Leica. The name conjures notions of luxury, history, quality, and precision. This especially applies to Leica’s M-mount lenses. While some of Leica’s latest camera bodies like the M11 have gathered praise, the lenses have set the industry gold standard.
Vintage lenses are more popular than ever, thanks in large part to the mirrorless revolution as well as affordable, high-quality cinema and hybrid video cameras. These lenses are regularly “cine modded” for video use due to their unique character and less clinical rendering, (sometimes) affordable prices compared to cine lenses, helicoid-driven focus with hard stops, and physical aperture rings (which are often de-clicked).
Sharp has just announced the Aquos R6 smartphone with a large Leica-branded lens and huge 1-inch sensor, a first for a traditional handset manufacturer.
Voigtlander has announced the 28mm f/2 Ultron Vintage Line lens for Leica M-mount, combining a classic lens exterior with modern optics. The new lens will be available in three different colors.
In January, Leica announced the re-issue of the classic Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH. The silver edition was limited to 100 pieces and an official Leica reseller is claiming its value has already doubled.
Leica has announced the reissue of what it calls a "landmark" lens: the Noctilux-M 50mm f/1.2 ASPH. The lens will be released in two variants: standard black, which is available through all dealers, and silver, limited to 100 units and only available at Leica stores.
A rare Leica lens has sold for more than some people will pay for a house. The Vario-Elmar-M 3.5-5.6/28-75mm ASPH. prototype was initially estimated to sell for between €60,000 and €80,000 (~$72,430 and ~$96,570), but blew past those projections easily, closing at €240,000 (~290,000).
Putting the words "Leica" and "Cheap" in the same headline is usually an oxymoron, but the company has just announced that it will be selling "Made in Portugal" versions of nine popular M-mount lenses in order to bypass a controversial US tariff established last year, making these lenses more affordable for US buyers.
Huawei just unveiled two new smartphones, the Huawei Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro. The phones include the world's first Kirin AI processor as well as dual Leica cameras.
It's been a little over a month since Leica promised to "reinvent" mobile photography in partnership with Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei, and today they're following up on that promise. The long-awaited, much-rumored, and much-leaked Huawei P9 has arrived.