Lens

There is a new Kickstarter project by ExperimentalOptics for a 50mm f/0.75 lens for Leica M cameras! It works on full frame as well as mirrorless bodies (through any necessary adapters). They are being produced by De Oude Delft, a highly acclaimed optics company from the Netherlands and have been able to secure a very small batch of these very rare lenses – in pristine condition. They are able to fit them with an M mount bayonet, though there is no rangefinder coupling. Read more below for details!

Many folks might recall (fondly or not) an affair with the Russian Jupiter lenses. Lomography today has announced a new Jupiter 3+ Art Lens (1.5/50) - a resurrection of the original Russian Jupiter 3 lens, "exuding the same elegance and classic compact design as its predecessor." It is handcrafted by Zenit, the same factory in Russia where the original lens was born. The redesigned lens is equipped with an LTM screw mount and comes with an M mount adapter. The results are said to be "phenomenal—expect crystal-clear sharpness, natural colors and a beautiful, dreamy bokeh." Limited quantities are available on a first-come, first served basis for $649 USD. Read more below for details!

Taking a cue from Das Keyboard (a keyboard for pros), Leica Camera has perhaps gone all überschnappen on the Noctilux... Blacking out all engravings, save for the f/0.95 setting on the aperture ring - for this limited run of 95 Noctilux-M 50mm f/0.95 ASPH lenses. And it's only $13,950 USD. Read more below for details!

In addition to the new Leica T (Type 701) firmware v1.4 - Leica also officially introduced two new Leica TL lenses... The Leica Summilux-TL 35 mm f/1.4 ASPH, scheduled to be available in Spring 2016 and will be followed by the Leica APO-Macro-Elmarit-TL 60 mm f/2.8 ASPH in Autumn 2016. Read more below for details and photos!

In an article over on Apple Mac site Cult of Mac called "Leica invented autofocus, then abandoned it" they take a look at how Leica spent nearly 20 years patenting technology in the late 70s that would take focusing out of the hands of the photographer - but then dropped it, figuring its customers already knew how to focus their cameras. Leica used its Leicaflex SL2 for the autofocus prototype and used a a 50mm lens with a servo motor. Two LEDs on top of the viewfinder assisted in detecting the highest contrast of a subject, while the motor turned the focus ring. Surprisingly, it worked well in low light but wasn’t that fast, because it took a number of gears for the motor to generate enough torque to turn the focus ring. Furthermore, the motor housing was converted to hold six batteries that lasted only an hour! Leica sold the technology to Minolta, which marketed the first successful autofocus SLR with the Minolta Maxxum 7000 just five years later...

A lens release we've been waiting for, for a long time and even mentioned that it was coming soon two weeks ago - is here! The Leica Summilux-M 28mm f/1.4 ASPH lens (technical data) has finally been released. Previously, it was only available as part of the Leica M "Edition 100" set and in stainless steel. Look for it starting in June 2015 at a price of 5.500€ / $5,950 USD. Read more below for full details and additional photo!