LEICA M10 TO BE ANNOUNCED?

Recent reports that a new Leica digital rangefinder will be revealed at Photokina next month (with autofocus aids, live view, and video capabilities) started me thinking about my life with these German cameras.

The first Leica I purchased was a M4-2 rangefinder in 1979. I was just back from the best King Crab fishing season with my dad and had a little money to spend. A Leica M3 joined it shortly after. I still own and use those cameras.

Later came a couple of M4s, two black enamel M3s, a pair of black enamel M2s (still have the best of those). Even tried a CL for awhile. Collected all the M lenses from 21 to 135mm. Picked up a titanium M6, followed by a black M6. Yeah, I was a complete shutterbug Leica nut (still am)…

The Leica lenses were so much better than anything else at the time that I had to get one of their SLRs too. So a Leicaflex in every flavor was added over the next couple of years: chrome, black chrome and black enamel. A SL MOT followed, as didi multiple SL2 MOTs (kept one). R3s, R4s, R5s, R6s and R7s came and went. Had all the Leica R lenses from 16 to 400. Tried Hasselblad, Pentax 6×7, Sinar, Nikon, Arri too… You name it, I had it at one time.

Too much stuff, so I sold everything except for a Fuji 6×17, three Leica M cameras, most of the M lenses, one Leicaflex SL2 MOT, and six Leica R lenses (thankfully kept and now used for DSLR filming).

In the mid 90’s I went to Canon full boat. Their lenses had finally improved enough for my purposes and they had autofocus, which was a big help for sports and wildlife. When Canon went digital I followed. Leica didn’t catch up until years later.

Although I’ve been a full time photographer for over twenty years, it’s been very revealing to look back at earlier times. After a Kodak Brownie received from my parents at age 10, I started thinking I might be visually inclined.

Bought a Canon rangefinder as a young teenager and hitchhiked all over San Francisco in the summer of ’68 with a wide angle adapter. Shot 20 rolls of B&W but didn’t have the money to develop them, so my mom tossed them out… She wanted me to be a doctor not an artist – with good intentions as always.

Picked up a Canon AE-1 when it was first released in ’76 and rediscovered photography while in optometry school. Finally made the transition from doctor to artist in 1992. Now I’m back to Canon and Leica for stills and film. Probably my most autobiographical post yet. Life’s a trip.

Would love a Leica M in black enamel. Also available from Leica is a M Monochrom. Leica says, “It is the first full-frame, 35 mm format digital camera to be designed exclusively and without any compromises for black-and-white photography.”

Leica Monochrom

Leica Lens Video

(Photograph of Jim Marshall: Henry Diltz)

UPDATE (9-17-12):

Leica just announced there will be two new rangefinders replacing the M9-P. A more affordable “M-E” (supposed to be available immediately) and the “M” available in early 2013. Numbers will not be used for designation, as is also the case with the new Leica SLR “S”.

Here are the new Leica “M” camera features:
– Improved image quality due to newly developed 24-megapixel full-frame Leica CMOS image sensor
– Extended applications with Live View and electronic viewfinder
– Simple, high-precision focusing thanks to Live View focus and focus peaking
– Digital fullframe for Leica R lenses, with the Leica R-Adapter M
– “Leica Look” videos with Full HD video capture (1080p)
– Enhanced sensitivity range up to ISO 6400
– 3″ display with 920,000 pixels, Corning® Gorilla® glass screen protector
– Fast image processing by the Leica Maestro image processor, 3 fps burst rate
– Splash protected body
– Extremely long battery life
– Multi-pattern and spot exposure metering
– Slightly thicker body
– Available in black paint or a silver chrome finish
– Price to be announced but reported to be just under $7K

Here are the Leica “M-E” camera features (details still coming in):
– Lower priced model with no video features
– An 18-megapixel high-resolution full-frame CCD sensor (same as original M9)
– ISO range of up to ISO 2,500
– 230k-dot, 2.5-inch LCD screen and captures 2fps in burst mode
– Available in anthracite grey
– Price to be announced but reported to be under $5,500

It appears that Leica is trying to reach out to serious enthusiasts with a “more affordable” alternative in the Leica M-E with its more basic specifications yet still retaining a full-frame sensor.