Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Oregon Coast

We loaded up our new "Magic Bus" tonight, added some tunes to the Ipod and are heading out tomorrow morning for the Oregon coast.  Angela and I are scouting for Leica Akademie Workshop locations for next fall.  Stay tuned

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

M Technical Details


LEICA M
Technical Details

Camera Type
Compact digital view and rangefinder system still and video camera

Lens Mount
Leica M bayonet with additional sensor for 6-bit coding

Lens system
Leica M lenses, Leica R lenses with optional Leica R-Adapter M

Hardware Top Cover Material
Milled brass top cover with integrated thumb rest All metal case made of die-cast magnesium; synthetic leather covering. Cap and base plate made of brass.

Image Sensor
LEICA MAX 24 MP CMOS Sensor
Number of effective pixels
24 million pixels

Sensitivity range
ISO 200 – ISO 6400, Pull 50 available, Auto ISO

Imaging Platform
Integrated imaging circuit with Leica Maestro ® Image Processor

Electronic Viewfinder
Optional available, can be used with Live View and Play functionality

LCD Monitor
3” TFT Display with 920,000 pixels, scratch resistant cover glass

Shutter
Dual type focal plane shutter for classic image exposure and Live view

Shutter speed
1 / 4000s – 125s (in Bulb), 1/180s flash synchronization

Burst rate
3fps

Self timer
2s / 12s

Storage media
SD / SDHC / SDXC Memory Cards

Image file format
DNG TM (RAW data uncompressed or lossless compressed), JPEG

Available JPEG resolutions
5952px*3976px (24 MP), 4256px*2832px (12 MP)/2976px*1984px (6 MP)/1600PX* 1080PX (1.7 MP)

Color spaces
sRGB / Adobe ® RGB

White balance
Auto / Daylight / Cloudy / Shadow / Tungsten / Fluorescent warm / Fluorescent cool / Flash / Manual (Grey card) / Kelvin 2000-13100

Other functions
Film modes, saturation, contrast, sharpening, shadow brightening
Movie recording
Single frame video recording (Motion JPG), Quicktime format (mov)

Movie resolution
1080p, 720p, 640*480 (VGA)

Movie sampling rate
25 fps, 24 fps, 30 fps (VGA only)

Microphone
Mono, stereo microphone adapter optional available

Audio recording
Auto level adjustment, manual level adjustment (available while recording), concert preset

Exposure metering
In classic viewfinder mode: through the lens (TTL) metering, center-weighted with variable aperture In live view and advanced viewfinder mode: Through The Lens (TTL) metering, center weighted, spot or multi-field measuring Center- weighted TTL metering for flash exposure with system-conformant SC-3000/2 standard flash units

Exposure setting
Manual shutter speed setting with direct dial, A-Mode with direct dial

Exposure modes
Automatic shutter speed (A-mode), Manual Exposure (M-Mode)

Exposure compensation
-3EV to ± 3EV, 1/3 f-stops

Exposure bracketing
3 / 5 frames, 0.5 / 1/ 2/ 3 f-stops

Flash exposure meeting
Control with center-weighted TTL pre-flash metering (with SCA – 3501 / 3502 adapter, or SCA-3000 standard flash unit such as Leica SF 24D / Leica SF 58

Hot shoe
SCA-3502 compatible hot shoe, with center contact

Flash synchronization
Optional triggered at first or second shutter curtain

Flash sync time
1 / 180 s

Focusing methods
Manual focus with optional rangefinder, Live View, 100% Live View Zoom, Live View focus peaking, viewfinder focus confirmation

Optical viewfinder
Large, light bright-line rangefinder with automatic parallax compensation, LED illuminated frame lines

Optical viewfinder frame lines
Frame lines size matches image sensor size at 2m (6.5’) focusing distance

Optical viewfinder correction
Eyepiece adjusted to -0.5 dpt. Corrective lenses from -3 to +3 dpt. Available (optional)
Optical viewfinder magnification
0.68x

Optical viewfinder displays
In the viewfinder LED symbol for flash status (at bottom), four-digit seven-segment LED digital display, brightness adapted to ambient conditions for: Warning in case of exposure correction; display for automatic shutter speed in automatic mode; advisory indicating use of metering memory lock. LED exposure monitor with two triangular and one central circular LED with manual exposure setting and for focus confirmation.

Rangefinder
Split or superimposed image range finder shown as a bright field in the center of the viewfinder image

Rangefinder effective metering basis
47.1 mm (mechanical metering basis 69.25 mm x viewfinder magnification 0.68 times)

Start up time
< 1s

Power supply
Li-ion battery (included), 7.4 V, 1800 mAh

More information about the new Leica M


LEICA M
The future of the M System

Leica proudly presents a new innovation , the new Leica M.

The Leica M. As the first M camera to implement a newly designed and constructed CMOS image sensor and to feature additional focusing methods and functions like Live View and Full HD video capability, it is the most versatile model ever in the history of Leica rangefinder cameras and sets entirely new standards. It unites the numerous advantages of innovative digital technology with a rangefinder technology that has been continuously perfected over decades. At the same time, it remains true to the legendary values of the M-System, while expanding the opportunities offered by rangefinder photography - and, for the first time, offers compatibility with Leica R legacy lenses.

BENEFITS AT A GLANCE

The smallest interchangeable lens full frame camera in the world

 Best in class image quality Brilliant viewfinder quality and precise focusing through the Leica rangefinder

Outstanding image quality thanks to newly developed LEICA MAX CMOS Sensor

 Extended applications with Live View and electronic viewfinder

 Simple, high-precision focusing thanks to Live View focus and focus peaking

 Digital full frame for Leica R lenses, with the Leica R Adapter M

"Leica Look" videos with Full HD video capture

 Many additional performance enhancements

LEICA M
M for maximum image quality


LEICA MAX CMOS SENSOR The new Leica MAX 24MP CMOS sensor was developed exclusively for the new Leica M, resulting in outstanding image quality even at high ISO’s for available light photography in difficult lighting situations. This specially designed sensor architecture helps to achieve a perfect match between the camera and the Leica M and R lenses.

Extremely high image quality at all ISO settings and with all Leica M and R lenses.
LIVE VIEW AND ELECTRONIC VIEWFINDER The Leica M is the first M camera with Live View. The image can be displayed directly on the display - with full control of depth of field, exposure, composition and focus. The Live View feature supports applications which have been difficult to obtain with a rangefinder camera, macro and telephoto lenses for example. With the (optional) electronic Visoflex EVF-2 viewfinder, Live View allows the use of R lenses.

Increased versatility of the M System, expanding the possibilities of Macro and Telephoto photography.

FOCUS PEAKING The M in Leica M refers to “Messsucher”, the German word for “rangefinder”, manual focussing with the help of the superimposed image rangefinder. The Leica M features new focusing aids supported by live view. The Live View image can be zoomed in 2 stages up to 100% for enhanced assessment of the focus position. Focus peaking is a visual tool to help you assess focus. Sharp edges are highlighted in red, making the focus position clearly visible.

Simple, high-precision focusing, unmatched accuracy and versatility under all lighting conditions.

LEICA R ADAPTER M The Leica R Adapter M was also developed for customers who want to put their excellent Leica R lenses to digital use. The Leica R Adapter M is an optional accessory for the Leica M, allowing the use of newer R lenses of all focal length ranges, providing extremely high image quality across the frame.

Expands the focal length of lenses available to the Leica M. Zoom lenses can also be used without restriction.

MULTI-PATTERN AND SPOT EXPOSURE METERING In both Live View and rangefinder mode, advanced metering methods for exposure control are now available in addition to legacy Leica M center weighted metering.

Versatile light metering system for all lighting situations.

FULL HD VIDEO CAPTURE Leica lenses are world renowned for their resolution, color reproduction and attractive bokeh. It is now possible to use these legendary Leica M lenses for 24x36mm format videos - with full HD resolution at up to 25 fps. An optional microphone adapter set is available for the use of external stereo microphones. This set includes a high-quality stereo microphone, but other standard jack microphones can also be used.

Stunning HD Video capture using Leica M and R lenses. 3" DISPLAY WITH 920,000 PIXELS, CORNING® GORILLA® GLASS SCREEN PROTECTOR
Display resolution so high that you can't see the pixels with the naked eye.

An uncompromising tool for assessing sharpness and color.

SPLASH WATER PROTECTED BODY For professional use, even in difficult situations, the body of the new Leica M is protected against splash water, moisture and dust.

Weather resistant suited to an active lifestyle.

LEICA MAESTRO IMAGE PROCESSOR Photographing at more than 3 frames per second, faster image processing, energy-saving electronic systems and a higher capacity rechargeable battery mean that the new Leica M can withstand intensive use, without needing to recharge the battery.

The new Leica M is ready to shoot at any time.

Monday, September 17, 2012

New Leica Products

Leica has announced several new products at Photokina today.

They can be ordered from all San Francisco Leica Dealers now.  Be the first!!!