One hundred is the magical number for life expectancy. It marks a definitive point in people’s lives. Same with companies. So when Leica turned 100 this year, they decided to celebrate with the limited edition Leica M 100 models. They’ve put together the digital Leica M (Leica M Monochrom) along with the Leica M-A rangefinder camera in one set. The body includes stainless steel for the first time ever. The set also includes three Leica Summilux-M lenses. Get them at Leica Stores and Boutiques.
Chief Apple designer Jony Ive and industrial designer Marc Newson have conspired to concoct this beauty of an aluminum full-frame camera based on Leica’s M model. To be sold at a charity auction next month, the limited edition Leica features a 50mm f/2 lens and a “laser machined aluminum body and anodized aluminum outer shell.” Proceeds will go towards the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
Celebrities, like Brad Pitt, Scarlett Johanssen and Daniel Craig, love their Leicas. Now, they’re sure to grab the newest version, the Leica M ($6,950). It retains the stout and solid construction of the M9, but the new innards are even more enticing than the sweet arils of a plump pomegranate. Upgrades include a new 3-inch 920k-dot LCD and a dedicated button for recording 1080P video. Stills and video should excel with the new 24-megapixel, full-frame Max CMOS sensor.
As a wise philosopher once said, “If you’re thinking about my baby, it don’t matter if you’re black or white.” That has absolutely nothing to do with the Leica M Monochrom camera ($7,950), other than the fact that this dandy only does black and white photos–and man does it do ’em. Leica’s decision to emit any color-capture ability means the M records amazing levels of light detail. If you’re looking to make the next Manhattan, this would be the camera to do it with.
Ok, so you may not know the difference between a lens and a shutter, but with the new D-Lux 5 from Leica, you’ll look like a professional photographer. Finished with a titanium anodized exterior, the camera has a matching case made from Italian cowhide. Talk about good things coming in small packages. The actual camera (that’s the device that actually takes the photos), functions just as the 10-megapixel D-Lux did and features 3.8x optical zoom, ISO settings of 80 to 12,800, RAW and JPEG support and 720p HD video recording capability.