New Leica Gear on the Way!

[kzphoto]

@LeicaForum on twitter is live blogging the press conference from the new Leica HQ in Wetzlar. There looks to be gobs of new gear!

New Leica 90mm f/4 Makro:
http://ow.ly/i/5Ev46

New 28 Summilux f/1.4 with Leica M 100 special edition:
http://ow.ly/i/5EuTa

There's apparently a Leica M-A, a purely mechanical camera like the MP as well as some new special editions of the S2 and Monochrom.

Neat!!

 

[__jc]

I don't think the M-A replaces the MP, I read it as being a special edition model in stainless steel just for the 101 special edition kits.

 

[kzphoto]

Oh my bad! I figure it was a replacement for the MP.

http://twitter.com/LeicaForum for those interested.

 

[DavidKKHansen]

I don't think the M-A replaces the MP, I read it as being a special edition model in stainless steel just for the 101 special edition kits.

Hm, looks like the M-A won't be needing batteries... no light meter?

EDIT: If I had read the twitter feed, I would have seen that yes, the M-A is without any electronics at all.

 

[slidesandthecity]

If I understood the Westlicht newsletter regarding the auction tomorrow correctly, the M-A is not a limited production item.
What is limited is the "Leica M Edition 100", which is a set consisting of Monochrom, M-A, stainless steel Summiluxes 28/35/50, special edition Rimowa case and *drumroll please* a roll of Tri-X 😀.
Starting price for Edition 1/101 is 22k €.

 

[Keith]

Wow .... there's no holding back Leica's march into technology. A film camera with no meter .... who would have thought! 😀

 

[c.poulton]

Wow .... there's no holding back Leica's march into technology. A film camera with no meter .... who would have thought! 😀

Wow, I want one!

Hang on a minute - I've got one already - a Leica M2... :bang:

 

[Asim]

In the second link you posted the camera on the right must be the Leica M-A. It is just like the Leica MP except there's no battery compartment. Also it's not a Leica M3 because there are no indented frames around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. And its not an M2 because there is no M2 style frame counter. So the camera in the second link is totally new, mechanical, and is a film camera (it has a winder). So I guess it's the M-A. They could have added a self timer at least.

 

[furcafe]

Not following the twitter feed, but if it's meterless, then more of a revival of their Japan-only MP-3 repro from a few years ago.

Hm, looks like the M-A won't be needing batteries... no light meter?

EDIT: If I had read the twitter feed, I would have seen that yes, the M-A is without any electronics at all.

 

[maddoc]

A revival of the meter-less limited edition MP Classic perhaps ?

The 28 mm Summilux is great news, though !

 

[DavidKKHansen]

In the second link you posted the camera on the right must be the Leica M-A. It is just like the Leica MP except there's no battery compartment. Also it's not a Leica M3 because there are no indented frames around the viewfinder and rangefinder windows. And its not an M2 because there is no M2 style frame counter. So the camera in the second link is totally new, mechanical, and is a film camera (it has a winder). So I guess it's the M-A. They could have added a self timer at least.

Not following the twitter feed, but if it's meterless, then more of a revival of their Japan-only MP-3 repro from a few years ago.

The MP-3 has a light meter and is styled like an M3.

The new M-A is simply an MP without any electronics. The difference is that it's made with stainless steel with some modifications to the cosmetics (the front levers, shutter speed dial and rewind knob... can't see the back).

Agree that they could at least have implemented a self-timer where the battery compartment for the light meter usually sits... selfie's are so in these days, Leica should know that!

Leica have made meter-less MP's before:
http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/companies/Leica/Leica-M3/Leica-MP/index4.htm

The 28 mm Summilux is great news, though !

Agreed!! In 5-7 year's time there might be a chance that I can afford one used 😀

 

[furcafe]

That's right, it was called the "MP Classic" (c.2005).

A revival of the meter-less limited edition MP Classic perhaps ?

The 28 mm Summilux is great news, though !

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Full details of all the new stuff over here... http://lavidaleica.com/content/100th-anniversary-m-sets-and-more

 

[jarski]

Leica continues to specialize in special editions. not that I would not mind of having one 😛

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Would rather see some new CV glass. 😉

 

[Mark Schretlen]

Re: the Leica Macro adapter M

I am wondering if this adapter would work with a few other collapsable lenses. I guess you would need a collapsable extension which would be the same as the 90 macro. I am thinking of 1950's collapsable 5cm and 9cm Elmars but also wondering about the collapsable Summicron and the LTM Summar and Summitar.

What is the collapsable extension distance of the modern 90 macro Elmar?

EDIT: I see a few answers in the following link ...

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica...er-m/?utm_source=20140522en&utm_medium=E-Mail

 

[airfrogusmc]

Now if they would just make a digital MP wit hthe new CMOSIS sensor. Can't hurt to hope.

 

[veraikon]

Re: the Leica Macro adapter M

I am wondering if this adapter would work with a few other collapsable lenses.

from the german press release:

Da der Macro-Adapter-M sich auch zusammen mit anderen M-Objektiven verwenden lässt, ergeben sich für Leica M Fotografen vielfältige Möglichkeiten zur Bildgestaltung und für abwechslungsreiche Reportagen.

Mit Leica Objektiven ab 50 mm Brennweite lassen sich Makroaufnahmen bis zu einem Abbildungsmaßstab von 1:2 erstellen,
mit Weitwinkelobjektiven können noch höhere Abbildungsmaßstäbe erzielt werden.

Die erforderliche Objektentfernung nimmt mit der Brennweite ab.

Die Kombination von Adapter und Objektiven mit 28 mm, 35 mm oder 50 mm Brennweite sorgt für interessante Effekte.

 

[Jack Sparrow]

Why not just get the Novoflex LEM/VIS II (Extension Tube Set) - seems more useful.

 

[Mark Schretlen]

Hi Jack.

Actually an SLR with a macro lens would probably be more useful. 🙂

I am sure most would agree with you if you look at it as a simple extension tube. The new product has a lockable helicoid which would eliminate some unmounting /remounting of the accessory when used with the macro Elmar. The idea is to allow the lens to be used normally when collapsed and be used as a macro when it is in uncollapsed position. I was just wondering if other collapsible lenses could operated similarly. I think they could, but I expect Leica pricing will dampen a lot of interest in this product anyway.