Meeting up with Leica at PhotoPlus

Thanks to the Leica New York Metro Area Meetup group, I was able to get invited to a session with Leica at the PhotoPlus Expo in New York City. Leica will have the M8.2 and S2 available to try out. I will be taking extra memory cards to take some test images. Whether or not I will be able to post them online is another matter entirely. The M8.2 is an update to the M8 Classic incorporating several features requested by die-hard M users. Quieter shutter, recocking delay, sapphire glass on the LCD, black paint finish, AutoISO, and a host of others. The M8.2 is available for pre-order from various authorized Leica dealers for $6,295 USD. The S2 is an all-new system with a larger than 35mm sensor (it actually sits between a 35mm frame and a 645 frame at 37.5 megapixels) and boasts a set of new lenses expected to outperform anything else on the market. The S2 is expected to ship Spring 2009 and pricing has not yet been set.

Leica Unveils S2 Medium Format-ish DSLR

After a triple whammy of camera announcements last week, Leica AG dropped the proverbial bomb at Photokina 2008. Dr. Kaufmann unveiled their latest creation: the Leica S2 Professional Digital SLR. This beast not only propels Leica into the world of Autofocusing Digital SLRs (which they were sorely deficient in for years), but also places them in a brand new market for them: Medium Format. Long the stronghold of the likes of Hasselblad, Mamiya, Sinar, Rollei and Bronica, Leica charges at the gate with a camera that sports a 45x35mm sensor (vs. the 36x24mm sensor in a full frame DSLR vs. 60x45mm sensor in a full frame MFDB - Phase P65+ back) with a resolution of 37 megapixels. Remember, these are big, fat medium format pixels oozing with with dynamic range. The body itself is sits between the Canon 5D and 1DsMkIII in size and way smaller than the likes of anything offered by the Medium Format guys. One other change is that this camera will be distributed, sold and serviced through Phase One's network of dealers. While this might miff the current Leica dealers, the camera's internals were designed in cooperation with Phase One so it makes sense that they would distribute, sell and support it. Prices for the body and 70mm f/2.5 lens is rumored to be around $18,000USD. Expected availability is Summer 2009. UPDATE: Here is the Leica - Phase One Press Release LEICA CAMERA AG AND PHASE ONE CONCLUDE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE Leica Camera AG and Phase One A/S have agreed to enter into a long-term strategic alliance. Both companies are in mutual agreement on the terms of close future cooperation in the technical development and marketing of premium products for the professional photography segment. The objective is to offer photographers innovative high-end solutions that guarantee the greatest possible creative freedom and set standards in terms of performance, quality and technological maturity. Close cooperation has also been decided upon for the expansion of effective service and marketing structures. The CEO of Leica Camera AG, Dr Andreas Kaufmann, welcomes the collaboration with Phase One: 'Our two companies are an outstanding match for each other due to the similarity of their corporate cultures, their extraordinary innovative strengths and their dedication to absolute quality. We complement each other very well, particularly in the marketing segment. This will enable Leica to establish a strong and sustainable position at the leading edge of the professional segment. Together with Phase One we will soon be able to begin offering professional customers a new range of products and services.' In addition to digital backs for medium format and view cameras, Phase One, the world's leading manufacturer of camera systems for the professional segment, also offers industrialgrade software and image processing solutions specially designed to meet the most demanding requirements of professional photographers. According to the CEO of Phase One A/S, Henrik Håkonsson: 'Thanks to first class internal development and technological alliances, Phase One maintains its leadership in the provision of software and image processing solutions for the professional segment. As a consequence of this strategic alliance with Leica, Phase One now has access to the vast optical expertise of the market's quality leader and we can improve our product offerings to the world’s best photographers. Leica Camera AG in Solms offers precision optical products of uncompromising quality and mechanical precision for the industrial and private high-end segments. The Leica range embraces a broad spectrum of cameras and precision optical products for analogue and digital photography, projectors and a range of binoculars, spotting scopes and rangefinders for field observation. Thanks to systematic investment in the manufacture of aspherical optical elements, Leica possesses vast expertise in the manufacturing, the optical calculation, the measuring and testing technology, as well as in the construction of lenses and the assembly of aspherical lens systems. Further information about Leica Camera AG and its products can be found at www.leica-camera.com. UPDATE 2: Official Press Release from Leica on the S-System A new dimension for professionals LEICA S2 – Radical new digital SLR camera system from Leica Responding to the commercial needs of professional photographers, Leica Camera AG in Solms will introduce the Leica S2 at photokina in Cologne (23rd-28th September 2008), a new digital Leica SLR camera system for professional photographers. A new system concept has been developed, entitled “Made in Solms”. For this camera concept, renowned professional photographers have been involved in all parts of the development process. The outcome is a system designed specifically to deliver the fastest, high end resolution work, requiring the minimum of post production. Excellent news for commercial photographers seeking to exceed demanding client expectations in a working time which allows improved income for their talents. Designed from scratch the new German made camera is ground breaking, as unlike most other pro digital systems, it does not use a conventional medium format or 35mm platform. The LEICA S2 has a sensor size that exceeds the 35 mm format and incorporates many of the advantages of professional systems. The new 37 mega pixels CCD sensor with a breathtaking image resolution will produce images at the top of the professional game for a number of years. In particular, the lenses set new performance benchmarks enabling the sensor to overdeliver per pixel. The pixels are distributed on a sensor 56% larger than full size 35mm. The compact design and handy metal body is smaller than those of comparative products from different manufacturers. Ergonomic and a pleasure to use, the camera is set to become a professional photographer´s favourite. The camera´s bespoke sensor has enabled the Leica designers to produce the smallest camera in its class. It´s super modern new and innovative processing technology is twice as quick. The Leica “MAESTRO” image processor developed with Fujitsu specifically for the LEICA S2, allows the camera´s lenses, firmware and sensor to function at their optimum. It produces market leading processing time and the highest level of picture quality with minimal energy output. It enables picture quality and super quick transfer time with minimal energy output. In spite of the sensor size, the extremely compact body is fully protected against dust and splashes. For this class of camera, the LEICA S2 has a particularly precise and quick autofocus system that makes focusing easier. The large, bright viewfinder makes picture composition easy. Taking many pictures in quick succession is also possible, and there is a high sensitivity setting to use when lighting is problematic. New lenses designed specially to suit the demands of this format offer unrivalled imaging quality and set new benchmarks for the camera market as a whole. Thus the LEICA S2 lens system meets the needs of professional photographers. The optic calculation incorporates all the factors and requirements of digital technology, meaning that software to correct image artifacts becomes superfluous. The constant high image quality is present right into the corners of the images, from close up to infinity. Even at wide apertures, maximal contrast, high resolution and detailed colour reproduction are guaranteed. The between-the-lens shutters in some of the system lenses enable lightning fast synchronisation for the quickest possible exposure time. The quick and precise autofocus of the Leica S lenses can be adjusted manually at any time. Like the camera, the lenses are made from metal and come with a weatherproof seal. The lenses are thus particularly robust and protected from dust and dampness. The LEICA S2 is particularly easy to handle and choosing the settings is pretty much intuitive. Ergonomically designed, the body sits comfortably in the hand whether in vertical or horizontal position. The bright, high-resolution display with quick zoom-in function enables exposures to be seen perfectly even in daylight. The camera concept can be integrated seamlessly into the professional digital workflow. With Dr. Andreas Kaufmann as its main shareholder, Leica Camera AG is entering a new era. Following in-depth and successful re-structuring, the business can now concentrate on investing in new products. Leica has made a quantum leap in the field of digital technology, enabling it to combine the advantages of highly developed digital technology with the classic Leica values concerning optics, mechanics and optimal image results. The result of this is uncompromising cutting-edge technology; the LEICA S2 is the first to offer all these things to professional digital photographers. The LEICA S system sets the trend for future Leica products in terms of technology and leads the way for future product ideas from Leica Camera AG. Preliminary Analysis Based on available information, the S-System is a bold move by Leica. Always considered a Premium Brand, Leica needed to chart new territory in order to keep itself fresh and a market leader. Entry into the DSLR arena would have placed Leica at a disadvantage against market heavyweights Canon and Nikon (and they would have to duke it out with Sony who recently introduced a full frame 35mm DSLR). By jumping to medium format, a blossoming area in digital photography where equipment costs are much higher than the more pedestrian 35mm format, Leica stood poised to bring their expertise to bare on a market hampered by large camera systems and slow image acquisition speeds. Add to this their Bauhaus style ergonomic designs, dust and weather seals, high performance optics designed for the sensor (taking a page from the Four Thirds manual it seems) and teaming up with a leader in the development of medium format sensors and software, Phase One, all adds up to a tremendous market opportunity for Leica. What remains to be seen is whether professional photographers and rental houses will go for it. The official Leica S-System site is located at http://www.s.leica-camera.com

Leica Updates M8 Firmware

I was cruising through the newly revamped Leica website trawling for info on the last big announcement they are saving for Photokina when I came upon this little nugget: Leica has updated the M8 Classic firmware to v2.0 which adds the following features to the original Leica digital rangefinder: * Auto ISO - The M8 Classic can now automatically adjust ISO settings to maintain a minimum shutter speed. This is activated from the M8's SET menu. Parameters are adjusted on the MENU menu which include making the Auto ISO parameters lens dependent. * SDHC Support - Gone are the manacles of 2GB SD cards! The M8 Classic now supports higher capacity SDHC cards. I tested with a 4GB PNY SDHC card and reported space for 370 RAW images. Sweetness! What's not there (that requires upgrading to the M8.2): * Hardware updates - No amount of firmware updates will replace the shutter mechanism, add sapphire glass, or provide a method to alter shutter cocking behaviors. That requires that new bits be installed in the camera. The firmware update is a welcome bit of news to Leica M8 owners who have been complaining about lack of SDHC support and Auto ISO since Day One. It will also allow Leica M8 owners to make a better choice about upgrading to the new model by virtue of providing two of the major features of the new version for free to existing customers. You can download the update from Leica here. I have mirrored the update here. UPDATE: Leica recommends that Lexar & Sandisk SDHC be used for maximum compatibility. I can report that PNY cards up to 8GB work just fine. 8GB PNY SDHC = 753 RAW images. All for $34.99 from Best Buy.

Leica Unveils M8.2

Evolution of the LEICA M8 digital rangefinder camera * New metal blade focal plane shutter * Ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal as coverglass * New snapshot mode * Quick override setting * Leica dot and accessory also in black * Robust “vulcanite“ finish * New compact charger The new LEICA M8.2 is a significant development of Leica Camera AG’s German-made digital rangefinder camera for professionals. While important LEICA M8 attributes such as discretion, intuitive work and robustness have been further improved, the new model retains the key characteristics of the Leica reportage camera such as the compact shape, the exceptional image quality in connection with Leica M lenses and the unique picture composition with the Leica rangefinder that show it to be a genuine M camera. The LEICA M8.2 complements the M8, and many elements of the M8.2 can be integrated into the M8 if desired. With this parallel marketing, Leica Camera AG is underlining yet again the full system compatibility and high value retention of its M series. The LEICA M8.2 integrates a new extra-quiet, low-vibration metal blade focal plane shutter which allows the photographer to determine the right moment for cocking. This brings the digital LEICA M8.2 extremely close to the ideal of the famous rubber cloth focal plane shutter of its analog sisters. Responding to the request of many professional photographers, the new black model has been given an even more inconspicuous design: the Leica dot and the accessory shoe now blend in with the color of the camera. The black version of the camera boasts a new extra durable high-quality deep black finish. The new snapshot mode will appeal to all those who want good results right away without knowing a lot about photography. If the shutter speed dial is turned to the new “S“ setting, the camera controls all the key features automatically, such as automatic exposure (aperture priority), automatic ISO speed setting and automatic white balance. For the three most commonly used subject modes, the LEICA M8.2 gives hints on aperture and focus settings, which are displayed when the “INFO” button on the camera monitor is pressed. The photographer can obtain further information from the new brief waterproof instructions which can be folded to the size of a credit card. The automatic ISO setting can be selected in all operation modes of the LEICA M8.2. Another new feature is a quick override setting: When the shutter release button is sustained as far as the first pressure point, a correction of +/- 3 stops in 1/3 steps can be made with the dial on the back of the camera. The setting is shown in the viewfinder. Further modifications include a more pronounced detent mechanism of the main switch of the camera to prevent inadvertent activation of the self-timer, and redesign of the bright line frames in the viewfinder to allow more precise determination of the picture frame for longer distances. The new LEICA M8.2 is the very first professional digital camera to use an ultra scratch- resistant sapphire crystal as coverglass for the camera monitor. It is so hard that it can be exclusively worked with special diamond tools and is permanently resistant to all mechanical or abrasive stress. The camera also sports a new easy-grip and specially robust “vulcanite“ finish. The new compact charger unit is designed to take up a minimum of space in the photograper’s bag, and charges the lithium ion battery to 80% in only an hour and a half. This is already sufficient for about 400 exposures, so if the full capacity of about 500 exposures is not required, the camera can always be recharged in a very short time. The new LEICA M8.2 has inherited the superlative image quality of the LEICA M8, resulting from the combination of the legendary M lenses with a CCD image sensor specially designed for the requirements of the Leica M system and high-performance image processing. The new Capture One 4 raw data converter of the Danish manufacturer Phase One ensures the best possible picture quality in the camera’s DNG mode. Unlike any other digital camera, the LEICA M8.2 is able to use almost all Leica M system lenses produced since 1954 due to their high standard of performance. Like its predecessors, the new LEICA M8.2 continues in the tradition of easy operation, concentration on the essential, few controls and logical, easy-to-follow menus. The LEICA M8 launched in the fall of 2006 is still available as an alternative to the new LEICA M8.2. Following a tradition of the Leica company that is unique in the world of digital photography, many elements of the new LEICA M8.2 can even be integrated into the LEICA M8: the shutter, the sapphire coverglass or the new viewfinder frames can be retrofitted by Customer Service. The LEICA M8.2 is available now at Leica stockists.

Panasonic Micro 4/3 camera image spotted in the wild.

As we head into Photokina, the images and spyshots start to crop up with greater frequency as NDA's and people's ability to keep their mouth's shut are strained to the breaking point. Here we see a picture of a Panasonic Micro 4/3's interchangeable lens camera. I believe the image is a computer generated model (albeit, a good one). But whether it escaped from a PanOLeica engineer's laptop or someone's fertile imagination remains to be seen.

The image evokes all of the design principles put forth in the recent Panasonic/Olympus Micro Four/Thirds announcement and the inclusion of Leica glass is very welcome (even if it is built by Panasonic) but I wouldn't be put off by some Zuiko glass well.

This next image shows the body with the lens removed exposing the 11 electrical contacts (up from 9 contacts in the standard Four Thirds mount). This brings up the mystery of the increase in contacts. For what purpose? Fear not! Our intrepid engineer (artist?) provides us with an answer: a shoe mounted electronic viewfinder (EVF)! Once again, the design specs of Micro Four Thirds are followed. The spec calls for no mirror box in this design. This leads one to believe that the camera would be Live View (on a rather generous rear LCD panel) or some sort of rangefinder affair. A high resolution EVF is an elegant compromise that allows SLR-like framing and maintaining the small size demanded by the spec. This ties in with the increase in electrical contacts between the lens and body.

So, is this image real or fake? I say fake inasmuch as it is a computer model of a camera that I fervently hope they will really build. If the sensor is as good as those offered in recent Olympus SLR offerings, this camera would make an excellent travel camera and backup for a full sized DSLR. Hopefully there will be a Leica version of it.

Big thanks to Leicarumors.com for the heads up about the images. Images courtesy of zuiko.exblog.jp.

Analysis of Micro Four-Thirds

With the recent press release by Olympus and Panasonic about Micro Four Thirds (m4/3), the photo-blogosphere has been buzzing concerning product announcements around this as Photokina 2008 approaches. To recap, Olympus and Panasonic announced a new variation of their five year old Four Thirds digital camera platform designed for smaller, thinner interchangeable lens cameras using the 4/3 sensor and capable of providing DSLR quality images in a smaller form-factor. However, there are many questions still floating about concerning the implementation of this digital-only specification. Translations of the press release has Olympus & Panasonic targeting women as the main demographic for this new camera format. They also feel, to a lesser degree, that DSLR owners will be interested as well. I feel that they are underestimating the desire of DSLR owners to have a small, easy-to-carry, high-quality backup camera. Sigma botched it with the DP1 and Nikon's recently announced P6000 may be trumped by this technology. Another group missed entirely is the rangefinder crowd. While Leica's M8 is currently the only interchangeable digital rangefinder on the market, the high cost of entry and camera's quirkiness (don't get me wrong, I own one and love it) tends to relegate it to being a niche player. Oddly, rumors have Leica quietly bowing out of the 4/3s Alliance and producing their own lower priced DRF. Will it be m4/3? Among the images shown during the press conference, a silhouette of a m4/3 camera body with a pancake style lens is shown. Will this proposed camera employ an optical or electronic viewfinder? Will it have a viewfinder at all - opting instead for a point and shoot Live View LCD instead? Quoting the Micro Four Thirds website: ...However, growing support for Live View shooting in the market presented another option. We could eliminate the conventional viewfinder and therefore the mirror box altogether. On this basis, the Micro Four Thirds System was conceived. It specifies the optimum flange back length required to reduce camera size and thickness, assuming the omission of the mirror box. The flange back length has been reduced to about 1/2 that of the Four Thirds System. This is considered short enough to allow radical reductions in size and thickness, without causing problems with the lens drive and while still reserving space for accommodating the devices indispensable for digital SLRs such as the low-pass filter and the dust reduction mechanism, as well as devices likely to be adopted in the future. So it looks like the first m4/3 camera is shaping up to be an interchangeable lens P&S design with a large (and hopefully high resolution) LCD display on the back act as a viewfinder. Hopefully, someone will market a shoe mounted optical viewfinder. Moving on to the new lens mount, the m4/3 spec calls for a lens mount that is 6mm smaller and has 11 electrical contacts to 4/3's nine. What are the two extra contacts for? According to the Micro Four Thirds website: "...the lens mount of the Micro Four Thirds System is equipped with two additional signal contacts for smoother Live View shooting with shorter time lags, faster higher communication speeds between the lens and body, and, of course, reduced lens and camera size. These two contacts will also be used in high-speed data processing required for the movie handling capability expected in the future." Movie handling? Interesting choice of words. Since they are using a Live Viewfinder as opposed to a more traditional design, the proposed camera can have a much smaller shutter box and still maintain the features we have all come to expect on high quality cameras: image stabilization, dust reduction and low pass filters. If you have existing 4/3 mount lenses, adapters will be available to allow you to mount them. Since the 4/3 spec for lenses calls for a tele-centric design, the additional distance from the shutter should not have any effect on the image circle. the question here is whether they will produce adaptors for other lens mounts? I, for one, have high hopes for the format. Olympus has really "stuck to its guns" with Four Thirds and now this new format will allow them to enter the blossoming high-end P&S market. I will be watching this with great interest!

CV intros new 28/2 Ultron lens in M-mount

In a press release dated July 17, 2008, Cosina Voigtlander introduced (or should I say, reintroduced) a new lens for the Leica M-mount: the CV Ultron 28 mm F2.

Based off of the now discontinued Ultron 28/1.9 LTM (Leica Thread Mount), the Ultron 28/2 is available only in black, adds a focusing tab that its predecessor lacked, and uses a 46 mm filter size.

Available Specs
Focal Length:	28 mm
Lens Assembly:	10 Elements in 8 groups
Aperture Range:	f2 - f22
Min. Focusing Distance:	.7 meters
Weight:	244g (8.6 oz)
Filter Size:	46 mm
Estimated Availability:	Mid August 2008

Pricing is not available at this time, however, Stephen Gandy over at Cameraquest is accepting pre-orders with a deposit of $100USD. It is unknown at this time whether the lens will maintain the aspherical lens element of its predecessor or whether the M-mount will bring up the correct framelines on a Leica M8. One would assume that since the Leica M8 is the only digital M-mount rangefinder currently in production that CV would set the mount up correctly for it. Regardless of any potential mount issues, this introduction bodes well for the continued life of the Leica M8 and its successors by providing high quality, lower cost alternative to expensive Zeiss and astronomical Leica glass.

Infrared Skies

Infrared Skies Originally uploaded by etrigan63

Second in my IR attempts, this one came a little better as a B&W image. Photo was shot RAW and converted to grayscale using the channel controls in Lightroom. Something interesting to note is that light colored objects are reflecting IR light while dark objects are absorbing them.

Infrared palms

Infrared palms Originally uploaded by etrigan63

When Leica designed the M8 they elected to install an extremely thin anti-aliasing (AA) filter over the sensor to increase the overall sharpness of the images captured by the camera. However, this had the side-effect of making the M8 sensitive to IR reflections. This manifested itself in certain dark fabrics (mostly synthetics) acquiring a magenta cast. Leica's fix was to issue IR/UV cut filters to be mounted over the lenses. The Leica community, however, realized that this "weakness" could be turned into an advantage. By using a B+W 092 Near Infrared filter the M8 is capable of capturing surreal images by blocking almost all of the visible light and recording the near-infrared portion of the spectrum. This was the first attempt (that I liked) using the M8 + 092 IR filter. Image was shot RAW and converted using Lightroom and a false color IR preset I got from KillerLightroomTips.

M8 at the Miami Metrozoo

Indian Elephant Originally uploaded by etrigan63

As I have two children (ages 10 & 7) our weekend social calendar is usually filled with birthdays. This weekend we attended one at the Miami Metrozoo. One of the other Dads was there with his Canon 5D + 500mm lens and I with my M8 + 75mm Color-Heliar. Here is a sample and a link to the photo set on Flickr. C&C always welcome. Shots are generally uncropped ( a couple were cropped a tiny bit to remove extraneous stuff ) and little or no post processing Lightroom. I am really digging the improvements from the new firmware. All of the shots were from a moving tram BTW. Link to photo set.

Leica M8 Firmware 1.201 Test - Multiple Light sources

Firmware 1.201 Test - Multiple Light sources Originally uploaded by etrigan63

I went to a local mall today and looked for a shot that included multple light sources. I managed to find a fine example that combines daylight, fluorescent light and incandescent (halogen) light. The image is unadjusted other than a conversion from DNG to jpeg in Lightroom 1.3.1. The AWB setting has managed to do a good job with this combo, maintaining the colors very well. Click on the image to see a larger version on Flickr.

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.

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.