Leica M-D (Type 262), a digital camera with no LCD

Leica has announced a new model under their M-series of digital rangefinder cameras. Although, there’s something peculiar about it as it’s missing a main LCD unit.

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The Leica M-D (Typ 262) is not the first of its kind from the company since they also released a similar looking camera known as the M Edition 60 for the sixtieth anniversary of the rangefinder system, but that’s is a limited edition device.

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The newer model features a 24-megapixel CMOS sensor with an ISO range of 200-6400. Since their’s no main LCD unit on it, you have to rely on the digital viewfinder when shooting. Keep in mind that you can only tweak the aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings much like your grandma’s film camera. Also, it only shoots in DNG Raw format.

The build is a classic camera with a brass base and top plates. The purpose of the design is to provide distraction-free shooting experience and give only the ‘essentials of photography’. The Leica M-D (Typ 262) will go on sale this May with a price tag of US$5995 or roughly Php 282,000.

Source

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Huawei P9’s dual rear cameras were not made by Leica

Huawei unveiled just this month its latest flagship smartphone, the Huawei P9, which boasts Leica-branded dual rear cameras. But as it turns out, it was not actually made by the German optics company.

Huawei is tagging the P9, as well as the P9 Plus, as a smartphone co-engineered with Leica, but according to a report from MyDrivers, those cameras were made by Sunny Optical Technology – a company based in China that specializes in camera modules, including array cameras like the one pictured below.

Ubergizmo also said that the P9’s camera module “had simply been certified by Leica, and that the German camera maker had no hand in developing or producing the camera or its optics.” However, Huawei did mention in their website that Leica co-engineered the P9’s Picture Quality Algorithm.

If that’s the case, then we can say that Leica’s participation in the development of the Huawei P9 is mostly on the software side and premium branding.

source: MyDrivers, Ubergizmo, Huawei, Sunny Optical
via: Android Authority

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New leaked render of Huawei P9 reveals it’s back panel

We’re just a few days away from Huawei’s announcement of its latest Android smartphone but before things get official, here’s a look at the new handset’s back.

Huawei P9

As we already know, the Huawei P9 sports a dual-lens camera at its back. And, Leica will be handling the optics department so we’re expecting a lot from it. As you can see from the image above, the cameras are located at the top side of the handset with a dual-LED flash on its side and an unconfirmed sensor — perhaps laser AF?

The rear camera is said to be at 12-megapixels with support for optical image stabilization or OIS. The phone will also have a 5.2-inch 1080p screen and a home-baked HiSilicon Kirin 955 octa-core chip that runs at 2.5GHz. There will be a 3GB/32GB and a 4GB/64GB variants while the battery is rated at 3,000mAh.

We’ll be covering the launching of the Huawei P9 straight from London, UK. All official specifications, pricing, and availability will be announced. Stay tuned!

Source / Via

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Leica intros its first tough and rugged camera

Leica, the Germany-based optics manufacturer, introduces its new camera that’s built to take some serious beating. The Leica X-U is sealed to its core making it waterproof, shatterproof, and dustproof so you could bring it with you on any adventure you’re on.

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Leica X-U specs:
16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor
Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH lens
ISO up to 12,500
3-inch LCD display
Aluminum shell
Waterproof up to 49 feet
Shock-resistant, freeze-resistant, dust-sealed
Built-in flash
HD/Full HD video recording @ 30fps

Leica_X-U_top Leica_X-U_back-1 Leica_X-U_3

It got its minimalistic looks in collaboration with Audi Design and the top plate and control dials are all aluminum-based. In addition, the entire body of the camera has no space for outside elements to creep in.

The Leica X-U will reportedly be available by the end of this month for $2,950 (approx. Php141K).

{Via 1, 2}

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YugaTech Christmas Gadget Guide 2014: Cameras

You’ve seen the past few days our smartphone, tablet, smartwatch, and laptop holiday gadget guides. Today, we’ll discuss cameras of all shapes, sizes, and uses — in hopes that they win your hearts and pockets this holiday season.

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It is no doubt that cameras are still the best option to take better shots that will sure make your moments last a lifetime. With cameras, there are a lot of form factors that you can choose from: There are point and shoot digicams for light and easy operation, action cameras for the adventurous, mirrorless shooters for the weight-conscious professionals, micro four-thirds, and dSLR cameras. Let’s get started, shall we?

Prices may subject to change without prior notice. Our basis for the camera prices are the ones we’ve seen on malls, and from the brochures and price lists from camera companies, unless otherwise linked to an online website.

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For starters, who just want a fancy camera on their pockets or fancy buying a digicam but on a budget, the cheapest you can find on the market now are Nikon Coolpix L29 (Php 3,690) and Sony CyberShot DSC-W800 (Php4,499, Electroworld). Samsung has the DV150F which has a secondary screen and WiFi for easy selfie capturing and sharing over the internet. At the same price range, you can get a Canon Ixus 155 (Php5,998).

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Let’s go a little higher.  Canon has the Powershot SX700 HS, a compact camera designed for travelling and is built with both NFC and WiFi, retailing in stores for Php16,998. Sony DSC H40 is a digicam that can be mistaken as a DSLR cam and can be yours for Php16,999.  A compact, rugged, waterproof, freezeproof and shockproof digital camera with built-in WiFi in the name of Nikon Coolpix AW120 is selling for Php19,990. We also have the Android-powered Samsung Galaxy Camera selling for Php21,900. A couple of bucks more, and you get the FujiFilm FinePix X20, a classic-looking point-and-shoot worth Php23,990. If you still want more, then there are the Sony RX100 Mark III (Php44,999) and the Fujifilm X100T (Php64,990).

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PlaygroundCam100_2

Do you want to do more adventure next year? Action cameras are the ones that suit your needs. If you are up for an affordable action camera, the cheapest you can actually get now is the Qube X-Cam which retails for Php3,990 and Kodak PixPro Mercury (Php3,995, SM Department Store). If you’re not convinced with buying that, you can get ones we have reviewed such as the Playground Cam100, which is worth Php5,600. GoPro also released its own entry-level action camera, the Hero, which is on sale right now at Php7,990.

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Spending a lot on a great camera designed to shoot fast-paced outdoor activity is can actually be an investment in the long run. Sony‘s got is own action cam, the HDR-AS100V, priced at Php20,999 (Electroworld). The GoPro Hero 4 Black and Silver are some of the most expensive ones you can find, and they sell for Php 25,990 and Php20,990, respectively. There is also the Garmin Virb Elite which is being sold for Php25,590 online.

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For those who love to change their lenses and hold a camera a fraction of a DSLR’s weight, then a mirrorless camera may be what you need. There’s the all-plastic Samsung NX2000 (Php18,500), the Panasonic Lumix GX1X equipped with the company’s highly regarded touchscreen interface (Php19,400), the compact and colorful Canon EOS M (Php22,998), the extremely small and light Nikon 1 J4 (Php36,100), Sony‘s NEX 5RY with a Hybrid Auto Focus technology (Php37,700, includes two lenses) and the A6000 which claims to have the fastest AF performance amongst interchangeable lens cameras (Php39,999), and the mid-range FujiFilm X-E2 (Php66,500).

Still have more money to shell out? Luxury camera brand Leica just came to town in time for the holidays, and we checked that the Leica T costs around Php90,000 for the body alone. The cheapest lens you can but? A 18-56 lens worth around Php80,000.

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lumix gx7

In this category, only two camera makers have been successful in making the Micro Four Thirds system: Panasonic and Olympus. We have the Panasonic Lumix GX7, arguably the company’s most enthusiast-focused mirrorless camera yet (Php67,924), and the Olympus OM-D E-M10 which is great for outdoors (Php49,295).

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Nikon D810 (web)

*Prices indicated include the lens included in the kit package, unless otherwise specified.

For those who are very serious and want to take capturing moments to another level, a DSLR Camera may be good for you. These are full-range photography equipment though, and it can cost as much as a hundred thousand pesos if you’re really serious on your photography stuff. If you’re looking to try one without hurting your wallets, the cheapest you can get now are the entry-level Canon EOS 1200D (Php21,998) and the Nikon 3200D (Php24,400).

If you want a DSLR that’s not that bulky, Canon EOS 100D, at 407 grams, is a capable DSLR lightweight which costs around Php33,998. Nikon’s D3300 comes at a close second with 460g for Php26,900. The Sony SLT-A57 may be within this price range as well at Php28,999, but it isn’t as lightweight as the other two.

D810 Back (1080)

With mid-range DSLRs, we have the Sony Alpha SLT-A77V (Php59,999), the Canon EOS 70D with built-in WiFi (Php63,998, 18-55mm lens), and the Nikon D7100 with two SD card slots (Php64,900, 18-105mm lens).

As for full-frame flagship cameras for professionals, the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, which boasts of up to 6.0 frames per second, could be yours for Php190,998. The Nikon D810, which also has dual SD card slots and shoots up to 7 frames per second, costs Php151,000 for the body alone. On the other hand, Sony has the SLT-A99V, which takes pride of its Dual-AF System, is priced at Php120,999.

That’s it for our Camera Christmas Guide this year, folks. Got an amazing camera that’s not on this holiday list? We’d love to hear your suggestions at the comments section down below.

Ronnie Bulaong contributed to this post.

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