New Gear : Leica M9 Titanium

If you're looking to drop a small fortune on a camera, but aren't interested in that monstrous new 80-megapixel Leaf back, Leica has a new limited edition model that should fit the bill. The new Titanium M9 was designed in collaboration with automobile designer, Walter de'Silva and his Audi design team. It comes packaged with a shoulder holster, carrying strap, finger loops and a Leica Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, the outer pieces of which are also made from titanium. Only 500 kits will be made available world-wide when its released in November.
On the outside, the camera is easy to tell apart from the regular M9 thanks to some seriously nice details. The titanium bits are created from solid blocks of metal, a process which requires specific tools. Because it was partially created by car designers, the trim is made from leather that's "typcially reserved for the interior's of Audi's premium automobiles." Even the classic Leica logo has been restyled.
While the improvements are mostly cosmetic, there are a few performance-oriented upgrades like new LED illumination of the bright-line frames in the viewfinder and a revamped carrying solution that uses one strap-mounting point instead of the two traditional lugs.
There's no official pricing in the Leica press material, but even if you do have the cash, it's likely they will all sell out before you can get your hands on one. One that's definitely already spoken for was Leica's 4,000,000th camera, which they presented to Kodak's Steven Sasson, "the inventor of the digital camera." Check the gallery for actual pictures of #4,000,000.
Between this announcement and the new Fujifilm X100 digital rangefinder, it has already been a good show so far for fans of old school camera aesthetics.

• Hassalblad introduces H4D-31 camera and CFV-50 back

  23rd September 2010
  
  Hasselblad has introduced the H4D-31 medium format camera with a 31Mp sensor. It features the 'True Focus' AF system of the the H4D series and offers an optional CF-lens adapter to mount the company's V-System lenses (also available as part of a kit). The company has also introduced the CFV-50 medium format digital back with a 50Mp sensor.
  

  more

• Just posted! Our Olympus E-5 preview samples gallery

  23rd September 2010
  
  Our preview samples gallery from Olympus's latest DSLR, the E-5. In amongst all of the hustle and bustle of Photokina, we've managed to find time to take Olympus's new professional flagship out and about on the streets of Cologne to bring you a preliminary samples gallery. It includes shots taken across the full ISO range, and we've even tried out the new 'Dramatic Tone' art filter. Click through to take a look.
  

  more

• Aptina announces CMOS sensors for DSLRs and compacts

  23rd September 2010
  
  Sensor developer Aptina has launched a 16Mp APS-C CMOS sensor capable of full 1080p HD video at 30fps. The MT9H004 sensor uses the company's latest DR-Pix technology increasing signal-to-noise ratio under low-light conditions, delivering better image quality in high ISO photographs. The sensor can produce full resolution images at 10fps and is intended for use in DSLRs.
  

  more

• Datacolor announces SpyderChekr camera calibrator

  23rd September 2010
  
  Samyang has updated its 14mm F2.8 lens for Nikon F mount with an electronic interface. The manual focus lens' electronic contacts allows full support of automatic exposure modes of Nikon DSLRs and includes lens-related data in the EXIF. The AE 14 mm f/2.8 ED AS IF UMC is designed for full-frame cameras, but works with APS-C cameras as well.
  

  more

• Samyang announces 8mm F3.5 Fish-eye for videographers

  23rd September 2010
  
  Samyang has released a version of its 8mm F3.5 Fish-eye lens optimised for filmmakers. Designed for APS-C Canon and Nikon video-enabled DSLRs, the V-DSLR 8mm F3.5 Aspherical IF MC Fish-eye CS features the same optical construction as the still photography version, but has been adapted to the Follow Focus system for smoother focusing.
  

  more