Leica's all the nines launch day
Although neither of today's Leica announcements revealing the new full frame M9 rangefinder, and the X1 compact with a large APS-C CMOS sensor, were great secrets - the significance of today's ninth day of the ninth month of the ninth year of this millennium was too good to miss from Leica's point of view - the spec. of the X1 is interesting.
Some had hoped that a new DSLR, fitting in between the previously announced S-series medium format DSLR and the M8/9 rangefinders, would also be announced today, but they will have to wait longer.
The new X1 Leica compact
I find the X1 the most interesting of today's Leica news. The official press release gives it away; "Designed and made in Germany by Leica engineers..." While the M-series has always been conceived, designed, and manufactured in Germany, the plethora of Leica D compact digital models sporting the Leica red dot that have appeared in the last half decade have all been slightly customised versions of Panasonic Lumix models. Even Leica branded lenses for Four Thirds DSLRs and the new Micro Four Thirds platform, are designed and manufactured, albeit to exacting Leica quality assurance standards, by Panasonic engineers in Japan.
The Leica X1 has a fixed focal length 24mm f/2.8 lens (with the 1.5x cropping factor the view is the same as a 36mm 135 format lens) mated to an APS-C sensor, of the size you will find in many DSLRs from entry level to mid-range enthusiast level. Clearly aimed at the kind of well-heeled customers that have been snapping up the Panasonic-derived Leica D range, the X1 has fully automatic exposure modes, including a Program mode. You also get autofocus, a pop flash - as well as a hot shoe flash, though no movie modes. There is no rangefinder viewing, you have to be content with a rather modestly specified 2.7 inch 230,000 dot LCD. Even though there is no movie mode, you can connect your X1 to a HD TV via a HDMI cable to view your stills in high definition.
I don't know where the 12.2 megapixel (effective) CMOS sensor comes from, though my best guess is Sony, as I'm not aware that Leica's sensor supplier for the M8 and M9, Kodak, has one on its parts inventory, nor Panasonic. This makes me smile seeing as Sony, the big Panasonic rival, is in bed with Leica's arch rival, Carl Zeiss.
Full frame for Leica's new M9
Let's hope the introduction of the M9 is less troublesome than that of the original M8, which suffered a camera recall, and various sensor-related problems, including an over-sensitivity to infra red, requiring the distribution of lens filters to alleviate the problem. Now sporting a 135 format 'full frame' 18 megapixel Kodak CCD sensor, Leica will has addressed the IR sensitivity issue with an very slim glass filter placed in front of the sensor. But even with the smaller sensor of the M8, the problem of vignetting and definition loss at the corners of the frame was the topic of much discussion. The job of keeping this genie in its bottle with the M9, partly through the use, once more, of progressively adapted microlenses on the sensor, is even more of a task for Leica and Kodak.
On the plus size, although retaining the basic old shape and size M-series solid metal chassis, Leica has made numerous changes to improve the camera's digital user interface. There is also a new electronically controlled focal plane shutter, which Leica says is quieter than ever. It's a bit odd to see a live histogram function highlighted as a special new feature, but in M-world, that's precisely what it is.
Whether you feel that £4850 (including UK VAT) is good value for the M9 (body only) is likely to be an entirely personal thing. You could say, ah - but it's only a grand more than an M8.2. At the same time, the reasoning that it's a swingeing grand extra for basically fixing earlier problems and fitting a larger sensor - sounds just as reasonable. For those with a big investment in M-series lenses from the last 50 or so years, which will now operate un-cropped, the temptation will certainly be there.
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