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Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 mm F2 ASPH lens review
The Leica Super-APO-Summicron-SL 21 mm F2 ASPH is a high-speed wide angle for Leica SL cameras. It was announced in October 2023. This lens has the Super-Apo moniker and has a complex design of 14 elements in total, arranged in 11 groups. Leica doesn’t say how many AD (anomalous partial dispersion) elements there are but claims ‘most’ of the 14 elements are made from ‘special custom glass.’ That may include three elements with aspherical surfaces, but it’s not clear exactly. Like others in the SL range, the lens also adopts a ‘digital element,’ or what’s better known as a built-in profile, to correct vignetting, distortion and chromatic aberration. While it’s…
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Leica launches fifth New Classic lens, the Summilux-M 50 F1.4 from 1959
Leica is launching a new version of its classic Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 lens from 1959. As the fifth in the Classic Line series, following the Summaron-M 28 f/5.6, Thambar-M 90 f/2.2, Noctilux-M 50 f/1.2 ASPH, and the Summilux-M 35 f/1.4, the newly reissued M-mount model features vintage Leica styling, including a scalloped focusing ring and chrome-plated brass construction. To complete the vintage aesthetic, there’s even a circular, vented hood in black with chrome locking buttons. Optically, the lens is based on the second Summilux-M 50 f/1.4 (II) formula. The design promises highly attractive rendering wide-open, with soft blur transitions to out-of-focus highlights. It is also said to deliver higher sharpness…
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Leica SL3 review
The Leica SL3 is the third in the series, starting with the magnificently minimalist 24 MP Leica SL. Kevin Carter takes a look. What is it? The SL3 is the latest in the series and adopts the same body style as the 47 MP Leica SL2 and the 5-axis IS from that model, which was missing from the original SL. The headline specs are the increase in sensor resolution to 60 MP and the inclusion of hybrid AF with Depth from Defocus (DFD) tech to aid focusing accuracy. Fortunately, the photographer doesn’t need to know how this works, as the camera handles that without any input from the user and it works…
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Leica SL3-S added to SL system
Leica has officially launched its latest mirrorless camera, the SL3, at a press event in Wetzlar, Germany. Building on the highly respected and robust design of its predecessors, the SL3-S features a 24.6-megapixel full-frame BSI CMOS sensor, enhanced autofocus capabilities, and improved low-light performance, making it a capable and flexible tool for both professional photographers and filmmakers. Stills highlights: 24 MP CMOS enhanced low-light BSI-type sensor ISO range: 50 – 200,000 5-axis IBIS, up to 5 EV correction New high-speed Hybrid-AF system AF continuous shooting at up to 30 fps (12-bit) or up to 5fps (14-bit) 48 and 96 MP multishot mode, handheld or tripod Tamper-proof metadata with Content Credentials…
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Leica Q3 43 review
Leica’s Q3 43 builds on the success of the Q-series, adding a new 43mm F2 Apo lens to the 60 MP CMOS of the regular Leica Q3. Kevin Carter takes a look. With Canon and Nikon concentrating on niche genres like sports and action or the ‘content creator’, it’s hardly surprising when something like the Leica Q3 arrives to fill the void. And now it has been joined by the Leica Q3 43. While expensive, with better resale prices than rival makes when the time comes to upgrade, it is perhaps the most economical way into the Leica system. Small, light and discreet, the Leica Q3 43 shares the ergonomics…
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Panasonic announces major firmware update for Lumix S5II and S5IIX
Panasonic has announced a significant firmware update for its full-frame mirrorless LUMIX S5II and S5IIX cameras. The Firmware V2.0 update adds AF features and enhances sharing functionality for both stills and video capture. Key features include: Camera-to-cloud integration with Adobe’s Frame.io – now supports Adobe Camera to Cloud compatibility, enabling images and videos to be automatically uploaded, backed up, shared, and worked on jointly via the cloud. Proxy Video Recording – this innovative feature introduces the simultaneous recording of a low-bit-rate proxy file alongside the original video recording, providing quick post-production processes. Enhanced Real-time Autofocus Recognition– this newly improved system boosts the precise Phase Hybrid autofocus, efficiently recognising not only people but animal eyes, cars and motorcycles. Enhanced E.I.S.…
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Leica APO Summicron-SL 50mm F2 ASPH lens review
Announced on 15 August 2019, the Leica APO Summicron-SL 50mm F2 ASPH is a relatively compact high-end lens for Leica SL cameras. Inside, the lens design is complex for a 50mm. But, it’s designed for a digital sensor so there are some prerequisites to satisfy. It has no less than 12 elements in total, with several AD (anomalous dispersion) elements to mitigate CA and fringing plus three with aspherical surfaces to reduce SA and distortion. The lens also adopts what some call. a ‘digital element,’ or a lens profile, to correct vignetting, distortion and CA, more as an afterthought in this case as the lens is so well corrected optically.…
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Leica SL3 camera announced
Leica has announced the Leica SL3, the latest top-of-the-range model in the 35mm full-frame SL system. This is an exciting new camera for Leica and a hugely compelling update to the SL2, however, keen-eyed readers will see that there’s no multi-shot function, which was one of the key features of the SL2 (and SL2-S), or at least a key-differentiator between it and rivals (who haven’t yet matched Leica/Panasonic in either implementation or result). I spoke with a Leica executive and they informed me that the multi-shot feature has not been included this time but if there is strong demand for it then they will consider adding it at a later…
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Leica Q3 review: the quintessential Leica
Leica’s Q series is the company’s best-selling digital camera to date and it’s not all that difficult to see why. Kevin Carter looks at the latest iteration, the Leica Q3 Small, light and unobtrusive the Leica Q embodies all that’s attractive of the Leica M with added the benefit of a Kabe-designed Leica autofocus 28mm F1.7 lens. This is the closest we have to an autofocus M series camera, and unless you’re adept at using one of those you’ll be more successful shooting at the initial aperture or close to it and far more discrete using a Leica Q. What’s more, the latest iteration the Leica Q3 is the fastest…
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Leica announces the M11-P with new editing protection feature
Leica has announced the long-expected mid-cycle ‘P’ (Professional) update to the popular Leica M11, the Leica M11-P. As expected the new model features the Leica inscription on the top plate and shares the M11 Monochrom’s increase to 256GB internal memory, up from 64GB on the original M11. In an unexpected move, however, Leica has added a copyright protection feature ‘Leica Content Credentials,’ not previously seen on a regular production camera. Adopting specialised hardware in the new camera, the Leica M11-P can encrypt the image metadata at the time of capture to provide “reliable provenance” that the image hasn’t been altered during post-processing. This new LCC feature allows photographers and editors…
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