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91505 02/2006
LEICA M8
A dream comes true: the digital M is here
_ p. 8
LEICA DIGILUX 3
Unique Leica digital camera system _ p. 16 LEICA V-LUX 1
New all-in-one class in the Leica portfolio _ p. 22 LEICA D-LUX 3
Digital compact camera for creative photography _ p. 26 LEICA LENSES
New M high-performance lenses for wide-angle applications _ p. 14/15
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26 LEICA D-LUX 3 Versatile digital compact camera
22 LEICA V-LUX 1 New class in the Leica camera sector
Dear Leica friends, These are the most exciting days for Leica since the introduction of the landmark Leica M series over half a century ago. We are unveiling an entire range of unique new products, each a classic in its own right. The new LEICA M8, the centerpiece of the world’s first professional digital rangefinder system, is a bold statement destined to redefine the digital age. The new LEICA DIGILUX 3, our first stand-alone digital SLR and the first based on the optically effiDr. Ralph Nebe, Director cient four-thirds format and interchangeable Marketing & Sales lens system is also a superb creative tool. The cool new LEICA D-LUX 3 is the connoisseur’s compact, an elegant, high-performance 10-megapixel compact capable of outstanding performance. Finally, the new LEICA V-LUX 1, an amazingly compact all-in-one 10-megapixel marvel with a 12x zoom that gets out to 420 mm, is sure to appeal to birdwatchers, nature shooters and travellers worldwide. Is the message here ‘Leica goes digital’. Emphatically yes, but we’re also committed to supporting (or even extend) analog photography while bringing the esteemed Leica virtues of quality, durability, and value into the digital realm. You might say that we’re remaining true to our roots, but branching out. In any event, this is great news for legions of loyal Leica fans who now have a wider range of enticing choices than ever – all in the Leica tradition of excellence. Yours faithfully, Ralph Nebe
04 INTERVIEW Leica goes digital: Dr. Ralph Nebe and Stefan Daniel on the Leica product strategy
06 DIGITAL CAMERAS At a glance: All Leica digital cameras – their strengths, their areas of application, their features
08 LEICA M8 A big hit: At photokina, Leica presents the first digital ranging viewfinder camera
12
INTERVIEW New from the ground up: Project Manager Otto Domes on the challenge of designing the digital M
14
LEICA ELMARIT-M 28 mm/f2.8 ASPH. New wide-angle lens: the super-compact Elmarit as a versatile high-performance lens
15 LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M16–18–21 mm/f4 ASPH. Super wide-angle: a new lens with three fixed focal lengths for super wide-angle applications
16 LEICA DIGILUX 3 Tomorrow’s classic: the Digilux 3 as the foundation of a free-standing digital camera system
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16 LEICA DIGILUX 3 Unique Leica camera system
08 LEICA M8 Leica’s famous camera system
20 LEICA R SYSTEM Camera, back part, lens: the Leica R system and its superb possibilities
22 LEICA V-LUX 1 All-in-One: the V-Lux 1 enriches the Leica product portfolio with a new camera type
26 LEICA D-LUX 3 A camera for all seasons: the D-Lux 3 is a compact camera with the characteristics of a much larger camera
28 GLOSSARY Digital technical terms: a guide to new terms from the digital Leica world
29 RELAUNCH Attractive appearance: Leica with a new product website and a new advertising campaign
30 BIRDWATCHING Perfect double act: Steve Dudley on is experience with the V-Lux 1 and digiscoping Leica World News 3
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B R E A K T H R O U G H I N TO T H E D I G I TA L W O R L D Their names are M8, Digilux 3, V-Lux 1 and D-Lux 3: Leica Camera is currently bringing no fewer than four new high-performance digital cameras to the market. A well-thoughtout range with something to offer for everyone. The question arises: has Leica gone completely digital? Dr. Ralph Nebe and Stefan Daniel give us an insight into the strategy of Leica Camera AG.
In discussion: Dr. Ralph Nebe (left) and Stefan Daniel
Dr. Nebe, the LEICA DIGITAL MODULE R is completely ready to ship, the long awaited LEICA M8 will be launched at photokina together with a series of innovative digital cameras in the compact range. – Leica appears to have gone completely digital: is that fair comment? Dr. Ralph Nebe: The dominant market trend is certainly towards digital photography. It’s also a fair comment to say that Leica is fully committed to advancing digital photography, without however neglecting analog photography. Our over-arching objective is to offer fascinating, and supremely competent digital products in every s category that Leica enters. Some critics have said that Leica did not respond to the digital challenge quickly or aggressively enough. What has happened lately to change that perception? Dr. Ralph Nebe: Leica Camera has in fact been through a difficult phase. We have often been accused of being too late in recognizing the trend towards digital photography. In fact a small company such as Leica does not have sufficicent capacity to develop all the necessary core technologies itself, in the way that larger companies in our sector have done. Now that digital photography is past its infancy, these core tech-
4 Leica World News
nologies are available on the world market in the quality demanded by our customers and we are now in the active process of incorporating them into our products. In recent years the market for digital cameras has expanded at breakneck pace, but many potential Leica offerings in this field are still being considered, or are eventually released on a conservative timetable. What good reasons are there for choosing Leica in the digital field? Stefan Daniel: It’s well known that Leica’s trademark is better pictures. Leica lenses, which stand up to any test in analog photography, can now for the first time show what they can do in digital applications. At Leica it’s true of all our optics that we make no distinction between lenses ‘suitable for digital’ and ‘only for analog’. Every Leica lens delivers outstanding results, irrespective of whether or not it is used for taking pictures electronically. Furthermore, in focusing on better pictures, Leica products address not what is technically possible but what makes technical sense. In addition to the Digital-Modul-R that we have mentioned, and the forthcoming Leica M8, Leica is also launching the LEICA V-LUX 1, the LEICA DIGILUX 3 and the LEICA D-LUX 3 at photokina. Another exciting new development is the ultracompact LEICA C-LUX 1 that has already been launched. New products, new names – is there a system to this new range of cameras? Dr. Ralph Nebe: Certainly. We have set ourselves the ultimate objective of addressing a wider range of customers than ever before! The Leica C-Lux class stands for ultra-compact cameras with intelligent automatic functions, that simply make great pictures – an optical notebook in effect. The Leica D-
Lux class offers manual controls similar to those used to in larger cameras, to stimulate the creativity of the photographer; but it is still compact enough to be handy in all circumstances. The V-Lux class offers a great deal of camera in a pure single-lens reflex configuation and is thus ideal for ambitious photography when travelling or whenever there is a need to minimize the amount of equipment one is carrying. Finally, the LEICA DIGILUX 3 is the continuation of the successful Digilux class, which stands for creative photography at the highest level. It is the foundation model for a new exclusively digital camera system, that positively raises itself above its competitors in this product class by virtue of its traditional, well-proven operating concept and its outstanding picture quality. A highlight of this year’s photokina will be the market launch of the long-awaited LEICA M8 – the first digital M camera. Why has this designation been chosen? Isn’t the digital M really a completely new product? Dr. Ralph Nebe: The LEICA M8 is indeed a completely new development, but it’s also very important to realize that it is an eminently logical extension of the long tradition of M series Leica cameras which began in 1954. Basically for us the method of recording the picture – analog or digital – is of secondary importance. The primary reality is that this camera incorporates the core values of M series photography: the unique and superlative rangeviewfinder system, the exquisitely compact dimensions, discreet, quiet operation and cameras constructed of the best materials that deliver the very highest picture quality. To honor that tradition we have therefore quite deliberately decided against the designation ‘D’ or ‘digital’.
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The market for digital cameras moves extraordinarily quickly. To what extent does the digital M incorporate traditional Leica values such as long operating life and holding its value? Stefan Daniel: We have already noted that digital photography has now emerged from its infancy. We foresee that product life cycles will now be significantly longer than before--, say two to three years for top-tier products. In fact a professional digital camera has everything to allow it to deliver good results even a few years from now. I would say that the LEICA M8 is, like its predecessors, ‘timeless’ and in a very real sense, the first digital camera that merits this distinction. Its constructionuality amd performance are unsurpassed, it is designed to last many years. We have chosen a CCD sensor that will withstand deterioration over time and its DNG standardized raw data format will allowss open access to new operating systems in the future. Above all there is the consideration of system compatibility: anyone who invests in LEICA M lenses knows that this purchase will remain useful for many years to come – maybe even generations. What about the range of lenses: can I use my existing M lenses in the new digital world of the Leica M8, without loss of quality? Stefan Daniel: Leica has always placed great value on ensuring that the years of investment by our customer in their prized lenses should not be compromised by obsolescence. Therefore we have adapted the CCD sensor employing a whole set of measures such as the microlens offset, a set of microlenses in front of the pixels that displace the angle of incidence to accord with that of M system lenses. For some months now we have offered in addition the 6-bit coding, which optimizes the performance of current M lenses and can be added to most previous M lenses. It also offers additional advantages such as automatic compensation for vignetting, which was extremely difficult to combat when photographing with film. As well as the R and M series, Leica has added a third line to the the digital range with the Leica D system. How would you describe this system in distinction with the other Leica lens systems for digital cameras? Dr. Ralph Nebe: We see the well-proven R and M systems as the tools of the working professional photographer. The new LEICA D system allow us to offer our know-how in delivering superlative optical performance for the highest picture quality to a wider group of customers. Just as during the1970s we launched the successful LEICA CL, now the Digilux 3 offers the knowledgeable ama-
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teur enthusiast photographer a route into the world of LEICA system cameras. How have the special lenses for the D system been developed? Or to put it another way: can Leica here once again showcase its world class optical competence? Stefan Daniel: The requirements for the imaging performance of the D lenses and also the tolerances for manufacture of these lenses are subject to the usual Leica criteria that apply also to M and R lenses. This has enabled us to combine in an ideal fashion the Panasonic know-how, for instance in the area of optical image stabilization, with our optics technology. This synergy has helped generate very exciting new products, as you can see by examining the first D lens, the D 14–50mm. The LEICA DIGILUX 2 is well loved by the technical press and customers alike. Which features would you particularly draw attention to in its successor model? Stefan Daniel: The Digilux 3, successor to the Digilux 2, incorporates a major feature earnestly requested by a large number of our customers, namely interchangeable lenses!. This capability is is certainly unique in this class of cameras that retains the traditional ‘analog’ operating concept that appeals to many users. In addition the new model offers very useful functions, for
era in the range whose focal length extends up 420 mm in 35 mm format and which delivers the same magnification as 8.4-power binoculars. In this respect this is an outstanding alternative to the first mentioned solution. Leica is indeed the only manufacturer who can offer such a wide spectrum of equipment for dedicated birdwatchers. How would you describe the advantages of the LEICA V-LUX 1 – or, put another way – what are the special features of this camera? Stefan Daniel: The LEICA V-LUX 1 is a very ‘serious’ digital camera. It exploits the advantages of digital technology in very special ways. A small image sensor, which, thanks to particularly ingenious image processing system, nevertheless delivers very good results, permits use of a 12 times Vario lens, which would be inconceivable for analog photography in such as compact camera. This camera is an entire set of photographic equipment in one amazingly compact package. Users that place particular value on convenience but do not want to abandon a broad usage spectrum will find this camera eminently suited to their taste. The impressiveness of the LEICA D-LUX 2 is due at least in part to its in its elegant and functional design. At photokina the company will present its successor, the D-Lux 3. For whom is this new camera
“Leica is fully committed to digital, without however neglecting analog photography. Our objective is to offer interesting and capable digital products in every segment that Leica covers.” Dr. Ralph Nebe
instance the LCD monitor – very unusual in a single-lens reflex camera – which can also be used to preview the image. Ultrasonic sensor cleaning is another key feature that meets the demands of today’s market. The Leica high technological competence also finds expression in sport optics and ‘Digiscoping’, a technique used by many for bird watchers. Photography that combines a scope, adapter and digital camera is a major trend here. How suitable is the new camera for digiscoping? Dr. Ralph Nebe: In recent years we have created a wide range of solutions for nature documentation photography. Especially noteworthy of course are the LEICA D-LUX 3 with the DIGITAL ADAPTER 2 on the TELEVID scope, which is pretty much the ‘classic’ digiscoping solution. Furthermore the LEICA R system and also the new LEICA DIGILUX 3 can be used on scopes, by employing a the photo adapter. Also consider that in the LEICA V-LUX 1 we have a cam-
intended? Or, what are its most impressive technical features? Dr. Ralph Nebe: We have found that many dedicated photographers have assimilated the many manual control features of the D-Lux 2. Its successor, the D-Lux 3 is therefore a wonderful follow-up compact camera that one can always have ready to hand, even when one is simply travelling and has not set out deliberately with the intention of taking pictures. Neither should the unique choice of picture formats offered by this model be overlooked, above all the 16:9 format, which in the networked work of multimedia is more and more in demand. Finally: Can we now say that Leica with its traditional values of quality, value retention, reliability, and long service life has now found its place in the digital world? Dr. Ralph Nebe: Emphatically yes, I’m convinced that it has. Such enduring values never go out of fashion.
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CAMERA
L E I CA S E T S O N D I G I TA L : T H E P R O D U C T P O R T F O L I O AT A G L A N C E
M System : LEICA M8
D System : LEICA DIGILUX 3
ADVANTAGES
PROFILE
APPLICATION AREAS
PRACTICE
R System : LEICA DIGITAL MODULE R
Travel and reportage
• Travel and reportage
Available light
• Available light
• Travel and reportage Available light
• Nature and macro
Nature and macro
Nature and macro
• Studio and portrait
Studio and portrait
Studio and portrait
• Landscape
Landscape
Landscape
Fine art photography
• Fine art photography
Fine art photography • Leisure time, candid photography
Leisure time, candid photography
Leisure time, candid photography
The analog digital system - a hybrid mirror
The first digital Leica ranging viewfinder
New Leica digital camera system –
reflex system unique in the world, for
camera – carrying over a classic concept into
the first Leica digital system camera for
optionally analog or digital photography.
the digital world. Specially-designed sensor
exchangeable lenses to the four-thirds
Well-engineered mirror reflex technology in
for the M8, with 10 million pixels. Bright-line
standard. 7.5 megapixel LiveMOS sensor,
combination with digital technology.
ranging viewfinder for determining the exact
optical image stabiliser, quick and precise
Specially-designed sensor with 10 million
extent of the picture and for precise focusing.
autofocus, lightning-fast image process-
pixels. Comprehensive palette of 26 Leica
Clean design with no fussy embellishments.
ing, classic operating concept.
high-performance lenses for the widest
Wide range of lenses, suitable for digital appli-
diversity of challenges.
cations.
With the Leica R system the customer obtains
The LEICA M8 is the digital interpretation of a
The new Leica D system opens up unique
a particularly robust camera system. ‘Made in
well-proven camera system. A professional
new possibilities for ambitious amateur
Germany’, it holds its value well. High-quality
craft tool for quick-reaction discreet photo-
photographers. Exposure time, focal length,
materials such as aluminium or magnesium
graphy – and distinctive pictures. The photo-
aperture and depth of focus can be adjust-
ensure a long service life and reliability even
grapher can see his subject throughout the
ed as quickly, precisely and creatively as
under extreme conditions of use. As a univer-
exposure time. And even in poor available
with conventional digital SLR cameras. In
sal and flexible camera system with relevant
light the bright high-contrast viewfinder per-
combination with the Leica Vario-Elmarit
functions which concentrate on the essen-
mits quick and precise focussing. No other
14–50 f/2.8–3.5 ASPH. high-performance
tials, the Leica R is entirely at the disposal of
professional camera is as compact as the
lens the customer obtains a photographic
creative photographers.
Leica M – or as quick.
tool that concentrates on the essentials for pin-sharp, shake-free pictures even under the most difficult conditions.
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V-Lux Line : LEICA V-LUX 1
• Travel and reportage Available light • Nature and macro Studio and portrait • Landscape Fine art photography • Leisure time, candid photography
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D-Lux Line : LEICA D-LUX 3
• Travel and reportage
C-Lux Line : LEICA C-LUX 1
Travel and reportage
Available light
Available light
Nature and macro
Nature and macro
Studio and portrait
Studio and Portrait
Landscape
Landscape
Fine art photography Leisure time, candid photography
Fine art photography • Leisure time, candid photography
Compact, high-performance digital
Compact digital camera for creative
Particularly compact digital camera as
camera – the new class in the Leica prod-
picture composition – very high picture
your constant companion – high-quality
uct portfolio. High-performance ‘all-in-
quality thanks to high-performance 10
digital camera with particularly compact
one’ camera for demanding photography.
megapixel sensor, integral image stabiliser,
dimensions. Equipped with 6 megapixel
12 times zoom up to 420 mm (35 mm for-
variable lens for 28 –112 mm (35 mm for-
sensor, optical image stabiliser, auto
mat), 10 megapixel sensor, integral image
mat), 3 selectable picture formats: 16:9,
focus and variable lens for a focal length
stabiliser, quick and precise autofocus,
3:2 and 4:3, brilliant 2.8 inch display, built-
range conversion of 28–102 mm.
swing-out display.
in flash.
As a bridge camera the LEICA V-LUX 1
The manual setting facilities of the D-Lux line
The camera’s particularly compact dimen-
offers high-tech at an attractive price.
offer a compositional freedom unusual in this
sions are captivating. It is also equipped
Its compact dimensions and low weight
class. Additional features are the high-quality
with a high-quality Leica lens, in this case
combined with its key technical data make
machining and clean, timeless design. Small
the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 4.6–16.8
it a high-performance all-rounder camera.
and elegant, the LEICA D-LUX 3 is ready at
ASPH. f/2.8–5.6. With its extremely short
It combines the highest picture quality with
any time to crystallise the photographer’s
response time and precise autofocus
handiness and comfort. The swing-out
personal view of the world into concrete
metering, it catches those wonderful
2 inch display with its high resolution of
form.
moments quickly and reliably. In short: a
207,000 pixels permits convenient photo-
camera that is both high quality and robust,
graphy even from the worm’s eye or bird’s
a high-tech piece of chic design, that you
eye perspectives. Ideal also for nature
always want to have with you - on your trav-
photography and bird photography.
els, when watching sport, on holiday or at your work.
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L E I C A M 8 : T H E D I G I TA L M At photokina, Leica will present the M8, the world’s first professional digital range/ viewfinder camera. With its well thought-out technology this landmark camera rigorously carries forward the acknowledged excellence of the M system into the new age.
and has proven itself with dazzling distinction ever since. From the start it was the very embodiment of high tech ‘Made in Germany’ and accompanied by a ranges of lenses brilliant in every sense of the word it quickly won the hearts of most of the great photographers of the second half of the 20th century. A workhorse, and at the same time a much beloved friend, no other camera system has touched the emotions as deeply as the Leica M, which in the form of the current LEICA MP and LEICA M7, has held a special place even in this age of new technology. In recent days the world has become incontrovertibly ‘digital’, and it was just a question of time before the Leica M was also available in a digital version. The term ‘just’ is however something of an understatement, since the design of a camera worthy of the title ‘digital M’ demanded an enormous amount of research and development. – Development Manager Otto Domes permitted us a glance behind the scenes, which we can now recount in these pages. To put it another way: the LEICA M8 is not just the continuation of a proven principle. What was really required was identifying and assimilating the essence of a great idea and translating it into a different technological modality - all while maintaining proven parameters. And of course, it was also essential to preserve the timeless design, maintain the full compatibility of the lenses, the much admired compactness of the camera, and it’s superb handling and and user-friendliness. Last but not least, its unique charisma could not be compromised or diluted. As a renowned photographer once said: ‘The Leica is the only camera with a soul’.
Photo: Ronald Schmidt
T H E M SYS T E M was launched in 1954
Now here it is at last. After so many readymade digital meals, a fine dining experience is about to arrive. The first impression? The M8 is perfect, a masterpiece of integration and down to the last detail, beautiful and reassuringly solid. Doubtless the enclosed solid metal body has something to do with that. The top panel and bottom cover are brass. That feels good and solid. The design bespeaks the legendary Leica characteristics of stability and solidity, creating – as it were a – strong, durable protective overcoat for the sensor, which has been specially configured for the M8 with an effective resolution of 10.3 million pixels. The sensor measures a generous 18 x 27 mm, yielding a multiplication factor – compared to the marked focal length – of only 1.33 (compared to the more usual 1.5 to 1.6) and a classic aspect ratio of 3 : 2. Thus the focal length of 35 mm focal length beloved by many photojournalists is converted into a standard focal length of about 50mm. Tele lenses enlarge the image slightly more than their focal length would indicate, for the same reason. For the first time, the overall thickness of the cover glass for the
image sensor is kept to a mere 0.5 mm, which together with the optimization of the edge areas of the image leads to outstanding picture results. The micro lenses arranged over the light-sensitive sensor layer are offset by an amount corresponding to the distance to the optical axis. This yields digital pictures free of vignetting with a maximum colour correction at the image edges. To fully exploit the high resolution of the Leica M lenses, the typical Moiré filter was discarded because of the inevitable loss of resolution that it entailed. Instead, electronics in the image-processing circuitry eliminate distortion of the signal within the camera. In this way picture noise is optimally reduced in the available light ranges so vital to M-photographers and high picturetaking performance is maintained even at speed settings of ISO 2500. Exposure times range from as long as 32 sec plus ‘B’ at the slow end, up to a top shutter speed of 1/8000 sec at the top end (with, of course, a full range of intermediate shutter speeds available). The metal bladed focal shutter offers additionally very short flash synchronization times to 1/250 second,
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which is very useful for fill-in flash an minimizes ghost images. A choice is offered between first or second shutter curtain synchronization is also provided. In addition, the LEICA M8 for the first time uses the new M-TTL flash technology which fires an initial ranging burst immediately before the actual flash exposure. The camera uses this metering flash to calculate the amount of light required and combines this information with the available ambient brightness reading to achieve a naturallooking result that preserves the mood of the scene. The picture data are loaded to the computer using the quick USB 2.0 interface. The robust, secure connection is located on the left side of the camera next to the LCD monitor. The LCD itself is an impressively large 2.5 inches with a resolution of 230,000 pixels, which allows precise and easy checking of detailed subjects. It is also easy to verify illumination levels and accurate exposure of the subject by using the RGB tonal value histogram which provides a clear overexposure warning identification for the respective subject areas. The magnification using the zooming display function is performed in four stages using an adjustment wheel that allows assessment of even the finest details in the recorded image, including a clipping warning. Once the dust-proof battery and memory card compartments are closed by fitting the bottom plate, the camera can be activated. The power supply is provided by a specially designed lithium ion rechargeable battery with 3.7 V voltage capacity and 1900 mAh power capacity. An SD card of up to 4 GB is used as the data storage medium. This must be inserted into the compartment, otherwise, for safety reasons, the M8 will not operate. The digital M is turned on using the main switch (which has settings for individual and continuous framing plus self-timer). The shutter release is activated in 3 stages and has a standard tapped socket for attachment of a conventional mechanical cable release. The view through the extremely bright projected frame-line viewfinder shows the rangefinder focusing images distinctly even at twilight, and the frames themselves are compensated for parallax error so they show the true borders of the picture area for focal lengths 24 and 35, 28 and 90, or 50 and 75 mm. The shutter speed (manual and automatic) is set using the milled shutter-speed wheel while all other functions are activated using the menu on the rear LCD. The photographer by simply rotating the dials and pressing the buttons can make all
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the necessary settings instantly within the two clear and simply structured menus. By selecting ‘Set’ the picture parameters such as speed settings, picture data, format and white balance can be adjusted. By pressing the ‘Menu’ button you can easily access all the required basic settings. You will search in vain for multiple-loaded function keys and submenus on the new M8. The digital Leica M saves its data in the future-secure Adobe® DNG or JPEG for-
mats. There are four colour range settings: Adobe RGB, sRGB or ECI RGB). Leica has cooperated with the Danish manufacturer Phase One to perform the laborious work of camera profiling and the necessary software configuration. The result is a set of quality-optimized algorithms for digital colour processing which deliver images with particularly low-noise levels while at the same time maintaining astonishing image resolution. The professional RAW
TECHNICAL DATA LEICA M8 Compact digital range/viewfinder system camera for professional use with full range of Leica M lenses. Microprocessor-controlled metal blade focal-plane shutter. Image sensor:
Resolution 10.3 million, pixels, Physical Dimensions: 18 mm x 27 mm, Focal-length extension factor: 1.33x, Aspect ratio 3:2.
Image resolutions:
DNG: 3916 x 2634 pixels (10.31 MP); JPG: 3936 x 2630 pixels (10.35 MP), 2952 x 1972 pixels (5.8 MP), 1968 x 1315 pixels (2.6 MP), 1312 x 876 pixels (1.15 MP).
Data formats:
Adobe® DNG (camera manufacturer-independent Digital Negative Format), two different stages of JPEG compression, 16-bit colour resolution, 10.2 MB file size per image
Sensor speed:
ISO 160/23° to ISO 2500/35°
White balance:
Automatic, six pre-set levels s, manual white balance, manual colour temperature settings from 2,000K to 13,100K.
Color spaces:
Adobe® RGB, sRGB, ECI RGB.
Color monitor :
2.5" large bright LC-Display with a resolution of approx. 230.000 pixels
Exposure metering: Heavily center-weighted TTL exposure metering with at working aperture. Metering range EV0 to EV20 at 20°C ambient temperature, aperture 1.0 and ISO 160/23°. M-TTL Guide Number Control with metered pre-flash using accessory shoe SCA 3502 (from version M4) or with LEICA SF 24D Viewfinder:
Large bright, projected frame line viewfinder with automatic parallax compensation showing precise border of the recorded image viewfinder optics with reduced sensitivity to stray light and optimum visibility of all bright line frames under all illumination conditions. Borders Magnification 0.68x (for all lenses). Rangefinder uses both split-image and superimposed-image distance-measuring for maximum precision combination. Effective measurement base 47.1 mm (mechanical measurement base 69.25mm x viewfinder magnification 0.68x).
Lens mount :
Leica M bayonet with additional optical reader for identification of all 6 bit-coded lenses.
Exposure control:
Automatic (Auto) and aperture-priority with corresponding viewfinder display. Manual exposure with adjustment by means of illuminated light balance LEDs in the viewfinder.
Shutter speeds :
When in automatic mode (A), step less from 32 s to 1/8000 s. In manual mode, setting from 4 s to 1/8000 s in half stop increments plus B for open exposures of any duration. Flash synchronisation times from B (bulb) to 1/250 sec.
Storage medium:
SD cards up to 4 GB
Power supply:
Lithium ion rechargeable battery with a voltage of 3.7 V and 1900mAh.
Interface:
5-pin standard mini-USB socket USB 2.0. LEICA DIGITAL CAPTURE allows the camera to be operated by software using a USB 2.0 connection.
Size (W x H x D):
approx. 51⁄2 in x 31⁄7 in x 11⁄2 in, Weight without rechargeable battery: approx. 191⁄4 oz
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A special camera for special pictures: photo professionals are happy to acknowledge the uniqueness of the Leica M system. With the new M8 Leica has successfully transferred a timeless camera concept into the digital world. Photos: Ronald Schmidt
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data converter Capture One LE ensures that the data supplied by the CCD sensor and stored in the future-secure Adobe® Digital Negative Format (DNG) are processed to yield the best possible quality. All in all, the 16 bit-image data generate astonishing image resolution, an extended dynamics range and an amazingly wide range of tonal values. The exposure metering allows newcomers to the M family to operate in a reassuringly familiar way, with precise, heavily center-weighted TTL exposure metering and pre-set working exposure. In automatic mode the extremely
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important technique of controlling and limiting depth of field can be easily employed as an image creative tool when taking pictures. An unobtrusive twist of the aperture setting ring on the M lens is all it takes to give a range of different impressions of the subject. To sum it all up, it can be authoritatively stated that : the new LEICA M8 seamlessly integrates the state-of-the art digital technology with the much admired attributes of the M family in a spectacularly successful synthesis. In a most impressive way, the M8 concentrates on the essential
functions and thereby proves itself to be a truly professional rangefinder camera in a digital world. The interaction of classic and digital components mesh together so harmoniously that once again the creative element that is the picture itself—comes to the fore, in uncompromising quality. And due to the miracle of digital technology, that image is now immediately available for viewing after taking the picture. MICHAEL NISCHKE
L E I C A M 8 : A N E W C O N C E P T D E V E LO P E D FROM THE GROUND UP The LEICA M8 opens a completely new chapter in the history of cameras, being the first professional digital camera that is ‘Made in Germany‘. Development Engineer Otto Domes talks about the hurdles that had to be surmounted on the road to the digital M – and the capability and dedication of the design that made it possible.
Mr. Domes, the new LEICA M8 is a complete technological reinterpretation of a proven camera system: is that a fair summary? Otto Domes: Certainly the M8 has been newly developed from the ground up. The most challenging aspect of its design however was retaining the the essential character so widely admired in the in the Leica M character. A completely new system such as the LEICA M8 has in many ways a long gestation period: what technical, operating and logistical preparations did Leica have to make in order to be able to manufacture the M8 in Solms? Otto Domes: A whole range of adjustment, calibration and test equipment had to be developed and made from scratch so that the M8 could be manufactured in Solms. For instance the sensor must be adjusted within the camera to tolerances of a few μm, and then checked again to verify that it is in exactly the correct position. Moreover, the
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increased cleanliness demands of manufacturing the digital M8 made it essential to assemble it in a clean room. In a relatively short time we have created ideal conditions for assembly, which satisfy the technical and also the logistical requirements for a flexible manufacturing program. It’s nothing new to say that the Leica engineers are well-known for their legendary precision and mechanical knowhow. Is the same true for the digital competence of the Leica staff in terms of camera development and manufacture? Otto Domes: We found we had to add new knowledge to our existing know-how, to increase our knowledge base in all areas, in particular in digital technology and image processing. Based on our experience with the Digital-Modul-R we have recently attained a high level of competence in these respects. How would you describe your goals in reference to the technical specifications of the M8?
Otto Domes: One major challenge we faced was keeping the camera unchanged in its external dimensions. This caused us many headaches in camera design: for instance we had to bring the bayonet mount forward by 2 mm from the camera body, to keep the camera itself as thin as possible. This seemingly small change meant that the exposure meter drive had to completely redeveloped. A key innovation in the M camera is the metal blade slot shutter used on the M8. This incorporates a white blade for exposure metering and a specially developed quiet motorized movement. The white blade in turn meant that a completely new exposure meter was required. What specific characteristics of the M system could be retained in the digital world:, or, put another way – to what extent is the M8 really an M? Otto Domes: The viewfinder is essentially the same as for all M cameras, it has only been modified somewhat in the M8. A further typical M feature also used in the M8 is
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the detachable bottom cover. Perhaps even more important the materials used in the M8 are those that have been employed since the early days, such as the solid chromeplated brass for the top panel and bottom cover. However this question can really only be answered when you take the M8 in your hands and use it the first time. Then you have the best answer to your question. Since the introduction of the M3 the Leica M system has demonstrated trailblazing technological innovations over and over again. What innovations, development and inventions are particularly striking about the M8? Otto Domes: Firstly the patented 6-bit coding of the lenses should be mentioned; this leads directly to optimization of the picture results and enables various additional functions. Also, Leica is one of the very few camera manufacturers that has not taken an image sensor ‘off the peg’ so to speak. Instead we have optimized the sensor to the performance characteristics of M lenses in a variety of ways such as a special microlens design with suitable optical displacement at the edges of the image field, so that despite their especially short back focus a comparatively small focal length extension factor of only 1.33 can be achieved. The Leica M has adopted the classic formula ‘Form follows Function’ and by this means has evolved a virtually timeless design, which is impressive in both its elegance and ergonomic shape but also its compactness. To what extent could design and dimensions be retained for the digital M? Otto Domes: The height and width of the camera are the same as for the M7, only regarding the depth was it necessary to make the camera about 3 mm thicker to accommodate the CCD sensor, the digital hardware, and the LCD monitor and its protective glass. By using magnesium alloy for the body on the other hand we have been able to keep the overall weight unchanged. To what extent does the new camera maintain that tradition – in particular regarding shutter release delay? Otto Domes: For a digital camera the shutter release delay is extraordinarily short. Indeed, we have achieved a shutter release delay that is shorter than that of any digital SLR camera on the market. In practice however this difference is virtually immaterial. The speed of the M8 is primarily due to parallel processing of the image signals that results from the simultaneous storage and reproduction of the image. A good comparison is with multi-tasking in the world of computers. We also regarded it as of major importance to develop a camera that was extremely quiet. The new shutter mecha-
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A special camera for special pictures: photo professionals are happy to acknowledge the uniqueness of the Leica M system. With the new M8 Leica has successfully transferred a timeless camera concept into the digital world. Photos: Ronald Schmidt
nism certainly has a new sound, but the hard work that has been put into it to achieve noise linearization has made it practically as quiet as a traditional cloth focalplane shutter. Where do you see the absolute strengths of the LEICA M8, and which technical features would you particularly draw attention to? Otto Domes: Perhaps the basic design philosophy of the M8 is that we didn’t simply intend to doesn’t pursue the use of the largest range of high technology functions for their own sake. Instead we were motivated by the
Otto Domes: Our first users have complimented us on the small number of buttons and the simple menus. It now appears as if everything is quite intuitive and simple, but our development staff assures me it really made their brains hurt when they were actually thinking out how to accomplish these things. During the development of the M8 you worked with Kodak as a partner. To what extent is the M8 really a Leica ‘Made in Germany’? Otto Domes: Kodak is our approved supplier for image sensors. The entire camera was
“We are one of the very few camera manufacturers that have also not taken an image sensor ‘off the peg’, instead we have optimised the sensor to the M lenses .” overall concept of a quiet, discreet and compact camera, which simply produces outstanding pictures, and gives the feeling that the camera in your hand is a true M. Are all M lenses compatible with the digital M, with no loss of quality? Otto Domes: With very few exceptions all M lenses can be used on the M8. As mentioned previously, we have adapted the sensor to suit these lenses so that there is no loss of quality. Of course, modern M lenses are now supplied with 6-bit coding, aspherical technology or achromatic correction for the best results. The Leica M system always stood for the ultimate in user-friendliness and quick, intuitive handling. What do the initial users say about the digital M?
Otto Domes
however developed, designed and planned for manufacture in Germany. The vast majority of parts that we do not make ourselves come from German suppliers. And of course the camera is built and adjusted by us in Solms in the clean room set up specially for the purpose. We really are quite proud to be able to say that the M8 is the first professional digital camera that is ‘Made in Germany’. Otto Domes is a Technical Project Manager at Leica Camera and as such responsible for the development of the LEICA M8. The interview was managed by Hans-Michael Koetzle.
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WIDE ANGLE: NEW CLASS FOR THE M The introduction of a new lightweight, compact, high-performance wide-angle lens underlines yet again the high optical achievements of Leica engineers – especially
Photo: Brian Bower
in the critical field of aspherical technology.
W I D E - A N G L E L E N S E S are more or less standard equipment for Leica M photographers. In reportage photography, short focal lengths are indispensable. They let you get close to events, so they stand for authenticity and guarantee pictures whose visual language is lively and exciting, in which the elements come together pictorially in a way that transcends what is visible by the naked eye. To put another way, wideangle lenses lead almost automatically to
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an injection of dynamism to the picture, supported by a camera system that is flexible, lightweight and inconspicuous – the Leica M. Leica has now extended the rich palette of M series lenses by the addition of an extremely compact wide-angle lens, which at 180 grams is downright lightweight. The LEICA ELMARIT-M 1:2.8/28 mm ASPH. is a completely new design with an overall length of only 30 mm it is also the most compact M lens of all. The very high image resolution combined with the astonishingly low weight is achieved by the use of aspherical lens surfaces. Leica remains the leader in this technology, a fact that should be of special interest to photographers who aspire to the new LEICA M8. Here the Elmarit yields an equivalent focal length of about 35 mm, which is generally regarded as the ideal focal length for liveevent or reportage photography. The LEICA ELMARIT-M 1:2.8/28 mm ASPH. yields
virtually distortion-free images down to its minimum focusing distance of 0.7 m. The new Elmarit-M 28 mm is comprised of eight elements in six groups. The classic quick-change bayonet is affixed with a 6bit code lens identification to optimize its performance on the digital LEICA M8. The LEICA ELMARIT-M 1:2.8/28 mm ASPH. is available beginning in October in a black anodized finish. The range of accessories available includes the lens hood with its cover, a metal front lens cap, a rear cover and a napa leather tubular case. All in all the new LEICA ELMARIT-M 1:2.8/28 mm ASPH. represents a notable achievement as a versatile high-performance lens. It combines the all the elements of high optical competence for which Leica Camera engineers are renowned, and it can be strongly recommended as the first ‘standard optic’ both to seasoned professionals and entry-level users of the M system. HMK
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L E I C A L E N S E S W I D E - A N G L E TO T H E T H I R D P O W E R ! This remarkable new lens that combines three popular fixed focal lengths opens up a new super wide-angle field to the Leica M photographer. To complement it, we’ve launched an equally amazing new compact universal viewfinder – an exquisite piece of precision optical equipment in its own right!
T H R E E F I X E D F O C A L L E N G T H S in a single lens? As far back as 1998 Leica introduced the LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M 1:4/ 28–35–50 mm ASPH., a highly unusual but very successful lens solution developed by the Leica optical engineers. Well, those same engineers have now taken this concept one logical step further with the new LEICA-TRI-ELMAR-M 1:4/16–18–21 mm ASPH. Whereas the Tri-Elmar-M 1:4/28– 35–50 mm incorporated three of the focal lengths most favored by 35 mm format users, the new Tri-Elmar opens up the super wide-angle field right down to focal lengths of 16 und 18 mm, previously unavailable in the Leica system, and thus posing an attractive challenge to creative Leica M photographers. The first thing that strikes you about the new Tri-Elmar-M 1:4/16–18–21 mm ASPH. is its extraordinarily compact design, a mere 63 mm length, a direct result of the special mastery of aspherical technology at Leica Camera. Two of the total of ten elements (in seven groups) incorporate aspherical surfaces. Also the future-oriented principle of internal focusing has been implemented in the new Tri-Elmar. This means that a floating element is used to ensure significantly improved quality, especially for close-up applications. For hyperfocal photography a depth of field ranging from 0.5 m to infinity can be used. Due to its minimal distortion and virtually imperceptible field curvature, the LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M 1:4/16-18-21 mm ASPH. is recommended even in the demanding field of architectural photography. Of course the Tri-Elmar is fitted with 6-bit coding and thus is suitable for use on the new LEICA M8, where with an effective focallength range of 21–28 mm, extreme wideangle perspectives can also be achieved. At the market launch time in December, Leica Camera will also have a new universal wide-angle viewfinder in its range, which will permit the use of the new TRIELMAR-M 1:4/16-18-21 mm ASPH. with analog M7 and MP models and also with the digital M8 with focal length multiplica-
The new wide-angle viewfinder for 16, 18, 21, 24 and 28 mm. In combination with the new Tri-Elmar you secure yourselves interesting price advantage.
tion factored in. Using this viewfinder attachment the photographer can precisely determine the picture field for any of a total of five Leica focal lengths – namely 16, 18, 21, 24 and 28 mm. The parallax compensation control allows the true extent of the picture to be displayed at any focusing distance. One aspherical and one achromatically corrected lens here ensure a very low stray light susceptibility, while delivering high resolution and brilliance. Furthermore, the viewfinder includes a spirit level with fluorescent illumination for exact leveling of the camera, which is particularly useful for landscape photography and when using a tripod. Correction lenses for diopter adjustment from –3 to +3 are available as optional accessories The compact viewfinder for universal applications will also be offered as a set with the LEICA TRI-ELMAR-M 1:4/16–18–21 mm ASPH. lens at an especially attractive price. The viewfinder is supplied in a napa
leather tubular case. Accessories for the new TRI-ELMAR-M lens include the lens hood with its cover, a metal front lens cap, a rear cover, a napa leather tubular case, and filter holder. Available at your authorized Leica dealer from December. HMK
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L E I CA D I G I LU X 3 TO DAY ’ S B R E A K T H R O U G H , TO M O R R O W ’ S C L A S S I C ! When the Digilux 2 was introduced in 2004 it attracted considerable enthusiasm for its technical features and its well-thought-out operating concept. Now the LEICA DIGILUX 3 continues the success story and takes it to a brilliant new level by laying the foundation of a new stand-alone Leica digital SLR system.
B E I N G A S U C C E S S F U L professional photographer means being able to respond quickly and intuitively in critical situations. But the design philosophy of many new generations of cameras is based on a readiness to abandon traditional paths and to opt for control layouts that require a steep learning curve. In many cases the operational elements are no longer arranged in the way to which one is accustomed as an experienced photographer. What is especially disagreeable is if successive models switch back and forth between alternative systems. The Leica system philosophy is quite different. We aim to refine the proven elements with caution and develop them further, even though most of the worlds the camera designers are emphasizing completely novel approaches. The sector in general and our customers in particular appreciate this conservative developmental approach that makes the camera-user interface more pleasurable and reduces frustration. For these reasons, it is no accident that when the LEICA DIGILUX 2 was introduced in 2004 it won many major prizes and the undying affection of countless photographers. Finally there was a digital reportage camera available that came up with a traditional operating concept that included options for creative work familiar from analog photography. Right on time for photokina Leica Camera AG is now presenting the LEICA DIGILUX 3 as its successor model, to build upon the unprecedented acceptancer of the Digilux 2 and provide a
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more advanced, user-friendly alternative to the fast-moving, trendy models that now dominate digital camera design. One of the principal attractions of the LEICA DIGILUX 3 is that features and overall concept exemplify the clear tradition of concentration on the essentials, with functional yet timeless design. The shutterspeed dial and the quick and precise control rings for aperture, zoom and focusing are all there where the knowledgeable photographer expects to find them. Overall the camera fits very comfortably in the hands. With its slightly raised grip on the right side it is perhaps even slightly better than its predecessor in this respect. Even in the digital domain the name of Leica still stands for the highest quality materials (such as magnesium) and best precision machining, which not only ensures a long service life but also guarantees secure and reliable operation even under difficult conditions. In short: even at first glance it’s clear that this is a robust reportage camera optimized for individual and creative photography. Leica – the name also stands for high-performance optics: a parameter often forgotten when counting the pixels. It’s an inescapable fact that high-performance lenses are indispensable even in the digital world. Lenses are the most fundamental link in the imaging chain, standing, as it were, at the gateway leading to technically brilliant pictures. The new camera breaks new ground as the first Leica model to use the new Leica D system, a bayonet mount compatible with the four-thirds standard, so that lenses are easily interchangeable. In this way Leica Camera has laid the foundation of a stand-alone Leica digital camera system. The standard lens for the Digilux 3 is the Leica designed and developed LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8–3.5/14–50 mm
ASPH. lens, which, coupled with state-ofthe-art optical image stabilization and the 7.5 megapixel LiveMOS sensor, ensures outstanding picture quality. The lens itself is comprised of 16 elements in twelve groups, of which three are aspherical – a technology, by the way, in which Leica is the world leader. One can also make the point that the characteristics that Leica enthusiasts have always prized have been transferred into the world of digital lenses. In other words, the Leica D Vario-Elmarit also reproduces the finest details and nuances clearly and distinctly. Even at the shortest focal lengths, distortion and vignetting are minimal. Accurate color reproduction – especially of skin tones – ensures naturalistic pictures that capture the mood of the moment. Added to this is a wide maximum aperture of 1:2.8, which, in combination with a very wide range of focal lengths from 28 to 100 mm (35 mm equivalent) opens up an expanded field of creative opportunities – from portraiture to spacious landscape photography. Another important innovation: Here, for the first time, Leica has combined an interchangeable lens of outstanding high-performance optics with optical image stabilization. It’s well known that movement of the hand is a common cause of fuzzy or blurry pictures. It’s practically impossible to eliminate such movements, so Leica have overcome the problem by compensating for them using MEGA O.I.S. optical image stabilization, that delivers sharp and brilliant pictures even under extreme conditions – photos taken indoors, at twilight, on the spur of the moment or at the telephoto settings of a zoom lens. This is achieved using an integral processor. This technological module evaluates the data that are delivered 4,000 times per second by the movement detector, and applies the result to effectively minimize the effects of
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With the Digilux 3 Leica Camera have laid the foundation for their own system to the four-thirds standard. Photos: Florian Wagner
camera shake. In addition the Leica D Vario-Elmarit image stabilization operates in two different modes: in mode 1 the image stabilization is activated and thus yields blur-free viewing and sharp images. In mode 2 the image stabilization is activated only for the picture itself, and is thus able to achieve maximum blur reduction. This is yet another case where the photographer himself can decide which operating mode to use according to the situation. With its unique live picture function, which not only shows the viewing image on the monitor before taking the picture but also permits comprehensive checking of exposure and white balance before the picture is taken, the LEICA DIGILUX 3 also occupies a unique place among digital singlelens reflex cameras. It offers advantages that until now – due to system restrictions – only compact cameras could provide, such as checking the white balance before taking the picture, or checking the exposure correction. This capability can of course be very valuable when shooting in the studio or in photographic situations where a tripod is required. The new image signal processor was specially matched to the outstanding reproduction performance of the Leica D lens and the interaction with the new LiveMOS technology. In this way the high demands of single-lens reflex photography with regard to performance and picture quality were completely satisfied. The processor also guarantees excellent color reproduction as well as outstanding resolution and perfect tonal gradation along with very fast processing speeds and very little shutter delay. In combination with the energy-saving LiveMOS sensor the Digilux 3 is capable of taking more than 450 pictures on a single charge of the battery. A much-discussed irritation of digital single-lens reflex photography concerns the dust particles which can easily enter the camera when the lens in being changed and settle on the sensor, thus noticeably
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impairing the resulting pictures. The LEICA DIGILUX 3 combats this problem with innovative technology. A newly developed filter is positioned in front of the image sensor between the low-pass filter and the shutter. When the camera is switched on the protective filter is subjected to an ultrasonic frequency vibration impulse of 30,000 Hz. Any dust particles lying on the protective filter are thereby shaken off. The chamber between the filter and the sensor is hermetically sealed, thus preventing the ingress of dust particles behind the filter. All in all, the new LEICA DIGILUX 3 is poised to prove itself as a high-performance reportage camera, which perfectly combines the technological progress in the digital field and the traditional Leica virtues. Its auto focus operates at lightning speed to allow quick-reaction photography,
while its manual setting facilities still provide photographers with freedom for individual expression. Integral image stabilization, LiveMOS sensor and real-time live picture function also mark a quantum leap in digital technology, as does the new LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8–3.5/ 14–50 mm ASPH. lens which opens up a wide range of subjects to the photographer and at the same time lays the foundation of a stand-alone Leica digital SLR system. In short: with the LEICA DIGILUX 3 the customer will receive an outwardly unchanged camera, as beautiful as it is robust. But inwardly it is as powerful as it is technically innovative – a system camera for creative photography which that quickly find a legion of loyal fans among professionals as well as dedicated amateur enthusiasts. HJK
TECHNICAL DATA LEICA DIGILUX 3 Image type/format
Digital single-lens reflexsy stem camera with interchangeable lenses complying with Four Thirds standard.
File formats
RAW, JPEG (based on Exif 2.21 standard), DPOF
Aspect ratio
4:3, 3:2, 16:9 (3:2, 16:9 only in Live View mode)
Image sensor
LiveMOS sensor size : 17.3 x13.0 mm with pixels 7.9 million total pixels and 7.5 million effective pixels. Aspect ratio 4:3. Color filter RGB primary color filter. Dust reduction system ultrasonic protective filter.
Viewfinder
Optical
Color display
2.5” TFT LCD monitor with 207,000 pixels, image field approx. 100% in Live View mode, depth of field controlled via depth of field lever. (only with Live View via monitor). Menu languages German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Japanese.
ISO speeds
Auto/100/200/400/800/1600
Lens
LEICA D VARIO-ELMARIT 14–50mm f/2.8–3.5 ASPH.
Lens bayonet
Four Thirds bayonet
Dimensions (WxHxD) 145.8 x 86.9 x 80 mm (5.7 x 3.4 x 3.1 inch) Weight
approx. 530 g (18.7 oz) (housing)
Scope of delivery
1 GB SD card, power supply unit/charger, battery pack, eyepiece cover, housing cover, video cable, USB cable, power cord, carrying strap, CD-ROM with software Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 (WIN) and 3.0 (MAC), Quick Time.
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The new LEICA DIGILUX 3 reflects how digital technology has progressed. As a modern, high-capability reportage camera, it has proven itself in a very wide variety of photographic situations. Its lightning-fast autofocus enables quick-reaction photography, whilst the manual setting capabilities still leave scope for individual composition. Photo: Florian Wagner
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T H E L E I C A R - SYS T E M AT A G L A N C E Ready for the future : With the Leica R system you have all the advantages of analog photography and with just one flick of the wrist the possibilities of the digital world. A broad array of high performance lenses and versatile accessories pave the way in both cases.
LEICA SUPER-ELMARIT-R 15 mm f/2.8 ASPH.
LEICA SUMMILUX-R 50 mm f/1.4
LEICA ELMARIT-R 28 mm f/2.8
LEICA PC-SUPER-ANGULON-R 28 mm f/2.8
LEICA SUMMILUX-R 35 mm f/1.4
LEICA MACRO-ELMARIT-R 60 mm f/2.8
LEICA SUMMILUX-R 80 mm f/1.4
LEICA APO-ELMARIT-R 180 mm f/2.8
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 280 mm f/4
LEICA SUMMICRON-R 50 mm f/2
LENSES
LEICA SUMMICRON-R 35 mm f/2
LEICA ELMARIT-R 19 mm f/2.8
LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-R 90 mm f/2 ASPH.
LEICA APO-MACROELMARIT-R 100 mm f/2.8
LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-R 21-35 mm f/3.5–4 ASPH.
LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-R 35–70 mm f/4
LEICA APO-SUMMICRON-R 180 mm f/2
LEICA VARIO-ELMARIT-R 28–90 mm f/2.8–4.5
LEICA VARIO-APO-ELMARIT-R 70–180 mm f/2.8
LEICA VARIO-ELMAR-R 80–200 mm f/4
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LEICA ELPRO 1:2–1:1 for APO-MACRO-ELMARIT-R100 mm f/2.8
LEICA ELPRO Closefocusing attachment
LEICA MACROADAPTER-R
LEICA APOEXTENDER-R 2x
LEICA APOEXTENDER-R 1,4x
LEICA PHOTAR lenses and LEICA PHOTAR-ADAPTER-R
LEICA POLARIZATION FILTER
LENS ACCESSORIES
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Focusing bellows R BR 2
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 280 mm f/2.8
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 400 mm f/4
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 560 mm f/5.6
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 400 mm f/2.8
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 560 mm f/4
LEICA APO-TELYT-R 800 mm f/5.6
APO LENSES
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uniform ground glass screen, microprism focusing screen, uniform ground glass screen with grid divisions, clear glass screen with cross lines.
LEICA MOTOR-DRIVE R8/R9
LEICA MOTOR-WINDER R8/R9
LEICA SF 24D flash ACCESSORIES
Right-angle finder
Large eyecup
Table-top tripod
Remote Control R8/R9
Large ball-andsocket head
Charger for LEICA POWER PACK
Cable release, 25 cm (10") long
Ever-ready cases
Electric release switch LEICA R8/R9
Neoprene carrying strap
Electric cable release LEICA R8/R9
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AT T R AC T I V E A L L- R O U N D E R : T H E L E I C A V - LU X 1 The LEICA V-LUX 1 is what is known as a bridge camera, and as such it introduces a new class into the Leica product portfolio. With a 12 times zoom and new image stabilization, the high-tech all-in-one concept comes astonishingly close to the capabilities of digital SLR with interchangeable lenses and impresses additionally by having the dimensions, weight and price of a compact camera.
I F C O N S U M M AT E photographic versa-
tility, comfortable handling, plus the compact size and light weight of an ideal travel companion seem to be an unattainable list of requirements in a single digital camera, consider the new LEICA V-LUX 1. It’s the perfect answer to all of them. Of course it’s not the first bridge camera to appear on the market. But The V-Lux 1 takes into account all of these expectations without losing sight of Leica’s longstanding commitment to picture quality. It does this by incorporating a lens of outstanding quality for this class of camera, a 1:1.8 CCD sensor with 10 megapixels (which the compact design can accommodate) and by
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incorporating state-of-the-art image-processing electronics and image stabilization. A robust, almost masculine handgrip is the first sign that this is a serious camera: the compact V-Lux 1 fits very comfortably and securely in your hands. The clean top panel and rear of the camera give an uncluttered impression. The buttons have a pleasant positive feel to them, as does the navigation control. The wide focusing ring and its precise, backlash-free movement throughout its range will light up the eyes of photographers who like to work with their hightech camera in classic style, without auto focus. On the other hand the camera
comes with an electronic viewfinder (EVF) that boasts 235,000 pixels and so fine a resolution that it can be reliably used to assess manual focusing or depth of field. And because it projects so far to the rear, you won’t bump your nose on the TFT display! On digital cameras however most photographers use the LCD display. Here too the LEICA V-LUX 1 leaves nothing to be desired. The brilliant 2" monitor with 237,000 pixels can be rotated and twisted 180°. Whether you need a worm’s-eye view close to the ground or an overhead shot – perhaps at a pop concert or a street festival – this monitor makes it just as con-
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venient as photographing conventionally. All in all, from the first time you cradle this camera in your hands and bring it to your eye, this surprisingly lightweight model conveys the impression of an extremely solid, serious machine. Now to the lens, the LEICA DC VARIOELMARIT 1:2.8–3.7/7.4–88.8 mm ASPH. This 12 times zoom provides a 35 mm equivalent focal-length range of 35–420 mm. The painstaking construction includes 14 elements in 10 groups, including one ED and three aspherical elements to ensure low distortion and high optical performance within a compact layout. This means that the V-Lux-1 photographer has generally more telepower at hand than his DSLRshooting colleagues, whose zooms mostly run out at 300 mm. The 400 mm setting is really in the super-tele league, which is what you need for wild animal photography and above all for photographing birds. However, typical travel subjects from water sports to harbor views or cityscapes are also fields in which a super-tele lens opens up breathtaking options. It is equivalent to binoculars with 10 times magnification. At the other end of the focal length scale the classic 35 mm wide-angle covers the majority of requirements for landscape photography, reportage and indoor shots. The DC Vario-Elmarit is thus a highly capa-
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ble but compact all-rounder, which makes laborious lens changing superfluous and thereby precludes the risk of contaminating the sensor with dust or sand. The easyto-grip rubber coating on the twist ring makes zooming a precision pleasure, and the physical external length of the lens does not change when zooming or when focusing so good balance is maintained. In the macro range you can get down to 5 cm at 35 mm and to 50 cm at 420 mm, which allows the smallest details to completely fill the frame. So that the pleasure at telephoto work (and generally under difficult lighting conditions) is not compromised by camera shake, the OIS optical image stabilizer effectively filters out the visible results of any handheld camera shake. The system has been further refined to monitor movement 4,000 times a second, and a moveable lens element compensates shake in real time. This gains the user at least two and maybe three to four exposure stops (or ISO speed values). Whether your’re wandering around town or on an enjoyable trip you can leave your tripod at home. OIS has its own activation button on the camera top panel – there is no need to scroll through a menu. In an all-in-one camera like the V-Lux 1 the lens, sensor, electronics and software can
be optimally matched to each other. This matching can have a major effect on the picture. In the case of the V-Lux 1, what does ‘optimum’ mean? In relation to the matching the color reproduction, contrast and the picture definition, Leica Camera AG have developed their own ‘Image Settings’ profile, which is based on a standard corresponding to the picture characteristics of a Leica system camera using professional film developed by a custom laboratory. Leica customers can also expect
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true-to-life color reproduction of skin tones, a realistic color palette and a natural-looking contrast range from the V-Lux1. A new image signal processor processes the data extremely quickly, which is one reason why the camera readiness time is (0.7 seconds) including image saving. This reduces power consumption, since the new image processor requires less energy even though it is working faster. Improved noise reduction also permits higher speed settings up to ISO 3200. Precision and security are also provided by the AF system. The system moves swiftly and decisively to the focus point and stops there – there’s no tendency to ‘hunt.’ Options from multi-field AF to spot AF are calculated for different subjects and situations. The same applies to the exposure metering, which offers multi-zone, center-weighted and spot, plus exposure lock, so that no useful mode is omitted. There is also a precise volume control for all signal sounds and for the synthetic shutter-release noise. Of course the LEICA V-LUX 1 can also prowl around virtually silently. It is supplied with a 512 MB SD card, Photoshop Elements 4 and
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TECHNICAL DATA LEICA V-LUX 1 Image type/format
1:1.8" CCD sensor with 10.4 million total pixels and 10.1 million effective pixels.
Data recording
File formats Still : RAW, JPEG (Fine/Standard), Movie : QuickTime Motion JPEG.
Storage media
SD memory card (also SDHC cards) and multimedia card (512 MB SD card included in scope of supply).
Lens
LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 7.4–88.8 mm f/2.8–3.7 ASPH. (equivalent to 35–420 millimeters for 35 mm format), 12x optical zoom.
Sensitivity setting
Choice between automatic or manual ISO 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (in high-sensitivity mode).
Motif programs
Portraits, sport, night scenes, night portraits, fireworks, parties, snow, self-portraits, food, high-sensitivity mode, Baby 1, Baby 2, soft skin, candlelight, starry skies, landscapes.
Monitor/EVF
Swiveling 2.0” TFT color display with 207,000 pixels, electronic viewfinder with 235,000 pixels.
Dimensions (WxHxD) 141 mm x 85 mm x 142 mm (5.5 x 3.3 x 5.6 inch) Weight
668 g/734 g (23.6/25.9 oz) (without/with battery, memory card and lens cap)
Scope of delivery
Camera with lens cap, carrying strap, lens hood, 512 MB SD card, charger, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, A/V cable, USB cable, extensive software package (Adobe Photoshop Elements 4.0 (PC)/ 3.0 (Mac),Quicktime Movie Player).
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Fotos: Klaus-Peter Kappest
what particularly engenders confidence, a two-year full guarantee (not just a warranty). Summary: The bold step taken by Leica Camera AG of including this camera type in its lineup is fully justified by the excellence of the camera itself. It is a high-tech product that easily enables you to take super pictures on the fly in automatic mode. High-performance optics and electronics ensure outstanding picture quality. The monitor can be adjusted to almost any viewing angle – even crazy ones. The camera can also mold itself to the character of the photographer, because it can be used in fully manual mode. With the extremely wide-range zoom capability, it can take the place of a DSLR camera in many applications. It is thus suitable both for the younger generation of photographers and also for ‘old foxes’ who are seeking a compact camera that makes no compromises. In short: never was the uncompromising approach of the Leica company more alluring or offered at a better price. HJK
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L E I C A D - LU X 3 : A C A M E R A F O R A L L S E A S O N S This is a camera for every day – it’s cool, quick, compact and high-performance. With the new D-Lux 3 Leica offers its customers a pocket-sized digital camera with the characteristics of a much larger camera – from a 10 megapixel sensor all the way to the facility for creative picture control using manual focusing.
L E T ’ S S TA R T with the outer aspect of the new LEICA D-LUX 3. The front section is uncluttered and concentrates on the essentials, namely the high performance lens, wide-aperture lens and of course the red Leica logo that traditionally signifies both timelessness and uncompromised image quality. The rear of the camera contains an LCD that displays the image in ‘wide-screen’ format, which means that pictures can be shown in the future-oriented 16:9 HDTV format. With 207,000 pixels, the huge 2.8" display provides a really brilliant image and thus enables precise evaluation, both of the picture composition and of the reproduction. You can also view the display at slightly reduced brightness by selecting the low-energy mode. This extends the capacity rechargeable battery without losing any of the outstanding image quality of the display. As a compact high-grade digital camera, the LEICA D-LUX 3 has a high-performance 10 megapixel sensor, which together with the new image processing system delivers quicker image processing and saves time in executing various in-camera functions. Responsiveness in capturing fleeting moments is assured by the quick, decisive operation of the auto-focus system. Security and protection against camera shake are also assured by an integral
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optical image stabiliser (O.I.S.), which can be switched on or off at any time. It ensures sharp pictures whether you’re shooting at twilight, indoors in dim light, taking quick snapshots or operating at the telephoto end of the zoom range. Because of the efficient power management in the LEICA D-LUX 3, the camera will operate for long periods or many shots without needing battery charging. Ingenious image-processing algorithms ensure crisp, low-noise pictures. The lens is of course essential as it serves as the gateway on the road to good pictures. It follows that as a discerning customer one should always pay particular attention to the quality of the lenses – they are first requirement for the successful realization of your ideas as outstanding images. The D-Lux 3 lens is impressive indeed: the LEICA DC VARIO-ELMARIT 1:2.8-4.9/6.3-25.2 ASPH., offers both a fast maximum aperture of 1:2.8 for efficient light gathering and an attractive focal length range of 28–112 mm (35 mm equivalent). This range covers practically every common photographic application. In this respect also the LEICA D-LUX 3 shows itself to be a high-performance all-rounder, since due to its compact and flat design you can always keep it with you, and you can master an amazingly diverse range of challenges with no further ado. The lens itself consists of 9 high-quality elements in 8 groups. By using a joystick on the rear of the camera, manual focusing is also available. The camera offers the classic Leica photographic format of 3:2. It also offers the facility to work in the popular 4:3 or the new wide-view 16:9 HDTV format at the full resolution of more than 10 megapixels. By supporting the ever more popular attractive aspect ratio of 16:9 used in TV and video applications along with two other classic formats the LEICA D-LUX 3 proves
itself to be equipped for the future. Its compactness has already been highlighted. The chic 185 gram (61⁄2 oz) lightweight camera is easy and comfortable to handhold and thanks to its simple operating conrtols it’s quick and reliable to use for beginners and experts alike. The joystick mentioned above makes menu navigation easy and permits manual focussing. All in all the LEICA D-LUX 3 combines the advantages of a compact digital camera for everyday use with the sophisticated imagecontrol capabilities of a professional camera. It can be recommended as an attractive everyday companion while remaining uncompromising in its performance and quality. The shooting range of the D-Lux 3 can be further extended using the Digital Adapter 2. In connection with a scope, this opens up the field of digiscoping – photography through a scope. This fulfilling leisure pursuit is enjoyed internationally by a growing number of nature enthusiasts and bird watchers. Here again the LEICA D-LUX 3 plays to its strengths. The large 2.8" display has proven to be ideal for bird watching. The optical image stabilization guarantees shake-free pictures even under the most extreme conditions. And the quick, responsive, delay-free shutter release ensures that nature photography’s precious moments are not missed. The accessories included with the LEICA D-LUX 3 include a 64 MB SD card, a battery charger, a high-power rechargeable battery, a comprehensive software package and a USB cable, an AV cable and a DC cable. Recommended optional accessories include a sporty Cordura case, or better yet, the classic leather case – eye-catching protection for your camera at all times and in all places. HMK
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It’s sensational how this camera performs and what possibilities it offers: die D-Lux 3 is a real all-rounder, and a head-turner too. Photo: GaÍl Turine
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G LO S S A RY With the digital technology an abundance of new terms and unusual contractions comes to customers. In the following – as service not only for new risers into the digital Leica world – small encyclopedia of the most important abbreviations and technical terms.
P I C T U R E N O I S E : A pattern of different
brightness areas, blotches or grainy textures in the recorded image that is not present in the original subject. Digital noise is sometimes manifested as inappropriately colored pixels or a pattern of colored dots that appear only in the recorded image. Without noise suppression, the longer the exposure the more intense the picture noise. Picture noise is also generally worse at higher ISO speeds than at lower ISO speeds. I M AG E S E N S O R : The image sensor con-
verts light that passes through the lens into electrical signals that vary with its intensity. The most widely used image sensors are CCD and CMOS image sensors. C C D : Abbreviation for ‘Charged-Coupled
Device’. Comprises a multiplicity of CCD elements packed closely together on a silicon substrate. The greater the number of CCD elements the higher the achievable resolution. So that the chip can also recognise colors, various electronic filtering techniques are used. Color filters can also be applied to the individual elements, or a prism can split the incident light into its constituent colours and direct these on to the respective elements. C M O S : Abbreviation for ‘Complementary
Metal Oxide Semiconductor’. CMOS semiconductors are comparable to CCD image sensors. They are characterised by high signal reading speed and comparatively low energy consumption. Further advantages are their compact dimensions and low production costs. L I V E M O S S E N S O R : Live MOS sensors offer image quality comparable to the Full Frame Transfer (FFT) CCD, but with the low power consumption of a CMOS; the stability reproduction capability over times is regarded as a valuable asset. Simplified
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circuitry reduces the distance from the photodiodes to the respective micro lenses on the chip and contributes to better image quality and higher sensitivity even when the incidence angle of the incoming light is not optimum. I M AG E S TA B I L I Z AT I O N – O I S ( O P T I C A L I M AG E S TA B I L I Z E R ) : Optical
This function allows correction of the color temperature (under different daylight, different types of artificial light, etc.) to be made, so that the resulting picture appears in natural-looking colours. Every digital camera is fitted with this function, and some allow a choice between manual and automatic white balance.
image stabilizers use an additional lens element or group that is moveable. This optically compensates for high frequency camera shake imparted by the user’s hand, without incurring any loss in resolution as a consequence. Mega OIS provides additional stabilisation in photo review mode.
R AW : RAW format means that the data taken directly from the CCD image sensor is in the raw (unprocessed) form, being simply converted from analog to digital form. In other words, the data output is in its original unmodified condition, i.e. without internal processing within the digital camera.
R E A L-T I M E L I V E I M AG E : Thanks to the
D N G : Professional, and to an increasing
live image signal from the Live-MOS sensor, the Digilux 3 is able to continuously check the image on the LCD monitor as it comes from the sensor. This operates equally well with manual and with automatic focusing.
extent semi-professional digital cameras, support photography in RAW format. Depending on the manufacturer, different file suffixes are used. These raw data formats can be read only by highly specific software applications – any exchange with other software is problematic, and to archive these proprietary formats is risky. To overcome the disadvantages of converting non-native RAW data, Adobe offers an open archiving format – ‘Digital Negative’ (DNG) – for the raw data generated by digital cameras.
E F F E C T I V E N U M B E R O F P I X E L S : The
actual number of pixels used for recording an image, called the effective number of pixels, is generally somewhat lower than the number of pixels with which the image sensor (CCD, CMOS etc.) actually contains. D U S T P R OT E C T I O N F I LT E R : To pro-
tect cameras with interchangeable lenses from the dreaded contamination of the image sensor by ingress of dust and dirt particles, the LEICA DIGILUX 3 is equipped with an ultrasonic protective filter in front of the sensor, which totally eliminates this problem. W H I T E B A L A N C E : Denotes the com-
pensation in the camera for light waves whose composition differs from the normal RGB daylight balance.
E X I F : Abbreviation for ’Exchangeable Image File’. In this digital camera file format the relevant information about the picture stored in the header is saved. This picture information contains data on time and date when the photo was taken, the make and type of the camera, the focus distance, aperture, exposure time, flash, white balance and other particulars. This information can later be read and displayed by specific types of ‘exif-aware’ image processing programs.
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R E L AU N C H : L E I C A O N T H E I N T E R N E T A N D I N A DV E R T I S E M E N T S Effective immediately, Leica Camera AG presents a new product website under the address www.leica-camera.de. In parallel, the renowned optics specialist is starting a new advertising campaign to communicate the philosophy of the company and its products in a contemporary way.
news about Leica. The clear and simple website design communicates brand values and products at both the emotional and the informational levels. Both the magazine and the Newsletter will also focus on three different themes – photography, studying the natural world, and hunting. Each customer will thus have a quick and uncomplicated means of accessing information and products relevant to him. Furthermore, all brochures and user manuals will be available for downloading. In addition, local contact addresses (sales agencies, repair service, spares service, press office, professional support service, info line) can be called up from anywhere in the world. Finally, Leica Camera has, effective immediately, opened a new, clearly-structured, user-friendly customer forum under www.leica-camera-user.com, where Leica customers and friends of the brand have the opportunity to discuss matters of interest and exchange information. Our open invitation: Meet you on the Internet.
Leica – part of you
E V E N I N T H E 21 S T C E N T U RY, Leica stands for traditional values that can be described in terms of concepts such as quality, lasting value, innovation and concentration on the essentials. Allowing these terms to be conveyed over the global Internet communications medium and at the same time pointing the customer directly to his Leica dealer are the objectives of our thoroughgoing Internet relaunch. This worldwide relaunch is in two languages, English and German, and has been prepared by the Leica Internet team in cooperation with the Wiesbaden Internet agency Scholz & Volkmer. In the near future the product site will be available also in Italian, French and Japanese. We also have plans for an online magazine and for an individual Leica Newsletter service, which will regularly report the latest
Leica stands for concentration on the essentials, the best optics, long service life and lasting value. Leica products create for the user totally individual and emotional experiences by creating and preserving precious moments, becoming in the process lifelong companions. That’s why Leica users develop a personal relationship with the camera. Henri Cartier-Bresson spoke of the Leica as being an extension of his eye. Leica customers have consistently echoed the same sentiments, telling us time and time again that the Leica camera or Leica binoculars have become an integral part of them. The new institutional Leica campaign seeks to communicate all this at an international level. The campaign has been prepared by the San Francisco-based team of the famous advertising agency TBWA/Chiat/Day. This team has also worked for Apple and Adidas, and was chosen in a competition among three leading agencies. In the end the decisive factor was the capability of the winning agency to devise very highly compressed and concentrated campaigns that were truly memorable, and in creating compelling and simple messages that convey the essence of technically demanding products. It goes without saying that the new campaign will address the entire Leica product palette. The subjects have been photographed by the famous photographer Toby McFarland Pond. The campaign is starting in Germany, Great Britain, France, the USA, Italy and Japan. Further countries are planned. In addition the campaign will feature prominently on the Leica stand at photokina, and of course it will be featured on the new Internet Leica homepage.
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CAMERAS THAT COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER PERFECTLY Steve Dudley was an early convert to the possibilities of digiscoping. With the new V-Lux1 and the D-Lux, Leica now offers two fine cameras that complement each other perfectly for his hobby of capturing the work of nature in pictures. Steve Dudley tested them both.
L I K E M O S T B I R DWATC H E R S , my first experience was with single-lens reflex systems and telephoto lenses. Then and now I’m at home with these systems as a nature watcher. Against this background you would not expect that the international birdwatcher scene would take much of an interest in the subject of digiscoping. Sur-
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prisingly however, that’s exactly what did happen. In short: it wasn’t long before most of us had added extended our equipment to include a digital camera. So, around the year 2000, when digital cameras, let us say, had not yet become very compact, and the dominance of 35 mm SLR systems was still evident, it prob-
ably first occurred to us birdwatchers that the new digital cameras could be attached to the eyepiece of a scope. This simple trick combined the optical magnification of the camera lens with the eyepiece magnification of the scope. The results were simply sensational! While the classic mirror reflex adapter converted a scope into an
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Giant kingfisher, Gambia, February 2006 (superzoom). – We were crowded together in a hide with a view over a tropical forest lake. This giant kingfisher landed less than ten feet from us. My digiscoping colleagues had no chance in this case. Whilst the two D-SLR photographers hastily attempted to remove their teleconverters from the telescopic lenses. I was the only one that was able to seize the moment as the giant kingfisher looked inquisitively at the group of overheated birdwatchers.
800 mm lens, the new combination allowed focal lengths as long as 2000 to 3000 mm to be achieved – depending on the zoom range of the camera and the magnification of the eyepiece used. This was really something else! This really was a new dimension in bird photography! And it was the birth of an idea that lately we have come to call digiscoping. Since I began digiscoping at the beginning of 2002, I have probably taken some 125,000 pictures. Before I started, things had already moved on a bit, and certain cameras had proven themselves particularly well suited to digiscoping. Special adapters such as the digital adapter from Leica which connects the camera to the eyepiece of the scope were already on the market. Since I like to keep things simple, I
chose this very simple adapter so that I could connect the eyepiece to the filter thread of my camera. And I was on my way! My two LEICA APO-TELEVID 77 and 62 scopes were now quite differently connected to optimize their performance in photographing the range birds that I was watching. In recent years digital compact cameras have sprung up everywhere like mushrooms. The models have become successively smaller, their features constantly improved, the number of megapixels increased, and image stabilization has become available. Fantastic! The innovative path beaten by Leica in the development of digital compact cameras led finally to the LEICA D-LUX 2. This camera incorporated both the current trends in the digital world generally and the trends in digiscoping in particular. Compact enough to fit in your pocket, lightweight, 8 megapixels, image stabilized, with a large LCD display, and superlatively easy to operate. The image stabilization meant the camera behaved very well when attached to the eyepiece of a scope. Combined with the Digital Adapter 2 the effects of shake could be even further reduced – an essential requirement for digiscoping in poor light at long range. Because birdwatchers always have their camera with them, this leads as a by-product to their developing an interest in other kinds of animals as well, in particular an interest in insects that fly by day, such as ladybird beetles and butterflies. The new Leica D-Lux class has proven itself ideal for photographing insects, both for digiscoping and also for conventional photography at macro settings. With continual progress in the development of digital image capture, the performances of digital compact cameras and digital single-lens reflex cameras (D-SLRs) are converging ever more closely. From this have arisen extremely high performance hybrid systems, which, because of their extended zoom capabilities, are dubbed ‘super-zooms’. One of the latest developments in this segment is the LEICA V-LUX 1. Models such as the V-Lux 1, which in appearance resemble smaller versions of single-lens reflex cameras, open up a whole new world of possibilities for
birdwatching and nature photography. Anyone who took up digiscoping in the early days has long since explored the full extent of what is possible using that system. Even with the camera permanently coupled to the eyepiece of the scope and mounted on a sturdy tripod you still need some time to set up the equipment and to prepare the shot – at least 30 seconds. A period during which – as every observer of the natural world knows full well – the ‘quarry’ can easily have vanished. Looked at in this way, cameras such as the new Leica V-Lux 1 are not simply an addition to our existing battery of field equipment. They fill a photographic gap. My digiscoping camera delivers outstanding photographs of birds and nature subjects when used in conjunction with the scope. Without the scope it is outstanding when used for macro photography and landscape shots – it also takes excellent holiday snapshots! But the V-Lux 1 fills the gap in the close-up to middle-focal-length range. If a little warbler appears in a bush just 3 meters from me, it’s too close for a digiscoping shot (and it would take too long to assemble the equipment in any case) but it’s ideal for the V-Lux 1 which I also keep close by me and I use to follow the bird as it makes its way through the bushes. On a hot day, a butterfly seeking nectar lands on a flower only 1.5 meters away. The insect is too active for me to approach it more closely, and to take a digiscoping shot I would have to retreat some 6 meters away. Once again the handy, ergonomic V-Lux 1 saves the day. These two examples show probably best of all how the new LEICA V-LUX 1 perfectly complements my digiscoping equipment. STEVE DUDLEY
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Black-tailed godwit, Cambridgeshire, England, May 2003 (digiscoping). – Black-tailed godwits nest in open grassland. Here the male bird is watching over his sitting mate from his perch on a fencepost. I tried to move carefully and take advantage of the existing tall vegetation for concealment, whilst I brought my scope and camera into position to take the picture. The bird is still relaxed. His open bill shows that he is ready to signal any possible dangers to his mate.
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“Models such as the V-Lux 1, which in looks resembles a smaller version of a mirror reflex camera, open up a whole new world of possibilities for birdwatching and nature photography.”
Steve Dudley
Puffins, Shetland Isles, Scotland, June 2003 (digiscoping / superzoom). – Puffins enjoy great popularity – and not just amongst birdwatchers. Here I show four pictures that represent both different equipment (digiscoping and superzoom) and different methods. Pictures 1 and 2 (digiscoping) originate from the time when I had yet to acquire a superzoom camera, so digiscoping was the only option. Picture 1 shows one of the great strengths of digiscoping – zooming in on a bird in the foreground. This puffin was only 8 metres away, but he didn’t move. At such a close range and such a tight zoom the focal length was reduced. That meant that the rough cliffs were reduced to a soft out-of-focus background, which reinforces the intimacy of the photo. Picture 2 shows a bird at a very much greater distance (about 80 metres). Picture 3 (superzoom) arose whilst I was sitting on a rocky outcrop eating my lunch. I put down my sandwich, picked up my camera, carefully lay down on my stomach, crawled to 2 metres from the bird and was able to take a series of good portraits, with the sea as background. Picture 4 (superzoom) shows the same bird as he started to clean himself. Remembering my successful digiscoping picture of 2003, I now hoped to capture the full shaking movement. The trick for this is to try to focus on at least one part of the bird, whilst the rest shows the shaking movement.
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CALENDARS: With Leica through the year L E I C A WA L L A N D D E S K C A L E N DA R S are highly popular, and not only with Leica photographers. For twelve months they provide orientation, decorating desk or wall and in addition inspiring your own photographic creativity. In their usual excellent print quality and elegant design the calendars present selected examples of international Leica photography. The attractive desk calendar offers works from the range of the Leica Gallery in Solms. The large-format Leica wall calendar celebrates ten years of the ‘Leica World’ with twelve selected cover subjects taken from the multi-award-winning Leica Camera AG customer magazine. Not only do these black and white and colour pictures prove the quality of this ambitious semi-annual magazine, but above all they document international Leica photographers’ pleasure in experimentation and rich variety of ideas, including Leica classics such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, top photographers of the present day such as Bruce Gilden or Paolo Roversi, and new names such as Elinor Carucci or Narelle Autio. Available through your authorised Leica dealer.
TEN YEARS OF LEICA WORLD: only the simply H O W S H O U L D a magazine look, which corresponds to the traditional values of the Leica brand and at the same time looks to the future; which presents itself seriously, but in a modern way? Ten years ago the first issue of ‘Leica World’ appeared. Since then the Leica Camera AG customer magazine has won many prizes, including international awards, and has secured a considerable worldwide readership. Leica Camera celebrates the 10-year anniversary of ‘Leica World’ with a packed special edition, expanded to 16 pages. The contents include: photo town New York, interview with MoMA photo curator Peter Galassi – the printed page: photography in magazines and books – Leica pioneer Stefan Kruckenhauser – Houston photo festival – Rencontres d’Arles – Leica Oskar-Barnack prize – portfolios from Heidi Bradner, Andrew Z. Glickman, Tomás Munita, James Whitlow Delano, Andreas Meichsner and Pierre Witt – new Leica products at photokina – prospects for the photo year 2007 – and much more besides! Make sure you receive the attractive anniversary issue.
Imprint LEICA WORLD NEWS Is published twice a year in spring and autumn
EDITOR IN CHIEF Hans-Michael Koetzle DGPh
T YPESET/L AYOUT-FINISH independent Medien-Design: Peter Oberressl
PUBLISHER Leica Camera AG, Oskar-Barnack-Straße 11, D-35606 Solms, Postfach 1180, D-35599 Solms, Telephone +49 06442/208-111
ALSO WORKING ON THIS ISSUE Team Leica Distribution Germany, Team Product Management, Team Product Communication, Team Leica Akademie.
PROJECT COORDINATION Leica Camera AG: Alexandra Althof independent Medien-Design: Christa Löberbauer
ART DIRECTION Lucie Schmid Horst Moser, independent Medien-Design, Widenmayerstraße 16, D-80538 Munich, Tel.+ 49 (0) 89-29 00 15-0
LITHO Zehentner & Partner, Munich
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PRINT Dönges Druck und Medien, Dillenburg, Germany
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Leica Digiscoping Capture close-up views of the fascinating spectacles of nature in pictures. To do so, simply combine a LEICA TELEVID spotting scope with a compact digital camera – for example with the new LEICA D-LUX 3 – or a mobile phone, and you will have a photographic outfit with a super-telephoto lens ! Digiscoping will greatly expand your ability to observe the grandeur of nature. Let your local Leica specialist inform you or find out for yourself right now on the internet. Leica Camera AG / Oskar-Barnack-Straße 11 / D-35606 Solms / Telephone +49 (0) 6442-208-111 / www.leica-camera.com
LEICA APO-TELEVID 77 with LEICA DIGITALADAPTER 2 and LEICA D-LUX 3
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my Leica A It It It
leica-camera.us ..................................................................
Leica is not just a camera. is an instrument you create with. is your hands and your eyes. is a part of you.
......................................................................................................... T h e d i g i t a l L E I C A M 8 r a n ge f i n d e r c a m e r a .