Friday, April 1, 2016

SURPRISE INTRODUCTION OF NEW LEICA TP



April 1, 2016

A new model will be added to the Leica T line, the Leica TP.  Outwardly the camera looks very similar to the regular model T, but the screen in back of the camera is noticeably different.  It is laid out in a panorama format.  The new Leica TP is indeed a panorama version of the Leica T.  To enable panorama photos without stitching individual images together in Photoshop or other, similar post production software, the camera needed to be considerably modified.

Leica TP with 24mm to 90mm f/2.8 - 4 Vario Elmarit-SL ASPH

Information is still relatively sparse, but we do know that the heart of the camera is a modified version of the sensor in the Leica S line of cameras.  The sensor has the same width as in the Leica S cameras, but it has a smaller height to offer a panorama layout, for an actual size of 45mm x 15mm.  Since this potentially results in a problem with the coverage of the lenses, the camera is equipped with the same lens mount as the Leica SL, meaning that all full format lenses from the Leica CL can be used.  In addition, all Leica M lenses can be used with an adapter.  Also new is an adapter, with electronic coupling, to utilize any of the Leica S line of lenses to gain full coverage of the sensor.  With this adapter the Leica S lenses will also maintain automatic focusing. 

Leica TP viewing screen

When using standard Leica T lenses, the electronics of the camera will switch automatically to a smaller sensor coverage as in the Leica SL to avoid vignetting.  The same is the case with the Leica full frame lenses from the Leica SL and Leica M line of lenses.  However, for these lenses this feature can be defeated if so desired.  Most of the full frame lenses do not have a large enough image circle to fully cover the total width of the sensor, but many of them come very close.  In those cases all one has to accept is some vignetting toward the right and left edge of the image.

Leica TP with Summilux-M 50mm f/1.4 ASPH

Leica TP with Summicron-M 50mm f/2 and M-Adapter T

Leica TP with Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 lens for Leica S

This brings up the question of why a new camera, why not just use a Leica S and crop the image to a panorama?  The simple answer is that the Leica TP will obviously be a lot smaller than the Leica S cameras and also substantially less expensive.

The rest of the New Leica TP is very much the same as the Leica T.  It starts out as a solid block of high grade aluminum which is milled to reveal the basic camera body structure.  With the exception of the modified Leica S sensor and subsequent electronics, the Leica TP utilizes most of the electronics from the Leica T.  The cost of the camera body will be close to that of the Leica T as well.


Unfinished Leica TP camera body after partially finished milling of the camera body.
The opening for the panorama viewing screen is clearly visible.

Top of unfinished Leica TP camera body


The Leica TP is further testimony that Leica Camera AG is not sitting on their laurels and basking in their renewed success as a top camera manufacturer.  By further expanding their line of cameras they continue to offer some unique items unavailable from any other manufacturer.


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3 comments:

  1. is this product still on pace for photokina? i havent seen anything else here or elsewhere on the internet, which leads me to think maybe this is vaporware? i hope not!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. To answer your question, please look at the date when this article was posted.

      Delete
  2. the date didnt register with me at all the post was so in depth, it didnt ever occur to me someone woukd go through so much trouble for a joke. and the concept made so much sense. too bad.

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