Leica introduces a hybrid instant camera with an elegant design, available in three colors.

In the early days of photography, there were hours to days between the moment if capturing an image and actually viewing the result. Since 1947, instant cameras have offered a new photography experience, which gained cult status, especially in the 70s and 80s. 

Back then, the instantly printed photo symbolized acceleration, whereas, in today’s fast-paced world, it represents a moment of caution and relief. It’s no wonder that the fascination with instant photography is thriving once again, and now, with the Leica SOFORT 2, Leica Camera AG is introducing the second generation of their instant camera. This hybrid camera seamlessly combines fleeting digital moments with the enduring analog world.

The modern, minimalist, and elegant look of the SOFORT 2 is a testament to the expertise of the company in industrial design. The Leica brand experience continues consistently with the handling of the SOFORT 2, as its user-friendly menu structure and button layout align with those of other digital Leica cameras. This hybrid camera seamlessly combines fleeting digital moments with the enduring analog world.

The modern, minimalist, and elegant look of the SOFORT 2 is a testament to the expertise of the company in industrial design. The Leica brand experience continues consistently with the handling of SOFORT 2, as its user-friendly menu structure and button layout align with those of other digital Leica cameras. 

What’s new with the SOFORT 2 is primarily the option to permanently save digital images and choose the best shots before printing them. This includes all photos on your smartphone and those taken with other Leica cameras, already stored in the gallery of the seamlessly connected Leica FOTOS App. These photos can be transferred to the camera via the app and printed as instant photos. Simply pull the manual printing lever on the camera, and seconds later, you’ll have the print on Instax Mini format photo paper in your hands. Leica offers exclusive photo paper with a warm-white or golden frame.

Easy to use, minimalist, and stylish. The new Leica SOFORT 2 is available in black, red, and white and presents itself as a camera that will quickly find a permanent place in the family, at events, and during travels, creating special shared experiences. Numerous fun features further assist in creatively capturing moments: the selfie mode with a separate shutter button, the landscape mode with a wide-angle character, the macro mode for close-ups from up to 10cm, as well as 10 lens and 10 film effects to unleash your creativity.

As versatile as the Leica SOFORT 2 itself are its accessories. Stylish wooden picture frames beautifully showcase the prints. Wrist wraps, carrying straps, bags, and other high-quality accessories emphasize the camera’s individuality and creativity – and, most importantly, the individuals who use it to capture and share special moments, whether as analog instant photos or digital moments on social media.

The Leica SOFORT 2 will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and authorized dealers starting on November 9th, 2023. The US retail price will be $389.00

ASTRODESIGN, Inc., is the sixth company and SAMYANG Optics Co. is the seventh company to join the L-Mount Alliance since the public announcement of the L-mount standard at photokinia in 2018. The alliance consists of founding members Leica Camera AG, SIGMA, and Panasonic, as well as Ernst Leitz Wetzlar GmbH and DJI joining in 2021. The goal of the alliance is to utilize the L-mount standard developed by Leica Camera AG for cameras and lenses in future product development.

This collaboration enables ASTRODESIGN and SAMYANG Optics to develop products with the L-Mount which will present great benefits for wide range of photo and video applications.

Stephan Schulz, Head of Product Management Professional Camera Systems: “The L-Mount is an up-to-date lens interface, that unifies photo and video applications in the best possible way and allows for innovative optical designs due to the shallow flange depth. With ASTRODESIGN, the L-Mount Alliance gains a member that is undoubtedly an innovator in advanced professional video.

With SAMYANG, we welcome an agile lens maker, that has undoubtedly developed within a short period of time an impressive lens portfolio for photography and cinematography.

About the L-Mount Standard

The L-Mount was developed by Leica Camera AG under the proviso of providing customers with a future-proof, flexible, robust, and precise bayonet mount that would fulfill even the most demanding photographic needs. Since its initial appearance in 2014 within the Leica T, the development of the L-Mount was continued by Leica as well as by its strategic partners, which led to significant improvements and effectively new and more polished L-Mount technology.

To ensure maximum product diversity, a diameter of 51.6 millimeters was chosen to make the L-Mount suitable for use not only with full-frame cameras but also on cameras with APSC sensors. The short register of only 20 millimeters enables a short distance between the lens and the sensor, which in turn enables considerably more compact construction – which is particularly helpful for developments in the wide-angle lens segment.

To ensure resistance to even the most extreme conditions, and to guarantee customers maximum reliability for many years of intensive use, the camera bayonets are manufactured from wear-resistant stainless steel and with four flange segments that prevent canting and ensure secure and precisely positioned lens attachment.

The standardized L-Mount contact strip ensures trouble-free communication between the electronic components of the lens and the camera – including the possibility of installing future firmware updates for lenses to react to technological advances to exploit the full performance potentials of the lenses.

Initially introduced by Leica Camera AG in 2014, the L-Mount is now available on 12 cameras and over 60 lenses across the existing alliance partners. All lenses made for the different systems within the L-Mount alliance can be used on all cameras without adapters and without any functional limitations – this illustrates one of the numerous benefits of the common bayonet.

Further information can be found at: www.l-mount.com

Leica expands the SL-System lens portfolio with a compact telephoto zoom lens with a focal length of 100-400mm or up to 560mm thanks to a new 1.4x extender.

For over 150 years, Leica Camera AG has been crafting lenses that stand as pioneering precision tools, continuously pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Creative people rely on Leica cameras and lenses to capture their view of the world in outstanding image quality with the unmistakable Leica look. Now, the new Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens and the new Leica Extender L 1.4x once again expand the freedom and flexibility of photography and videography with the SL-System.

The new Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 offers the widest zoom range of the SL-System and combines high-end technology with all the advantages of a particularly compact and lightweight design. Its range of applications is extremely versatile. Above all, it shines in nature, wildlife, sports and action photography. It is characterized by its high performance and high image quality over the entire zoom and aperture range. The optical image stabilizer ensures blur-free images and the autofocus focuses precisely on moving objects.

The Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 has an ARCA-SWISS compatible, detachable tripod base that can be inserted directly into a suitable coupling system without a quick-release plate. This provides a secure hold at all times when photographing or filming with a tripod. A lockable tripod clamp also allows the lens to be fixed securely at any angle. The clamp locks every 90 degrees for quick changes between landscape and portrait formats.

As an additional option, the new Leica Extender L 1.4x extends the vocal length of the Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 even further to a range of 140-560mm. With its compact dimensions, it fits in any bag to quickly and flexibly form a powerful unit with the lens. Both the extended focal length and the aperture are written into the image data as usual, to ensure that they show the actual settings used.

The new SL lens, whether on its own or in combination with the Leica Extender L 1.4, complements the SL-System, as well as the L-Mount portfolio, with a versatile, powerful and compact lens that captures images and videos in unique quality.

The recommended retail price for the new Leica Vario-Elmar-SL 100-400 f/5-6.3 is €2,200.00 including VAT. The recommended retail price for the Leica Extender L 1.4x is €900.00 including VAT. Both products globally at Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store, and authorized dealers starting now.

Leica expands the SL-System by two new, particularly compact lenses. These are also available in four attractive SL-Kits together with the SL2 or SL2-S.

Leica Camera AG is based on more than 150 years of experience in the development, design and manufacturing of optics. Lenses from Leica have since been a synonym for high-quality, reliable precision tools of stable value which capture photos and videos in outstanding image quality. Leica’s latest camera system is now getting a double addition to the Leica SL2 and the Leica SL2-S: the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 ASPH and the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 ASPH.

Both standard focal lengths are characterized by particularly compact dimensions and low weight. At the same time, they impress with their high speed and the famous Summicron look with a very shallow depth of field. This makes the SL-System even handier and ideal for daily use as well as traveling. The Summicron lenses focus extremely fast, smooth and accurate thanks to their linear direct drive. Hence, they not only deliver excellent focus performance for photography, but are also perfectly suited for videography, where quiet focusing is very important.

The Summicron-SL 35 f/2 ASPH covers the wide range of applications in landscape, street and reportage photography and offers new perspectives because of a closest focusing distance of only 0.25 m. The Summicron-SL 50 f/2 ASPH shows its strength in almost all photographic situations, especially in travel, event and portrait photography. Both SL lenses expand not only the SL-System but also the L-Mount portfolio by two versatile, compact and lightweight optics to photograph and film in brilliant image quality “Made by Leica.”

In the case of the two new Summicron lenses, aspheric lenses are used as well. These enable the high optical performance in combination with the compact dimensions in the first place.

The new Leica SL lenses will be available globally at all Leica Stores, the Leica Online Store and authorized dealers starting now. The retail price of the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 ASPH will be €2,250.00 including VAT and the retail price of the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 ASPH will be €1,950.00 including VAT.

In order to facilitate the first steps with the SL-System, Leica is now offering four more SL-Kits with the new Summicron lenses in addition to the two existing kits of Leica SL2 or SL2-S including Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70. Thus a total of six SL-Kits, each consisting of a camera body and a lens, are available with an attractive price advantage.

The retail price of the new Leica SL2 with the Summicron SL 35 f/2 ASPH will be €8,200.00 including VAT and with the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 ASPH, it will be €7,900.00 including VAT. The retail price of the Leica SL2-S kit with the Summicron-SL 35 f/2 ASPH will be €6,390.00 including VAT and with the Summicron-SL 50 f/2 ASPH, it will be €6,090.00 including VAT.

The new Leica M11 combines the experience of traditional rangefinder photography with contemporary camera technology, delivering a maximum of flexibility to every photographer. Featuring an exclusive triple resolution sensor, expanded ISO range, dual memory, extended battery life and a streamlined and intuitive menu system, the Leica M11 represents a new benchmark in digital photography and the most flexible M-System camera in Leica’s storied history.

At the heart of the new Leica M11 is a full-frame BSI CMOS sensor with Triple Resolution Technology. Raw image files in DNG format and JPEGs can be recorded at 60, 36, or 18 megapixels, always using the full sensor area. The 60-megapixel options delivers unprecedented image quality and detail resolution, exploiting the full optical potential of Leica’s latest APO Lenses for the M-System – whereas the lower resolutions enable faster camera performance, extended burst lengths, and smaller files.

A special IR + UV cut filter – comprising of two extremely thin, cemented layers of glass – achieve an especially effective correction of even the most oblique rays of incident light. Thanks to a new color filter array, the camera also offers an improved, more natural color reproduction.

While maintaining the iconic look of a traditional Leica M, the carefully optimized design of the Leica M11 is focused on efficiency and ergonomics. The controls have been arranged in a unique layout around the new, 2.3 million pixels, high-resolution touchscreen. The menu structure of the M11 remains consistent with that of the Leica SL2 and Q2, unifying the acclaimed interface for a more user-friendly experience.

The Leica M11 has a sensitivity range of ISO 64 to 50,000; it records a 14-bit color depth and has a dynamic range of up to 15 stops. With its Maestro III processor, the Leica M 11 offers a fluid and responsive operation, even at the highest resolution and image quality. With the optional electronic shutter featuring a shutter speed of up to 1 / 16000 of a second, photographers are empowered to work with wide open apertures, in bright light – without ND filters. The M11 marks the first time multi-field metering in rangefinder mode will be available, affording photographers a valuable tool to curate light.

The black-finish variant of the Leica M11 features a top plate made of high-quality aluminum with an especially scratch-resistant coating, resulting in a body that is approximately 20% (100 grams) lighter than its silver-chrome counterpart. By comparison, the silver chrome M11 feature a classic brass top plate and weighs in at 640 grams.

Unique to the M11 is the deliberate omission of the traditional base plate, offering photographers easy direct access to the battery and SD card. In addition to the SD card slot, the Leica M11 is equipped with a generous internal storage capacity of 64 gigabytes. As a result, the M11 is the first M model to save image files simultaneously onto two different storage media. The 1800mAh battery stores 64% more energy than before, and combined with the camera’s more efficient operation, allows for considerably longer shooting sessions with a single charge. In addition, the newly added universal USB-C port also serves to charge the camera’s battery, using most USB-C chargers.

Upgraded connectivity features of the Leica M11 will be available through a new firmware version in the second half of 2022. This will enable the new M11’s advanced connectivity capabilities that will elevate users’ mobile workflows and enhance the Leica FOTOS app with the possibility to embed location data, access images via Bluetooth connection, and allow increased transfer rates. Moreover, the Leica M11 is already an Apple “Made for iPhone and iPad” certified accessory and as such, offers unique abilities with the included Leica FOTOS cable.

On November 4, as part of the Celebration of Photography in Wetzlar, Leica Camera AG announced a product variant of the full-frame compact camera Leica Q2, available as of now. The Leica Q2 Report continues a long tradition of Leica cameras that are specifically geared towards the challenging working environments of reportage and press photographer – offering maximum precision and reliability even in the most adverse conditions.

Instead of the traditional leather trim, Leica Q2 Reporter is equipped with a ‘body armor’ made of Kevlar, a synthetic material widely used in the production of high-grade protective clothing. This is perfectly complemented by the camera’s matte-green finish, achieved with a particularly scratch and abrasion resistant paint. The result is an exterior that is both hard-wearing and discreet.

The Kevlar trim, which is characterized by a distinctive weave pattern, effectively protects the camera against mechanical, chemical and thermal hazards. Although the fabric is initially near black, exposure to UV rays will gradually change its tone, until it closely matches the camera’s paint finish. In addition, the Kevlar fibers become slightly more raised over time, which further improves the photographer’s grip on the camera.

The camera’s overall design shows that a strong emphasis has been placed on an unobtrusive appearance: the red Leica logo on the front has been omitted; the engravings and operating elements are discreetly inlaid, so that neither their purpose – nor the camera’s true value, are immediately apparent.

The Leica Q2 Reporter is now available at specialist retailers.

Leica Camera AG has teamed up with two stars of the skateboarding scene – the fashion label Vans, and the skater, musician and photographer Ray Barbee: an extraordinary camera that encapsulates the spirit and lifestyle of skateboarding culture. Ray Barbee summarizes the venture’s core emotion: “The joy is in capturing the journey.”

Vans has been creating skate shoes and clothing for more than five decades – staying true to its underground essence whilst gaining global renown. The multi-talented Ray Barbee not only counts as a pioneer within the skateboarding scene, but is also known as a successful musician and Leica photographer. “I am very honored tone working with both Vans and Leica – not just to respective fields. The coming together of these two brands represents a truly special collaboration.”

The Leica D-Lux 7 Vans x Ray Barbee Edition is covered Vans’ iconic checkerboard pattern. The top plate of the camera features Ray Barbee’s signature, as well as the Vault logo – a sub-brand which Vans reserves for particularly high-end products and exclusive collaborations. The set includes a specifically designed carrier strap and matching dust bag, both in petrol blue. One side of the bag is adorned with Barbee’s quote, “The joy is in capturing the journey,” which has become the motto of this joint venture and its resulting products. The other side of the dust bag shows the famous words of Ernst Leitz II: “Icon entscheide hiermit: Es bird riskiet” (“I hereby decide: the risk shall be taken”) – which marked the go-ahead for the production of the Leica I in 1924.

The limited-edition Leica D-Lux 7 Vans x Ray Barbee has the same technical specifications as the serially produced model, distinguished by a large Micro Four Thirds sensor and fast zoom lens with a full-frame-equivalent range of 24-75mm. Vans complements the collaboration with specially designed T-shirts as well as shoes (including a petrol-colored model with red eyelets and checkerboard lining) adorned with the afore-mentioned quotes by Ray Barbee and Ernst Leitz II.

The Leica D-Lux 7 Vans x Ray Barbee Edition is priced at € 1495 incl. VAT.

Leica Camera AG is expanding the Leica SL lens portfolio with another powerful zoom lens. The Leica Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH is equally suited to reportage, travel, studio, architectural and landscape photography, as well as portraits, close-ups, and video productions. With its extensive focal range and consistently high light sensitivity of f/2.8, the new addition is the quintessence of a universal lens. Thanks to its excellent price-performance ratio, it also represents a perfect opportunity to upgrade to the SL-System. The two new lens-and-camera sets are also aimed specifically at newcomers to the SL-System, and are therefore very favorably priced.

The elaborate lens design, comprising 19 elements in 15 groups, ensures an outstanding optical performance. A total of three elements feature aspherical surfaces on both sides. Nine specialist-glass elements with anomalous partial dispersion provide excellent chromatic correction across the entire focal range. The internal focus is based on a single, light-weight lens element, and utilizes a quiet stepper motor to deliver a fast and precise autofocus. With it robust metal body and ingress protection against water spray and dust, the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASPH can even be used in harsh environmental conditions.

The compact dimensions of the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASHP are made possible by the absence of in-lens optical image stabilization. When the lens is mounted on the SL2 or SL2-S, the camera’s suspended image sensor provides highly effective image stabilization. This applies equally to still photography and video recordings. The aperture of the Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-70 f/2.8 ASHP comprises of 11 blades – facilitating a harmonious, circular bokeh. The minimum focusing distance is just 18 centimeters from the sensor plane (at the shortest focal length) and 38 centimeters (at the longest focal length) ensures exceptionally high-quality images even when shooting at close range.