NEW: LEICA CAMERA ANNOUNCES S2 FIRMWARE UPDATE FW 1.0.2.0

Latest update supports the Leica Elmarit-S 30mm f/2.8 ASPH wide-angle lens

Solms, Germany (December 19, 2011) – Leica Camera AG continues its commitment to the ongoing development of the Leica S medium format system with a new firmware update, FW 1.0.2.0. This fifth firmware update is specially developed for the use of the camera with the new Leica Elmarit-S 30 mm f/2.8 ASPH wide-angle lens, ensuring optimum functionality of the lens on the Leica S2 body. Registered S users wishing to bring their camera up-to-date can download the firmware update from the “Owners Area” on the Leica website and take advantage of the latest improvements.

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PRESS RELEASE

NEW ONLINE PORTAL FOR LEICA S PHOTOGRAPHERS

Solms, Germany (November 30, 2011) – In collaboration with Leica Camera AG, LFI Photographie GmbH presents a new online portal for the Leica S-System, www.S-League.net. The website illustrates the wide range of photographic opportunities covered by the Leica S-System and provides a platform for photographers to present work shot with the medium format Leica S-System to a broad international audience. In addition to viewing current advertising campaigns and editorial portfolios by prominent international photographers, visitors to the site can keep informed on the latest trends in commercial photography and explore S-Magazine, a new publication allowing professional photographers to freely publish contemporary photographic ideas.

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Leica S2

Nick Rains over at Luminous Landscape shares some of his experiences on using the Leica S2 as a travel camera in Western China.

Read The Leica S2 as a Travel Camera @ Luminous Landscape.

Leica S2

LEICA S2 FIRMWARE UPDATE FW 1.0.1.8 NOW AVAILABLE

Solms, Germany (July 28, 2011) – Leica Camera AG has released a new firmware update for the Leica S-System, FW 1.0.1.8. All Leica S2 and S2-P cameras will now be supplied with the latest firmware version. Users wishing to bring their camera up-to-date can download the firmware update from the “Owners Area” on the Leica website and take advantage of the latest improvements.

The firmware update FW 1.0.1.8 includes a revision of the setting procedure for auto-bracketing. Now, the shutter-release button must only be pressed once to activate the full bracketing sequence. This function is particularly useful for shooting bracketed exposures for HDR post-processing. Additionally, the menu-control button at the top right of the camera can now be programmed to carry out a custom function, allowing users quick access to settings. This improvement gives photographers a further opportunity to customize the Leica S2 and S2-P to meet their individual needs and demands.

For installation instructions and to download firmware update FW 1.0.1.8, please visit: https://owners.leica-camera.com.

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Mark Dubovoy over at Luminous Landscape has an interesting article on using the Leica S2 and Panasonic GH2 on a safari, two cameras you won’t usually find slinging around a photographer’s neck on a safari. Usually, a safari photographer would load up on the long lenses to get up close, but the shorter focal lengths allowed interesting story-telling pictures.

Read the article at: Luminous Landscape.

NEW: LEICA CAMERA AG EXPANDS LENS COMPATIBILITY FOR THE LEICA S-SYSTEM

Leica S-Adapters allow for the use of medium-format lenses from other manufacturers

Solms, Germany (July 15, 2011) – Leica Camera AG is expanding the range of accessories for the Leica S2 professional camera system with three new Leica S-Adapters. Beginning August 2011, these latest accessories will allow users to attach medium-format lenses from other manufacturers to Leica S bodies. The Leica S-Adapter V can be used for Hasselblad V System lenses, the Leica S-Adapter P67 for the Pentax 67 system lenses and the Leica S-Adapter M645 for the lenses of the Mamiya 645 system.

The S-Adapters offer many benefits to professional photographers. As a result of being able to use third-party lenses on the Leica S2, photographers now have access to a wider selection of additional lenses, further increasing the S-System’s flexibility. Furthermore, photographers who already own lenses from the aforementioned systems can now use them on the Leica S2. This extension of the compatible lens range includes tilt and shift. As with all products in the Leica S portfolio, the Leica S-Adapters are manufactured to extremely high specifications. The exclusive use of high-quality materials, anodized aluminium and chrome-plated brass, in construction makes the adapters durable and reliable, even with constant use.

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Leica S2

NEW: LEICA S2 Color Profile for ICC-based Workflow Software

Solms, Germany (June 1, 2011) – Leica Camera AG is pleased to announce a Leica S2 color profile for ICC-based workflow software. Users wishing to benefit from the new offering can now download the software from the Leica website and take advantage of new, improved features.

The Leica S2 raw data format complies with the specifications in the ADOBE DNG 1.1.0.0 standard (June 2009,) enabling DNG-compatible raw data converters to be used for processing Leica S2 DNGs. As a result, products such as Capture One 6 from Phase One can be utilized.

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Leica S2

LEICA S2 firmware update FW 1.0.0.24 is now available

Solms, Germany (December 22, 2010) – Leica Camera AG has released a new firmware update for the Leica S-System. All LEICA S2 and S2-P cameras will now be supplied with the latest firmware version. Users wishing to bring their camera up-to-date can now download the firmware update from the “Owners Area” on the Leica website and take advantage of the latest improvements.

“Our close cooperation with photographers gives us not only an opportunity to constantly develop and improve the Leica S-System, but also allows us to address the precise needs of professional photographers. Therefore, the latest update, FW 1.0.0.24, includes quite a number of suggestions and wishes determined during discussions with professional users. The result is a wide range of improvements for applications, features and functions as well as the handling of the S2,” reports Stephan Schulz, product manager for the Leica S-System at Leica Camera AG.

The FW 1.0.0.24 firmware update enables a multitude of enhanced camera functions. These include, for instance, lossless DNG compression. This offers particular benefits by reducing file sizes from around 75MB to around 40MB and increasing the burst-rate capability to 14 consecutive exposures (at 1.5 frames per second). Both of these factors depend on the image content. At the same time, DNG compression leads to faster file-saving and transfer times when shooting tethered. Further new features of the firmware update are a new maximum exposure time of 125 seconds, shutter speed section in bulb mode (with the new firmware, the setting wheel can now be used to select the shutter speeds directly) and a setting option for highlight and shadow level warnings.

Existing camera functions have also been improved in the firmware update FW 1.0.0.24. This applies, for instance, to the histogram display in automatic review mode. This display option has now been enlarged for improved legibility. Furthermore, the update also allows the expansion of memory card compatibility to include 64GB UDMA6 cards and offers additional setting options for the AF/AE memory button. Autofocus precision has increased even more and focusing on very small subject details is, above all, greatly improved now.

Download the firmware update at: Leica.

Read Nick Rains‘ analysis.