In September of last year, Leica announced a number of new products at the 2014 Photokina Camera and Imaging fair. The German manufacturer introduced the Leica M-P, an upgraded Typ 240 aimed at professionals featuring improvements such as scratch resistant sapphire glass, a doubled image-buffer of 2GB and a manual viewfinder frame selection.
They also celebrated the Leica M's 60th anniversary, commemorating the event with a limited edition rangefinder called the M Edition 60. A radical new camera that has been reduced to only the essential features: ISO sensitivity, shutter speed, aperture and focusing. A first of its kind, the Edition 60 replaced the LCD monitor at the rear with an ISO selector dial; reminiscent of the older film Leica M's. They've also limited the saving of data to RAW files only, making the M Edition 60 a rangefinder that demands the user to pay the same attention as one would with a film camera.
Here's Leica's official press release on the M Edition 60 (from leica-camera.com):
"With the Leica M Edition 60, photographers compose and frame each subject in the viewfinder, set the aperture and shutter speed and press the shutter release at the decisive moment. Instead of the constant distraction of technical features and the checking of menu settings and controls, they enjoy the freedom to concentrate completely on their subjects. With this concept, Leica is once again the synonym for an art in which technology plays a role subordinate to the essentially creative aspects of photography."
Leica Rumors is reporting that the replacement for the Monochrom, Leica's rangefinder that only takes exposures in black & white might finally be on its way. The one of a kind range finder that launched in 2012 featured a full-frame sensor of 18 megapixels. The new model as reported, will come with a 24 CMOS megapixel sensor and will be styled similar to the Leica M-P.
Shipment and pricing will come in the following months after its official release.
Stay tuned to Franchise Herald for more Leica news.
