| |
 |
|
| click photo to launch gallery |
Leica today unleashed the long-awaited M8 digital camera, featuring a resolution of 10.3 megapixels and compatible with almost all of the M system lenses made since 1954. (See our hands on preview.)
The M8 features a maximum film speed of ISO 2500, thanks to its low-noise CCD sensor.
Leica will be exhibiting the new Leica M8 at Photokina in Cologne. It is the first digital camera to use the Leica viewfinder system. All the key characteristics of the analog Leica reporter’s camera such as the compact design, the exceptional picture quality in conjunction with the Leica M lenses and the unique picture composition using the Leica viewfinder have been seamlessly carried over into the digital world.
This professional-standard digital camera “Made in Germany” uses an image sensor specially developed for the requirements of the Leica M system. Almost all Leica M system lenses made since 1954 are also suitable for digital photography, thanks to their high performance level. The combination of lenses, sensor and high-performance picture editing generates outstanding picture quality with a resolution of 10.3 million pixels.
The new Leica M8 has a notably low-noise CCD image sensor with a basic speed of ISO 160. The maximum speed of ISO 2500 means the new camera is ideally suited to available light photography, a typical Leica M feature. The Leica M8 offers the photographer many useful details such as a tone value histogram which permits qualitative exposure control for even the smallest details of the subject in each enlargement section. Thanks to really simple operation with very few controls and clearly laid-out menus, the new camera also demonstrates typically Leica concentration on the essentials.
“The Leica M8 enriches digital photography with tradition, values and inspiration” says Dr. Ralph Nebe, “Above all the new LEICA M8 shows that the Leica Camera AG has found its own path straight into the digital world. With enhanced innovative power for digital solutions in both the camera and sport optics product sectors, together with rigorous updating of analog solutions, the company is fit for the future again.“
Because the camera was designed with no mirror box, it has retained the compact, flat shape of the Leica M. Where most digital cameras have a focal length extension factor of 1.5x, the M8 digital features a factor of 1.33; so a 21mm lens has an equivalent focal length of 28mm.
In addition to the camera, Leica also unveiled two new wide-angle lenses in the range from 16mm to 28mm. These lenses can be used on both digital and film cameras; including the current Leica MP and M7 analog cameras, and all of the classic models produced since 1954 as well. Other features of the M8 are shutter speeds to 1/8000 second, flash sync of 1/250 second, and a 2.5-inch LCD. The camera also uses the new M-TTL flash technology, which means that a calibration pre-flash is fired immediately before the actual flash goes off.
The M8 features a Secure Digital card slot and can accept cards up to 4GB in capacity; it records Jpeg and Raw file formats. The Raw format is saved as a 16-bit, 10.2MB .DNG file.
The M8’s all-metal body is available in silver or black. It will be available at retail at the end of November 2006.
For a closer look at the M8, check out John Owens's Hands on Review.
|
