Amateur Photographer reports that Leica's "Christmas pop-up" located in the Burlington Arcade, is set to open at 11am today, Saturday morning - and will feature a window "subtly transformed into a Leica M camera." Leica already has a store in Mayfair, situated on Bruton Place, which will remain open as normal. Leica Camera Ltd managing director David Bell said, ‘We saw the opportunity to create a unique space for Leica this Christmas, which really starts the beginning of our exciting new store in Burlington Arcade with the energy and creativity known to Leica."

The pop-up store will be open from Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; and Sunday 11am-5pm. It is expected to remain open until late January when a permanent store is scheduled to open on the same site.

The Leica Christmas pop up, designed by Cottam + Cottam will be open throughout Christmas and features a large scale photograph of iconic London landmark, the Shard, taken on Leica S-System by photographer Richard Seymour.

Update (11/15/13): You can catch a report from Stuart Fawcett At Leica's Burlington Arcade Light Switch On which offers these additional views:

The Gulf Times reports that Leica Camera AG has partnered with Qatar’s Abu Issa Group (Techno Blue and Blue Salon) to launch their products in the country. An exclusive Leica Boutique has been set up on the ground floor of the Blue Salon building on Suhaim Bin Hamad Street. Four showcases feature a range of Leica products including compact cameras, professional camera systems and binoculars. Asked why it took Leica so long to come to Qatar, Friedrich told Gulf Times that the company was searching for the right partner.

More on the Leica (RED) M - watch Sir Jonathan Ive, KBE, and Marc Newson, two of the world's foremost design pioneers, discuss their collaboration with musician and philanthropist Bono for Sotheby's (RED) Auction, which celebrates the very best of design and innovation. Sotheby's (RED) auction will take place in New York on 23 November, with all proceeds donated to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in Africa.

On November 21, 2013, Leica will hold an event celebrating the opening of their latest boutique, Fourways in Johannesburg, South Africa. It will be located at The Digital Experience in the Fourways Crossing Shopping Centre on William Nicol Drive. The opening will feature a Leica S2 fashion shoot with photographer Michael Knight and will run from 6:30pm to 7:00pm. We will update this story with more details the day of the event!

Leica Store Miami (as well as other Leica stores) are now carrying the full range of official (and third-party) Leica T-shirts! These are really neat designs and would make a great gift for your favorite Leicaphile as we head into the holiday season. Check out the full line of T-shirts.

The Leica Calendar for 2014 is out, with twelve B&W designs of the Leica photographer René Burri. On display are photographs from different decades and photo projects from which the Swiss photographer traveled the world - from West Berlin, Brazil, Japan and the U.S. to Pakistan. The calendar pictures are those he himself has selected. The new Leica wall calendar marks the starting point for further alignment of the Leica annual calendar. Dedicated to the winners of the Leica Hall of Fame Awards 2013, René Burri, will be honored as will future winners of the Leica Hall of Fame Awards with such a Leica calendar.

The Leica Wall Calendar 2014 comes in A3 format (420x297mm) and is published by teNeues. Available in Leica stores and the LFI online shop. The suggested retail price is €24.95 ($34 USD) and ships now.

René Burri

Born in 1933, he is considered one of the most renowned photographers of the 20th and 21st Century. His photo series of hot spots in the world - about the divided and reunified city of Berlin - and impressive portraits as those of Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara with Cigar or the sculptor and painter Pablo Picasso made ​​him famous. Some images are themselves valuable evidence of the time history. Like hardly any other shapes René Burri, since 1959 a full member of Magnum Photos, the photo story of the 20th Century. With a bare, documentary picture evidence, he is never satisfied, he is always looking for a unique perspective and the esthetic solution. The result is multi-layered images with a dreamlike state precise composition. For his life's work Burri has received this year, the Leica Hall of Fame Award.

Leica Hall of Fame

Leica Camera AG has appointed from time to time outstanding photographers in the Leica Hall of Fame. Photographers who moves with her view of the world something, have something changed. The testimony of her work are image icons that have burned into our memories and timeless and still touching the Conditio Humana visualize . Previous winners include: Steve McCurry , Barbara Klemm, Nick út and René Burri.

This should perhaps come as no surprise, as we earlier reported on a potential Leica T (Type 701) camera, as well as rumblings that Panasonic and Leica to Bolster Partnership. The previous rumor for PhotoPlus Expo was a bit of a disappointment as the end result was the New Leica D-Lux 6 Black/Silver Edition camera. However, we have it on good authority that something more substantial will be coming out, likely in the January-February 2014 timeframe - and will be a Leica-Panasonic collaboration. Stay tuned as we keep you updated on developments!

Foto Rahn, a.k.a. Leica Gallery Frankfurt has its eyes on opening a second location (in German) which would also be located in Frankfurt. The location (pictured above) at Berliner Straße 74 is the former site of the Monza-Club, a disco - which has been closed since April. The successor, Club B74, held its last party on Saturday and now talks are set to begin for acquiring the space. While it will require a complete makeover, it will offer a much larger space for art to be displayed.

Translation to English (via Google):

Recently, the last party in Monza Club was celebrated, now becomes clear: Photo Rahn wants there to create a second store - with more space for the art and the exhibits of the Leica specialists.

If Qaiser Malik talks about Leica cameras, it seems as if he could tell on each piece in the three showcases his shop a story. Since the whole history of the company founded in Wetzlar company and thus a large piece of photographic history lies in individual objects: cameras and its components, lenses and other accessories, such as a mouth-timer. Even a replica of the Ur-Leica is on display in this small museum of photo Rahn.

"We have almost everything there, which Leica has produced," says Managing Director Qaiser Malik. "But the place is not enough to show it." The historical Leica pieces are only part of the store concept. In addition to analog and digital cameras also illustrated books for sale. In addition the business is also a gallery for temporary exhibitions of photographs. The company considers itself "in the service of art," as it says on its website. "We build bridges between the manufacturer of cameras, photography and literature," says Malik. "We contribute to the culture."

But also exhibit the images are lacking space. Therefore Malik plans to open a second Leica store in the estate of the former Monza clubs in the Berliner Straße 74 Currently, about being "in talks". Should it work, could pass to the opening for some time. As the building is set up for a disco, a complete conversion was necessary. Other properties have not in view, since hardly anything is suitable.

The Monza is closed since April, on Saturday was the last party held in succession Club B74. There were exhibitions in the past few weeks over and over again to see Monza-maker Klaus Unkelbach had its Location widely Hannibal Tarzan Daldaban rented, the invited emerging artists every week to show their works in the room. Access to the old club rooms he had difficult with boards, was celebrated and discussed in the foyer. Recalling a lecture on bomber jackets that Finnisage and an exhibition of Marek Kochanowcz in which the HfG student recalled the defunct Club Nusoul, some of the furniture had found their way into the twisted paths Monza remain. This in turn called the ARD on the plan that the creator of this furniture, Städel Professor Tobias Rehberger sent to the old Monza to look with him the remains of his art. On Thursday afternoon, the interior ended up in the garbage, the club has to be dismantled to make way for what is to come - for a true traditional business.

Since 1910, there is the store at Salt House in downtown Frankfurt. At first he was a drug store, later it developed into a photo shop, initially selling all kinds of camera brands and accessories. Over time, the shop specializes in the Leica brand, no other brand is sold here. With the launch of the Leica I in 1925, the company Wetzlar established the small-format photography. Until then making images still an expensive undertaking with large, bulky equipment was. Since 2004 Rahn is a photo gallery. According to Malik 200 Leica stores are built on the model of photo Rahn world.

Coming up soon, on January 1, 2014 - the price on many Leica M (and two S) lenses will increase. This is practically an annual occurrence and shouldn't really come as a surprise. Price increases range from $55 to an eye watering $500. On the bright side, the lenses you already own have just gained value... The full list of lenses and prices:

The highly-custom, one-off Leica (RED) M (full details and images) by Apple's Jonathon Ive and Marc Newson sold for a staggering $1,805,000 USD at Sotheby's charity auction in New York (hammer price with buyer's premium)... Making it the most expensive camera ever sold (in German) - which was expected to be the Leica Luxus II also recently at auction (it failed to sell for the expected $1,615,700 USD, coming in at $626,947 USD instead). The camera was initially expected to reach $500,000 to $750,000 USD. When it was over, the (RED) auction at Sotheby's raised a total of $26.2M USD to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in Africa. It makes this used one quite a bargain... ;)

The camera atop its pedestal:

Leica Camera AG has takenover (in German) the Swiss professional camera manufacturer Sinar Photography AG on Monday. As the only supplier in this segment, Sinar Photography AG offers complete digital solutions for professional photographers from camera lenses, digital backs and closure systems through to workflow software. As to the details of the transaction, both companies have agreed not to disclose. Marketing, product management, support, development and production of Sinar to remain in Switzerland. Sales will be handled in the future by Leica Camera AG, as well as through the worldwide dealer network of Sinar Photography AG.

With the acquisition, Leica Camera AG is enhancing its offering in the high-end digital camera segment, to further strengthen its position in the market for professional photography. Leica already offers the S-System, which is a highly mobile, integrated medium format system, and is now being extended by the Sinar modular system that is particularly suited for studio, industrial, and architectural photography. Thus Leica has a full product range in the medium-format camera and digital-camera market and is the only full-service provider of digital camera solutions above the 35 mm format. Synergies will also arise in the areas of digital technology, sales and customer care.

Both brands are known for the highest quality standards and their decades long tradition of professional photography.

About Sinar Photography

The company, headquartered in Zurich goes back to the photo studio of the Swiss photographer Carl August Koch. The grandson of Carl Hans Koch developed the first Sinar camera that was brought to market in 1948. Due to their precise processing and its original concept with modular and standardized design, they could quickly conquer the leading photo studios worldwide. The name "Sinar" stands for studio, industrial, nature, architecture and repro photography.

About Leica Camera

Leica Camera AG is an international manufacturer of premium cameras and sport optics products. The foundation for the myth of the Leica brand have laid the optics of the traditional company. In conjunction with innovative technologies, they provide up today for better images in all situations around seeing and perceiving. The headquarters of Leica Camera AG, Solms is located in Hesse, the second production site in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Portugal. The company has its own offices in England, France, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, Italy, Australia and the USA. New, innovative products have driven the positive development of the company in the recent past.

Press Contact

Andreas Dippel / Telefon direkt 06442-208 403 / Telefax direkt -455

In close cooperation with Transcontinenta, Leica importer of the Netherlands, Leica Camera AG, Germany and top photographer Ralph Gibson, New York - will offer an exclusive limited edition Leica M Monochrom, in only 35 pieces. Details remain scarce, but expect a look similar to the previous MP (pictured).

Ralph Gibson's been more than five decades, an internationally renowned Leica photographer, the analog Leica M cameras used to be final art photography. In his eyes, digital black and white could not be measured because of the quality of analog. However, after he had tried a standard Leica M Monochrom Ralph was so convinced of the unprecedented digital monochrome quality that comes out of this camera, which he has since been photographed with this particular digital Leica M.

The Leica M Monochrom "Ralph Gibson 'is characterized by a unique personal design of both camera body, lens and leather camera case with premium finishes. This exclusive set is manufactured in a very limited edition of only 35 pieces. The very luxurious box camera also includes an autographed black and white photo and a limited edition of Ralph Gibson's new book, which is aptly called "MONO".

The first Leica M Monochrom "Ralph Gibson 'will be handed over personally. The special date '11-12-13' in the Leica store in Lisse Ralph Gibson Ralph Gibson is a week from 9 to 14 December in the Netherlands and will provide various lectures in response to this unique introduction at that time. He will also attend the world premiere of the "MONO" exhibition in the Kahmann Gallery in Amsterdam.

About the Leica Boutique Lisse

Leica cameras and its users deserve special attention. Which is best reflected in a unique store concept: the Leica Store. On more than 80m2 one can fully enjoy the passion for quality and customer focus. Besides the latest Leica cameras there are precisely in the Leica Store Lisse very special historical and limited edition Leica admire cameras. Leica is not just a camera. The Leica Store Lisse informs its customers love about the special properties of a Leica and guides them to the right choice. As with Leica yourself, too, quality is paramount at the Leica Store Lisse. Quality of the camera, but also information and service. The Leica Store Lisse regularly lectures, trainings and workshops organized by and for professional photographers. This is the only Leica store in the Netherlands, located in the Kapelstraat 3, 2161 HD Lisse. Tel: 0252-415349.

Website: www.leicaboutiquelisse.nl

Ralph Gibson

At 22 Ralph Gibson (1939, USA) had his first Leica. He learned photography in the U.S. Navy and went after a brief study at the San Francisco Art Institute to work as a photo journalist. Soon he himself went to work on various projects. Gibson began his professional career as an assistant to Dorothea Lange. Not a bad start, especially if you know that he also worked after moving to New York in 1967, with Robert Frank on two films. To date he has more than 40 monographs photographed and he can look back on a fantastic career as a top photographer that has lasted more than five decades. He has received numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts, the Leica Medal of Excellence, the Lucie Lifetime Award and the Silver Plumb Award. He is a Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France and has honorary doctorates from the University of Maryland and Ohio Wesleyan University. Gibson has kept hundreds of solo exhibitions and his photographs are included in more than one hundred and fifty museum collections around the world.

Website: www.ralphgibson.com

Leica has released a mostly "internal" firmware update for the M (Type 240) of v2.0.0.12 (full links below) - however, there's little reason to upgrade if you already have version v2.0.0.11. They explain:

Firmware Update M (Type 240) v2.0.0.12
Instruction Firmware Update M (Type 240) (PDF)
Improvements Firmware M (Type 240) (PDF)

The list of changes in firmware v2.0.0.12 (over the previous v2.0.0.11) are:

All new cameras being produced now have a new firmware version 2.0.0.12 installed. An update for already delivered cameras with version 2.0.0.11 is not necessary, as the changes implemented only apply to the internal production processes.

On the application level, no difference between 2.0.0.11 and 2.0.0.12 can be recognized. Nevertheless, we provide version 2.0.0.12 through our website, because every camera is compatible with version 2.0.0.12.

We do not recommend to “downgrade” from 2.0.0.12 to 2.0.0.11, because unexpected behavior could occur.

Stan Tamarkin Rare Camera Auctions will feature 317 lots of Leica, Nikon, and Zeiss collectibles on December 8, 2013. “Featured will be a prototype Leica M4-2 Safari outfit and a very rare Leica M4 KE-7A with a mis-engraving,” said Stan Tamarkin, Leica specialist for over twenty-five years and owner.

Other notable camera lots include two 50mm Noctilux f/1.1 lenses, E. Leitz Canada prototypes lenses, a grey military Leica IIIc(K), rare Nikon rangefinder reflex housings, and other rare collectibles. For a full catalog of auction items visit:

• Vintage Leica & Nikon Collectibles Auction on December 8, 2013
• Featuring Extremely Rare Leica Prototype Models
• 317 Lots of Rare Camera Collectibles from Nikon, Zeiss & Leica

Bidding will be by fax, mail, telephone, and floor bidding, and rare camera enthusiasts will also be able to bid on-line. The rare camera auction will take place at the company’s Woodbridge, Connecticut showroom. The entire catalogue is on-line and also instructions for bidding on-line or by fax in both Japanese and Chinese.

As of today, the camera store Camera Tools in Apeldoorn, Netherlands has opened the latest Leica Boutique (not pictured above). They are located at Paramariboweg 41, 7333, PA Apeldoorn. They can be reached by phone (055-5380800) and email.

We've heard some rumblings through the grapevine and are working to get additional confirmation and details... Which are sketchy, but from what we've heard, it is believed that something related to the manufacture of the Central Shutter (CS) in Leica's S-System CS lenses... Has been seriously affected. As a side-note, Copal was known since March to be ceasing production with their last run "late this year" - so the timing is right, but we don't believe at this time that they're connected.

There is no immediate solution or alternative. No one knows the current inventory at Leica as far as future production parts or spares for repair - or how many units they're moving and fixing but them... But if true (we expect the Leica Camera AG office to be rocking shortly) then it could potentially spell serious delays with the production of Leica CS lenses, or sideline those needing shutter repairs.

While it's very likely that Leica is assembling the shutters in-house, it may be related to sub-contracted parts. It probably won't be until Leitz Park comes online early next year that they could do anything about it. Either way, this doesn't sound good. We'll keep you posted.

As you may be aware, a company based in Antwerp, Belgium by the name of CMOSIS makes the sensor in the Leica M (Type 240) camera, which early on promised to be a game changer. TA Associates (a global growth private equity firm) has agreed to acquire CMOSIS. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CMOSIS employs over 60 people. What's perhaps telling is that Leica (or ACM) didn't acquire them - perhaps if they were German - but we've (in other words, you saw it here first) heard some rumblings lately that Leica is working on a 36-40MP camera, perhaps with their old friends TrueSense...

The press release:

CMOSIS is pleased to announce that TA Associates, a global growth private equity firm, has agreed to acquire CMOSIS, a leading pure-play supplier of high performance standard and custom CMOS image sensors. The transaction is conditional on regulatory clearance and is expected to be completed by early 2014. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“CCD has traditionally been the dominant technology in the high-end image sensor market that CMOSIS serves. The migration to CMOS is being driven by a lower cost of manufacturing, lower power requirements, higher speeds and improved sensor resolution. This accelerating market shift should continue to prove favorable for CMOSIS.”

CMOSIS is a major player in the industrial, scientific and professional markets for image sensors, covering applications such as machine vision, high-end digital photography, digital cinema, aerospace & scientific, medical and biometrics. CMOSIS employs over 60 people and is based in Antwerp, Belgium.

With financial backing and support from Capital-E Arkiv, CMOSIS was founded in November 2007. CMOSIS broadened its capital base and raised further growth capital in 2009 from ING Corporate Investments (Belgium); ING Activator Fund, the Arkimedes Investment Fund of ING Belgium investing in promising Flemish SMEs; and Participatiemaatschapij Vlaanderen (PMV).

Luc De Mey, Chairman and CEO of CMOSIS, commented: “This transaction will allow CMOSIS to continue growing as an independent company with the support of TA Associates, a strong financial partner that has an impressive track record in building technology companies and is committed to supporting our future growth. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Capital-E, ING and PMV for their strong support in growing CMOSIS.”

J. Morgan Seigler, a Principal at TA Associates (UK), LLP who will join the company’s Board of Directors, commented: “The CMOSIS management team has demonstrated expertise in building image sensor businesses. We are excited to partner with such experienced and successful entrepreneurs. CMOSIS is profitable, with a highly reputable brand, attractive client base, and impressive and accelerating growth.”

The image sensor market is growing and predicted to exceed $8 billion by 2014, according to Yole Développement. CMOSIS is focused on several smaller, but high-growth, segments within this market such as machine vision, production cameras, traffic enforcement, medical devices and high-end consumer products. Within the overall market, CMOS continues to gain share over the more established charge-coupled device (CCD) technology.

Ajit Nedungadi, a Managing Director at TA Associates (UK), LLP who will also join the company’s Board of Directors, commented: “CCD has traditionally been the dominant technology in the high-end image sensor market that CMOSIS serves. The migration to CMOS is being driven by a lower cost of manufacturing, lower power requirements, higher speeds and improved sensor resolution. This accelerating market shift should continue to prove favorable for CMOSIS.”

Oppenheimer Europe and ING Corporate Finance are acting as joint financial advisers to CMOSIS and Baker & McKenzie is acting as legal adviser. Travers Smith and NautaDutilh are providing legal counsel to TA Associates. EOC Partners LLP is providing corporate finance advice to TA Associates.

About CMOSIS

CMOSIS is a pure-play supplier of standard off-the-shelf and application-specific CMOS image sensors for the industrial and professional market covering applications such as machine vision, high-end DSC markets, scientific, medical, automatic data capture and space. CMOSIS was founded in November 2007 as a fabless CMOS image sensor vendor. CMOSIS provides standard off-the-shelf and turn-key solutions to customers based on in-house design, characterization and qualification facilities for research, development and volume production. CMOSIS has developed unique IP related to CMOS image sensors such as global shutter pixels, fast and low-noise AD converters, backside illumination and increased dynamic range. The company has grown continuously and consistently, currently employing more than 60 at its headquarters in Antwerp, Belgium. For more information, visit www.CMOSIS.com.

About TA Associates

TA Associates is one of the largest and most experienced global growth private equity firms. The firm has invested in more than 430 companies around the world and has raised $18 billion in capital. With offices in Boston, Menlo Park, London, Mumbai and Hong Kong, TA Associates leads buyouts and minority recapitalizations of profitable growth companies in the technology, financial services, business services, healthcare and consumer industries. More information about TA Associates can be found at www.ta.com.

Contacts

For CMOSIS
Luc De Mey, +32 3 260 17 30
Chairman and CEO

For TA Associates
Marcia O’Carroll, +1 617-574-6796
mocarroll@ta.com

BackBay Communications
Philip Nunes, +1 617-556-9982, x227
phil.nunes@backbaycommunications.com

Toby Mitchenall, +44 203-475-7553
toby.mitchenall@backbaycommunications.com

In a story over on City A.M. (London's first free daily business newspaper) it is reported that the UK division of Leica Camera has reported a slowdown in sales over the last year, despite rolling out the Leica M (Type 240), a flagship camera. They've reported a 12% dip in turnover for the year ending March 2013, to £13m ($21.3M USD) from £14.9m ($24.4M USD) a year ago. This fed into a 16% fall in gross profits and smaller profits before tax of £561,000 ($918,974 USD) for the year, according to accounts. “In September 2012, Leica launched the new M camera. Several months were required to consolidate production supplies leading to some loss of sales momentum, however, strong M camera sales are now returning,” it said. Leica UK declined to comment.

Quick news item - Leica has released an update to their Image Shuttle app supporting the Leica M (Type 240) at v2.2. It is available for download in the Leica Owners' Area of the site.

CPT Rental Inc. based out of Long Island City, NY is reporting that $500K USD worth of Leica Summilux-C (cine) lenses were stolen off of a shoot being conducted by Doug Emmet in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 1, 2013. The incident is currently being investigated by detective Craig Marquez of the LAPD (case # 13022294) and can be reached at (213) 484-3479. The FBI is also involved. Any information or tips would be greatly appreciated.

The lenses involved and their serial numbers are:

Leica Summilux-C lenses – a groundbreaking new line of PL mount primes designed to deliver ultra-high optical performance for film and digital capture.

The product of more than three years of development, these new T1.4 close focus primes employ a unique multi-aspheric design and high-precision cine lens mechanics to provide unmatched flat field illumination across the entire 35mm frame and suppression of color fringing in the farthest corners of the frame with no discernable breathing.

All Leica Summilux-C lenses share a uniform length, 95mm threaded lens front, advanced distance focus scales, and similar location of focus and iris rings—which allow quick interchange of lenses in a busy production environment. Another unique feature is an integrated net ring threaded into the rear element.

Designed to be lightweight yet rugged, the mount and lens barrel are manufactured from high-strength titanium. Leica Summilux-C lenses weigh between 3.5 and 4.0 pounds (1.6-1.8kg).

Available worldwide, the lenses will initially be offered in focus lengths of 18mm, 21mm, 25mm, 35mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm. Additional focal lengths will become available in a second phase.

This flyer is being passed around with all the details: