Evolution of the Leica M8 Digital Rangefinder Camera System, including “World Firsts” in Lenses.

M8 CAMERA BODY

Leica Camera AG is pleased to announce that there will now be a choice of two German-made models.

The current M8, much loved for dynamic and discreet high end photography, which has been subject to a continuous firmware improvement, will continue. Leica Camera Ltd is committed to supporting this flagship product further, thus enabling owners to benefit fully from their investment. The SRP is £3390 (inc VAT) although authorised Leica dealers are offering a £400 Leica M8 trade up incentive. This incentive is scheduled to end on 30 September 2008, although there is a strong likelihood of an incentive extension.

A new M8.2 model will be available from late September 2008. This model shares the same body and characteristics of the current successful M8, but includes some alternative attractive features built in. Such features include;

A new extra-quiet, low vibration metal blade focal plane shutter with the option to re-cock the stutter at a later moment – useful to reduce noise even further

An ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal cover glass for the camera monitor - the Leica M8.2 is the first professional camera to use such material

A new snapshot mode – useful in tight reportage conditions

A “vulcanite” finish to the camera body (black and silver versions)

Viewfinder bright-lines (to frame subject) optimised for 2 metres (M8 is 0.7 metre)

A more compact, faster charger

Operational changes following user feedback

Following requests from many professional photographers, the black version of the LEICA M8.2 has been finished more discreetly as the Leica dot and accessory shoe are now also in black.

This version is particularly stylish with a new extra durable high-quality deep black finish, SRP is £3990 (inc VAT). Current M8 owners have the option to adopt some of the M8.2 alternative features via a factory rework programme if they so wish

Full technical details of all Leica M system developments can be found on www.leicacamera.co.uk.

Reader feedback:

Discuss this story:

NEW SUPER FAST LEICA F / 1.4 PRIME LENSES AT 24 MM AND 21 MM!

Super fast, compact, with sensational performance even at full aperture, these lenses will enable users to redefine wide angle low light photography. The 21 mm is in fact a world first for 35 mm digital and film photography.

Great care has been taken in the optical designs of the lenses. Despite their pronounced wide–angle characteristics, these lenses can feature extremely shallow field depth. This allows for creative and expressive photography not usually available when shooting wide. Stopped down to medium f values the depth of field can be so great that an entire landscape can be depicted in sharp focus.

Vignetting and distortion, the parameters traditionally difficult to control in fast wideangle lenses, have been corrected to such a high degree in these new Summilux-M lenses that they are hardly noticeable in practice.

The combination of lens speed and width has now become possible by using leading edge lens blank-pressing techniques for aspherical elements. Hand assembled in Solms Germany, the lenses also combine meticulous craftsmanship ensuring life long reliability even in challenging user conditions.

Two new metal body view finders (21 mm and 24 mm) will be available as accessories. These new viewfinders will have markings to enable use on Leica M digital and film bodies.

Available from December 2008, the LEICA SUMMILUX-M 21 mm f / 1.4 ASPH and the LEICA SUMMILUX-M 24 mm f / 1.4 ASPH are £3990 each (inc VAT) SRP.

THE WORLD’S FASTEST ASPHERICAL LENS (35 MM CAMERA SYSTEM) - THE NEW LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 MM F / 0.95 ASPHs

Breaking the optical “sound barrier” of lens speed 1.1 has been the Holly Grail of lens design for many years. Notably, the Canon 0.95 “Dream lens” was a bold attempt; however this was prior to modern aspherical lens technology.

Following the renowned LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 1, Leica is to now launch the world’s first aspherical f / 0.95 prime lens the new LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 0.95 ASPH. Comparing vignetting and distortion values in a head to head comparison, with both lenses at full aperture, the new lens will be a clear winner and is faster.

Not only this, but the new LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 0.95 ASPH also performs comparably with the LEICA SUMMILUX-M 50 mm f / 1.4 ASPH (regarded as the best standard lens ever produced) when stopped down.

At the new 0.95 full aperture, depth of field is so shallow as to allow the most esthetic portraits or detailed studies. Low light becomes even less of a barrier, with the LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 0.95 ASPH, surpassing the speed of the human eye even more so than its predecessor.

Hand assembled in Solms Germany, this lens is designed to retain its value and usability for decades.

Available from February 2009, the LEICA NOCTILUX-M 50 mm f / 0.95 ASPH is £6290 (inc VAT) SRP.

NEW COMPACT LEICA ELMAR-M 24 MM F / 3.8 ASPH LENS

Leica continues its strategy of producing a range of ultra compact high performance prime lenses.

Ideal for M8 users, this lens is equally at home with M film models. At full aperture, contrast and detail rendering are excellent. Stopping down to medium f values gives such great depth of field, that precise focusing is not required resulting in your M combination outperforming any camera with auto-focus in the speed stakes.

Additionally, the new LEICA ELMAR-M 24 mm f / 3.8 ASPH lens is a perfect companion to a faster lens, particularly for day time travel or photography in risk environments.

All focal lengths detailed above are based on 35 mm film camera photography. For use on M8/M8.2 camera bodies, all focal lengths should be multiplied by 1.33.

Available from November 2008, the LEICA ELMAR-M 24 mm f / 3.8 ASPH lens is £1380 (inc VAT) SRP