m-catalogue 2013 uk web
DESCRIPTION
1TRANSCRIPT
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LEICA M - SYSTEM themostadvancedgenerationever.
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Editorial 04
lEicacamEraaG 06
lEicarEPortaGE 10UnknownKyrgysztan. 12Happyanniversary,Bishkek. 28countrylifefarfromidyllic. 42Featheredhuntingaids. 52Haggling,Kyrgyz-Style. 64anancientcraftwithalongtradition. 74Homeiswheretheyurtis. 86
lEicam-SYStEm 16
lEicam 30
lEicam-E 44
lEicammoNocHrom 54
lEicam7/mP 66
lEicalacartE 72
m-SYStEmlENSES 76
m-SYStEmEXtraS 102
m-SYStEmtEcHNicaldata 120
lEicacamEraSaNdSPortoPticS 132
coNtENtS
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top:Bishkek,ala-tooSquareinmarch2000.Undertheeyesofleninpreparationsforthe122ndanniversaryofthecitysfoundation.Bottom:Bishkek,ala-tooSquare,12yearslaterpreparationsforthe134thbirthdayofthecapitalcityaroundthenewmonumenttomanas,theKyrgyznationalhero.
dearfriendofleica,
Unlikeanyothercamera,theleicamembodiesauniquelyindividualapproachtophotography.itisandalwayshasbeenanexquisiteinstrumentthatenablesyoutoexperienceauniqueviewoflife.aleicamgivesphotographerscompletecreativefreedom,whilealsomaximisingtheiroptionstoachievetheirownvisionoftheperfectpicture.Forphotographsthathavethecapacitytocapturetheotherwisehiddenorunnoticedaspectsoflife.
Sincetheintroductionoftherangefinderprinciplein1954,photojournalistsandphotographicartistshaveinfluencedourimageoftheworldwiththeirdiscreet,fastleicam-cameras.rangefindercamerasareidealfortakingvibrant,authenticimagesofeventsastheyhappen,andmanyphotographershavebenefitedfromthis,includingthosefromtheworldsfirstindependentphotoagency,magnum,foundedin1947bylegendaryphotographerHenricartier-Bressonandothers.thenasnow,membersofmagnumbelievedthatphotographersmusthaveaperspectiveintheirimagerythattranscendsasimple,clichdrecordingofreality.
Wearethereforeparticularlypleasedthatitisonceagainamagnumphotographer,JeanGaumy,whoaddedthenewleicam,thelatestmilestoneinthehistoryofleicam-cameras,tohisluggageonhismostrecenttrip.Hisunusualdestinationfulfilledthepromiseofunusualpictures.lookforwardtoseeinganexampleofdocumentaryphotographythatshowshowindividualmomentscanbecomechaptersinalivingstory:absoluteauthenticity,straightfromtheheartoflifeitself.
Yours,leicacameraaG
lEicaEditorial i 05
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lEicacamEraaG i 07 06 i lEicacamEraaG
LeicaM8:thefirstdigitalrangefindercamera.
LeicaX2:thetrailblazerinitsclassforimagequality.
LeicaS2:theprofessionaldigitalcamerasetsnewstandardsinmedium-formatphotography.
LeicaM9:thesmallestdigitalsystemcamerawithafull-framesensor.
LeicaX1:thefirstcompactcamerawithanaPS-formatsensor.
LeicaNoctilux-M50mmf/0.95ASPH.:theworldsfastesteverasphericallens.
1913/14 1925 1930 1932
LeicaIwithafixedlensispresentedattheleipzigSpringFair.
thefirstleicawithinterchangeablethread-mountlensesappearsonthemarket.
LeicaII:thefirstcamerawithacoupledrangefinder.
oskarBarnackconstructstheUr-Leica.
SketchedconstructiondiagrambyoskarBarnack.oskarBarnack(18791936). theleitzopticsbuilding,Wetzlar. installationofthecontrolboardontherearshelloftheleicaS2. lenselementandassembledlenstesting.
1954
LeicaM3withcombinedbright-lineviewfinder/rangefinderandbayonetlensmount.
1966
LeicaNoctilux-M50mmf/1.2:thefirstlenswithanasphericalelement.
19961965 1971
Leicaex:thefirstleicasinglelensreflexcameragoesintoproduction.
LeicaM5:thefirstrangefindercamerawithselectivemeteringthroughthelens.
lEicaCAMERA AGPassionateaboutphotography.
LeicaS:mediumformatreducedtothemaximum.
LeicaM:thenewmgenerationwithaleicamax24mPsensor,liveView,andvideo.
Kissingintherearviewmirror,bymagnumphotographerElliottErwitt,1955.
LeicaS1:thefirstdigitalcamerawith75-megapixelresolution.
LeicaM LeicaX2
20122006 2009LeicaM9 LeicaX1LeicaS2
2008LeicaS
leicacamerasharessomethingwithcountlesspeoplearoundtheworld:aloveof,andapassionfor,photography.itsthefascinationofcapturingamomentintime;shapingit,transformingitintosomethingtimeless,andexperi-encingitagainandagainasauniquephotograph.thisiswhathasdrivenleicaforalmost100years.Wecreatecamerasusingthehighestqualitymaterialsandassemblethemmeticulouslybyhand,sothateveryleicadeliversunwaveringreliabilityandqualityoveralifetime.Whetheritsusedprofessionally,artisticallyorsimplyoutofthe
joyofdocumentinglife,onethingconnectsallleicacameras:theyallhelpthephotographertoconcentrateontheessentialsagreatphotograph.Eachdeviceisasmallmasterpiece.leicacamerasarecompact,ageless,elegant,easytouseandyetuncompromisingintheiroptical,mechanicalandtechnicalquality.theyaretheperfecttoolsforanyonewhounderstandsthefascinationofphotographyandwhoappreciatesauniquephotograph.
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Felix,Gladys,androverisoneofthebest-knownpicturesbythemagnumphotographerElliottErwitt.itwascapturedduringafashionshootfortheNewYorktimesmagazinein1974.copyrightbyElliottErwitt,1974,magnumPhotos.
innovationanddevelopmentsincethenhasbeenmeasuredagainstthisstrictcriterion.Withthelaunchoftheleicam8in2006,anewerainthehistoryofrangefindercamerasbegan:them-Systemturneddigital.then,in2009,leicasetafurthermilestoneindigitalphotographywiththeleicam9.itistheworldsfirstrangefindercam-erawithafull-size,35mmformatsensor(2436mm).in2012,thelatestdigitalgenerationcontinuedtheevolutionofthelegendarym-Systemanditsuniquebenefits:thisgenerationincludestheleicammonochrom,theworldsfirst35mmdigitalcameraexclusivelyforblack-and-whitephotography,followedbytheleicam-E,acamerathatembodiesthephilosophyofthesysteminitspurestform.However,onlythenewleicamcantrulylayaclaimtothetitleofanewmilestoneinthem-Family.FeaturingliveView,videocapability,andnew,additionalfocusingmethods,itisthemostinnovativeandversatilem-cameraofalltime.
Photographycannotstopthecourseoftime,butitcancapture,documentandinterpretitsfleetingmoments,preservingmemoriesofthosepoignantsecondsforeternity.indeed,thetransformationofthetransitoryintotheeternalisoneofthemainreasonswetakepictures.andthanksinparttothepioneeringspiritofleica,itisnowpossibleforeveryonetorecordtheirmemoriesconvenientlyastheyhappen.itallbeganaroundacenturyago,whenoskarBarnackchangedphotographywithastrokeofgeniusdesigningthefirstleica,asmall,robust,easy-to-use2436mmformatcamerathatpavedthewayforphotographyasweknowittoday.in1954,thelaunchoftheleicam-System,withitsbrilliantcombinedviewfinderandcoupledrangefinder,openedupvastnewhorizonsinreportageandartisticphotography.intheeyesofphotographers,aleicamhasalwaysbeentheper-fecttoolforcapturingthefascinationofamomentdiscreetly,silently,withouthesitation,andwithperfectimagequality.indeed,unsurpassedimagequalitywas,is,andalwayswillbethekeyfoundingprincipleofleica.Every
lEicaCAMERA AGFromanideatoalegend.
lEicacamEraaG i 09 08 i lEicacamEraaG
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mountainsteppeonthewayfromKochkortothemountainlakeSongKulanditsjailoos(Kyrgyzforsummerpastures).
lEicaREPORTAGE
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12 i lEicarEPortaGE
top:theJaymabazaarinoshisoneofcentralasiaslargestbazaars.Bottom:twowomencrosstheroadintheprovincialcapitalofNaryn.
lEicaREPORTAGE UnknownKyrgyzstan.
Kirghizia,Kirghizrepublic,orKyrgyzstan?Formostpeoplefromthewesternhemisphere,confusionbeginsonhear-ingthedifferentnamesofthecountry.NotmanyknowthatallthreenameshavebeenusedovertheyearsorthattheKyrgyzpeopleprefertosayKyrgyzstantoemphasizetheirturkicheritage.manywouldalsohavedifficultytryingtolocatethecountryonamap,letalonebeversedinthecultureorhistoryoftheformerSovietrepublic.thesamecouldbesaidfortheprominent,multiple-award-winningmagnumphotographerJeanGaumyin2000whenhisagencyaskedhimifhewouldliketoworkinoneofthestatesoftheformerUSSraspartofaculturalproject.lookingthroughalist,hiseyewascaughtbythenameKyrgyzstanthat,inhisownwords,wasaboutasunknowntomeastheplanetmarsand,forpreciselythisreason,awakenedhiscuriosityandpassionforadventure.So,thebeginningofthenewmillenniumfoundJeanGaumyinthethenstillyoungKyrgyzrepublic,asitisofficiallyknown.
Exactlytenyearslater,aFrenchradioprogrammedescribedKyrgyzstananditscapitalcityofBishkekasprobablytheleastknownplacesonEarth,whichinspiredJeanGaumytorevisitthecentralasianrepublic.Withanewleicaminhisluggage,Gaumysetoutinthefallof2012tobringbackimpressionsfromtheterraincognitaofKyrgyzstananditspeople.theoutcomeisamulti-facetedportraitofacountrythathasbeeninturmoilsincedeclaringitsindependencefromtheSovietUnionin1991.ancientnomadictraditions,claninterests,andthecommonlegacyoftheSovieteraclashwiththedreamsandhopesofayounggenerationwhoincreasinglyjointhemigrationfromruralareastothecitiesandbegintoembraceWesterncultureaheadoftheirrecentrussianheritage:itisanationthatdreamsofabetterfuturewhilestillstrugglingtoestablishanationalidentity.
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lEicarEPortaGE i 15
inrecentyears,thesearchforunityandnationalidentityhasbeencharacterisedatapoliticallevelbyattemptstoemphasisethemajorityoftheKyrgyzpeoplesnomadicroots.duringhisfirstvisittothecountryscapitalcityofBishkek,JeanGaumyrecallsthatthemainsquarewasdominatedbyamonumentalstatueoflenin,whichcanbeseeninoneofhisearlierphotos.in2003,thecommunistleaderhadtogotomakeroomfortheErkindikstatueofliberty,awingedfemalefigurestandingonaglobeandholdingoutaflamingtunduk(theframeofthesmokeholeofaKyrgyzyurt).Nevertheless,theleninstatuewasnotdestroyedafteritsremoval;itwasmerelyrelocatedtothebackoftheKyrgyznationalmuseum.thestatueoflibertywasremovedontheoccasionofthe20thanniversaryofthenationsindependenceinaugust2011andreplacedbyastatueofmanas,theKyrgyznationalherowho,accordingtolegend,unitedthe40KyrgyztribalclansandledtheirbattleagainsttheUighurs.the40raysofthesunaroundayurtviewedfromaboveontheflagofKyrgyzstansymbolisethese40clans.
themountainouscountryofKyrgyzstanisaroundhalfthesizeofGermany.itsharesbordersinthenorthandnorth-eastwithKazakhstan,inthewestandnorthwestwithUzbekistan,inthesouthandsouthwestwithtajikistan,andinthesouthandsoutheastwithchina.Bishkek,thecapitalcityinthenorth,isthepoliticalandcommercialcentreofthenation.theancientpilgrimcityofosh,foundedover2,000yearsagoandoftendescribedasthecapitalcityofthesouth,liesontheedgeofthefertileFerganavalleyandisfamousforthecottongrownintheregion.With40%ofthecountryatanaltitudeover3,000metres,thetopographyofKyrgyzstanischaracterisedbythemassivemoun-tainchainsofthetienShanandthenorthernfoothillsofthePamirs.ataheightof7,439metres,Jengishchokusu,ontheborderwithchina,isthecountryshighestmountain.EventhepasturesaroundlakeSongKul,usedforcen-turiesasgrazinglandbythenomadictribesandvisitedbyJeanGaumyandhisteam,aresituatedattheunbelievablealtitudeof3,016metres.letustakeyoutoonajourneytoacountrythatcouldnotbemorefascinatingacountryofextremesbetweentraditionandthemodernage,betweentheculturesoftheEastandWest.
top:WomeninprayeronSolomonsthrone,theholymountainclosetotheancienttradingcentreofosh,Kyrgyzstanssecond-largestcity.Bottom:typicalKyrgyzcattlemarketnearosh,inthesoutheasternpartofthecountry.
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Preparationsforthe134thanniversaryofthefoundingintheKyrgyzcapitalBishkek.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage28:Happyanniversary,Bishkek.
lEicaM - SYSTEM
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Whatyouseethroughtheviewfinderofanm-camera.theinnerbright-lineframeshowstheimageboundariesfora90mmlens,whiletheouterframeshowstheboundariesfora28mmlens.thegreyrectangleinthecentreistherangefinderfocusingarea.
lEicaM - SYSTEMmasinmesssucher.
tHEraNGEFiNdEr/ViEWFiNdErSYStEm
anopticalmasterpiececreatedforthebestinphotography.comparedtoSlrphotography,wherefocusingtakesplacethroughthelens,andlensfocallengthandaperturesetlimitsonfocusingaccuracy,therangefinderbaseoftheleicamremainspreciselythesameregardlessofthelensbeingused,andthereforeallowsextraordinarilyprecisefocusingwithalllenses.thisisthefundamentalreasonwhythefocusingprecisionofthem-SystemisfarsuperiortothatofSlrcameras,particularlywithshortfocallengthlenses.thehigh-contrastrangefinderrectangleinthecentreoftheviewfinderguaranteesfast,precise,andpin-sharpfocusing,evenunderthemostadverselightingconditions.Sincethepositionofthesixdifferentbright-lineframesisautomaticallycorrectedforparallaxatallfocusingdis-tances,theyshowtheimageboundariesfortheselectedfocallength.thebright-lineviewfindershowsallinformationrelevanttothecaptureofaperfectimageincludingtheperipheralareaaroundthemainsubject,thusprovidingsig-nificantadvantageswhencreatingspontaneousphotographs.Unobtrusivelyandwithabsolutediscretion.
lEicam-SYStEm i 19 18 i lEicam-SYStEm
leicam-camerasarealivinglegend.themstandsformesssucher,theGermantermforacombinedrangefinderandviewfinder,andforanindividualstyleofphotography.thissystem,generallydescribedinabbreviatedformasarangefinder,hasparticularmeritsthatenablephotographerstodevelopanunmistakablevisuallanguagethattransformstheiruniquelypersonal,subjectivevisualconceptsintophotographicrealities.atthesametime,theleicamhasintuitivecontrolsandissimpletouseevenforphotographerswhohavepreviouslyonlyusedSlrcameras.Withaleicam,therearenosuperfluousfunctionsandnoovercomplicatedmenus.Photographersaregiventheopportunitytoconcentrateontheessential:creatingmemorablepictures.
therangefindersystem,aboveallothers,enablesphotographerstocaptureauthentic,naturalimages,takenfromreallife.inaway,leicam-Photographersbecomepartoftheactioninframingwhatevertheywishtocaptureintheviewfinderascene,amood,aspecialmoment.atthesametime,thephotographerstillperceiveswhatisgoingonoutsidetheviewfinderframe.thedecisivemomentthusbecomesmorepredictable,anditcanbecapturedatpreciselytherighttime.theclearviewofthesubjectremainsvisibleevenduringtheexposureandevenunderthemostdifficultlightingconditions.thebright,high-contrastviewfindercombinedwiththeworld-renownedm-Systemrangefinder,ensuresextremelyfastandprecisefocusing.theminimaldelaybetweenreleasingtheshutterandcapturingtheshotmakestheleicam-camerathefastest,mostresponsiveintheworld.alongwiththelegendarymPandm735mmcameras,them8andthem8.2thefirstdigitalleicammodelsadvancedthenobleheritageoftheleicam-System.theleicam9alreadysetanewmilestoneastheworldssmallestsystemcamerawithafull-format2436mmsensorin2009.itwasfollowedbyanevenmorediscreetversion,theleicam9-P.Withthelaunchoftheleicammonochrom,theleicam-E,andthenewleicamin2012,anewgenerationofdigitalcamerasnowpavesthewayforthefutureofthem-System.
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topandbottom:Preparationsforthe134thanniversaryofitsfoundingintheKyrgyzcapitalofBishkek.
Nootherprofessionalcameraisascompactasaleicam.Becausethecameraneedsnomirrorbox,itcanbeconstructedwithadepthoflessthan42mm,asinthecaseofthenewleicam.them-lensesalsobenefitfromtheshortdistancebetweenthemountandtheimageplane,whichpermitstheconstructionoflenseswithextremelysmalldimensionsandlowweights.theextraordinarycompactnessofm-camerasandm-lensesalsomakesthemtheidealcamerasystemfortravelandreportagephoto-graphy.mirrorslapandrelatedshakeeffectsincapturedimagesareproblemsneverencounteredbym-Photographers.
Unobtrusiveness,clarityofdesign,andabarelyaudibleshutteralsoplayasignificantroleincreatingtheuniquecharismaofleicamimages.timeandagain,photographersworkingwithm-camerasinareasofsocialandpoliticaltensionaroundtheworldreportthattheyarenotperceivedasjournalists,andcancaptureimagesthatremainunattainableforusersofothercamerasystems.thefastm-lensesalsomakehandheldshootingpossibleforalongtimeinfailinglight,withouttheneedforatripodorflashunit.Portraitsappearmorerelaxedbecausethecameradoesnothidethephotographersface,andeyecontactwiththesubjectismaintained.anevenmorediscreetapproachtophotographyisnowopenedupbytheliveViewmonitorofthenewleicam.thisoffersanalternativetotheconspicu-ousactofraisingtheviewfindertotheeye.
Everythingnewlydesignedorfurtherdevelopedintheevolutionaryprocessoftheleicam-Systemsatisfiesagenuinephotographicneed.thisprinciplewasalsoconstantlykeptinmindthroughoutthedevelopmentofthelatestm-Generationtheleicammonochrom,theleicam-E,andtheleicam.theoutcomeisthreedigitalrangefindercamerasthatquiteintentionallydonotoffereverythingmadepossiblebymoderntechnology,butlimitthem-selvesexclusivelytowhatmakesrealsenseintermsofphotography.theseessentialsincludethem-typicalrapidmanualfocusingwiththeviewfinder/rangefinderandthefocusingringofthelens,butalsotheoptionofselectingautomaticallydeterminedormanuallysetshutterspeeds.Eveninautomaticmode,correctionscanbemademanuallywiththeapertureringtoensurethatphotographersareconstantlyincontroloftheirpicture.
aspecialroleinthenewdigitalleicam-Familyisplayedbytheleicam.Justliketheleicammonochromandtheleicam-E,thelatestmilestoneinthem-Systemnaturallyoffersallmanualsettingoptions.inadditiontothese,italsofeaturesliveView,full-Hdvideo,andnew,additionalfocusingmethodsforthosewhodontwanttomissoutoncontemporarycameratechnologies.inthisway,itsuccessfullyexpandsthepossibilitiesofthem-Systemwhileremainingtruetoitstraditionalvalues.
comPact
diScrEEt
FocUSEd
lEicam-SYStEm i 21
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top:marketsceneinthecapital.Bottom:WeddingphotoinfrontofBishkeksweddingpalace,whereonsomedays,upto100marriagestakeplace.
toUGH Peoplewhotakephotographyseriouslyusuallylivetheirlivesattheedge;insearingheatorbittercold,pouringrainorswirlingdust.themisbuilttobeconsistent,dependable,andtoughunderalmostanyimaginablecondi-tions.thisiswhyresilienceandendurancearealwaysprimeconcernsinthedesignandconstructionofeverym-camera.italsoexplainswhythebodyismanufacturedexclusivelyfromonlythebestmaterials:brassforthetopandbaseplatesandhigh-impactmagnesiumalloyforthebody.thenewleicamalsofeaturestheextraprotectionofamonitorcoverglassinparticularlytoughandscratch-resistantcorningGorillaglass.Speciallydesignedrubbersealsofferthebodyofthenewmadditionalprotectionagainstdustandsplashes.thedigitalcomponentsofallleicam-camerasarecarefullyselectedforenduranceandreliabilityineverydayuse.Elabo-ratemanufacturingandassemblyprocessesguaranteefunctionalreliabilityfordecadestocome.
UNiQUEcUStomErcommitmENt
Precisionisthebe-allandend-allintheconstructionofanyleicaproduct.Noproducteverleavestheleicafactorybeforeallcriticalmanufacturingphaseshavebeenrigorouslychecked.Productsthatcanstillbeservicedandrepaireddecadesaftertheywerebuiltareextremelyrareinthesetimesofplannedobsolescenceanddisposableproducts.ButthecustomerSer-vicedepartmentatleicastillservicesandrepairsallm-camerasfromthefirstonebuiltin1954totheverylatestmodels!
22 i lEicam-SYStEm
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top:intheamusementparkinthecapitalcityofBishkek.Bottom:KyrgyzartonsaleinBishkeksmarket.
UNriVallEdPErFormaNcE
theconstructionoftheextremelycompactleicam-lensesisfocusedononesingleaim:deliveringimagingexcellenceinfilmanddigitalphotography.leicaengineerscontinuouslyinvestenormouseffortandinnovativeingenuityintheirquestforperfectopticalsolutions.theout-come:lenseswithunrivalledperformance.theyoftenhavefeweropticalelementsinordertoreducethenumberofair-glasssurfacesthatlightraysmustpassthroughtoaminimum.thisdesignconcept,madepos-siblebytheuseofthehighestqualityglassandprecisionmanufacturingtechniques,createsthebasisforimagesendowedwithanunmistakablecharacternotonlyincontrastandresolution,butalsoinstructureandtonalrichness.theyhaveauniquelynaturalsignaturethatsparticularlynoticeableinimagesshotunderadverselightingconditions.thisisfurtherenhancedbythesheerpleasureofasilky-smoothfocusingac-tionwithoutatraceofplay.thisoutstandingqualityisensuredforeverysinglelensweproducebytheexperiencedhandsofourfactoryspreci-sionopticalandmechanicalengineers.Yetanotherreasonwhyleicalensesareconsideredbymanyveteranphotographersandimagingexpertstobethebestintheworld.
modErNtEcHNoloGYatYoUrSErVicE
thesuperiorperformanceofleicalensesisbasedonthemostmoderntechnologies:asphericalelementsenabletheconstructionofhighlycompactlensesthatprovidebreathtakingperformance.theuseoffloa-tingelements(differentiallymovableopticalgroups)ensuressuperbresolutionatclosefocusingdistances.apochromaticcorrectionintheopticalsystemsoftelephotolensesguaranteesbrilliantreproductionwithoutanycolourfringingeffects.Sophisticatedsolutionsforthesup-pressionofinternalreflectionsenhancecontrastandshadowdetail.itissafetosaythateveryleicalensdeliverssuperbperformanceevenatitsmaximumaperture.Stoppingdownservesmainlytoincreasethedepthoffield.
comPatiBilitY leicaengineerscreatedatimelessstandardwhentheydesignedtheleicambayonetinthe1950s.thislensmountensuressystemcompat-ibilitytothepresentdayandthelatest,digitalgenerationofm-cameras.almostallm-lensesaresuitableforuseincombinationwiththedigitalm-cameras.However,systemcompatibilityisdecidedlyforward-looking,andnotasignofstagnation.thanksto6-bitcoding,theleicammono-chrom,theleicam-E,andtheleicamrecognizethecharacteristicsoftheattachedlensandemploythisinformationforinternalprocessing.Uncodedleicalensescanalsobeusedonthenewdigitalm-cameraswiththeiradvancedm-Bayonetmount.Similarly,thenew,6-bitcodedlensesarealsoperfectlyathomeonanyoftheearliermfilmcameras.
Evengreatercompatibilityfortheleicamisprovidedbytheleicar-adapter.Whenthe6-bitcodedadapterismountedonthecamera,usersmaychoosefrommorethan20differentr-lensesthatalsoofferbothacalibratedimageworkflowandExiflensrecognition.Withawiderangeofwide-angle,telephoto,zoom,andmacrolenses,r-lensesofferattrac-tiveopportunitiesforleicam-Photographerstoexpandthecapabilitiesoftheircamera.
leicambayonetinthe1950s.thislensmountensuressystemcompat-ibilitytothepresentdayandthelatest,digitalgenerationofm-cameras.almostallm-lensesaresuitableforuseincombinationwiththedigitalm-cameras.However,systemcompatibilityisdecidedlyforward-looking,andnotasignofstagnation.thanksto6-bitcoding,theleicammono-chrom,theleicam-E,andtheleicamrecognizethecharacteristicsoftheattachedlensandemploythisinformationforinternalprocessing.Uncodedleicalensescanalsobeusedonthenewdigitalm-cameraswiththeiradvancedm-Bayonetmount.Similarly,thenew,6-bitcodedlensesarealsoperfectlyathomeonanyoftheearliermfilmcameras.
Evengreatercompatibilityfortheleicamisprovidedbytheleicar-adapter.Whenthe6-bitcodedadapterismountedonthecamera,usersmaychoosefrommorethan20differentr-lensesthatalsoofferbotha
lEicam-SYStEm i 25
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ZoomlENSES
lEicaElmarit-m28mmf/2.8aSPH.
lEicaElmar-m24mmf/3.8aSPH.
lEicaSUmmicroN-m35mmf/2aSPH.
lEicaSUmmarit-m75mmf/2.5
lEicamacro-Elmar-m90mmf/4
lEicaaPo-tElYt-m135mmf/3.4
lEicaSUmmarit-m90mmf/2.5
lEicaaPo-SUmmicroN-m90mmf/2aSPH.
HiGH-SPEEdlENSES
lEica M - SYSTEMEverythingataglance.
lEicam-camEraS
FaStaNdcomPactlENSES SUmmaritlENSES
lEicaSUPEr-Elmar-m21mmF/3.4aSPH.
lEicatri-Elmar-m16-18-21mmf/4aSPH.
lEicaSUPEr-Elmar-m18mmf/3.8aSPH.
lEicaSUmmicroN-m50mmf/2
lEicaSUmmarit-m50mmf/2.5
lEicaaPo-SUmmicroN-m75mmf/2aSPH.
lEicaSUmmarit-m35mmf/2.5
lEicam-Eavailableinanthracite-greypaint.
lEicamavailableinblackpaintorsilverchrome.
lEicammonochromavailableinblackchromefinish.
lEicamPavailableinsilverchromeandblackpaintfinish.
lEicam7availableinsilverchromeandblackchrome.
lEicaNoctilUX-m50mmf/0.95aSPH.
lEicaSUmmilUX-m21mmf/1.4aSPH.
lEicaSUmmilUX-m24mmf/1.4aSPH.
lEicaSUmmilUX-m35mmf/1.4aSPH.
lEicaSUmmilUX-m50mmf/1.4aSPH.
lEicaSUmmicroN-m28mmf/2aSPH.
lEicaaPo-SUmmicroN-m50mmf/2aSPH.
lEicam-SYStEm i 27 26 i lEicam-SYStEm
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lEicarEPortaGE i 29
lEica REPORTAGEHappyanniversary,Bishkek.
asluckwouldhaveit,JeanGaumyarrivedjustintimeforthefestivitiesfor134thanniversaryofthefoundingofthecapital.thiswasanamazinglybrightandcolourfulspectacleinwhichthetraditionalelementsofnomadicheritagecombinewiththoseofamoremodernageinscenesmorereminiscentofSovietpropagandaeventsofthe1970sorearly1980s.insteadoftheportraitsofformercommunistrevolutionaries,manas,theKyrgyznationalhero,looksdownfromenormouspostersheisstillportrayedinsocialistrealiststyle,buttodaywithtraditionalethnictrappings.theweddingssotypicalfortodaysyoungcitizensofthecapitalstandinclearcontrast.Foranyself-respectinghappycouple,thedreamsofabetterfuturebegininBishkeksWeddingPalace.theceremonyisbrief.thenextcouplesarealreadystandinginline.anyonehopingtoseetraditionalweddingcostumewillcertainlybedisappointed:muchlikeintheWesternworld,thebridewearswhiteandthegroomablacksuit.Bunchesofroseswrappedinplasticfoilareeverywhere,andattheend,thebrideandgroomdriveawayinawhitelimousinebearingtheemblemofaprominentGermanautomobilebrand.
top:PeopleinthecrowdunderamonumentalbannershowingnationalheromanasatBishkeks134thanniversaryfestivities.Bottom:amongthefavoritepastimesoftheKyrgyzpeopleareequestriansports,forinstancehorseracing,asseenhereinBishkek.
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thehayharvestbetweenBishkekandKochkor.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage42:countrylifefarfromidyllic.
lEica M
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lEicam i 33 32 i lEicam
lEica Mthefutureofthem-System.
thenewleicamisthemostinnovativeandversatilem-cameraineveryrespect.itsconsistentpreservationofthephilosophyofthesystemiswhatmakesitaparticularlysignificantmilestone.thenewleicamreapsthebenefitsofmorethan50yearsofexperiencewiththerangefindersystem.atthesametime,itexploitsforward-lookingdigitaltechnologies:itfeaturesanewhigh-resolution,full-formatcmoSsensorthat,incombinationwithitshigh-performanceprocessorandlegendarym-lenses,deliversoutstandingimageresultsinfact,itisatypicalm.ButwithliveView,videorecording,andnewfocusingmethods,itisalsothemforphotographerslookingfortheultimateinmoderndigitaltechnology.thenewmsuccessfullyexpandsthescopeofthem-Systemwhileremainingtruetoitsfundamentalprinciples.
1 atrUEm
2 lEicamaX24-mPSENSor
3 lEicamaEStroimaGEProcESSor
4 liVEViEWaNdtHEViSoFlEX
ElEctroNicViEWFiNdEr
5 FUll-HdVidEoWitHlEicalENSES
6 SimPlEaNdPrEciSEFocUSiNG
7 SPlaSH-ProoFcamEraBodY
8 loNGBattErYliFE
9 ErGoNomicHaNdliNG
10 comPatiBilitYWitHlEicar-lENSES
leicam,full-sizeview,availableinblackpaintorsilverchrome. leicam,full-sizeview.
discoverthefascinationofleicamwww.m.leica-camera.com
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Uncompromisingimagequalityhasbeenthemostimportantfactorinthedevelopmentoftheleicam-Systemsincetheveryfirstmodel.Everyinnovationandimprovementovertimehasbeenmeasuredbythisprinciple.itisnotsurprising,then,thatthenewleicamisthefirstdigitalleicaminwhicheverycomponentinvolvedinimagecreationfromthelenstotheimagefilehasbeendevelopedin-houseatleica.thiswastheonlywaytoensuretheperfectco-ordinationofsensorandprocessorperformance,aswellasinteractionwiththeuniquecharacteristicsofleicalenses,resultinginoutstandingperformanceandimagesofuniquequality.
lEica Mmformaximumimagequality.
leicam,full-sizeview,availableinblackpaintorsilverchrome.
1 atrUEm thenewleicamunitesmorethan50yearsofexperiencedevelopingtherangefindersystemwiththeinnovativepotentialofferedbythedigitalage.asthelatestmilestoneinthecurrentmfamily,itisoneofthemostcompactfull-formatsystemcamerascurrentlyavailable.Forexample,itsnew2436mmcmoSsensordeliversfull35mmformatwithoutcompromise.Systemcompatibilityhasalwaysbeenacharacteristicfeatureoftheleicam-System,andthenewmisnoexception:itbenefitsfromaccesstotheentireportfolioofm-lenses,recognisedastheworldsbestlenssystem.introducedin1954,ithasbeencontinuouslyadvancedandimprovedovertime.andtoday,almosteverym-lenseverbuiltiscompatibleforusewiththedigitalm.Butthatsnotall:withthenewleicar-adapter,almosteveryleicar-lenscanalsobeusedwiththeleicam,expandingitsoptionsintotheworldofleicar-Photography,too.thesuccessfulstoryoftheleicam-Systemcontinues.
2 lEicamaX24-mPSENSor
theleicamfeaturesanewly-designedhigh-resolution,24-megapixelcmoSsensorinfull35mmformat.incombinationwiththeleicamaestroimageprocessor,originallyfeaturedonlyintheleicaS-System,theleicamax24-mPsensorgeneratestheoutstandingimagequalityoftheleicam.Forthefirsttimeinthehistoryofthedigitalm-System,everycompo-nentintheimagecreationflow,fromlenstoimagefile,areleicain-housedevelopments.asaresult,ourteamofengineershassuccessfullyperfectedtheentireimagecreationchainforusewithm-andr-lenseswithoutcompromise,inordertoexploitthefullpotentialoftheselenses.theconsequenceofthisisimageswithsuperiorsharpnessandthefinestreproduc-tionofdetail.thenewmdeliversextremelylow-noiseandrichlydetailedimages,evenathighersensitivitiesofuptoiSo6400.incombinationwithfastleicalenses,thislownoiseperformancemakesthecameraanidealtoolforavailable-lightphotography.theintegratedimagingelectronicsoftheleicamaestroprocessoralsoallowparticularlyfastresponsetimesandanalmostinstantaneousstart-uptimeandensurethatthephotographerisalwaysreadytoshoot.
3 lEicamaEStroimaGEProcESSor
thecombinationofnewsensorandleicamaestroprocessorsetsentirelynewstandardsintermsofimage-processingspeed.itprocessestheimagedataarrivingfromthesensorandtransformsitintovisibleimagesatveryhighspeed.thismeticulouslydesignedanddevelopedsensorensureshighspeedperformance,aswellasotherusefulbenefits.themaestroprocessorcontainsseveralindependentsegmentsthatallowit,forexample,toprocessanincomingimagewhileitisstillwritingthepreviousimagetothememorycard.itcanalsoperformcomplexprocessingstepsatextremelyhighspeed.atthesametime,itsparticularlylowpowerconsumptionhasapositiveeffectonbatterylife.thankstoitspower-fulimageprocessor,anddespitethehigh-resolutionsensor,theleicamcansimultaneouslygenerateahigh-qualityJPEGfileinthecameraatthesametimeasthedNGrawdatafiledestinedforfinalpost-productiononacomputer,ifrequired.
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lEicam i 37 36 i lEicam
thenewleicamisalsothefirstmtofeaturefull-Hdvideoandtwonewfocusingmethodsasadditionalalternativestoconventionalrangefinderfocusing.itthereforeexploitstheoppor-tunitiesofferedbymoderncameratechnologyinalogicalexpansionoftheleicam-System.inparticular,itsfull-Hdvideorecordingcapabilityopensupnewcreativehorizonsforthem-Systemphotographerthatgofarbeyondclassicphotography.However,thenewleicamwouldnothavebeenatruemwithoutthededicationofleicasdesignengineerstoaddressthemostimportantissueofimagequalitytranslatingthecharacteristiclookofmimagestothenewmediumwithoutcompromise.
leicam,full-sizeview,availableinblackpaintorsilverchrome.
lEica Mtimelessandpioneering.
4 liVEViEWaNdtHEViSoFlEXElEctroNicViEWFiNdEr
thenewleicamisthefirstevermtofeatureliveViewandliveViewFocusing.thismeansthat,forthefirsttime,m-Systemimagescanbecomposedusingtheactualimageproducedbythelenswithcompletecontroloverdepthoffield,exposure,preciseframingandfocusing.itslarge,high-resolution3"monitorwith920,000pixelsallowspreciseassessmentofeachpotentialimagewithregardtosharpness,correctexposureandcolour.thisopensupentirelynewopportunitiesform-Photographersthatpreviouslylaybeyondthepossibilitiesofview-finder-controlledphotography,inparticular,whenshootingmacroortelephotoexposures.italsoallowsthephotographertoshootevenmorediscreetly,usingthemonitorinsteadofthetraditionalviewfinder.thenewliveViewfunctioncanbeusedtoitsfullextentwithbothm-andr-lenses.indirectly,theliveViewoptionoffersanadditionalbenefitforr-lensowners.itenablestheuseofanoptionalVisoflexEVF2electronicviewfinderwithliveView.thismeansthataleicamwithanr-adapter,r-lenses,andaviewfindercanbeusedexactlylikeanSlr,withoutusingthemonitor.
5 FUll-HdVidEoWitHlEicalENSES
leicalensesarefamousfortheirsuperiorresolution,highspeedsandattractivebokeh.andnow,theuniquequalityofleicalensescanbeexploitedwiththe1080pixel,full-Hdvideorecordingfeatureoftheleicam.recordingcanbestarteddirectlywithaseparatereleasebutton.completecontroloverexposureandcapturesettingsenablesphotographerstocomplementtheirstillimageswithprofessionalvideorecordings,withthesamelookandqualitysowellknowninleicam-Photography.theleicamofferstheoptionofrecordingimagesasmotionJPEGs,i.e.astrue,individualfullframes,whichbringsenormousadvantagesforvideoediting.aswithstillimages,thenewleicar-adapteralsoallowsvideorecordingwithr-lensesmountedontheleicamwithfullfunctionality.Perfectsoundisensuredbyanoptionalleicamicrophoneadapterset,comprisinganadapterandastereomicrophone.otherbrandsofmicrophonecanalsobeattachedusingtheadapter.
6 SimPlEaNdPrEciSEFocUSiNG
theclassicrangefindersystemguaranteesfast,preciseandcrystal-clearfocusingwithsuperioraccuracy,whicheverlensisused,butparticularlywithwide-anglelenses.thenewleicamnowofferstwoadditionalfocusingmethods,whichcanbeactivatedquicklyandeasilywiththenewfocusbutton.
thenewliveViewZoomenablesupto10magnificationoftheliveViewdisplayforcompletecontrolandprecisefocusingonfinedetailsorattheclosefocusingrange.anotherhighlightisliveViewFocusPeaking:here,automatichighlightingofcontoursinredprovidesconvenientfocuscontrol.thiscontourdisplayenablespreciseassessmentoffocusingaccuracy.dependingonthesituationorthephotographerspreferences,muserscannowchoosefromseveraloptionsforguaranteeingoutstandinglysharpimages.
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lEica M theperfecttooltoexperiencethefascinationofphotography.
top:WiththeKylichfamilyonthelongtripfromBishkektoKochkor.Bottom:BokonbayevoonthesouthernshoresofthemountainlakeissykKul.
7 SPlaSH-ProoFcamEraBodY
robustandenduring,itisnotrareforaleicatobecomeitsownerslifelongcompanion.thisappliesparticularlyinthecaseofthenewm.thankstothemanyyearsofexperiencegainedbyourengineersintheconstructionofcamerabodies,notonlythem-System,butalsother-andS-Systemsarebuiltformaximumstabilityandperfectsealing.itstopandbaseplatesaremachinedfromsolidbrassblanksanditsfull-metalbodyiscreatedinonepiecefromhigh-strengthmagnesiumalloy.theglasscoveringplateofitshigh-resolutionmonitorscreenismanufacturedfromparticularlytoughandscratch-resistantcorningGorillaGlass.Speciallydesignedrubbersealsprotectitsbodyagainstsplashes,moistureanddust,makingtheleicamapleasuretouseinanyweatherconditions.
8 loNGBattErYliFE thenewlithium-ionbattery(1800mah)intheleicammeansevenextremelylongshootingsessionscanbeachievedwithouthavingtorechargeorchangeoverbattery.thankstothehigh-performancerechargeablebattery,energy-savingexposuremeteringelectronics,theimagingelectronicsoftheleicamaestroimageprocessorandthenewsensor,asinglechargeguaranteesanextremelylargenumberofexposures,whichisparticularlyusefulwhenshootinginremotelocations.
9 ErGoNomicHaNdliNG
intuitivehandling,directmanualsettingoptions,andrapidaccesstoalltheimportantphoto-graphicfunctionswereessentialingredientsofthedigitalm-Systemphilosophyrightfromthebeginning.thenewandattractivefeaturesoftheleicamhavechangednothinginthisrespect.inadditiontomanualfocusinganddirectapertureandshutterspeedsettingoptions,thecombinationofanergonomically-positionedcontrolwheelonthetopplateandintuitivemenunavigationareattheheartoftheleicamoperatingconcept.thenewly-designedanduser-friendlymenuinterfacedisplayedonthelargerearmonitorguaranteesaclearoverviewofallcamerasettingsatalltimes.andthisguaranteesthatm-cameraownerscanalwaysconcentrateonwhatsessentialtheirpictures.
truetotheprinciplesofthem-Philosophy,thevideoandliveViewfeatures,andthenewfocusfunctions,eachhavetheirowncontrols.thenewfocusbuttononthefrontofthecameraallowsselectionofliveViewZoomandliveViewFocusPeaking,aswellasfastandeasyexposurecorrectionsincombinationwiththecontrolwheel.iSosensitivitysettingsarealsocontrolledbyadedicatedbutton.theSetbuttonprovidesdirectaccesstowhitebalance,imagefilecompression,resolution,exposurecompensation,bracketing,anduserprofiles.inuserprofiles,anycameraandexposuresettingscanbesavedunderauser-selectednameandrapidlyretrievedwheneverrequired.Foraddedconvenience,theseprofilescanbesavedtoanSdcard.thenewleicamnowalsofeaturesanergonomicallyformedthumbrestatthetop-rightendofthetopplate,forimprovedhandling.thisensuresidealgripandstabilityineventhemostdemandingshootingsituations.inadditiontothis,thenew,generouslydimensi-oned3"monitorguaranteesmaximumeaseofuse.
10 comPatiBilitYWitHlEicar-lENSES
thenewleicar-adapterallowsalmostallleicar-lensestobemountedonthenewleicam.theextensiverangeofr-lenses,fromvariouswide-angles,telephoto,andmacrolensestoaselectionofzooms,offersalmostlimitlessnewopportunitiesforexpandingthecapabilitiesoftheleicam-System.additionalsupportfortheuseofr-lensesisprovidedbytheoptionalVisoflexEVF2electronicaccessoryviewfinder.
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lEicam i 41 40 i lEicam
2
2
1
1
NEWSENSor inconjunctionwiththehigh-performanceleicamaestroprocessor,theleicamax24-mPhigh-resolution,full-format(35mm)sensorensuresthemaximumimagequalityandspeedoftheleicam.thenewsensorisaninnovative,high-techproductdevelopedbyleicaincollaborationwithcmoSiSespeciallyforthenewleicamandforusewithm-andr-lenses.thisdevelopmenthassuccessfullytransferredthecharacteristicadvantagesofccdsensorstoacmoSsensor,andpreservesthenatural,brilliantcolourrenditionandimpressivedetailresolutionassociatedwithccdsensors.Butthatisbynomeanstheonlyimpressivefeatureofthisenergy-savingsensor.itsparticularlyflatpixelarchitectureenablesthepositioningofthelight-sensitiveareaofeachpixelmuchfurtherforward.thismeansthateachindividualpixelcancapturelightfromalldirectionsandlargeanglesofincidence.anadditionalmicro-lensarraygathersevenmorelight.thankstotheintelligentsensordesign,morespaceisalsoavailableforeachindividualpixel.theendresultofthiscomplexsensordevelopmentisimpressivedynamicrangeandexcellentcontrastrendition,whichensurenoise-freeandbrilliantimageresults.
EaSiErFocUSiNG FastandsimplefocusingisalsoofferedbythenewliveViewFocusPeakingfunction.itautomaticallyhighlightsallcontoursinthefocusedimageinred.thislinedisplayindicateswhenasubjectissharplyfocusedorwhetherafocusingadjustmentshouldbeapplied.inadditiontoliveViewZoomandclassicfocusingwiththerangefinder,thisgivesusersathird,alternativeoptionforprecisefocusing.
lENSESWitHSiX-BitcodiNG(notillustrated)
theextremelyhigh-performanceimagesensorofthenewleicamdemandsaparticularlyhighspatialresolutionthatis,aboveall,offeredbythelatestm-lenses.theexcellentcorrectionofopticalaberrationsandthehighresolutionmakethemallthemoresuitablefordigitaluse.currentm-lensesaresuppliedwithsix-bitcodingonthebayonetmount,whichisscannedopticallybytheleicamassoonasthelensismounted.ifrequired,theleicamcancompensateforextremelylowsystem-inherentvignettingeffectsonthebasisofthiscodedinformation.inaddition,thelenstypeisrecordedintheExifdataoftheimagefilesand,whenusingmodernflashunitsliketheleicaSF58,thereflectorisautomaticallyadjustedtomatchthefocallengthofthelensattached.onrequest,leicascustomercaredepartmentcanretrofitsix-bitcodingtothemountsofexistingm-lenses.
theleicamax24mPsensorwithintelligentsensordesignforbrilliantimageresults
imageprocessingatmaximumspeedwiththeleicamaestroprocessor.
lEica Mtechnicaldetails.
microlens microlens microlens
microlens
colourfilter colourfilter colourfilter
Photodiode Photodiode Photodiode
Photodiode
Pixel Pixel Pixel
Pixel
microlens
Photodiode
Pixel
microlens
colourfilter colourfiltercolourfilter
Photodiode
Pixel
SensorarchitectureofastandardCMOSsensor(schematicdiagram)
1microlensdesignwithnormalradius.
2relativelylargedistancebetweencolourfilter
andphotodiode.
SensorarchitectureoftheLeicaMax24MPsensor(schematicdiagram)
1microlensdesignwithnormalradius.
2reduceddistancebetweenthecolourfilter
andthephotodiode.
incominglight
incominglight
inthecaseoftheleicamax24mPsensor,andincontrasttostandardcmoSsensors,evenlightrayswithlarge
anglesofincidence,e.g.fromwide-anglelensesorlargeapertures,arecapturedpreciselybythephotodiodesof
thesensor.thisisenabledbythespecialmicrolensdesignandthesmallerdistancebetweenthecolourfilterand
photodiode,whichallowsmorelighttoenterthesystem,andensuresthatitfallsmoredirectlyontherespective
photodiodes.
WithsomecmoSsensors,raysofincominglightatlargeanglesofincidencecanfailtoreachthephotodiode
ofthecorrespondingpixelandreachonlytheadjacentpixel.ortheyareshadowedorreflectedonthewayto
thepixelwiththeeffectthattheoverallamountoflightreceivedbythepixelsislessthantheamountarriving
throughthemicrolenses.
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42 i lEicarEPortaGE
manycity-dwellingKyrgyzkeepasmallpieceoflandinthesurroundingruralareasforgrowingcropsorraisingcattleasanadditionalsourceofincomeorsubsistencefarming.asmeansoftransportwiththeexceptionofpackani-malsareratherrareinKyrgyzstan,itwashardlysurprisingthataKyrgyzfamilyinBishkekapproachedJeanGaumyandhisteamtoaskforaliftoutintothecountry.thisturnedouttobeanexcellentopportunitytofindoutmoreaboutrurallifeinKyrgyzstanfirsthand.Withalltheirbaggage,thewholefamilyalongwithsomeoftheirfriendssetoutwithGaumyonthewaytotheircountrysidehomeseveralmilesoutofthecapital.Notatraditionalyurt,butamodestwoodencabin.lifeinthecountryinKyrgyzstanissimple.mostoftheworkisdonebyhand,andeveryonelendsahandwhenitstimetobringinthehayorharvestpotatoes.atmealtimes,youngandoldgatheraroundalongtabletoenjoylocaldishessuchasqurutakindofcheeseusuallymadefromdrainedsoursheepsmilk.QurutisatypicalsnackincentralasiathattheKyrgyzliketoserverolledintosmallballs.
lEica REPORTAGEcountrylifefarfromidyllic.
top:theregionaroundBokonbayevo,onthesouthernshoresofthemountainlakeissykKul.Bottom:abreakfromthehardworkandatypicalKyrgyzsnackofhomemadequrutcheese.
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Huntingmeetatthe100thanniversaryfestivitiesinBokonbayevo.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage52:Featheredhuntingaids.
lEica M-E
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lEica M-Ethequintessenceofrangefinderphotography.
Withtheintroductionoftherangefindersystemin1954,leicamfilmcamerasbecame,formanyphotographers,theperfecttoolsforcapturingthefascinationofamoment- discreetly,silentlyandwithouthesitation.Naturally,inuncompromisingquality.thefirstdigitalm-camerasbegananewchapterinthissuccessstory.today,itistheleicam-Ethatcontinuesthestory,togetherwiththeleicamandtheleicammonochrom.However,itistheleicam-Einparticularthatembodiesthem-Systemphilosophyinitspurestform:thecameraconcentratesexclusivelyonessentialphotographicfunctions,ensuringsimpleandintuitiveoperation.atthesametime,itisapartofthemostcompactfull-formatcamerasystemavailableandenjoysaccesstolensesacknowledgedasthebestintheworld.acameradesignedtoallowtheworldtodiscoverthefascinationofm-Photography.
1 tHEESSENcEoF
raNGEFiNdErPHotoGraPHY
2 mFormESSSUcHEr
3 UNcomPromiSiNGimaGEQUalitY
4 claSSicm-dESiGN
5 SilENt,diScrEEt,comPact
6 coNcENtratioNoNESSENtialS
leicam-E,full-sizeview,inanthracite-greypaint. leicam-E,full-sizeview.
discoverthesheerfascinationofrangefinderphotographyatwww.m-e.leica-camera.com
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lEica M-Ethefascinationoftherangefinder.
leicam-E,full-sizeview,inanthracite-greypaint.
2 mFormESSSUcHEr
theminthenameoftheleicam-Ealsostandsforaratherspecialkindofphotography.Because,incontrasttoSlrphotography,wherefocusingtakesplacethroughthelens,therangefinder(messsucherinGerman)baselineoftheleicamremainsthesame,regardlessofthelensinuse.thisisthereasonwhyitsfocusingprecisionisimmenselysuperiortothatofSlrcamerasforshortfocallengths.thehigh-contrastrangefinderrectangleinthecentreoftheviewfinderguaranteesfast,preciseandcrystal-clearfocusing,evenunderparticularlyadverselightingconditions.mirrorslapandrelatedshakeeffectsincapturedimagesareproblemsneverencounteredbym-Photographers.
3 UNcomPromiSiNGimaGEQUalitY
theleicam-Efeaturesan18-megapixelhigh-resolutionccdsensorinfull35mmformat.acharacteristicpropertyofccdsensorsistheirparticularlyhighsensitivitytolight.thesensorisperfectlyattunedtoitsroleintheverycompactm-Systemandthesuperiorperformanceofm-lenses.thespeciallayoutofthemicrolensmakesittolerantofobliquelightraysimpingingonitssurface,andguaranteesuniformexposureandmaximumsharpnessfromcornertocornerineveryimage.theoptimisedsignaltonoiseratioofthesensorreducestheneedfordigitalpost-processingandensuresthatimagespossessaparticularlynaturalvisualimpact.
4 claSSicm-dESiGN
itisobviousatfirstglancethattheleicam-Eisamemberoftheleicam-Systemfami-ly.distinctivelyfunctionalstylinglendsthecameraanabsolutelytimelesscharacter.thequintessenceofthem-Systemisalsoexpressedbyitsdesign.thetopandbaseplatesarediscreetlyandunobtrusivelyfinishedinanthracite-greypaint.thedesignofitsbodyisintense-lyfocusedandexpressesclarity,anditsleathertrimofferssuperiorgrip.thefamiliar,almostinaudiblemechanicalsignaturesound,greatlyappreciatedbymanyloversofleicacameras,remainsasareminderthatthism,too,isamasterpieceofunparalleledcraftsmanship.
5 SilENt,diScrEEt,comPact
discretionandunobtrusivenessareparticularstrengthsofthem-System.Forinstance,theshutteractionoftheleicam-Eisextremelyquiet.asophisticated,almostnoiselessmotor/gear-trainsystemtensionstheshutterindiscreetmodeonlyafterthecameraisreturnedtoitshidingplace,forinstanceunderajacket,andthephotographersfingeristakenfromthereleasebutton.atthesametime,thecombinationofcameraandlensismorecompactthananyotherfull-formatcamerasystem:areasonwhym-Photographersoftengounnoticedandsimplybecomeapartofthescene.
6 coNcENtratioNoNESSENtialS
Everythingdevelopedintheevolutionaryprocessoftheleicam-Systemsatisfiesagenuinephotographicneed.thisalsoappliestotheleicam-E:adigitalrangefindercamerathatconsciouslydeclinestooffereverythingthatistechnicallypossible,butratherlimitsitselftowhatisessentialtophotography.theseessentialsincludethetypicalrapidmanualfocusingwiththeviewfinder/rangefinderandthefocusingringofthelens,butalsotheoptionofselectingautomaticallydeterminedormanuallysetshutterspeeds.
1 tHEESSENcEoFraNGEFiNdErPHotoGraPHY
leicacameraswerethefirsteversuccessful35mmcameras.anhomagetothistradition,thedigitalleicam-Efeaturesasensorwiththecapabilityofpreciselyreproducingthefull35mmframeformatof2436mm.thankstothecompactconstructionoftherangefindersystem,itisthesmallestfull-formatsystemcameraofalltime.theleicam-Bayonetalsohasanimpressive,longhistory.Firstconstructedin1954,itstillensuresfullsystemcompatibilitytoday,whichmeansthatalmostallm-lenseseverbuiltcanbeusedwiththedigitalleicam-E.and,aswithallotherm-cameras,theleicam-Econcentratespurelyonphotographicfunc-tions.manualfocusingbasedonthecombinedviewfinderandrangefinderprincipleandanautomaticaperturepriorityexposuremodeensurefullphotographiccreativefreedom.
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1
1
3
2
lEica M-Etechnicaldetails.
micro-lENSlaYoUt WorKFloWSoFtWarEiSiNclUdEd
lENSWitH6-BitcodiNG(notillustrated)
theextremelyhigh-performanceimagesensoroftheleicam-Edemandsaparticularlyhighspatialresolutionthatis,aboveall,offeredbythelatestm-lenses.theexcellentcorrectionofopticalaberrationsandthehighresolutionmakethemallthemoresuitablefordigitaluse.thecurrentm-lensesaresuppliedwith6-bitcodingonthebayonetmountthatisscannedopticallybytheleicamassoonasthelensismounted.ifrequired,theleicam-Ecancom-pensatefortheextremelylowsystem-inherentvignettingeffectsonthebasisofthiscodedinformation.inaddition,thelenstypeisrecordedintheExifdataoftheimagefilesand,whenusingmodernflashunitsliketheleicaSF58,thereflectorisautomaticallyadjustedtomatchthefocallengthofthelensattached.typicallyleica:onrequest,customercarecanretrofit6-bitcodingtothemountsofexistingm-lenses.
iNcrEaSEdSENSitiVitYtHroUGHmicro-lENStEcHNoloGY
microlensesareemployedtoensurethatmorelightreacheseachindividualpixelofthesen-sor.asaconsequenceoftheextremelycompactdesignofleicam-Ecameras,raysoflightattheedgesoftheimageimpingeobliquelyonthesensorandwouldbeonlyinadequatelycapturedbyconventionalmicrolenses.therefore,theimagesensorofthem-Eemploysevenmoreadvancedandmeticulouslydesignedmicrolenseswithalowrefractiveindex.themicrolensesatthesensoredgesarelaterallydisplacedtowardstheimagecentertopreciselymatchthecharacteristicsofm-lenses.thisoptimizedmicro-lensdesign,basedonmanyyearsofexperience,capturesandconcentratesevenobliqueraysoflightonthesensorandthusre-liablypreventsimagebrightnessfall-offattheedgesoftheimage.thisensuresthatallexistingleicam-lensesalsomaintaintheirfullperformancewhenusedfordigitalphotography.
WorKFloWiNclUSiVE
adobePhotoshoplightroom4isaprofessionalworkflowsolutionforapplemacoSX,microsoftWindowsVista,andmicrosoftWindows7*.thesoftwareisavailableasafreeonlinedownloadforallleicam-Ecustomers.itoffersawiderangeoffunctionsforthemanage-ment,processing,andexportingofdigitalimages.thelatestreleasenowenablesthecreationofsimpleprintlayouts,slideshows,andphotobooks.inaddition,manyofitsfunctions,inclu-dingitsprocessingspeed,havebeenimproved.iftheimagesfromthem-Earesavedasrawdatainthestandardizedandfuture-proofadobedigitalNegativeFormat(dNG),adobePhotoshoplightroom4,withitssophisticatedandpreciseprocessingoptions,guaranteesdirectandextremelyhigh-qualityimageprocessingwithmaximizedimagequality.
*asadobePhotoshoplightroom4nolongersupportsWindowsXP,XPusersmaydownloadversion3.6online.
toNalValUEHiStoGram(notillustrated)
theleicam-EcandisplayapreciserGBtonalvaluehistogramofthecapturedimageaftereachshot,andofferoptionalintegrationofthehistogramintheautomaticimageviewdisplay.theclippingwarningdisplayshowstheover-andunder-exposedzones,andwarnsthephoto-grapherofpotentiallyunusableimages.thehistogramisrecalculatedeverytimeanewpartoftheimageisviewed,thusenablingaprecisequalityassessmentofsmallareasandeventhefinestimagedetails.
1 Pixeldiagram2 centeredmicrolensinthemiddleofthesensor3 laterallydisplacedmicrolensattheedgeofthesensor
leicam-EcustomerscandownloadthedigitalworkflowsolutionadobePhotoshoplightroom4freeofcharge.
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aparticipantatthehuntingmeetwithhiseagle.
theregionaroundtheKyrgyztownofBokonbayevo,onthesouthernshoresofthemountainlakeissykKul,iscon-sideredtobethecentreoftheancientartoffalconry,orhuntingwithbirdsofprey.duringtheirvisittothetownonthe100thanniversaryofitsfounding,JeanGaumyandhisteamfoundthemselvesinthemidstofaneventdedicatedtothisformofhunting,whichwasoncewidespreadincentralasiaandconsideredtobeafineart.FalconersfromeverycornerofKyrgyzstanhavetravelledherewiththeirbirds.manyofthemenweartraditionaldressandthetypicalKyrgyzkalpak,afelthat.theyproudlydisplaytheireagles,hawks,andbuzzardsonleather-glovedfists.twodaysbeforetheactualcontest,Gaumyenjoyedarareopportunitytowatchthefalconerspreparingandtrainingtheirbirdsforthecontest.inonetrainingmethod,ariderdragsadeadrabbitonaropebehindhishorse.atpreciselytherightmoment,theraptoristhrownontothepreybythefalconerandmustseizeitinitstalonsasquicklyaspossible.atleastthatistheidea.
lEica REPORTAGEFeatheredhuntingaids.
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EverySunday,at-Bashyisthesceneofabigcattlemarket.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage64:Haggling,Kyrgyz-Style.
lEica M MOnOChROM
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lEica M MOnOChROMthefascinationofmonochromephotographyentersthedigitalage.
leicammonochrom,full-sizeview,blackchromefinish. leicammonochrom,full-sizeview.
1 UNcomPromiSiNGimaGEQUalitY
2 comPatiBilitYaSamattEroFPriNciPlE
3 ENdUriNGPErFormaNcEaNdValUE
4 SilENcEaNddiScrEtioN
5 SPEEdaNdFlEXiBilitY
6 comPlEtEcoNtroloFallimaGEParamEtErS
7 FUllFramE2436WitHoUtcomPromiSE
8 NEWSENSor
9 iNtUitiVEcoNtrolS
10 FUlliNFormatioNattHEPUSHoFaBUttoN
discoverthefascinationoftheleicammonochromatwww.m-monochrom.leica-camera.com
theleicammonochromperpetuatesthetraditionofitslegendaryfilmpredecessorsthatmadehistorywiththeirnumerousgroundbreakinginnovations:itistheworldsfirst35mmdigitalcameraexclusivelyforblack-and-whitephotography.itdoesmorethantransformanalogueblack-and-whitephotographyintodigital:itsetsanewbench-markinstate-of-the-artphotographictechnology.thankstoitsfull-formatsensorandtheabsenceofcolourfilters,itachievesuniqueimageresultswithoutstandingclarityandunmatcheddynamics.thatmakesittheperfectcameraforcontemporaryfine-artphotography,andallwhoshareafascinationforblackandwhite.
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lEicammoNocHrom i 59 58 i lEicammoNocHrom
atfirstglance,theleicammonochromisalmostindistinguishablefromotherm-cameras.itstopplate,leathertrimandcarryingstrapinperfectmattblackmaintainadiscreetlylowprofile.thecameratypeisengravedunobtrusivelyonitsaccessoryshoe.and,justlikeeveryotherm-camera,thedesignoftheleicammonochromconcentratespurelyontheessentialphotographicfunctions.itsmanualfocusing,basedonthecombinedviewfinderandrangefinderconceptandaperturepriorityexposuremode,isanaidtophotographersratherthanimposingundesiredlimitationsontheircreativefreedom.incombinationwiththelcdmonitoronthebackofthebody,thesimpleandintuitivemenunavigation,managedbyonlyafewcontrolelements,ensuresrapidaccesstoallthecamerafunctions.
lEica M MOnOChROMSharpnessredefined.
leicammonochrom,full-sizeview,blackchromefinish.
1 UNcomPromiSiNGimaGEQUalitY
themmonochromfeaturesanewfull-frame,35mmformatsensordevelopedespeciallyforblack-and-whitephotography.incontrasttoconventionalsensors,ithasnoneedforcolourfiltersforindividualpixels,andthereforerequiresnointerpolationforthecalculationoflumi-nancevalues.thismeansthatrawdataandevenJPEGimagefilesfromthemmonochromcanbeuseddirectlyandwithoutanyfurtherprocessing.thisenablesphotographerstocap-tureimageswithgreaterbrilliance,superiorsharpnessandcontrastresolutionthatcanequalthequalityofmediumformat.duetotheirlowcompressionrate,JPEGfilesfromthecameraalsosatisfyprofessionaldemands.
2 comPatiBilitYaSamattEroFPriNciPlE
themmonochromoffersaccesstothecompleterangeofleicam-lenses,longsincerecog-nisedasbeingthebestintheworld.thefirstm-camerawasbuiltin1954,andthesystemhasbeencontinuouslydevelopedandimprovedeversince.thehigh-resolution,full-formatimagesensorfullyexploitstheperformanceofthelensesfromcornertocornerineveryimage.
3 ENdUriNGPErFormaNcEaNdValUE
itisnotrareforaleicatobecomeitsownerslifelongcompanion.thisappliesparticularlytothedigitalleicammonochrom:itstopandbaseplatesaremachinedfromsolidbrass.itsfull-metalhousingismanufacturedinonepiecefromhigh-strengthmagnesiumalloy,andoffersperfectprotectionforitspreciousinnermechanisms.thedigitalcomponentsandshutterassemblyofthemmonochromaresimilarlyconstructedwithalifetimeofenduranceinmind.inshort:anmmonochromisalong-terminvestment.
4 SilENcEaNddiScrEtioN
discretionandunobtrusivenessareparticularstrengthsofthem-System.theshutterofthemmonochromisalsoextremelyquiet.theverylownoiselevelwhencockingtheshutterisensuredbyasophisticatedmotorgearingsystem.indiscreetmode,theshutterisonlycockedafterthephotographersfingeristakenfromtheshutterreleasebutton,when,forinstance,thecameraisconcealedunderajacket.thenagain,whenlongerexposuretimesrequiringasteadycamerastanceareessential,evenslightpressureontheshutterreleasebuttoninsoftreleasemodeissufficient.atthesametime,thecombinationofcameraandlensissignificantlymorecompactthananyotherfull-framecamerasystem:thiscontributestothefactthatm-Photog-raphersfrequentlygounnoticedandoftensimplymeltintothebackground.
5 SPEEdaNdFlEXiBilitY
theleicammonochromadaptsflexiblytoitsintendeduse.itssensitivityrangeextendsfromiSo320toiSo10000.atthesametime,verylowimagenoiseandfinestresolutionofdetailsinshadowsandhighlightsareachievedthroughoutthesensitivityrange,evenatthehighestset-tings:themmonochromdeliversrazor-sharpimageswiththefinestgrain,evenatiSo10000.Verylowimagenoisecharacteristics,abrightviewfinder/rangefinder,low-vibrationshutterreleaseandfastlensesmakethemmonochromtheperfectcameraforavailable-lightphotog-raphy.
6 comPlEtEcoNtroloFallimaGEParamEtErS
theleicammonochromaidsphotographerswithautomaticfunctionswheneverrequired,butitneverdictateshowtoshoot.dependingonthelightingsituation,theautomaticiSoshiftfunctionincreasesthesensitivityofthecameraassoonasadefinedshutterspeedisex-ceeded.atthesametime,italsolimitstheshifttoamaximumvaluesetbythephotographer.thismeansthatcorrectexposurewithoutcamerashakeandthelowestpossiblesensitivityisalwaysavailabletoguaranteethebestpossibleimagequalityinallsituations.inaddition,themmonochromalsooffersautomaticexposurebracketingwithauser-selectablenumberofshotsandincrementalexposurevalues.thisfunctionensuresthatevenhigh-contrastsub-jectsarecapturedperfectly.
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lEicammoNocHrom i 61 60 i lEicammoNocHrom
theleicammonochromembodiestheheritageandamassedexperienceofmorethanfivedecadesofthem-System.atthesametime,itisadigitalsystemcameraatthecuttingedgeofcontemporarytechnology.Forleicadesigners,thephotographicimagehasalwaysbeentheirprimeconcernnomatterwhetherfilmordigital,inblack-and-whiteorincolour.thecombinationofanextremelyefficientblackandwhiteimagesensor,thelatestdigitalcompo-nentsandtheclassicviewfinder/rangefinderprinciple,consistentlyoptimisedovermanyyears,maketheleicammonochromabsolutelyunique.
leicammonochrom,full-sizeview.
lEica M MOnOChROMtheultimateinrangefinderprecisionmeetscutting-edgedigitaltechnology.
7 FUllFramE2436WitHoUtcomPromiSE
theccdimagesensorspecificallydesignedanddevelopedfortheleicammonochromoffersfull35mmfilmformatwithoutcompromise.allm-lensesmountedonthemmonochromoffertheangleofviewtheyhadwhenusingfilmandarethereforeusedtooptimumeffect.inotherwords:alltheoutstandingcharacteristicsofthelensesarenowfullymaintainedfordigitalphotography,too.Becauseofitshighresolutionandsuperiorimagequality,themmonochromhastheabilitytofullyexploittheenormouspotentialofm-lenses.
8 NEWSENSor Whenleicacreatedthemmonochrom,itwasntamatterofmodifyingthelensestomatchtheimagesensor,butrathertheotherwayaround:themonochromesensorwasperfectlyattunedtoitsroleinthecompactm-System,andthesuperiorperformanceofm-lenses,duringitsdevelopment.theomissionofthecolourfiltersignificantlyincreasesthebasicsensitivityofeachindividualpixel.italsomeansthatthemmonochromcapturesimageswithsignificantlygreatercontrastandclarityatalliSosettings.thespeciallayoutofthemicrolensesfoundonlyinthedigitalm-camerasensormakesittolerantofobliquelightraysimpingingonitssurface,andguaranteesuniformexposureandextremesharpnessfromcornertocornerineveryimage.therefore,futurelensescanbedesignedandoptimisedwithuncompromisingdedicationtoachievebothhighperformanceandcompactconstruction.aspecialglasssensorcoveren-suresthesuppressionofinfraredlight.theintentionaldecisiontodispensewithamoirfilter,acauseofimagedeteriorationthroughlossofresolution,ensuresmaximumresolutionofdetails.
9 iNtUitiVEcoNtrolS
thekeycontrolelementofthemmonochromisanintuitivefour-wayswitchanddialcom-binationusedinconjunctionwiththelargelcdscreenontheback.SettingthesensitivityrequiresonlycontinuedpressureontheiSobuttonwhilesimultaneouslyturningthedialtoselecttherequiredsetting.allotherfunctionsimportantforeverydaysituationsarequicklyandeasilyaccessiblebypressingtheSetbutton:theseincludeimage-datacompression,resolution,exposurecorrection,exposurebracketingandprogrammableuserprofiles.Userprofilescanbeprogrammedwithanycameraandshootingsettings,storedunderaspecificnameandaccessedquicklywheneverrequiredforaparticularsituation.allotherfunctions,fromautomaticlensrecognitionandsix-bitlens-mountcodingtosensorcleaning,areeasytofindintheclearlylaid-outmaincameramenu.
10 FUlliNFormatioNattHEPUSHoFaBUttoN
Whentheinfobuttonispressedinshootingmode,themonitoronthebackofthecameradisplaystheprecisechargelevelofthebattery,theremainingcapacityonthememorycardandthemostimportantbasicshootingsettings,forexampletheshutterspeed.inreviewmode,userscantogglebetweenanimage-onlyview,withazoomoptionuptosingle-pixelleveloper-atedbyturningthedial,andotherimageinformation.thisincludes,forinstance,informationonthesensitivitysetting,theshutterspeedandaprecisehistogramdisplay.
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62 i lEicammoNocHrom
lEica M MOnOChROMtechnicaldetails.
coloUraNdmoNocHromESENSorSacomPariSoN BlacK-aNd-WHitEWorKFloW
leicammonochromcustomerscantakeadvan-tageofafreedownloadofthedigitalworkflowsolutionAdobePhotoshopLightroom4.
mmonochromcustomersarealsoentitledtoafreedownloadoftheNikSoftwareSilverEfexProsoftwarepackage.
*asadobePhotoshoplightroom4nolongersupportsWindowsXP,adobePhotoshoplightroom3.6isalsoavailableasafreedownloadforXPusers.
Withafullnativeresolutionof18megapixels,theleicammonochromdelivers100%sharperimagesthanacoloursensor.asitssensordoesnotseecolours,everysinglepixelrecordstrueluminancevalues.thismeansthatthemmonochromdeliversatrueblack-and-whiteimagestraightfromthesensor.thecombinationofthebrilliantimagingqualitiesofleicalensesandperfectharmonisationofthesensorwiththem-Systemresultsinimageswithoutstandingsharpnessandnaturalbrilliance,withouttheneedforsharpeninginpost-processingsoftware.theresultisanincomparableimagequalitythatwouldnormallybeexpectedonlyfromamedium-formatcamera.
theimpressivequalityofthenativerawdatafromthemmonochromnotonlyenablesimagestobeuseddirectly,butalsoallowsthemtobestoredinJPEGformatwithidenticalresolution.thankstothechoiceofalowcompressionrate,thequalityoftheJPEGfilesisevencomparablewiththatofprofessionallyprocessedtiFFfiles.
theleicammonochrommorethansatisfiestheexpectationsofdiscerningusersandfine-artphotog-raphers,witharawdatahistogramforthepreciseassessmentoftonalvalues.thedifferencecomparedtoconventionalhistogramsisthatitdisplaysoriginal,unprocessedandunmodifiedrawdata.thecombin-ationofthis,withaconfigurableclippingdisplayinparticular,allowsprecisecorrectionoroptimisationofexposures.thesubdivisionoftherawdatahistogramintostopsenablesdedicatedblack-and-whitephotographerstoemployadigitalinterpretationofthezonesystem.
Withtheleicammonochrom,photographerscanapplycharacteristictoningeffectsfromanalogueblack-and-whitephotography,suchassepia,coldorseleniumtoningtotheirimages,atthetouchofabutton.theusersavestheimageinJPEGformatandselectsthedesiredtoningeffectsimplyandconveniently,andwithouttheneedforpost-processing.
moNocHromESENSor
raWdataHiStoGram(notillustrated)
lENSESWitHSiX-BitcodiNG(notillustrated)
BlacK-aNd-WHitEWorKFloW
USEFUlEFFEctS(notillustrated)
adobePhotoshoplightroom4isaprofessionalworkflowsolutionforapplemacoSX,microsoftWindowsVistaandmicrosoftWindows7*.thesoftwareisavailableasanonlinedownloadforallnewleicammonochromcustomers,afteronlinecameraregistration.itoffersawiderangeoffunctionsforthemanagement,processingandexportingofdigitalimages.thelatestreleasenowenablesthecreationofsimpleprintlayouts,slideshowsandphotobooks.inaddition,manyofitsfunctions,includingitsprocessingspeed,havebeenimproved.iftheimagesfromthemmonochromaresavedasrawdatainthestandardisedandfuture-proofadobedigitalNegativeFormat(dNG),adobePhotoshoplightroom4,withitssophisticatedandpreciseprocessingoptions,guaranteesdirectandextremelyhigh-qualityimageprocessingwithmaximumimagequality.
inadditiontothis,thepackagealsoincludesaplug-inversionoftheNikSilverEfexProsoftware,con-sideredtobethemostpowerfultoolforthecreationofhigh-qualitydigitalblack-and-whiteimages.Forpicturesthatperfectlyrecreatethelookofanalogueexposures,SilverEfexProoffersselectivecontroloftonalvaluesandcontrastandanextensivecollectionofprofilesforthesimulationofblack-and-whitefilmtypes,grainstructuresandmuchmore.
thehigh-performanceimagesensorofthemmonochromdemandsaparticularlyhighspatialresolutionthatis,aboveall,offeredbythelatestm-lenses.theexcellentcorrectionofopticalaberrationsandhighresolutionmakesthemallthemoresuitablefordigitaluse.thecurrentm-lensesaresuppliedwithasix-bitcodeonthebayonetmountthatisscannedopticallybythemmonochromassoonasthelensismounted.ifrequired,themmonochromcancompensateforextremelyminor,system-inherentvignettingeffectsonthebasisofthiscodedinformation.inaddition,thelenstypeisrecordedintheExifdataoftheimagefilesand,whenusingthelatestflashunitssuchastheleicaSF58,automaticallyadjuststhereflectortomatchthefocallengthofthelensattached.inmostcases,leicacustomercarecan,onrequest,retrofitsix-bitcodingtothemountsofexistingm-lenses.
toallowanimagesensortoseeincolour,colourfiltersinthebasiccoloursred,greenandblueareallocatedtoindividualpixels.How-ever,beforeavisibleimagecanbecreated,thecolourinformationrecordedbyneighbouringpixelsmustbecombinedanadditiveprocessthatnaturallyreducesthenativesharpness.
thesensoroftheleicammonochromdoesnotseecolours.asaresult,eachindividualpixelrecordstrueluminancevaluesfromwhichatrulymonochromeimage,characterisedbyanativeandincomparablesharpness,canbecreatedwithoutanyadditionalprocessing.
colourfilter
Sensorpixel
Sensorpixel
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lEicarEPortaGE i 65
Eventoday,bigandseeminglyarchaiccattlemarketsarestillacommonsightinmanyKyrgyztownsandcities.Neitherquietnorsqueamish,thedealersandbuyershaggleatthetopsoftheirvoicesaboveallovergoats,sheep,pigs,horses,cattle,andyaks.todaymorethanever,cattle-breedingplaysanimportantroleinKyrgyzstan.Because,followingthecollapseoftheSovietUnionandtheirwithdrawalfromthecountry,manynon-agriculturaljobssimplydisappeared.inadditiontothis,themountainousareasofKyrgyzstanaremuchmoresuitableforgrazingthanfortheproductionofcashcrops.Sincegainingtheirindependence,increasingnumbersofKyrgyzattempttosecureanexistence,oratleastearnalittleontheside,withanimalhusbandry.ofequalimportanceisthatcattleinpar-ticularareseenasasafeinvestmentintimesofeconomicinsecurity.SotheintensityofthehagglingatKyrgyzcattlemarketsisbynomeanssurprising.andittakestime.Hagglingoverasinglebeastcantakeatleast10to15minutes.incontrasttoWesterncustoms,theprocessherebeginswithahandshake.Whiledealersandbuyersargueovertheprice,theymaintainastronggriponeachothershandsandbegintoshakethemtheatrically.thehandshakingstopsassoonasthepriceissettledtothesatisfactionofbothparties,andthebargainissealed.
lEica REPORTAGEHaggling,Kyrgyz-Style.
top:atacattlemarketnearosh.Bottom:GoatsinKyrgyzstancanalsobeprettystubborn.
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PrivatehouseinNaryn,whereKyrgyzfeltcarpetsknownasshyrdaksaremade.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage74:anancientcraftwithalongtradition.
lEicaM7/MP
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68 i lEicam7 lEicam7 i 69
classicsareworksthathaveacuriousrelationshipwiththepresent.theyareneverreformulatedwithrespecttotheiressentialcharacter,butratherreinterpretedonthebasisofachangedworld.theleicam7filmcameraisjustsuchaclassic.likeeveryotherleicam-camera,them7isprimarilyamechanicalandopticalprecisionin-strument.However,becauseoftheintelligentuseofthelatestelectronics,itissimultaneouslythemostversatileandmostpreciseleicamfilmcameraeverbuilt.Forexample,leicam7photographerscanselectacontinuouslyvariableaperturepriorityexposuremodeleavingthephotographerfreetoconcentrateonthecreativeessen-tialsoffocusingandframingthesubject.
lEica M7 thecrowninggloryofclassicleicamphotography.
leicam7,full-sizeview;availableinsilverchromeandblackchrome.
ENHaNcEdPrEciSioNPlUSmaNUalBacKUP
thelegendaryleicahorizontalclothfocalplaneshutterincorporatedinallpreviousm-Seriesfilmcameraswasfundamentallyrevisedforthem7.itsbarelyaudiblewhencontrollingtheshutterspeedselectronically,andconstitutesanessentialelementoftheaperturepriorityexposuresystem.thecommonlyusedshutterspeedsof1/60secand1/125secfunctionwithoutbatterypower.
crEatiVEFlaSHoPtioNS
incombinationwithaspecialdedicatedflashunit,them7alsoofferssecond-curtainflashsynchronisation.theadvantage:amorenaturallooktocapturedimagesofmovingsubjectsincludingtimeexposureswithfill-inflash.inadditiontothestandardsynchronisationspeedof1/50sec,them7alsosynchronisesataspeedofupto1/1000secwhenusedincombinationwithcertainSca-dedicatedmetzflashunits.
aVoidiNGiNcorrEctEXPoSUrES
theleicam7offersphotographersthechoiceofsettingthefilmspeed(iSo)manuallyorbyusingthecontactlessautomaticfilm-speeddetectionbuiltintothecamerabody(dXcoding).thiseffectivelyavoidsincorrectexposuresduetowronglysetiSofilmspeeds.asafurtheroption,inautomaticexposuremode,photographerscaninputexposurecorrectionsofupto2stops.
aUtomaticEXPoSUrEaltErNatiVES
asanalternativetothefamiliarmanualexposuremeteringofotherm-cameraswhich,ofcourse,isstillanoptionwiththem7thecameraoffersaconvenient,continuouslyvariableaperturepriorityexposuremodewithaElockthatisacti-vatedbylightlydepressingtheshutterrelease.
rEadYtoGo...orStoW
theoN/oFFswitch,ergonomicallylocateddirectlynexttotheshutterrelease,hastwoimportantfunctions:firstly,itactivatestheelectronicsoftheleicam7and,secondly,itlockstheshutterreleasewhenthecameraisturnedoff.
PictUrEParamEtErSataGlaNcE
asystemuniquetoleicarangefindercamerasclearlydisplaysallrelevantinfor-mationinthebrilliantviewfinderoftheleicam7:theshutterspeeddeterminedbytheaperturepriorityexposuresystem,over- andunderexposurevaluesinmanualmeteringmode,aflash-readysignalwhenaflashunitisattachedandreadytofire,andawarningiconwhenthecamerabatteriesarelow.
leicam7,full-sizeview.
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lEicamP i 71 70 i lEicamP
leicamP,full-sizeview.
itisnoteworthytomentionthateveninthisincreasinglyelectronicage,theleicamPisapurelymechanicalcamerathattransformstheactofcapturingcompellingimagesintosomethingindescribablyexcitingandsensual.morethan80yearsofexperienceandexpertiseinthedesignandconstructionofexclusivelymechanicalrangefindercamerashasculminatedinthecurrentleicamP.thistimelessclassicembodiestheessenceoffinemechanicalprecision.itisaveritablemasterpiecepossessinganinstinctiveandemotionalqualitythatcaptivatesanyphotog-rapherattheveryfirsttouch.inthiseraofacceleratingtransition,theleicamPstandssupremeasacameraforalifetime.
leicamP,full-sizeview;availableinsilverchromeandblackpaintfinish.
lEica MP amasterpieceofmechanicalprecision.
EmPoWEriNG Bydefinition,photographyiswritingwithlight.Butleicam-Photographymeanssomethingmoretheabilitytocreateimagesthatarticulatearecognizableanddistinctivecharacterevenwiththebaremini-mumofavailablelight.theleicamPempowersthephotographertomastereventhemostdifficultlightingsituations,becausethecameranevertriestothinkonitsown.itsselectivettlmeteringsystemmerelyprovidespreciseandcomprehensibledatatosupportphotographersintheirselectionoftheidealexpo-sureparameters,ensuringcompletecreativecontrol.
ENdUriNG theleicamPisbuiltforlonglifeandlastingvalue.thisisguaranteedbyleicascommitmenttousingonlythefinestmaterialsandthehighestprecisionmanufacturingtechniques.timeandtimeagain,theleicamPhasprovenitsrobustnessanddependabilityunderthemostadverseconditions.ithasbeenusedinsub-freezingenvironmentswherecamerasrelyingonbatteriescannotfunctionreliablyallwhilstde-liveringanumberofshutterreleasecyclesthatothercamerasimplycouldnotmatch.thisunparalleledqualityisalsotheunderlyingreasonwhyleicaispreparedtoofferanextraordinarilylongwarrantyperiodoffiveyearsforregistereduserswhopurchasetheircameraatanauthorisedleicadealer.
maXimUmrEliaBiltY
theconstructionoftheleicamPissouncompromisingthatitisalwaysdependable.itsincrediblystrongandruggedbodywillwithstandtheworstconditionswithoutawhimper.allitscrucialcontrolelementsarecraftedexclusivelyinmetal.Yes,themPdependsontheskillsoftheuserbutitcertainlydoesntdependonbatteries.theyareneededsolelyformetering.indeed,anyoneskilledinestimatingshutterspeedsandaperturescancompletelyignoretheelectronics.
iNdiVidUaliSmtHatimProVESWitHaGE
theleicamPisavailableintwodifferentbodyfinishes:silverchromeandblackpaint.afteryearsofharduse,whenalittlebrassbeginstoshowthroughtheblackorsilveratthecornersandedges,itsasuresigntosavvyphotographersthatthecameraanditsownerhavesharedmanymemorableexperiences.
UNdErStatEd itiswellknownthatmostprofessionalsjustlovetheredleicadotontheircameras,butforthesakeofmaintainingalowprofile,manymaskthetell-taledotwithtape.thisiswhytheleicamPwasmanufac-turedwithoutthisiconicemblemrightfromthestart.ofcourse,knowledgeableownersandaficionadoscanidentifyaleicaanywherewithouttheneedforspecialbranding.theleicainscriptiononthetopplateisidentificationenough.
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lEicalacartE i 73 72 i lEicalacartE
Personalisedengraving,signature Personalisedengraving,signature
Personalisedengraving,name Personalisedengraving,name
illustratedhere:leicamP,silverchrome.illustratedhere:leicamP,blackchrome.illustratedhere:leicamP,blackpaint.
illustratedhere:leicamP,silverchrome.illustratedhere:leicamP,blackpaint. illustratedhere:leicamP,blackchrome.
Performance,precisionandreliabilitytheseareattributesthatallleicam-camerashaveincommon.Neverthe-less,thedesignofm7andmPfilmcamerascanbechangedinavarietyofuniquewaystoexpressyourindividualtastes.Eventechnicaldetailscanbemodifiedtomatchanyphotographerspersonaluseprofile.thisishowafullypersonalisedleicam-cameraisborn.achoiceofthefinestmaterials*,differentstylesandcolours,andamultitudeofvariableelementsandfunctionaldetailsopenupalmostendlesscreativeopportunitiesfromanunobtrusiveprofessionalstreet-shooterstooltoanextravagantandeye-catchinglifestyleicon.theindividualcomponentsareassembledbyhand.Uptoandincludingfinalqualitycontrol,eachlacarteleicam7ormPiscustom-craftedaccordingtotheprecisespecificationsofeachindividualorder.
lEica LA CARTE Handcraftedandoneofakind.
ENGraViNG
lEatHErtrimm7/mP
FiNiSHESm7/mP
FUNctioNaloPtioNS
Viewfinderframesandmagnificationcanbecustom-orderedtomeettherequirementsofthelensesyouprefer.thelacarteprogramoffersachoiceofuniversalviewfindermagnifications:thestandard0.72xversion,thewide-angleandeyeglasses-wearersversionwith0.58xmagnifi-cation,andthetelephotoversionwith0.85x.
thechoiceofcontrolelementsallowsyoutotailorthecamerapreciselytoyourshootingrequirements,forexampletofavourruggednessorfasteroperation.
0,58x 0,72x 0,85x
diVErSitY morethan4,000differentconfigurationoptionsfulfileventhemostunusualwishes.Visitwww.leica-a-la-carte.comtofindoutmoreaboutthewidevarietyofcombina-tionoptions.
aEStHEticoPtioNS
aselectionoftopplatecoloursandbodycoveringsinawiderangeoforganicallytannedleathersinvarioustexturesandcoloursisavailabletocomplementthebodyfinish.camerabags,casesandcarryingstrapsarealsoavailableinmatchingleathers.and,lastbutnotleast,personalisedengravingintheformofsignatures,monograms,graphicelements,orfamilycrestsmakeanyleicaatrulyuniqueandunmistakableworkofart.
discoverourrangeofexclusiveleicalacarteaccessoriesonpage108.
*allreal-leatheroptionsofferedhereareexclusivelypremium-qualityfull-graincowhides.realleatherisnotemployedforthestandardtrimofleicam7andleicamPmodels,orforvulcanitetrimoptions.
m7 mP Vulcanite Saddleleather,black
Nappaleather,racinggreen
calfleather,smooth,blue calfleather,smooth,mocha
calfleather,smooth,red Naturally-tannedleather,cognac
lizardstyleembossedleather,black
ostrichstyleembossedleather,black
ostrichstyleembossedleather,chestnut
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lEicarEPortaGE i 75
Naryn,thecapitalofKyrgyzstansadministrativeprovinceofthesamename,issituatedatanaltitudeof2,000metresabovesealevel.itisthelastlargecityinKyrgyzstanbeforereachingtheborderwithchinaatthetorugatPass.thecityisafamiliarstartingpointforalltravelerstakingthepassrouteandisalsofamousforitscarpets.itissaidthebestshyrdaksaremadeinNaryn.thesespecial,double-layered,felted-woolcarpetswithstitchedpatternsaremadecompletelybyhandbylocalwomen.thewet-feltingtechniquetheyuseisoneoftheworldsmostancienttextileworkingmethodsthereis.Sincetimeimmemorial,shyrdakshavebeenusedforcarpetingandinsulatingtheiryurts.theextremenaturaltemperaturefluctuationsthatthewoolinthemountainsofKyrgyzstanissubjectedtoendowitwithratherspecialqualities.thegraphical,modern-lookingpatternsofthecarpetsarepredominantlymodeledonanimalandplantmotifsfromthenaturalworld.manyfamilieshavetheirowntraditionalpatternsthatarepasseddownfromgenerationtogeneration.thesimplebeautyoftheseShyrdaksstandsinin-tensecontrasttothetextiledecorationsorpicturesthatcanbeencountered,forexample,inthecitysrestaurants.
lEica REPORTAGE anancientcraftwithalongtradition.
topanbottom:inarestaurantintheprovincialcapitalofNaryn.
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theconstructionoftraditionalyurtstocelebratethe100thanniversaryofthefoundingofthetownofBokonbayevo.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage86:Homeiswheretheyurtis.
m-SYStEmLEnSES
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inanabstractedform,thetunduk,thecrowningpointofeveryKyrgyzyurt,isalsoakeyelementinthenationalflag.
lEica nOCTILUX - M50mmf/0.95aSPH.Kingofthenight.
in2008,leicaproudlyannouncedthefastestasphericallenstheworldhadeverseen:theremarkableleicaNoctilux-m50mmf/0.95aSPH.,areplacementforthelegendaryleicaNoctilux-m50mmf/1,whichhadbeenahighlightoftheleicam-lensrangesince1975.thecombinationofcutting-edgeopticalandmechanicaltechnol-ogieshasmadeitpossibletoachieveamarkedimprovementinitsperformancecomparedtoitsillustriouspredecessor.althoughitsdimensionsarealmostidentical,asignificantlyhigherspeedhasbeensuccessfullyattained.atfullaperture,itsextremelyshallowdepthoffieldallowsthephotographertocreatecompellingportraitsandscenicimpressionscharacterisedbyanincomparablynatural-lookingplayofsharpnessandsoftness.StopdownalittleandthelensdeliversoutstandingimagequalitycomparabletothatoftheleicaSummilux-m50mmf/1.4aSPH.,thelensgenerallyconsid-eredtobethereferencestandardforallothernormallenses.Whenusedforavailablelightphotography,theNoctilux-mactuallyexceedstheresolvingpowerofthehumaneye.theuseofafloatingelementensuresthatthislensprovidestopperformancedowntoitsclosestfocusingdistance.Vignettinganddistortionhavealsobeennoticeablyimprovedcomparedtothe50mmf/1.allviewsoflensesfull-size(unlessotherwiseindicated).
hIGh-SPEEDLEnSES
m-SYStEmlENSES i 79
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topandbottom:thesummermonthsseenumerousherdersonthemountainpastureslikehereatlakeSongKul.thegrazingseasonendsinSeptemberwhenherdersdrivetheiranimalstoloweraltitudes.
lEica APO-SUMMICROn-M50mmf/2aSPH.anythingbutastandardlens.
theenormousspeedofdevelopmentsinthefieldofdigitalphotographyinrecentyearshasbroughtcameraswitheverincreasingresolutionand,correspondingly,constantlyincreasingdemandsonlensquality.Sothetimewasripeforalensconstructedonthebasisofopticalcalculationsrefinedandperfectedovermanyyears.andnow,ourengineershaveimpressivelyredefinedthelimitsofthetechnicallypossible,andhavesetentirelynewstandardsinimagequality,intheformoftheleicaaPo-Summicron-m50mmf/2aSPH.lens.thechallengetheysetthemselveswastoexplorethelimitsofwhatispossiblewithinstandardspecificationswhenafastaperture,anextremeangleofviewandtheefforttobeinvestedarenottakenintoaccount.thissituationmadeitpossibletoconcentrateentirelyonachievingultimateperfec-tioninimagequalityfromthebeginning.theresultisalensthat,forthefirsttimeever,exploitstheimmensepotentialofcontemporaryhigh-resolutioncamerasystemswithoutcompromise.
theaPo-Summicron-m50mmf/2aSPH.featuresatotalofeightlenselements.thedesignoftheopticalgroupinfrontofthediaphragmisbasedonthatoftheoutstandingleicaSummi-lux-m50mmf/1.4aSPH.thegroupbehinditissimilartothatoftheSummilux-m35mmf/1.4aSPH.asinthecaseoftheSummilux,thisisafloatingelementthatensuresexcellentimagequalityfrominfinitytotheclosestfocusingrange.Furthermore,thelensemploysex-tremelycomplexandelaborateapochromaticcorrection,tocorrectchromaticaberrations.thisminimisescolourfringingonsharpedgestoensurenaturalrenditionofeverydetail.thisisachieved,forinstance,bytheingeniousincorporationofglasswithanomalouspartialdispersioninitsopticaldesign.consequently,photographersbenefitfromthebestpossibleimagequalityforprintsinanyformat.
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lEica SUMMILUX-M35mmf/1.4aSPH.
theleicaSummilux-m35mmf/1.4aSPH.isthesucces-sortotheextremelypopularpreviousversionofthelens.thankstothefurtherdevelopmentofitsopticalandmechanicalsystems,itnowsetsstandardsintheworldoffast,wide-anglelenses.incontrasttoitspredecessor,thenewleicaSummilux-m35mmf/1.4aSPH.featuresafloatingelementthatensuresexcellentimagingqualityintheclose-uprange.thelensrevealsitsoutstandingper-formancecharacteristicsatmaximumaperture.thankstoitsextraordinaryqualities,this35mmlensisauniversaltoolforeveryphotographer.itsmoderatewide-anglecha-racteristics,ontheonehand,anditsnaturalreproductionofperspectives,ontheother,makeitidealforaparticu-larlybroadspectrumofphotographicusesrangingfromportraituretolandscapes.itisidealasafirstlenswhenbeginningtobuildaleicam-System.
lEica SUMMILUX - M24mmf/1.4aSPH.
thesuper-speedleicaSummilux-m24mmf/1.4aSPH.istheidealphotographictoolforprofessionalphotojourna-lists.indeed,itwasvirtuallypredestinedforuseinavail-ablelightsituations.likethe21mmf/1.4,itsopticalsys-temconsistsoftenelementsineightgroups.Priortotheintroductionofasphericalblankmouldingtechnologyforopticalelements,creatinglensesofthespeedandquali-tyoftheSummilux-mserieswouldhavebeenimpossible.Extremeattentionhasbeenpaidtocorrectingchromaticaberration,andtothisend,theopticaldesignofthe24mmlenscontainsnolessthanfiveelementswithanoma-louspartialdispersion.Vignettinganddistortionaresosuperblycorrectedthattheyare,forpracticalpurposes,non-existent.Evenattherelativelywideapertureoff/2.8,onlynaturalvignettingduetothelawsofphysicsre-mains.theimagequalityofthelensisequalineverywaytotheperformanceoftheleicaSummilux-m21mmf/1.4aSPH.apatentedrectangularlenshoodpermitstheuseofSeriesViifilters.
lEica SUMMILUX-M21mmf/1.4aSPH.
theleicaSummilux-m21mmf/1.4aSPH.istheworldsfirstandonly21mmlensfor35mmformatphotographywiththisexceptionalmaximumaperture.theoutstandingimagequality,wideangleofview,andcompactsizeofboththeleicaSummilux-m21mmf/1.4aSPH.andtheleicaSummilux-m24mmf/1.4aSPH.maketheselensesal-mostindispensableformanyapplicationsintheworldofprofessionalphotography.theyprovideextremelyshallowdepthoffieldatfullapertureformaximumaestheticcon-trol.inclose-upphotography,forinstance,aforegroundsubjectcanbeeffectivelyisolatedfromthebackgroundtocreateexpressiveanduniquelynaturalphotographiceffects.Stoppeddowntomediumapertures,theirdepthoffieldissogreatthatallelementsinanexpansivescene,fromclosestdistancestoinfinity,willbeinsharpfocus.theuseofafloatingelementensuresthattheirhighre-solvingpowerismaintainedevenattheclosestfocusingdistance.Vignettinganddistortionareextremelywellcorrectedforwide-anglelenseswithsuchlargemaximumapertures.apatentedrectangularlenshoodpermitstheuseofSeriesViiifilters.
lEica SUMMILUX - M50mmf/1.4aSPH.
thankstothisfloatingelement,thisoutstandingstandardlensisperfectforhighlyexpressiveavailable-lightshotsandhigh-contrastimageswithsuperbresolutionoffinestructures,evenatitsmaximumapertureandclosestfocusingdistance.Precisecolorseparation,almostcom-pletecorrectionofcoma,andexcellentlycontrolledin-ternalreflectioncharacteristicsmakeitidealfornaturalcompositionsinthelowlightofevening.inadditiontotheuseofglasseswithahighrefractiveindex,twoadditionalelementswithanomalouspartialdispersionguaranteeconsistentlyhighimagingperformanceacrosstheentireimagefield.Portraitsareparticularlyeffectivethankstotheshallowdepthoffieldatmaximumapertureandasubtlecontrastgradation.alsoavailableinsilverchrome.
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thisfast,short,andcompacttelephotolensalreadyde-liversexcellentimagequalityatmaximumaperturefrominfinitytoitsclosestfocusingdistance.ituniteseverycapabilityofferedbytodayshigh-performanceopticaltechnologies,anditsconstructionincludesasphericalsurfaces,specialglasseswithanomalouspartialdisper-sion,andfloatingelements.anintegrated,extendablelenshoodprovidesprotectionagainststraylightanddirtand,thankstoitsbalancedproportions,itiscomfortabletouseforlongerperiodsoftime.aphotographictoolthatrepresentstheabsolutepeakofopticalexcellence.idealforavailable-lightportraitsandforemphasizingdetailsinreportagephotography.
thiscompactwide-anglelensisextremelyfastandthere-foreparticularlyrecommendableforavailable-lightphoto-graphy.thankstoanangleofviewof75,thewidefielditcoversalsomakesitidealforvividreportagephotography.itoffersuncompromisingimagingqualityandhighcontrastevenatmaximumaperture.thereproductionofeventhefinestdetailsguaranteesimageswithextraordinarydepthandbrilliance.Evenincriticallightingsituations,forin-stanceshootingagainstthelight,reflectionsandflarearealmostcompletelyeliminated.itslargemaximumapertureoff2alsoenablestheuseofselectivefocusinwide-anglephotography.
thislenssetsnewstandardsinitsclassintermsofimagequality.thisisthefirsttimeeverthatapochromaticcorrec-tionandanasphericallenssurfacehavebeencombined.Evenwideopen,thequalityofitsbrillianceandresolutionguaranteessuperlativeimagesandmakesittheperfectlensforportraits,reportage,andstudiophotography.thedistortionissolowastobealmostinvisibleineventhemostcriticalimages.maximumopticalperformanceisalreadyachievedatmoderatedistancesandismaintainedtoagreatextentattheclosestfocusingdistances.itscompactconstructionandhighspeedmakeitidealforhandheldshooting.
lEica APO - SUMMICROn - M75mmf/2aSPH.
lEica SUMMICROn - M28mmf/2aSPH. lEica APO SUMMICROn M90mmf/2aSPH.
NaryninsouthernKyrgyzstanisconsideredtobeoneofthemostimportantcentersfortheproductionofShyrdaks,thetraditionalKyrgyzfeltcarpets.
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86 i lEicarEPortaGE
lEica REPORTAGE Homeiswheretheyurtis.
Yurtshavebeenusedastransportablehomesbythenomadicpeoplesofcentralasiaforcenturies.thetermyurthasturkishoriginsandmeanshome.intheKyrgyzlanguagehowever,theyurtiscalledager.theprinciplesofyurtconstructionhavechangedverylittleoverthecenturies,andthedifferencesintheconstructionofmongolian,Kazakh,andKyrgyzyurtsarepracticallyunnoticeable.commontoallisthewoodenframeworkconstructedinacircularformandcoveredwithcamel-hairorsheepswoolfeltandthesmoke-holeopeningatthecrown.aparticularfeatureofKyrgyzyurtsisthedomedroof.itisconstructedfromthinwoodenpolesthatarestilldampandarebentwhileundertheinfluenceofheat.Eachpole,oruuk,isattachedtothetundukbeforethefeltroofcladdingisappliedtotheframeworkoftheyurt.Settingupayurttakesonlyacoupleofhoursandtransportationpresentsfewprob-lems.duringtheirjourney,JeanGaumyandhisteamhadanopportunitytospendanightinayurt.Juan,Gaumysassistant,wasfascinatedbythewarmthandcomfortofKyrgyzyurtsatleastaslongasthestovewasburning
top:theroofconstructionofaKyrgyzyurt,showingthetypicalcrown,thetunduk.Bottom:ayurtbeingcladwithfelt.
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top:itissaidthatallKyrgyzcanridebeforetheycanwalk.Bottom:aherdershutnearSongKul. top:theWildEast,closetolakeSongKul.Bottom:traditionalhuntingmeetduringtheanniversaryfestivitiesinBokonbayevo.
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lEica SUPER-ELMAR-M18mmf/3.8aSPH.discovernewhorizons.
SettingupayurtinBokonbayevoduringthe100thanniversarycelebrations.
FAST AnD COMPACT LEnSES Seldombeforehastheoptimumuseofspacebeensoperfectly
achievedaswiththeleicaSuper-Elmar-m18mmf/3.8aSPH.Withanimpressiveangleofviewof100degrees,thissuper-widelensdeliverstrulyoutstandingimagequality.thisopensupnewpotential,notonlyinthefieldsofarchitecturalandlandscapephotography,butalsoforstreetshootingandenvironmentalpor-traiture.amazingly,itisonlynominallylargerthanastandardlens,whichispartiallyattributabletoitspatented,space-saving,butextremelyeffective,lenshood.despiteitsenormousangleofviewandcompactdimensions,theleicaSuper-Elmar-m18mmf/3.8aSPH.isaparagonofopticalexcellencethankstoitsinno-vativeretrofocusdesignconsistingofeightopticalelements,oneofwhichhastwoasphericalsurfaces.indeed,itprovidesphenom-enalimagequalityevenatitswidestaperture.
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lEica ELMARIT-M28mmf/2.8aSPH.
aversatilelensisanabsolutemustforstreetphotogra-phy.requirementsthatthecompactsizeandflexibilityoftheElmarit-m28mmf/2.8aSPHfulfilltoperfection.theclassicfocallengthof28mmenablesthecaptureofimagescharacterizedbyawide,naturalangleofview,whichexplainstheoutstandingpopularityofthelensamongstreetphotographersandphotojournalists.atthesametime,nootherm-lensisascompactastheleicaElmarit-m28mmf/2.8aSPH.Highestimagingperformanceisachievedthroughtheuseofanaspheri-calelement.thelensispracticallyfreeofdistortionfrominfinitytoitsclosestfocusof0.7meters.itslightweightofonly180gisunrivaled,andmakesittheideallenstotakealongwhereveryougo.
lEica SUMMICROn - M35mmf/2mmaSPH.
Becauseofitsexcellentcontrastcharacteristics,out-standingresolutionthroughouttheentirefocusingrange,andalmostperfecteliminationofdistortion,thisrenownedlensisoneoftheworldsbesthigh-speed35mmlenses.itisalsoamazinglycompactdespiteitslargeapertureandhighimagingperformance.incombinationwiththislens,anyleicam-camerabe-comesacompactandelegantsysteminitself.inthisway,itenablesphotographerstoworkinaparticularlydiscreetandunobtrusivewaywithoutattractingundueattention.theleicaSummicron-m35mmf/2isalsoavailableinasilverchromefinish.
lEica ELMAR-M24mmf/3.8aSPH.
thelensischaracterizedbycompactdimensionsandextremelyhighimagingperformanceincombinationwithaverywideangleofview,allofwhichmakesitaparticularlypracticalwide-anglelens.itsrangeofusesisalsowide;fromin-your-facephotographyofpeopleintheirpersonalspherestolandscapesandarchitecturalphotography.contrastanddetailrenditionarealreadyexcellentatthemaximumapertureoff3.8.Stoppeddowntomediumapertures,thedepthoffieldissogreatthatentirescenarioscanbecapturedinperfectfocus.asstoppingdownmakescriticalfocusingun-necessary,leicam-camerasarethenfasterthananyautofocusmodel.
theSuper-Elmar-m21mmf/3.4aSPH.isdistinguishedbyoutstandingimagingperformanceandastoundinglycompactdimensions.thelensalreadyrevealsitsexcel-lentreproductionofdetailsandsuperiorcontrastatmaximumaperture.thankstoitswideangleofview,itisanexcellentlensforarchitecturalandlandscapephoto-graphyandcapturingthevibrancyoflifeinreportagephotography.itselaborateeight-elementopticaldesignguaranteesexcellentimagequality.theuseofonelenselementwithtwoasphericalsurfacesandfourlenseswithanomalouspartialdispersionplaysanessentialroleinreducingdistortionandvignettingtoaminimum.ascrew-inlenshoodpreventstheeffectsofstraylight.theleicaSuper-Elmar-m21mmf/3.4aSPH.isacom-pacthigh-performancelensforversatile,superwide-anglephotography.
lEica SUPER-ELMAR-M21mmf/3.4aSPH.
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lEica MACRO-ELMAR-M90mmf/4
thisisthemostcompacttelephotolenseverofferedbyleica.itisaversatile,high-performancelensthatisalsosupremelyportable.incombinationwiththeleicamacro-adapterm,itallowsmacrophotographyatdis-tancesasclo