Leica Big Bang summary: 18mp b+w 35mmFF RF, 16mp X2, V-Lux 40, new lenses

Leica has just had a "Big Bang" of new gear announcements, especially when you consider the rather spartan Leica product line-up compared to the mass market camera manufacturers. The new Leica gear is now available for pre-order at Adorama. This blog-post summarizes the new announcements:

+ Leica M Monochrom: 18mp 35mm full frame black and white digital rangefinder without a color filter array

+ Leica X2: 16mp APS-C big sensor prime with a 36mm f2.8 equivalent lens

+ Leica 50mm f2 M-series lens: for 6,000 euro (and another Hermes M9p)

+ Leica medium format: five new S-series lenses and adapter for Hasselblad H-lenses onto Leica S-series bodies

+ Leica V-Lux 40: compact travel zoom based on the Panasonic TZ30/ZS20

+ live coverage of the event was at the L-Camera Forum blog and La Vida Leica