03/05/2011
May 2011: Leica has announced two sturdy, metal digiscoping adaptors for its highly successful compact digital cameras, the LEICA X1 and LEICA D-LUX 5. The adaptors make it possible to connect the LEICA X1 and D-LUX 5 to a LEICA APO-TELEVID spotting scope quickly and easily, enabling the creation of brilliant photos with long focal lengths.
The LEICA X1 has a fixed focal length of 36mm (35mm equivalent), making the camera particularly easy to use on a spotting scope. The camera’s professional, large image sensor delivers extremely high resolution photographs, setting new standards in digiscoping image quality. The camera also offers numerous automatic functions that make it very easy to operate.
The high quality LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 5.1 - 19.2mm f/2 - 3.3 ASPH. lens of the D-LUX 5, with focal lengths equivalent to 24 to 90mm in 35mm format, combined with its comprehensive range of features and manual settings, ensures a broad spectrum of creative photographic opportunities for the user. Furthermore, the D-Lux 5 offers a 1,280 x 720 pixel HD video function in memory-saving AVCHD-Lite format, for those who like to record birds on video as well as photograph them.
Combining a LEICA X1 or LEICA D-LUX 5 with a LEICA APO-TELEVID spotting scope creates an extremely high-performance system. The adaptor simply screws into the filter thread of the camera and locks securely onto the spotting-scope eyepiece with a small bolt.
About the LEICA X1
The LEICA X1 features cutting-edge technology in a small camera body reminiscent of traditional Leica ‘M’ rangefinders. It features a 12.2 megapixel CMOS image sensor in APS-C format, identical in size to those used in DSLR cameras, and particularly large for this class of camera. In combination with the X1’s all-purpose LEICA ELMARIT 24mm f/2.8 ASPH. lens, this sensor offers outstanding picture quality comparable with professional models. Each individual pixel has a generous surface area and collects more light, therefore ensuring low noise levels, high dynamic range and accurate colour differentiation. The large sensor size, maximum sensitivity of ISO 3200 and the extremely fast lens also make the LEICA X1 an ideal choice for ‘available light’ photography.
About the LEICA D-LUX 5
Featuring a particularly large CCD for a compact camera, the D-Lux 5’s 1/1.63” sensor is finely tuned to produce the highest quality images from the LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON 5.1 - 19.2 mm f/2 - 3.3 ASPH. lens. Combined with the camera’s electronics and firmware, it guarantees brilliant high-contrast images with natural colour rendition and superb sharpness. Also contributing to its exceptional image quality, the D-LUX 5’s pixels are considerably larger than that of other compacts, ensuring excellent low light capability. The camera’s 3” LCD monitor has a wide viewing angle and a resolution of 460,000 pixels, displaying images in superb detail, and allowing photographers to assess images precisely both during composition and after capture.
Leica digiscoping accessories
Additional Leica digiscoping accessories include the LEICA TRIMA 1 and TRICA 1 tripods with digiscoping head (DH1), and a Leica balance plate for balanced assembly.
Pricing and availability
The LEICA X1 and D-Lux 5 Digiscoping Adaptors will be available in the UK from May 2011 from authorised Leica dealers including the Leica Store Mayfair: www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk, tel: 020 7629 1351. A full list of authorised UK Leica dealers is available at www.leica-camera.co.uk. The suggested retail price of the X1 adaptor is £100 and the D-Lux 5 adaptor is £80.
Notes to Editors
For further information or high resolution images, please contact Jenny Hodge at jenny.hodge@leica-camera.co.uk or call 07920 291920.
