60 MEGAPIXEL LEICA CAMERA

When we think of Leica, the first thing that comes to mind are Leica cameras.  Many are unaware that the name Leica encompasses a lot more than that, that Leica actually consists of three independent companies,

Leica Camera AG

Solms, Germany

http://us.leica-camera.com/home/

Leica Microsystems GmbH

Wetzlar, Germany

http://www.leica-microsystems.com/

Leica Geosystems AG

Heerbrugg, Switzerland

http://www.leica-geosystems.com/en/index.htm.

Leica Camera AG is the one we are most familiar with as the manufacturer of Leica cameras.

The predecessor of the company, formerly known as Ernst Leitz GmbH, was split into three companies: Leica Camera AG, Leica Geosystems AG, and Leica Microsystems AG, producing cameras, geosurvey equipment, and microscopes, respectively. Leica Microsystems AG is the owner of the Leica brand, and grants licences to Leica Camera AG and Leica Geosystems.

It is interesting to see what the other Leica companies are manufacturing.  Today we will take a look at the Leica RCD30 series camera for airborne imaging.  Here is what Leica has to say about it:

Leica RCD30 Series

Multispectral. Metric. Modular.

The new Leica RCD30 Series – imaging revolution from the leader

The new Leica RCD30 Series of medium format cameras represents a true revolution in airborne imaging. Just like the RC30 has once set standards in film based airborne imaging, the new Leica RCD30 is setting new standards in what you and your customers can expect from a medium format digital camera.

A true Masterpiece

The Leica RCD30 Series is not only true imaging innovation, it‘s a masterpiece. The Leica RCD30‘s offers performance that is otherwise only known from large-format airborne sensors at a lower cost and thus makes digital multispectral photogrammetry available to everyone.

The Leica RCD30 boasts quite a number of innovative and unique „world‘s first“ features and is the only suitable medium format camera for photogrammetric and remote sensing applications:

• 60 MP single camera head delivers co-registered, multispectral RGBN imagery
• 2D mechanical motion compensation along two axis
• Ruggedized and thermal stabilized lens system with innovative bajonet mount and user replaceable central shutter
• Modular concept for single standalone and multihead-configurations
• Full integration with Leica ALS LIDAR and other third party sensors

Optics

Lens configurations

NAG-D 50 mm

NAT-D 80 mm

Ruggedized and temperature compensated for high accuracy performance between –10 °C and +30 °C

Shutter

Central shutter, user replaceable >200’000 cycles

Aperture

2.8, 4.0, 5.6, 8.0 for NAT-D 80 mm

4.0, 5.6, 8.0, 11 for NAG-D 50 mm

Automatically controlled aperture

Capacity of Mass Memory

500 GB MM1 for up to 6000 images RGBN

1000 GB MM1 for up to 12000 images RGBN

Leica Geosystems AG

Heerbrugg, Switzerland

www.leica-geosystems.com

http://di.leica-geosystems.com/

For complete information go to:

http://www.leica-geosystems.com/downloads123/zz/airborne/RCD30/brochures-datasheet/Leica_RCD30_DS_en.pdf