Leica
February 3rd, 2010 by D-Photo
Action and adventure photographers best be prepared to submit their best images to the Red Bull Illume competition, as the final deadline for entries is fast approaching.
Amateur and professional photographers alike are invited to enter any of the ten categories, which include culture, playground, energy, spirit, close up, wings, SanDisk sequence, new creativity, experimental and illumination.
There’s a prize pool worth nearly $60,000, which includes the state-of-the-art Lecia S2 medium format digital camera.
Over thirty jurors from renowned media outlets in 14 different countries have already been confirmed to be part of the judging panel. They include photo editors from Stern View (GER), Outside (USA), Professional Photographer (UK), USA Today (USA), Sportweek (ITA) and Thomson Reuters (CAN).
With over 5,000 images submitted by 2,500 photographers so far, you’d better get in fast and enter your images online.
January 28th, 2010 by D-Photo
Leica is calling for entries in its international competition for professional photographers, the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, which boasts a prize of either 5,000 euros or Leica camera equipment of the same value.
Presented during the prestigious Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie photographic festival held in Arles, France, the competition requires photographers to submit a selection of ten to twelve images in which the photographer ‘perceives and documents the interaction between man and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, groundbreaking and unintrusive.’
A section for prospective professional photographers aged under 25, the Newcomer Award, will also be held, with a prize of 2,500 euros.
Applications from interested photographers will be accepted exclusively online at www.leica-oskar-barnack-award.com between 15 January and 15 March 2010.
December 17th, 2009 by D-Photo
Gary Pearce examines Leica’s top-of-the-line digital projector
Diversity, it seems, is key to business survival. McDonald’s has added chicken salads and flat whites to its menu of burgers and fries, while giant Korean electronics company LG has teamed up with the Italian fashion gurus at Prada to develop a new range of mobile phones.
And now the pioneer of photography has entered the large-format display sector with a projector designed for photographic exhibitions.
The new Leica Pradovit D-1200 is a DLP design, a technology well regarded for image quality and the ability to produce better than average black-level performance compared with LCD.
The Pradovit D-1200 made its debut at last year’s Photokina trade fair and provided a major talking point. Essentially, the D-1200 is a slide projector with state-of-the-art optics and outstanding image quality, combined with high-resolution digital video capability. No wonder tongues were wagging following its introduction.
Resolution is a handy 1920 x 1200, giving an aspect ratio of 16:10 that is close to the 35mm format invented by Leica. Texas Instruments developed the single-chip DarkChip DLP light engine specifically for the Pradovit, while Leica’s Vario-Elmarit-P f2.8-3.1/33-42mm high-speed lens promises image widths of up to 9.5 m. With projection distances of one to 15 metres, the D-1200 is perfectly formed for large-scale photographic duties.
Brightness is a claimed 2000 ANSI lumen (1400 in photo mode), so it will work well in most situations where ambient light is present.
Getting Connected
There is a raft of connectivity options, too. HDMI 1.3a and DVI-D are on board, as well as two VGA (allowing up to WUXGA resolution), while the mandatory composite/YPbPR and YCbCR
Component/S-Video make up the video connectivity numbers. Both LAN and USB inputs complete the computer options, while separate RS232 input and output and a handy 12v trigger make the Pradovit a cinch for custom installation.
Lightweight magnesium casework has been used for maximum durability, and while the Pradovit won’t win any awards for beauty, the quality of componentry and Leica’s superior optics produced images that upheld the company’s fine reputation.
On The Screen
After connecting the Pradovit to my Mac, it was fed a consistent diet of high-resolution TIFF and RAW image files. After a small amount of tweaking in the image menu (in the search for a neutral grey), I was quite amazed by the resolution and natural quality of the files I saw on screen.
The greens and autumnal oranges in landscape shots were extremely realistic, while the 16 x 10 resolution of the Pradovit made each image jump off the screen, but not in an artificial or enhanced manner. Digital noise was pretty much non-existent, making the Pradovit a class leader compared with any of the DLP displays I have experienced to date.
Moving to HD video produced similar results, with content from Blu-ray disc proving a satisfying experience. However, the D-1200 is not to be lumped in with the cheaper hi-res home theatre projectors; it is a serious exhibition projector first and foremost — with a price tag to match.
CONCLUSION
Leica’s new Pradovit D-1200 should be on the shopping list for any photographer wishing to display his or her work on a massive scale. The quality of its imagery will not fail to impress, and although expensive, it provides a window into the photographer’s subject without even breaking sweat.
LEICA PRADOVIT D-1200 DIGITAL PROJECTOR – SPECS
Type: DLP
Lens: Leica Vario-Elmarit-P
Aspect Ratio: 16:10
Resolution: 1920 x 1200
Engine: DMD single chip with Texas Instruments DarkChip
Contrast Ratio: 2500:1
Brightness: 2000 ANSI Lumen (1400 ANSI lumen in photo mode)
Operation Noise: 28dB (low lamp mode)
Connections: HDMI 1.3A, DVI-D, component, S-Video, Composite, VGA x 2 (max WUXGA resolution), RS232 in/out, 12v trigger
Lamp Life: 3000 hours
Dimensions: 300 x 104 x 268mm (W/H/D)
Weight: 3.6kg
CONTACT:
info@lacklands.co.nz
Pros
- Beautiful image quality
- Ruggedly built for durability
- Good light output for a typical exhibition installation
Cons
- It is a serious investment
Design 16
Performance 18
Features 20
Image Quality 19
Value for money 16
TOTAL 89/100
This article if from D-Photo issue 31.
December 15th, 2009 by D-Photo Videos
Commercial for the Leica M6 TTL
December 7th, 2009 by D-Photo
Leica is set to release its enormous new digital medium format offering, the S2 in December this year. According to the British Journal of Photography, between 100 and 200 units will be available on the camera’s initial launch.
The S2 system features its own class of specially-designed lenses, providing a 35mm-size camera capable of producing images 37.5 megapixels in size with its 30 x 45 mm sensor.
Leica’s New Zealand distributor, Lacklands, assured D-Photo that the S2 is on track for a local delivery sometime in the early new year, and would have pricing competitive with other medium format digital cameras.
October 1st, 2009 by D-Photo
Phil Hanson goes wide with Leica’s new compact and says it delivers pictures a pro would be pleased with.
Most of today’s compact digitals are good at pulling in reasonably distant objects with the ‘long’ end of their lens but suffer at the other end of the zoom range, where some cannot even offer a modest 35mm full-frame equivalent.
That’s fine for many photographers who can’t or don’t want to get close to the action, or who like a nice telephoto effect for their portraits. But the market hasn’t been kind to those who like to take photographs in the thick of things, or who enjoy the visual impact of wide panoramas.
Leica’s D-Lux 4 embraces the needs of wide-angle enthusiasts, offering a genuine 24mm full-frame equivalent view. And it goes one step further, with an optional 24mm optical viewfinder that slides into the hot shoe.
DÉJÀ VIEW
The D-Lux 4 replaces the similar looking and well regarded D-Lux 3 but there are many changes to what at first seems like a familiar camera. For example, the D-Lux 3 zoomed to an equivalent 112mm whereas the newcomer stops at 60. The D-Lux 3 didn’t have a hot shoe. But most important, the D-Lux 4 takes better pictures, if only because of less noise at higher ISO. The earlier camera was starting to get noisy at 400 ISO; now, 400 is fine and 800 quite usable.
Two things that haven’t changed are the quality feel of a well-built product and its good handling. I’m somewhat clumsy but the D-Lux 4’s controls, though small, are so well positioned that I never hit the wrong button, something I can say about few compacts.
WIDE PRIDE
The DC Vario Summicron lens offers an aperture of f2 to f2.8 and performs well wide open across the zoom range. Those who buy the D-Lux 4 for its wide view will be pleased by the low distortion and vignetting. Adding icing to the wide-angle cake is the ability to switch to a 16:9 picture format, in which the effective resolution drops to nine megapixels instead of the 10 in 4:3 format. I’m going through a 16:9 junkie phase, so that’s where I pretty much left it.
ON THE GO
Unfortunately, the D-Lux 4 is just a little too big to carry in a shirt pocket, but would be fine for a jacket or bag, meaning it can still be a constant companion.
Leica allows users to have full manual control, or you can just click it into Program and let it work on your behalf. This became my favourite mode because settings can be tweaked to suit your needs.
An easy alternative is using the various Scene modes, ranging from soft skin to film grain; but because Murphy’s Law says you always have the wrong scene selected for the picture that needs to be taken, I abandoned it in favour of Program.
CONCLUSION
Many compacts only produce pictures in JPEG format and there’s no problem with that for many applications. But the D-Lux 4 also shoots RAW, which allows a huge range of adjustments in post-processing and is favoured by professionals.
It’s when burying your head in the pixels during RAW processing that the stellar performance of the D-Lux 4 becomes apparent.
It’s no Leica M8, but costs a fraction of its big brother’s price and will produce images that are perfectly acceptable for the pro and keen amateur.
LEICA D-LUX 4 – Specs
- Effective pixels: 10.1 million
- Lens: DC Vario Summicron 5.1-12.8mm ASPH zoom (24-60mm full-frame equivalent) with image stabiliser
- Viewfinder: 24mm equiv
optional accessory
- Monitor: 3-inch TFT colour LCD
- Shutter: 60 sec-1/2000 sec
- ISO: auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200
- Shooting modes: Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority, Manual, 2 x custom modes, video
- Exposure metering: Multi-field, Centre-weighted averaging or Spot
- Focus modes: Autofocus, face recognition, AF tracking
- Flash: Auto, auto and anti-red-eye, long-time synchro and anti-red-eye, flash always, flash off, first/second shutter curtain
- Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable or optional mains unit/charger
- Dimensions: 109 x 60 x 27mm (W/H/D)
CONTACT
Your nearest stockist
PROS
- Genuine wide-angle performance
- Optional manual adjustment for almost everything
- It’s got that red Leica dot
CONS
Somewhat pricey
Design 18
Performance 18
Features 18
Image Quality 19
Value for money 15
TOTAL 88/100
This article if from D-Photo issue 29.
September 10th, 2009 by D-Photo
After more than 50 years designing and manufacturing cameras, Leica notched up another record, with the release of the M9, the world’s first, and smallest, digital rangefinder with a full-format sensor.
With a release date reading 09/09/09, the M9 looks identical to Leica’s from time immemorial, but sports a brand-new 18-megapixel, 24 X 36mm sensor, developed by Kodak. It also uses a rangefinder focusing system, which while unfamiliar to many users, is both fast and sharp.
A strong draw for the new camera is that like most other Leica’s, the M9 will remain compatible with almost every M lens developed since 1954. In a firm step into the 21st century, however, modern technology allows the M9 to correct optical aberrations and vignetting automatically.
The sensor was designed with a glass cover, which suppresses the infrared portion of the light spectrum, meaning photographers don’t need any special UV or IR filters. Every model also comes complete with a copy of the latest version of Adobe Lightroom for processing image files.
The camera will of course be offered in Leica’s signature black metal casing, although for the first time, the M-series model will be for sale in steel grey
September 10th, 2009 by D-Photo
Along with Leica’s slim full-frame camera announcement comes the release of the first in an entirely new line for the German camera manufacturer: the X1. While ostensibly a compact, the X1 includes a 12.2 megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor identical to those found in most dSLR cameras, allowing for low noise, high dynamic range and excellent colour differentiation.
The X1 also takes the bold step of including a prime lens, a fixed ELMAIT 1:2.8/24mm lens, with a focal length of 36mm – a classic option for reportage photographers, and likely to be rather sharp despite the missing zoom.
To keep the camera small, it also forgoes a built-in viewfinder in favour of a live-view mode accessed over the X1’s 2.7-inch LCD screen. An optional viewfinder attachment will be available for those unwilling to surrender to the screen.
The new compact also offers full manual controls, a retractable flash and ISO all the way up to 3200.
X1s will be available from Leica dealers sometime in January 2010, though local pricing and availability is yet to be confirmed. Stay in touch with D-Photo for further details.
August 4th, 2009 by D-Photo
Leica enthusiasts (and there are plenty of them) are about to completely lose it – the much-touted medium-format dSLR, the Leica S2, has finally been given a real release date: October 2009. It’s not going to come cheap though, with an estimated local price of about $40,000.
The incredibly-spec camera has the body of a dSLR but the soul of a medium-format, sporting a Kodak-designed 37.5 megapixel sensor at 30 x 45mm – about 56 per cent larger than the sensor in a full-frame dSLR.
And if the S2 isn’t exclusive enough, there’s an optional S2-P model which features a sapphire glass monitor screen and a ‘Platinum Service’ package for only a few thousand pounds more.
The S2 also will also have an entire range of specially-designed lenses that reportedly don’t suffer from such issues a vignetting.
Local release dates are yet to be confirmed, but one thing is certain: we want one.
June 30th, 2009 by D-Photo
Leica has released a new limited-edition version of its D-Lux 4 series camera sporting an outdoorsy olive green visage. The “Safari” version of the camera was first realised on the Leica M8.2, and a special run of only 6,000 cameras worldwide has been released for the D-Lux 4.
The green model will come bundled with a s matching carrying case, which also includes a nylon ‘rain cape’ to protect the camera while out on an adventure.
Available in September, the model will retail at around $1,995.
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