Leica Unveils Next Generation M9 & X1

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed)
Sep 9th 2009 at 4:02PM

Leica Camera AG, manufacturer of the finest hand-crafted photographic equipment, just unveiled two new cameras, the Leica M9 (above) and Leica X1 (below), as well as the previously announced Leica S2, each heralded as the next evolution in Leica's legendary history. The next installment in the 55-year-old M-series, the M9 features a full-frame 18 megapixel sensor, extending the legacy of the M-series through the digital era, and will be available later this month. The X1, a new system product for Leica's camera division, is a point-and-shoot camera that closely resembles the beloved M-series, albeit in a more compact size. The X1 has a fixed focal length of 35mm and will be available to consumers in January 2010.

The S2, announced at the Photokina trade show last year and available next month, is Leica's professional medium format DSLR hybrid, incorporating a sensor that is 56% larger than a full-frame 35mm DSLR. "We are not interested in making cameras with a machine that stamps out 100,000 units per month," noted Leica's Chief Executive Officer Rudi Spiller at a press event where the new models were unveiled. "We desire to create photographic tools - like an artist's fine brush or a mason's level. The value of a Leica product is tangible, the experience is personal. At Leica, we dedicate extra time and effort to design and craft these products not only because our audience anticipates the finest, but because they expect the extraordinary."

Tags: camera, Leica