German manufacturer Leica has long been known for crafting impeccable yet ridiculously expensive cameras and optics. This year the company is going all out in Photokina and announcing several models throughout the event.
First one up is the M-edition 60 Leica, a commemorative model for the 60th anniversary of the company’s M-series. Basically the camera will be a Leica M-P model with a Summilux 35mm f/1.4 lens and offers an almost bare-bone feature set. However, it differs from the traditional M-P model in the sense that it doesn’t have the LCD panel at the back and instead has an ISO dial.

The camera’s body will be constructed from stainless steel with anthracite-colored leather. Leica will only manufacture 600 units of this model with each costing a jaw-dropping $19,425.
For the photography purists, there’s also the Leica M-A film rangefinder. The device is 100% mechanical and completely devoid of any electronic components (not even a battery). Users will only be able to control a few of the camera’s settings including focal length, shutter speed and aperture. The Leica M-A will be sold at a much lower price than the M-edition 60 at $4750 by October. 

Now we’re on to the good (and crazy expensive) stuff. As you may know, 4K is quite a big thing in the camera industry nowadays and if you’re a camera manufacturer, it would be crazy not to include a 4K-capable product in its line-up. 
Of course, Leica has these kinds of products on hand. Enter the Leica S-series. The series will be composed of two models, the “entry-level” Type 006 model and the high-end variant the Type 007.
The Type 006 sports a 30x45mm, 37.5MP CCD sensor capable of capturing 12-stopys of dynamic range. The camera has a 2GB buffer memory allowing the device to shoot full-size DNGs in continuous mode. It also comes with a dual shutter system featuring a conventional focal plane shutter and an electronically controlled shutter.

The Type 006 is dust and moisture resistant, plus there’s a Gorilla Glass panel at the back to protect the camera’s 3-inch 922k-dot LCD display.
Then there’s the high-end Leica S (Type 007). It has the same 30x45mm 37.5MP CMOS sensor powered by the company’s Maestro II image processor. The camera features an improved AF system, integrated GPS and Wi-Fi as well as 4K video recording at 60fps. It will also feature the same weather-sealing and gorilla glass panel for protection.
The Leica has now started selling both the Type 006 and 007 for a cool $16,900 and $25,400 respectively.
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We’ve already seen a couple of Leica models in the past that bring a lot of flair into its product range including a special edition T series and a special model designed by Apple’s Jony Ive. This time around, Leica has announced a new compact camera system with emphasis on durability and speed.

The new Leica M-P features a 24MP full-frame CMOS sensor complemented by a Maestro image processor and 2GB of RAM. There’s also a 920k-dot LCD monitor at the back that’s protected by a panel of sapphire. The camera also comes with a classic viewfinder for fast and accurate focusing.

Moreover, the M-P is also capable of shooting 1080p videos and comes with a rechargeable 1800mAh Li-ion battery. The camera’s premium price tag is also reflected in the materials used in its construction. The M-P bears body components constructed from different materials including brass and magnesium that make it more durable than other cameras.

Those who are interested in taking home this new Leica should be prepared to shell out around $8,000 for the body only. No word on availability yet, but Leica has already started accepting pre-orders both for the black and silver models.

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German camera and optics manufacturer Leica has teamed up with another German big hitter – Audi to build a camera model to commemorate Leica’s 100^th anniversary.

The model T will be the company’s mid-range camera, and is placed in between the Leica S- and M-series, and the lower end X range. The body of the T series is built from a single block of aluminium milled and polished for several hours.

The camera features a 16MP APS-C sized sensor from Sony and comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and a dedicated app that will allow users to use their smartphones and tablets to remotely control the device. The T-series also features a different mount in contrast to other cameras in the company’s product range.

Fortunately, Leica is also producing an adapter for lenses built for the M-series and will cost around $395. At the top of the device sits two dials meant for exposure settings and programmable functions. There’s also a touchscreen at the back that features a touch-friendly and intuitive UI similar to that of smartphones.

The T-series also features a unique camera strap co-developed with German automaker Audi. Unlike other strap from other compact camera systems from other mirrorless cameras, those used in the T-series doesn’t need to be buckled or tied. Instead, it comes with a clickable strap mechanism with interchangeable coloured straps.

Of course, bearing the Leica brand, the T-series will be insanely priced. The body alone of the camera will reportedly cost $1850. The camera is now available for pre-order and will start shipping sometime in May. Leica will also be offering two lenses for the T-series. First will be an 18-56mm zoom lens, while the other will be a 23mm prime lens and will be priced at $1750 respectively.

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