A very good friend turned me on to this post.    Read the origanalblog post and credits here

If colleges offered camera equipment anatomy classes, this Leica lens cutaway might be one of the things you’d be examining in the lab. It’s a Leica Tri-Elmar-M 28-35-50mm sliced cleanly down the middle, revealing all the glass and pieces inside that go into making the lens.

These were actually made by Leica students as a graduation project and boxed as a “cutaway model” of the lens. Here’s the same thing done with a Leica 50mm f/1.4 Summilux M ASPH lens:

Leica Camera AG and Magnum Photos International Inc. signed collaboration

Magnum Photos International, Inc. and Leica Camera AG have begun a technological and photographic collaboration that will build upon almost a century’s worth of shared history between these two world-renowned photographic institutions. 

Since the founding of Magnum Photos in 1947 by the legendary photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Robert Capa, George Rodger and David “Chim” Seymour, Magnum photographers have served as fervent eyewitnesses to history.  Through the lenses of their Leicas, they have captured the decisive moments of the 20th century with a unique vision and unparalleled intensity.

Magnum was established to reflect the independent nature of Magnum photographers as both people and photographers.  The idiosyncratic mix of reporter and artist continues to define Magnum, producing work that emphasizes not only what is seen, but also the way one sees it.

Over the past sixty years, Magnum and Leica have made extensive contributions to the recording of history. Individually, each brand stands alone as a pioneer in its field.  Leica has become synonymous with the best tools of the trade, blending hand-crafted quality with a dedication to precision mechanics and producing the best optics the industry has to offer.  From the moment Henri Cartier-Bresson picked up his first Leica I, Magnum photographers have pushed the limits of documentary photography, and in turn the limits of their Leicas, with groundbreaking results.

Focus On the Future

Building on their shared history Magnum and Leica agreed to collaborate on a series of projects that continue their longstanding dedication to independent documentary photography.  Alfred Schopf, CEO Leica Camera AG, and Magnum photographer Jonas Bendiksen, President of Magnum Photos International Inc., signed the project agreement in Solms, Germany.

Beginning in the Spring of 2011, Leica will sponsor the creation of a series of independently produced multimedia essays by Magnum photographers that will take a deeper look into the stories behind the photographs.  The work will highlight the personal journeys and insatiable curiosity of Magnum photographers.  Leica and Magnum will publish the stories online at www.leica-camera.com,
www.lfi-online.de, and www.magnumphotos.com.  

Commenting on the agreement, Magnum President Jonas Bendiksen stated: “The purpose of Magnum and its member photographers is to continue our long-standing commitment to discovering, witnessing, and communicating visually the sentiments of mankind.  With this new agreement, Leica is making an important statement in support of that shared responsibility.”

Tailoring to the needs of professionals

In addition to supporting individual projects, Leica and Magnum will use the production of the new essays as an opportunity to learn from Magnum photographers’ experiences in the field with the latest Leica equipment.   Magnum photographers’ input will contribute to Leica’s extensive ongoing user research efforts, with the shared goal of continuing to develop the Leica portfolio and tool-set to serve the needs of photographers world-wide.

Stephan Daniel, Director Product Management of Leica Camera AG, says: “The cooperation between Magnum and Leica will help us to create even better tools for professional photographers, both by getting their feedback with actual equipment and by testing future products. Stressing a camera or a lens under harsh circumstances is a welcome and important addition to our internal test procedures, making our products even more perfect for the hard daily work of professionals.”

Contacts:

For Magnum: Jonathan Roquemore, Brand Relations, Magnum Group L.L.C.

                     Jonathan@Magnumphotos.com  +41.79.688.0179

Leica Camera revolutionized the world of professional photography with the S2, breaking new ground in every way. The decisive advantage of the Leica S2 is truly the sum of all its features: flexibility, durability and easy operation combined with industry-leading resolution and image quality. While some specific features are lesser known, each component greatly contributes to the S2’s unparalleled standard for quality. Explore some of the elements that make the S2 the ideal choice whether in the studio or on location to capture images of unmatched brilliance.

Weather Seal

The rugged, durable design of the Leica S2 ensures the highest standard of performance in even the most extreme climactic conditions. With over 35 water and dust resistant seals covering every surface of the S2 and Leica S lenses, photographers can shoot in inclement weather or dry and dusty environments and still be assured that their camera will function to its optimum ability and provide breath-taking images. The S2 can also be supplied with a highly scratch-resistant Leica S2-P sapphire glass display cover for the most demanding circumstances.  

Tethered Shooting

A true trailblazer, the S2 is the first and only medium-format camera to incorporate LEMO push-pull connector technology for its USB interface into its design. Ideal for high speed tethered shooting, this construction is so durable that the camera body can be held by its strain-relief tethering cable alone, a major advantage for any number of challenging photographic situations. Designed by the German military, this state-of-the art technology enables photographers to easily move about without worrying that the cable will be disconnected from the camera while the LEMO USB weather seal allows for tethered shooting even in severe weather settings.

Soft Keys

Simplicity and ease-of-use are paramount to the Leica photographic experience and the S2 achieves both with its innovative soft keys. The four menu keys can be programmed to perform almost any function and adjust to photographer’s individual shooting style and needs. Additionally, the soft keys allow for firmware updates to be made swiftly and easily, ensuring that S2 photographers are consistently at the forefront of their craft.

Battery Life

Whether shooting a fashion spread in the studio or a safari in the field, the S2 allows photographers to capture more images with a single battery life. A drastic improvement over the standard 200 frames per battery life, S2 photographers can garner up to 1,000 frames from a single charge. In addition to using lithium battery technology, the S2 features no memory effect, which allows partially drained batteries to be recharged without reducing performance.

About the Leica S2

Introduced in 2009, the Leica S-system is a completely new digital camera concept to meet supreme professional requirements. With a resolution of 37.5 megapixels, the S2’s 30 x 45mm CCD sensor features an aspect ratio of 3:2 and an area nearly 60% larger than that of a traditional 35mm camera, resulting in stunning image quality. The S2’s full range of features includes autofocus, high-speed MAESTRO image processor, highly durable design and optimal size and ease-of-use for professional photographers. The Leica S2 retails for $22,995.00 (body only).

Available for LEICA SUMMARIT-S 1:2,5 / 35mm ASPH., the LEICA SUMMARIT-S 1:2,5 / 70mm ASPH., the LEICA APO-MACRO-SUMMARIT-S 1:2,5 / 120mm and the LEICA APO-ELMAR-S 1:3,5 / 180mm, the new S lens firmware update optimizes the lens’ performance due to an initializing sequence when turning on the camera and attaching the lens. Users are invited to download the instructions manual prior to updating their lens.

Leica Camera’s new Image Shuttle software update optimizes the compatibility with the current S2 firmware, in addition to improving stability. Furthermore, it allows Quick View to display images in a separate, scalable window immediately after capture when shooting tethered.

The S lens firmware update, the software update and instructions manuals will be available for download to registered S customers starting February 18, 2011 at http://owners.leica-camera.com/.

A new firmware version for the Leica S2 is available free of charge for all registered S customers in our owners´ area.

Thanks to our close cooperation with professional photographers, we are always well informed about our clients' needs and wishes, as you will see in the improvements of our firmware for the S-system. The new update FW 1.0.0.24 offers a range of interesting and helpful improvements.

From now on, lossless DNG-compression is possible, which reduces the file-sizes and increases the burst-rate capability. Further new features are a new maximum exposure time, shutter speed section in bulb mode and a setting option in highlight and shadow level warning.
Also, there are improvements towards the histogram display, the legibility of the display, memory card compatibility as well as setting option for the memory button. Not least the increase of autofocus precision, which improves the focusing on very small picture details, speaks for the update FW 1.0.0.24. As of now, registered clients can download the update at the Leica owner's area, as a matter of course for free.
TO THE OWNERS´AREA

Invitation to submit entries for the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ photographic competition 

Solms, Germany (January 12, 2011) - Leica Camera AG invites professional photographers to submit entries to the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award,’ an international photography competition. Photographers wishing to take part may submit their entries online from January 15, 2011 to March 1, 2011 at www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de. This year, the value of the competition prizes has significantly increased, with the award winner receiving their own piece of Leica history.   

For the first time, the winner of the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens worth 9,500 euros (approximately $12,300) in addition to a cash prize of 5,000 euros (approximately $6,500). For the ‘Newcomer Award,’ open to all (aspiring) professional photographers aged 25 and under, the award has also been increased. The winner will receive a Leica M9 camera and a lens.  

Competition entry conditions: An international jury awards the ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Award’ / ‘Leica Oskar Barnack Newcomer Award’ to photographers whose unerring powers of observation capture and express the relationship between humans and the environment in graphic form in a sequence of up to 12 images. Entry submissions must be a self-contained series of images in which the photographer perceives and documents the interaction between humans and the environment with acute vision and contemporary visual style – creative, unobtrusive and groundbreaking.

The competition is a memorial to Oskar Barnack (1879–1936), the inventor of the Leica. From 1914 on, he increasingly used the prototype camera he developed, today known as the Ur-Leica, for photography. The history of photojournalism is closely tied to his invention, as, beginning in 1925, the compact and easily carried Leica cameras were instrumental in enabling entirely new and expressive forms of photography.  

The terms and conditions of entry can be downloaded at www.leica-oskar-barnack-preis.de.

Jeff Cable from Lexar shows us how to use SSD drives and Crucial memory to speed up our computers and increase a photographers digital work flow and save time.

Lexar Media Introduces the First 128GB Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity Memory Card for Photographers and Videographers

High-Capacity Lexar Professional 133x SDXC Cards Offer High-Speed Performance for Capturing, Storing, and Managing Extensive 1080p HD Video

Key Messages:

• 64GB Class 10 SDXC™ card and industry-first 128GB Class 10 SDXC card provide massive storage capacities and professional-level performance for capturing more of the memories that matter
• Minimum guaranteed speed of 133x accelerates the professional workflow by providing quick transfer of high-resolution images and HD video from the card to the computer
• Professional-level performance supports the advanced image- and video-capture capabilities of the newest digital SLR cameras
• Includes the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue® software for valuable peace of mind

Multimedia Elements:

• Lexar Image Gallery
• Supporting Product Info

Las Vegas, NV, January 3, 2011 – Lexar Media, a leading global provider of memory products for digital media, today announced new Lexar® Professional Secure Digital Extended Capacity (SDXC)  memory cards. The new high-capacity Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards enable the capture, storage, and transfer of extended lengths of 1080p high-definition (HD) video and continuous, rapid-fire image capture in a single, high-performance solution. The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC card is the first available in a 128GB capacity, and is also offered in a 64GB capacity. Both cards are speed rated at 133x, providing a minimum guaranteed transfer speed of 20MB per second, and feature a Class 10 speed designation. For additional information about Lexar Professional SDXC cards, visit www.lexar.com.

“The professional photography industry is at a point where digital photo- and video-capture methods are converging, meaning that professional shooters need a memory solution with the versatility and reliability to safely store both photos and videos,” said Pachi Chen-Wong, senior product marketing manager, Lexar Media. “The 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards combine high-speed performance with large capacities to offer solutions for professionals who shoot large volumes of high-resolution images and HD video.”

The Lexar Professional 133x SDXC memory cards are compatible with all SDXC-enabled devices. The cards include the latest version of award-winning Image Rescue software to help recover lost or deleted photo and video files. Professional photographers can now capture, store, and manage more of the photo and video content critical to their livelihoods.

Lexar Professional 133x SDXC cards provide consumers with the quality and reliability they have come to expect from Lexar Media. All Lexar product designs are tested in the Lexar Quality Labs, a group of facilities where all Lexar product designs undergo extensive testing to ensure performance, quality, compatibility, and reliability with more than 800 intended digital devices.

The Lexar Professional SDXC cards include a limited lifetime warranty and free, dedicated professional technical support. The new 64GB and 128GB Lexar Professional SDXC memory cards will be available in the first quarter of 2011 at leading retailers and on Lexar.com, with MSRPs of $399.99 and $699.99, respectively.

Solms, Germany (December 22, 2010) - Leica Camera AG has released a new firmware update for the Leica S-System. All LEICA S2 and S2-P cameras will now be supplied with the latest firmware version. Users wishing to bring their camera up-to-date can now download the firmware update from the “Owners Area” on the Leica website and take advantage of the latest improvements.

“Our close cooperation with photographers gives us not only an opportunity to constantly develop and improve the Leica S-System, but also allows us to address the precise needs of professional photographers. Therefore, the latest update, FW 1.0.0.24, includes quite a number of suggestions and wishes determined during discussions with professional users. The result is a wide range of improvements for applications, features and functions as well as the handling of the S2,” reports Stephan Schulz, product manager for the Leica S-System at Leica Camera AG.

The FW 1.0.0.24 firmware update enables a multitude of enhanced camera functions. These include, for instance, lossless DNG compression. This offers particular benefits by reducing file sizes from around 75MB to around 40MB and increasing the burst-rate capability to 14 consecutive exposures (at 1.5 frames per second). Both of these factors depend on the image content. At the same time, DNG compression leads to faster file-saving and transfer times when shooting tethered. Further new features of the firmware update are a new maximum exposure time of 125 seconds, shutter speed section in bulb mode (with the new firmware, the setting wheel can now be used to select the shutter speeds directly) and a setting option for highlight and shadow level warnings.

Existing camera functions have also been improved in the firmware update FW 1.0.0.24. This applies, for instance, to the histogram display in automatic review mode. This display option has now been enlarged for improved legibility. Furthermore, the update also allows the expansion of memory card compatibility to include 64GB UDMA6 cards and offers additional setting options for the AF/AE memory button. Autofocus precision has increased even more and focusing on very small subject details is, above all, greatly improved now.