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Wednesday, May 31, 2017

LEICA NEWS




Leica Store Am Leitz Platz II  Photo: Marlies Amling


New Leica M10 Firmware: Beta-Testers Wanted


The Leica Forum reports that Leica will release a firmware update for the Leica M10.  It is designed to improve SD card compatibility.  Leica has already done a lot of testing on this in-house, but they don’t have access to all the SD cards in use.

For that reason Leica has asked the Leica Forum to conduct a beta field test by Leica M10 owners; they are looking for 40 testers.  The only requirement is that they own a Leica M10 since Leica does not provide test cameras on that large a scale.

If you are interested, send an email to m10test@juergensen.net until Thursday evening with this information:

Fullname
Forum username
SD cards you are using, and if you experienced any problems


Leica SL (Type 601) Firmware Update v3.0 with many new features and improvements


A new firmware update is available for the Leica SL.  The updates include numerous improvements, new features and bug fixes.

All Improvements

New top features
  • Up to 35% faster writing DNG files to SD card
  • Optimization of the writing process allows to reduce the time needed for saving DNG files up to 35%. This allows to be quicker ready to continue shooting after a burst session.

Optimized Autofocus
  • MF-/AF-control optimized
  • Autofocus reaction time is shortened
  • Improved AF tracking of objects with SL lenses
  • Improved: Zooming while recording video
  • Improved: AF field chances while recording video
  • Improved: AFc while recoding video

New firmware for lenses is included
  • Improved accuracy of the focus position
  • Improved AFc accuracy if an object moves towards the lens
  • New firmware for the VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 ASPH.
  • New firmware for the APO-VARIO-ELMARIT-SL 90-280 f/2.8-4
  • Bugfixes

Additional improvements
  • Store DNG and JPG on separate SD cards
  • Independent exposure control for video and photo mode
  • New video frame rate 24fps for 4k resolution 3840 x 2160 px
  • White balance ‘flash’ improved for use with studio flash system’s modelling light
  • Electronic shutter mode for shutter speeds from 1s – 1/16 000s for silent shutter release (ISO50)
  • Exposure preview in M-Mode improved for continuous preview
  • Improved usability in play mode when zooming to 1:1 (100%) , location gets stored to easy access the same location
  • Improved flash behaviour for AutoISO setting
  • Improved behaviour of flash units in continuous burst shooting mode     

New options for customization
  • Swap the dedicated exposure controls of the front and back dial
  • Current control setup of the front and back dial is shown on the top display
  • Renaming from T-Mode into S-Mode
  • New option for AF Tracking “RESET”: Start position of the AF tracking is fixed on a specific location which can be adjusted by the joystick.
  • Graphical User Interface of the multi selection and delete functions improved
  • AE-/AF-Lock Button can be assigned to magnification for a quick visual check of focus position
  • New option to show the focus distance in feet or meter
  • Automatic detection of Leica M and Leica R lenses can be turned off
  • Video resolution/framerate can be assigned to the personal favorite menu
  • User experience increased: the “OK” button on any keyboard input screens is touch sensitive
  • Audio in/out levels can be controlled directly by left/right joystick on the histogram screen
  • Several minor improvements made on graphical user interface
  • New default behaviour: the function “Access menu in EVF” is enabled by default. This function enables the upper left button while looking through the electronic viewfinder. Either menu access and quick access to custom functions is available now by default. For users experiencing accidental presses of the upper left button by their nose – it is recommended to disable this function in the “Customize Control” menu.

Bugfixes
  • Any shutter speed limitation for any manual focus lens is deactivated
  • Improved stability for tethered shooting with Leica Image Shuttle 3.6
  • If an USB connection is detected by the camera, the warning of a missing SD card is hidden. This allows to use Leica Image Shuttle and Adobe® Lightroom® Plugin without an inserted SD card.
  • For Leica M and Leica R lenses the real-time display of the established aperture is hidden

Leica SL APP
  • Support for DNG file download
  • Shutter release by pressing the volume button
  • Vibrate on shutter release


To download, go to the following:

LEICA SL FW V3.0
LEICA APP ANDROID APP
LEICA APP IOS
LEICA IMAGE SHUTTLE



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PRODUCTION NUMBERS OF LEICA LENSES VS CANON AND NIKON






According to information available from Leica Camera AG, the total production capacity of lenses is up to 3,000 lenses per month or 36 thousand per year.

These are impressive figures, but how does this compare to other camera manufacturers?  Unfortunately such figures are hard to come by, but I have been able to obtain some information about Canon and Nikon.

Nikon recently announced that they have reached the mark of 70 million SLR lenses made since they were first introduced.  That announcement came only six months after they published the manufacture of 65 million lenses.  That means Nikon produced 5 million lenses in just 6 months or 10 million per year. 

For Canon no such data is available.  However, they did publish the total number of SLR cameras and lenses made since 1987.  These average out to 2.9 million lenses per year.  Current production of cameras and lenses is substantially higher than these average figures.  As a matter of fact, currently Canon makes more cameras and lenses than Nikon.

Taking the 10 million Nikon figure for total annual lens production, in comparison to Leica, they make almost 300 times the number of lenses per year.  That actually means that Nikon makes approximately the number of lenses in one day that Leica makes in a whole year.






 
All Leica lenses and cameras are individually assembled by hand with 
numerous tests and retests to assure complete adherence to the highest
tolerances in the industry,all with the total absence of of assembly lines
Photos by Marlies Amling and Heinz Richter

That is what mass production allows a manufacturer to do.  However, mass production inevitably has to incorporate certain shortcuts.  There is no way that Nikon or Canon or any other company that mass produces their lenses (and cameras) can even come close to the tolerance levels applied to Leica cameras and lenses.  Ultimately it is this that sets Leica apart from their competition, and this is also part of the reason why it is so difficult for Leica to increase their production numbers.

Leica is all too often criticized for their prices.  However, contrary to claims of being greedy or overcharging, these prices are the direct result of their production methods.  Their bench made production is totally devoid of any assembly line work.  All manufacturing and assembly steps are carried out by individuals in individual steps with multiple checks and rechecks.  Only that way can the tight tolerances be assured, and it is these tight tolerances that assure the increased performance that we expect from Leica equipment.  Unfortunately this is expensive.

That is further underlined by some of the more exotic Nikon and Canon lenses.  These simply do not sell in sufficiently large numbers to warrant mass production; they are made not unlike Leica lenses, however at the lower tolerance levels as set by Nikon and Canon.  


Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM 1.4 lens and fitted case

Nikon-800mm-f5.6E-FL-ED-VR-lens-unboxing
Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR

One of those lenses is the Canon EF 200-400 f/4L IS USM 1.4x lens with a cost of $11,000 and $600 for the custom case.  Nikon introduced the Nikkor 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR lens at a cost of over $16,000.  That puts either one of these lenses solidly in the price category that Leica is so often criticized for.

It is ironic that people so often ask for Leica equipment at “competitive” prices.  If Leica were to compromise their production methods to allow their equipment to be sold at lower prices, we would get equipment of performance levels as offered by other manufacturers.  I for one am glad that this isn’t the case.


As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for.  Leica is a very good example of that.


For other articles on this blog scroll down in the column to the right to BLOG ARCHIVE

To comment or to read comments please scroll past the ads below.

All ads present items of interest to Leica owners.


___________________________________________________________________________




                                  www.classicconnection.com                                     


 www.leicastoremiami.com  



      www.eddycam.com 
                       
      





www.lenstab.com






Buy vintage Leica cameras from 
America's premier Leica specialist 
www.tamarkin.com

                          
 http://www.tamarkinauctions.com/            http://www.tamarkin.com/leicagallery/upcoming-shows




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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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Please make payment via PayPal to GMP Photography

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