Leica

Could we see more Leica-branded Panasonic cameras in the future? Panasonic Corp. is considering bolstering its business partnership with Leica Camera AG and supplying the German camera maker with high-end digital cameras, as it looks to shore up its flagging digital camera business, sources close to the matter said Wednesday. As many of you may know, Panasonic makes several models for Leica, which they "re-brand." A good recent example of this is the Leica C (Type 112) which is a Panasonic LF1 underneath - given the Light-gold and Dark-red Leica treatment.

Back in the September 2013 (print) issue of the German Spiegel magazine, there was a rather lengthy and personal interview with Andreas Kaufmann. Not so much about Leica products, but the man himself. It's a very interesting read about his early life, how he made his money, economics, politics - how he went on to Leica Camera AG - and its position in photography and as a status symbol. Now that a month has passed, Spiegel has placed the article, "The Asset Is the Company" online - and It is also available as a PDF (both in German). Read more below for the translation.

The Italian photographer Paolo Pellegrin has been awarded (in German) the Dr. Erich Salomon Prize from the German Photographic Association (DGPh). The award ceremony took place on October 12 in the Raum für Fotografie Zephyr, Mannheim. The prize is awarded in honor of Dr. Erich Salomon, the great photographer of the Weimar Republic. Since 1971, it is presented each year for "exemplary use of photography in journalism". Leica Camera is proud partner of the award. Alfred Schopf, CEO, awarded Paolo Pellegrin with an engraved Leica M Monochrom. Pellegrin is a member of Magnum and has received numerous awards, including ten World Press Photo Awards.

You may recall that Paolo Pellgrin stirred some controversy when he suddenly found himself under intense scrutiny in the photo blog world after a picture he took in Rochester, NY that won him 2nd at POYi, 2nd at WPP and 1st as Photographer Of The Year was deemed to not show what it purports to show by Michael Shaw and co-contributors at BagNewNotes. Read more below for translation.

On November 2, 2013 - Stuttgart, Germany will see its first Leica Boutique open, located at Photo Planet (across from the central train station). It will be headed by Mr. Rudi Arndt. To celebrate, they will hold a "VIP Evening" event on November 5, 2013 with a talk by Mr. Dipl. Ing. Stefan Thonesen (a longtime employee of Leica Camera GmbH and photographer) and will cover the Leica M and X Vario cameras. Soft drinks will be served. The event is free, but space is limited and you are requested to register if planning to attend. Read more below for additional details.

You may recall that on Tuesday we brought you the story, Leica (RED) M Revealed! (which we've also updated) about the collaboration between Apple designer Sir Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson to produce the Leica (RED) M camera, set to auction on November 23, 2013 via Sotheby's. The pair have selected or made more than 40 objects for an auction to benefit Bono’s (of U2 fame) Product (RED) anti-H.I.V. campaign. Meeting with Newson and Ive, Paul Goldberger explores the shared obsession and philosophy behind everything from iPhones to jumbo-jet interiors in Vanity Fair's "Designing Men" article.

Mittelhessen.de reports, Andreas Kaufmann Receives Honorary Gift of the City (in German). The honorary gift of Wetzlar is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the social, political and economic development of the city, and has been awarded 49 times to date. This time it was Andreas Kaufmann, Chairman of Leica Camera AG who was due to receive it. In a ceremony on October 8, 2013 (Tuesday) at the Palais Papius, city mayor Wolfram Dette said of Kauffmann, "You are a person who has left a mark in Wetzlar... and made an outstanding contribution to the improvement of this business location, to securing and creating jobs, urban development and not least, through its capital contribution in difficult times." About 100 million Euros were invested in Wetzlar, and the development of the city was affected most positively with the creation of the new Wetzlar Park headquarters. Read more below for the translation.