Decisive Moment by Leica & Magnum - Past. Present. Future.

[Cactus jACK]

In case you guys had missed reading this on the new CS blog.

Key highlights of the event was the launch of new M9-P and the Leica Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH, as well as the 1-on-1 interview with Leica owner, Dr. Andreas Kaufman.

[June·2011] Leica premiered the Leica M9-P in Paris on 21 June 2011, as well the addition of the Leica Super-Elmar-M 21mm f/3.4 ASPH to their range of short focal lengths for Leica M cameras. The event was held at the upscale Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild and attended by over 250 participants, ranging from Leica directors, Magnum photographers, journalist and bloggers.

Tying the whole event together was the multimedia essay of an account of a young gondolier in Venice shot by Magnum photographer Alex Majoli. This was a project resulting from the further cooperation between Leica and Magnum Photos, shot vividly with the new Leica M9-P, the new Leica Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH and the Leica 50mm f/0.95 Noctilux-M Aspherical.


Leica's Stefan Daniel presenting the new Leica M9-P and the Leica Super-Elmar-M 21 mm f/3.4 ASPH.


Leica M9-P in black paint or silver chrome



More photos of the event can be found here - here

 

[Cactus jACK]

While the announcements of the M9-P and 21 were expected through various rumours and leaks, they were preceded by a very provocative discussion on "Crisis and catastrophes in picture. What justifiable role can photojournalism play in an age of cell phones, Twitter & Facebook" and the affirmation of the collaboration between Leica and Magnum Photos on technology and photographic cooperation.


From left to right, Naseem Tarawneh (www.black-iris.com), Christopher Anderson (Magnum Photos), Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (Leica), Samuel Kirszenbaum (Moderator), Magdalena Herrara (GEO France), Nicolas Jimenez (LaMode), and Dominic Nahr (Magnum Photo)


Affirming the Leica-Magnum collaboration - Christopher Anderson (Magnum) and Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (Leica)


Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, Paris


Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, Paris


Hôtel Salomon de Rothschild, Paris

| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph | Summilux-M 35 asph I |

 

[Cactus jACK]

The first of the on-going series of multimedia collaborations between Leica and Magnum Photos is this series is done in Venice by Magnum photographer, Alex Majoli, taken with his M9-P, Noctilux 0.95 and 21 Super Elmar.


A video showing the making of this portfolio can be viewed on the Leica website at http://bit.ly/M_Venice.
An in-depth interview with Alex Majoli can be found at http://magnum.leica-camera.com.



some of the prints on display


some of the other prints on display

| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph |

 

[Cactus jACK]

Leica showcase at the event

 

[Cactus jACK]

We were slated for interviews with Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Abbas, Ian Berry, Chang Chien-Chi, Alex Majoli, and Moises Saman... but as luck out have it, Paris morning traffic and the wet weather caused many of them to be no-shows at the interviews. But we still managed to have 1-on-1s with Dr. Andreas Kaufmann and Alex Majoli.

Interview with Dr. Andreas Kaufmann (Leica) - here
Interview with Alex Majoli (Magnum Photos) - here

Incidentally, Abbas is having an exhibition at the National Museum titled, "Abbas, 45 Years in Photography", it runs until 18 Sept. You should check out his b&w prints.

 

[Cactus jACK]

I have received several pms, msgs, etc asking about the M9-P. The "launch" came across as a soft launch, rather than a major announcement of a totally new product line. The M9-P also shared the limelight with other announcements and events, which gave the impression that Leica knew that this was not going to be earth shattering news. Afterall, the M9-P will be marketed together with the M9, and not replace it.

There were many at the event drooling over the M9-P, such that I felt compelled to clean my hands after I touched the show piece. As noted in the blog, the internal organs of the M9-P are the same to that of the M9. "The differences are cosmetic, with the newer M9-P emphasizing the M characteristics of robustness and discretion.

- M9-P LCD cover glass is made of Sapphire crystal
- M9-P has lost the "red dot" Leica logo and the M9 lettering on the front
- M9-P has the top deck engraved with the classical script form of the Leica name
- M9-P is available in the silver chrome and black paint / M9 available in steel grey and black paint

Leica M9-P is dressed in minimalist styling, similar it the MP front and top deck. I would expect the availability of the traditional silver chrome will also be a hit with many Leica fans. Last word on this, the Leica M9-P is marketed as a complement to the Leica M9, and both models will be marketed together."

To me, the M9-P scores higher in form factor because of the "MP" like design and the availability of silver chrome... other than that, the shooting experience and output are the same. The former justifying the premium for the "P" - Professional.

 

[Cactus jACK]

Well, many may already be familiar with Paris more than my 2-days there would show, but this was some of my RF shots following the Leica & Magnum event. I extended a couple of days in Paris to clock up my tourist chops. Although the weather was wet in the mornings, it cleared up leading to the afternoons. So I took the opportunity do up the blog entries on the Leica & Magnum event as well as the interviews in the mornings before heading out at lunch. The weather was in the cool breezy high-teens, so I did most of my touring on foot, walking from Notre Dame to the Lourve to des Champs-Élysées and back to the Eiffel Tower... which happen to correspond to the vicinities of the Mui Mui and LV outlets.

These are just some tourist stops...


La Tour Eiffel


Seine River


Arc de Triomphe


Basilique du Sacré-Cœur


A view of Paris

| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph | Summilux-M 35 asph I |

 

[Cactus jACK]

some of the people i met along the way...











| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph |

 

[Cactus jACK]

but in moving out, i would buy my €1,70 métro ticket and look confused in trying to figure out which of the over 20 lines to take to which of the over 300 stops... but taking the métro was always an adventure, be it just for 1-stop or changing among 3 lines to get to your destination.











| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph |

 

[Cactus jACK]

| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph |

 

[Cactus jACK]

| Leica M9 | Summilux-M 50 pre-asph |

 

[artspraken]

Thanks for the account of the event. Some of the exhibhits were interesting indeed, particularly the warped leica Iii. I hear rumours m9 can be upgraded to m9p from october at cost of 1050 euros. I wonder if this was mentioned.

I passed by the Leica Galerie in Salzburg last week and visited the exhibit. Its featured on leica official website and its about portraits. Will post pics as soon as i develop the rolls.

Paris is a dream city for street. I wish i could visit again in near future. I remember champs elysee was full of dog poo coz french women like to tag along pet dogs as fashion accessories only to let them who defecate everywhere. If i visit Paris again, i would love to shoot an essay with a theme of "dirt and beauty in Paris". I also remember the metro to stink of piss and **** during summer, but the layout is far superior to the singapore MRT.

On topic of lenses, i am starting to find that 50mm is better suited for European streets, and 35mm is better suited for Asian metropolis streets (eg tokyo singapore hk etc)

 

[Canto]

Composition and cropping for all the street shot is really excellent.

 

[Cactus jACK]

Thanks for the account of the event. Some of the exhibhits were interesting indeed, particularly the warped leica Iii. I hear rumours m9 can be upgraded to m9p from october at cost of 1050 euros. I wonder if this was mentioned.

this was not announced at the event, but the expectation is a top-plate, bottom-plate and LCD screen replacement (m9 -> m9-p). maybe more will be announced regarding the availability and cost at the singapore launch of the m9-p later this month.

Composition and cropping for all the street shot is really excellent.

thanks.

 

[raytoei]

oie. cactus jack, love your photos. especially the last 4 with the horses. i was thinking to myself, cheh, of course mah, magnum photographer... then i realised it was from you