 3-4 lens changes. In order to make this permanent, you need to send the lens flange off to be milled. Neither Zeiss nor Cosina offer this service, but there is a gentleman named John Milich who will do this work for you for a minimal fee. The only catch is that you have to remove the flange yourself and mail it to him. When he sends it back (John generally has a 1 week turnaround) you will have to remount the flange yourself. The complexity of this task varies from lens to lens. I have done this on two of my CV lenses (40mm Nokton & 25mm P Color Skopar) and one was much simpler than the other. YMMV. You can reach John by e-mail and his address is jm at milich dot com. Tell him that I sent you.

In conclusion, Tim Isaac proves once again that he is the "go to guy" for designing gadgets for the Leica M8. His current projects also include a "coldshoe" version of the Thumbs Up (with one or two coldshoes) and a new battery charger for the M8. Tim's website is http://www.matchtechnical.com and you can e-mail Tim at TimI at matchTechnical dot com.

Battle of the Keynotes: Bill vs. Steve

Well the CES and Macworld keynotes are over and it's time to see how the two heavyweights fared. In this corner we have "Battlin'" Bill Gates, retiring founder and Chief of Microsoft and in this corner we have "Jammin'" Steve Jobs, co-founder and iCEO of Apple Inc.

Battlin' Bill Gates

vs.

Jammin' Steve Jobs

Round 1: "Battlin'" Bill moves in first and gets his keynote started 1 week before Steve. Opens up with a video about his last day at Microsoft and how he has no idea what to do with himself. Starts pestering such luminaries and Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton who politly tell him to shove off. Bill then goes after various rock stars, news figures and other notables who all send him packing. After the video, Bill announces Zune 2.0, the Silverlight/NBC/Beijing Olympics deal, crows a bit about the pervasiveness of the Windows platform and the awesomeness that is Vista, demos the SYNC system used in Ford vehicles, rehashes the Surface demo and shows off a new toy from the R&D labs.

"Jammin'" Steve retaliates with a pre-Macworld announcement of Mac Pro upgrades (available the day of announcement) for the entire Pro line of desktop systems.

Round 2: "Jammin'" Steve opens this round with announcements about the SDK for iPhone, a major software update for the iPod Touch (which turns it into a phone-less iPhone), major content deals with all of the Hollywood studios for brining their films to iTunes, AppleTV 2, Time Capsule for Time Machine and last, but not least, introduces the Macbook Air.

Touted as "the world's thinnest ultralight notebook" the Macbook Air sports a 13.3" widescreen display, fullsize (backlit) keyboard, an Intel Core2 Duo processor that is 60% smaller than the regular mobile version, an aluminum body, built-in iSight camera, 802.11n wireless and Bluetooth 2.1. Conspicuously missing is an internal optical drive (a USB powered external drive is available) and any form of wired ethernet. This is definitely a product for the wireless generation.

Round 3: Both fighters have retired to their respective corners and the judges will have to make the call based on the previous two rounds.

Actual Products: Well, it looks like Steve is coming out ahead on this one with 3 actual products vs. Bill's one product.

Content Agreements: Although Bill's Silverlight/NBC/Olympics deal is a real feather in his cap, he was thoroughly trumped by Steve announcing the content deals with all major Hollywood studios for iTunes.

Product updates: Steve announced updates for iPhone, iPod Touch, and Apple TV. Bill had no updates.

Based on the above, the judges award the match to "Jammin'" Steve Jobs with a TKO.

A Matter of Perspective

A Matter of Perspective Originally uploaded by etrigan63

Black and white photography can bring stark contrast to even the most ordinary of objects. It's proper use allows more artistic freedom than one would expect.

Setting up my blog, part deux

Well Community Server was a bust due to the distributed nature of my domain. CS required that the root domain point to it which broke my mail server (located elsewhere). Fun times all around. So now we are trying Google's Blogger but having it point to my server. Let's see how this works...