It’s Photokina week and everyone and their uncle is announcing new camera gear.  I’ll do a few posts on announcements that have caught my eye, starting with some of the new stuff from Leica.

There is no M10 announcement.  Instead the M-9 successor is just called the Leica M, and the brainiacs at Leica have decreed that, much like the iPad, they will now confuse everyone by calling all successive cameras in this series M.  ”In future, Leica M and S model names will omit the number suffix to emphasise the long-term significance and enduring value of the respective systems.”  As if the price tag alone wasn’t enough to tell you that.

Anyway, the M (Type 240) is a 24 megapixel full frame sensor camera that will sell for US$7,000, body only, available in black or black & silver.

Some other details:

The rear LCD is now a modern 3 inch 920k pixel screen with Gorilla glass and LiveView with focus peaking and 10X magnification.

There is 1080p video.

There is a new adapter allowing use of Leica R lenses.

SD card slot.

Weather sealed.

Sweet.  Available early next year.

The Leica M-E is an “entry level” Leica digital rangefinder priced at US$5,500.

“Featuring a proven” 18 megapixel full frame sensor.  I think this means it’s the same sensor as the M9.

It also has the same shitty 2.5 inch 230k dot LCD screen as the M9.

“Concentrating on the essential photographic functions and renowned dependability for all typical ‘M’ fields of use, the Leica M-E makes an ideal entry-level model for photographers wishing to experience the fascination of M-Photography in its purest form.”  Meaning no video.

There is no Anti-Aliasing/Low Pass filter.  (No mention of this for the Leica M.)

Available later this month.