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LEICA M - SYSTEM Themostadvancedgenerationever.

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  • LEICA M - SYSTEM themostadvancedgenerationever.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • mountainsteppeonthewayfromKochkortothemountainlakeSongKulanditsjailoos(Kyrgyzforsummerpastures).

    lEicaREPORTAGE

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Preparationsforthe134thanniversaryofthefoundingintheKyrgyzcapitalBishkek.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage28:Happyanniversary,Bishkek.

    lEicaM - SYSTEM

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • thehayharvestbetweenBishkekandKochkor.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage42:countrylifefarfromidyllic.

    lEica M

  • 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

  • lEicam i 35 34 i lEicam

    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.

  • 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.

  • 38 i lEicam

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Huntingmeetatthe100thanniversaryfestivitiesinBokonbayevo.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage52:Featheredhuntingaids.

    lEica M-E

  • lEicam-E i 47 46 i lEicam-E

    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

  • lEicam-E i 49 48 i lEicam-E

    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.

  • lEicam-E i 51 50 i lEicam-E

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    1

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    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.

  • 52 i lEicarEPortaGE

    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.

  • EverySunday,at-Bashyisthesceneofabigcattlemarket.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage64:Haggling,Kyrgyz-Style.

    lEica M MOnOChROM

  • lEicammoNocHrom i 57 56 i lEicammoNocHrom

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • PrivatehouseinNaryn,whereKyrgyzfeltcarpetsknownasshyrdaksaremade.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage74:anancientcraftwithalongtradition.

    lEicaM7/MP

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • theconstructionoftraditionalyurtstocelebratethe100thanniversaryofthefoundingofthetownofBokonbayevo.theleicareportagecontinuesonpage86:Homeiswheretheyurtis.

    m-SYStEmLEnSES

  • 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

  • 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.

    m-SYStEmlENSES i 83 82 i m-SYStEmlENSES

  • 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.

  • top:itissaidthatallKyrgyzcanridebeforetheycanwalk.Bottom:aherdershutnearSongKul. top:theWildEast,closetolakeSongKul.Bottom:traditionalhuntingmeetduringtheanniversaryfestivitiesinBokonbayevo.

  • 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