The new Leica M is now available for preorder from B&H Photo, in black or silver.
The Panasonic GH3 (the company's top Micro 4/3 SLR-style body for video shooters) is now shipping.
Canon has introduced "center pinch" lenscaps in several sizes including the most common ones. A 43mm is $7.99; 52mm is $9.95; and caps for lenses with either 58mm and 67mm filter threads are $10.00 each. Seventy-seven millimeter and 82mm lenscaps are expected in March.
Mike
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
MarkB: "So on the list of 'new product ideas,' the good folks at Canon have finally gotten waaaay down the list to: ...36. Put IS in 24mm. 37. Mirrorless camera system. 38. Center-pinch lens caps. (And number 39 is 'buy Foveon Inc.'—it's an old list anyhow!)"
Mark: "At one time I thought center pinch superior. No longer. I find them just as hard to grasp. As for the new Leica M, excuse my stupidity, but I remember they were coming out with a B&W only camera. Is this it?"
Mike replies: No, the B&W-only camera is the M Monochrom.
I haven't been excited about any camera since I sold my M9 years ago. There is just something about Leica M. I tried Fuji X-Pro1 but it just didn't do it for me although picture quality was excellent. I'm back to iPhoneography again.
Posted by: Miku | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 10:45 AM
I have to ask...does the TOP Style Guide require 77 to be spelled out?
Posted by: James Sinks | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 11:14 AM
Note that a Leica M lens cap costs $29.95. There's a conclusion in there, somewhere.
Posted by: Michael Matthews | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 11:41 AM
About time, Canon.
Paul (whose Canon FD lenses have Nikon lens caps, because, you know, lens hoods).
Posted by: Paul Glover | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:02 PM
I'm sorry, but I'd like to correct that the Panasonic GH3 doesn't have any mirrors inside, thus it's not a single-lens *reflex* (SLR) camera. Starting from the G5 model, Panasonic calls their Micro 4/3 cameras 'DSLM' (digital single lens mirrorless).
Posted by: Igor | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:10 PM
Re: Canon's center-pinch caps
Hell hath frozen over. What's next? Morrissey and Marr reunite the Smiths?
Posted by: David | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:24 PM
Lens caps?
[They click on to the end of your lenses to protect the exposed element during storage and travel. --Mike]
Posted by: Greg | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:29 PM
The mirrorless GH3 is a SLR? You too, Mike?
Posted by: T6nn | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:50 PM
Canon introduces its first center-pinch lens caps. Sigh.
Also noteworthy, for those who insist on monochrome imaging, Phase One has introduced its new IQ2 series of digital backs. In particular, the new IQ260 Achromatic features a 60mp monochrome sensor...for $45,000.
(BTW, Phase One / Mamiya lenses have long featured center-pinch front caps, in case you're worried.)
[I don't know, Ken, I think it's a toss-up as to which is more irrelevant to most photographers. [g] --Mike]
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 12:56 PM
Oh No! Not the center pinch lens CAPS too! Drat! There goes the last significant advantage that Nikon held over Canon! Will the onslaught ever end! Dark daaaark days ahead for "Brand N"...
And yes, I kid..
Posted by: Steve Ducharme | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 02:53 PM
Folks in Europe reported getting GH3s starting back in December although availability was initially spotty. Here in the U.S. the situation has been worse, with very few places able to get any stock and it usually sold out immediately.
I just checked the B&H link and if they did have some stock it appears to be sold out now. Amazon shows availability through an affiliate (Samy's camera) but not directly from Amazon. I don't think Panasonic is doing themselves any favors by having new cameras trickle out so slowly when first released. One of the reasons I think the OMD EM5 really took off was that there were actually decent stocks on hand when the thing released. With the GH3, potential buyers are going to have had quite a long time to settle for something else while waiting for the darn thing to be available.
Since the GH3 has grown in size rather a bit (compared to the GH1 & 2) I really want to lay hands on one before deciding if I'm going to stick with the GH line. Unfortunately it's tough to find one as the big box stores don't carry them and the only remaining camera store in my area doesn't have any in stock. I guess I can always pay ~$100 (rental + shipping) from LensRentals to see on in the flesh, but that makes the already steep (by Micro 4/3rds standards) price for the camera effectively that much higher...
Posted by: Andre | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 05:06 PM
At one time I thought center pinch superior. No longer. I find them just as hard to grasp.
As for the new Leica M, excuse my stupidity, but I remember they were coming out with a B&W only camera. Is this it?
mark
[No, that's the M Monochrom. --Mike]
Posted by: Mark | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 05:19 PM
I can die now. New lens caps from Canon.
Posted by: Bruce Appelbaum | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 06:01 PM
Oooh, centre pinch caps! My only objection to switching to Canon has now been erased!
More seriously, I should have replaced my lost Zeiss 43mm cap with one of these and saved myself $22!
Posted by: Michael Watkins | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 06:11 PM
The problem with lens caps is you can't make pictures with them.
Posted by: Zlatko | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 07:18 PM
Canon has introduced "center pinch" lenscaps
A bit late (as usual), but that's OK...
Panasonic m/43 users have always had this nice cap. For example, if you have the Panasonic-Leica DG Macro-Elmarit f/2.8 45mm Lens, and keep the hood attached, then this cap is quite nice indeed!
It's well-known that a lens sitting w/o a cap "leaks out" some of its resolving power, and then, has to "warm up" and "recover" after being attached to the camera.
Below: Keckiella breviflora (no warm-up time required!).
Posted by: Richard | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 07:18 PM
Center pinch means nose pinch; Only side pinch, i.e. ear pinchs are available before from Canon camp, you know.
Posted by: wchen | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 08:52 PM
I thought we refer it as M204. I know they want to have M to name it all from here onwards. Even apple try the New iPad but it would not work. If even the name cannot work, would the thing work.
Well, sour grape.
Posted by: Dennis Ng | Monday, 04 March 2013 at 10:32 PM
Does that mean that my discontinued old style Canon lens caps are now classic collector items?
Posted by: R. Edelman | Tuesday, 05 March 2013 at 12:20 AM
You know, if you could do finance (at about 3.5% over 2 years) on that M, get it delivered in a week or two, and ship it to France ... I'd buy it from one of your sponsored links!
At the moment, I think it's back ordered until June-ish. And it's about 2000 dollars more than I can stretch to ... so it's going to be perhaps a M-E for me (as much as I hate to plonk down money for a 2.5 year old camera, I really do miss my rangefinder).
Pak
Posted by: Pak-Ming Wan | Tuesday, 05 March 2013 at 02:53 AM