Preorders
Leica M Monochrome is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Leica X2 and accessories are available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and listed at BHphoto (Click here).
Leica 50mm Summicron is available for preorder at Adorama (Click here) and BHphoto (Click here).
Previews
M monochrome at Dpreview
X2 at Dpreview
Image samples of the Monochrome on Leicas website.
Interesting notes
Dpreview writes: “There are drawbacks, of course – the ‘headroom’ found in Raw files comes mainly from the fact that bright regions have usually only over-exposed one of the three color channels, with usable data still available for the other two channels. With a true mono sensor, any overexposure is absolute – once the channel has clipped to white, there’s no chance of recovery.“
Press releases
Leica M Monochrome at Dpreview, Photoscala (german), Focus Numerique (french).
Leica X2 at Dpreview, Photoscala (german), Focus Numerique (french).
26 Responses
The X2 uses a 16MP CMOS sensor.
The Sony NEX-C3, 5N and the upcoming F3 all use a 16MP CMOS sensor and offer lens interchangeability.
#occupyleica
Well, it looks like Leica is now working with Olympus… take a look at that EVF from the X2!
http://leicarumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Leica-X2-Black-viewfinder-EVF2.jpg
They clearly just replaced the top plate from the old Olympus VF-2. I wonder if the connector is the same?
http://www.clearingthevision.com/wp-content/uploads/vf2_21.jpg
http://media.teds.com.au/teds/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/o/l/olympus_vf-2_viewfinder-angle-100077.jpg
The camera is sexy, there’s no question about that. But, it just seems a warmed up x1 – same focal length, same not-so-fast-for-a-fixed-lens 2.8 maximum aperture, no built in EVF (and the “Leica” clip-on EVF just screams Olympus to me). Ok, we have more megapixels. And the new AF is supposedly faster. This is a bit sad, but, all in all, the x100 still seems like a better option IMHO.
This was not the x2 I was hoping for. For me this is not a contender to the x100.
The Mono-M looks really cool though.
Some might disagree, but I think the Leica M digital cameras and lenses are amazing, and I bet the image quality of this camera (when used with an ultra-expensive Leica lens) will be next to perfect, but… here we are in 2012, onto the FIFTH model of M digital cameras (M8, M8.2, M9, M9-P, M9-M) and I find it absolutely astounding that an $8,000 state-of-the-art digital camera still, ***STILL***, has a 2.5″ 230,000 dot rear LCD screen, when a $200 iPod touch has a 3.5″ 1,843,200 dot display! Lolololol all the way to the bank, Leica!!! What a joke!
Maybe its a Panasonic EVF?
the samples on dpreview are stunning. download full res versions and enjoy!
Meanwhile, the X-Pro 1 will represent the best option for the reality-based photo community.
> M monochrome at Dpreview
Way too sharp. I see lots of details I do not really care about and some details I do not really want to see.
It would be interesting to compare the detail fidelity with the Sigma SD1 ( http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sigmasd1/17 ) which now suddenly doesn’t look so expensive in comparison. It can shoot in color AND costs 3 times less! A bargain!!
Man that’s a lot of B&W film I can shot and develop for that price…
Where is the high DR? Those examples on Leica’s site have their blacks crushed either intentionally in post or some preset.
The SD1 is 15MP in black and white, and I would definitely choose it over the M-Mono. Same pixel sharpness, similar noise at lower ISO.
SD1 is so much cheaper too!! Leica really screwed up here.
SD1 for me. Shoots color and you can use color channel toning on mono images, which the Leica can’t even do.