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This mesmerising video shows the M10 being hand built inside the Leica factory

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The Leica M10 is, without doubt, a rather wonderful little camera. I’ll never own a Leica, because I simply can’t justify spending the kind of money that Leica commands. Especially on something I don’t really need. But it is interesting to see how the company and its cameras develop over time.

Equally as fascinating, if not more so, is seeing how these and other cameras are constructed. This morning, I head the pleasure of watching this short film over my first coffee of the day. An enchanting look inside the factory where the Leica M10 is hand built from its various base components.

This $11,000 lens is exactly why you don’t check camera gear when flying

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It should be pretty common knowledge by now that you don’t check your delicate camera gear when flying. Ok, sometimes, you might no choice, especially if you fly Delta. But if the ability is there to carry it in your hand luggage, then do it. This was an expensive lesson to learn for one lady who recently brought her Leica M10 & 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux to Leica Store Manchester for repair.

The $10,995 lens has been smashed, and the $6,895 camera now won’t even turn on. Leica Store Manchester told PetaPixel, “She had only had the camera and lens for 2 weeks”.

Kai’s hands-on review of new Leica TL2

Leica TL2 was recently announced, and Kai Wong got his hands on one of these mirrorless cameras to bring you a review. He’s walking around the city of Bath, taking photos and videos and trying out the camera. If you’re thinking of cashing out almost $2,000 for Leica TL2, Kai’s review could give you some insight and help you make a decision.

A part of Leica is up for sale, and Zeiss could be the buyer

According to a report by Reuters, a stake in Leica is up for sale. Buyout group Blackstone is in talks with potential buyers, and Zeiss is one of the potential buyers. 45% percent stake in Leica is up for sale, and judging from the report, there are already several acquirers interested.

Lecia Chairman wants a “true Leica phone” designed for photography

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Last year’s collaboration with Huawei to produce the dual-lens camera Huawei P9 Smartphone was met with mixed responses. Some said it was just a gimmick, while others thought it was the best thing to happen to mobile photography. Although its release was not without a little controversy. And then a little more. But I know a number of people who own a P9 and absolutely love it.

It seems Leica, or at least Leica Chairman, Andreas Kaufmann, isn’t quite as pleased with it. In an interview with CBNC, Kaufmann said that it was a “personal dream” to reinvent the smartphone. He wants a “true Leica phone”. He isn’t quite sure if it’s a reality for the company, but it is his personal dream.

Leica TL2 mirrorless camera officially announced, features 24MP sensor, 20fps shooting and 4K video

Leica has officially announced TL2, a APS-C mirrorless camera with 24MP sensor. It’s a small, yet durable and powerful camera, created from a single block of aluminum. It shoots 20fps with an electronic shutter, as well as UHD 4K video at 30fps. With the ISO 50,000, the camera has excellent low light capabilities as well. Let’s take a look at more details and full specs.

Read this post before buying a Leica M or a rangefinder camera

Today I want to share with you my thoughts on the Leica M and more generally the Rangefinder system. When I sold all my digital equipment to make a permanent switch to analog camera I went for a Rangefinder camera. The obvious choice for me was to buy a Leica M6 and a full set of lenses to cover a wide focal range.

I first bought the body then ordered at the same time all sort of lenses from different resellers. I had a good sum of money from my sales and was feeling like a kid in a candy shop! I bought 5 lenses going from 21mm up to 135mm thinking that I would never need to buy glass for the rest of my life… Of course that was wrong otherwise we wouldn’t be here today!

The thrift store challenge is over. Student finds pristine Leica M2 for only $5

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I like thrift stores as much as the next photographer. And garage sales, car boot sales, and other places where another man’s trash is my potential treasure. I’m a sucker for a good bargain. I thought I got a good deal a few years ago finding a Nikkormat FTn for a mere £1. And while I might’ve paid less for that FTn than Reddit user GreenteaBanana paid for this Leica M2, he certainly got a much better deal.

The typical value for a Leica M2 in this condition is around $850. The attached Elmar 50mm f/2.8 lens is worth around another $600-800. GreenteaBanana writes in his post, that this is “by far the best and most valuable thing I’ve found in years of thrifting”. He plans to use the camera during upcoming trips to Korea and Japan this summer. Then he’ll decide whether he enjoys it enough to keep it, or sell it on.

Why photographers are hiding their Leica logo with tape

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We live in a terrifying world and the news tell us: just about anything out there is out to get us.

Fear is HOT right now.

So talking about being safe… Does hiding the Leica logo with tape actually serve a purpose?

What is the purpose of this strange behaviour?

Is it possible that one idiot did it and it just caught on?

An extreme weather review of the Leica M-P

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With the recent release of the Leica’s new M10 I noticed an interesting commonality amongst the reviews. Almost all of them tested the camera in sunny, dry, or interior environments. Now I understand that Leica’s are expensive cameras and that reviewers and owners may not want to risk their equipment, but it strikes me that it might be worth knowing what kind of abuse these cameras can take given the high price they command.

Additionally, I’ve seen Leica’s treated with a sort of reverence that often influences the types of shots photographers are willing to risk taking. And it strikes me this reverence may be preventing some from fully taking advantage of what the camera can offer. Furthermore, if all you see coming out of Leica reviews are sunny shots in a neighborhood park, low light shots of a guitarist at a hip venue in Austin, or converted black and white street photography from an afternoon stroll around Florence, then you may come to think that’s what a Leica is for. For photography that is safe, secure, dry, or climate controlled.

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