The X2 is the high end here, with a 16 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and a 24mm f2.8 aspherical lens mounted up front. It’s that retro M-style body going on, which Leica will proudly tell you is hand-assembled in Germany. There’s an integrated flash, physical knobs for aperture and shutter (from 1-1/2000), and…. hold on, let me load their specs PDF. Seriously, who still makes those a pdf instead of a webpage? OK, you got 11 AF points, ISO up to 12,500, 5 frames per second, a sadly dated looking 2.7″ 230,000 pixel LCD, HDMI out, and video modes are for chumps. This camera is for people who want to take pictures. And, other than Leica’s head-scratching resistance to upgrading to a high-resolution LCD that’d actually do their famous image quality anything resembling justice when you review it, this camera is indeed specced quite competently for people wanting to focus on the craft of photo making. It can shoot to Adobe’s DNG raw format, and you get a free download license for Lightroom with the camera. No, seriously, you do. You can get it in “retro” silver or “Jody’s favorite” matte black.

Bring up the “low end” of things for Leica is the V-Lux 40, a more traditional point-and-shoot with a compact body and integrated zoom lens. The V-Lux 40′s page doesn’t bother with a technical PDF, so, details are a bit thin from Leica, but it seems to have a 24-480mm f3.3-6.4 aspherical zoom, a burst mode than can handle up to 60fps, a 3″ touchscreen of indeterminate resolution, and GPS. And, let’s not forget that iconic red dot on the front. This one only comes in black, sorry folks who aren’t Jody.

Looking to make the leap to Leica and think one of these sounds like your ticket? We’ve got our preorders page up for both over here: http://robertscamera.com/photo/point-and-shoots?manufact_new=787

Whatever side of the love/hate/what the heck Leica fence you’re on, you have to give it to them, they know their market and cater perfectly to it. Their digital bodies have stood staunch against the march of change and have stuck true to their legendary rangefinder roots with only minimal concessions to the digital age. The manual focus lenses, rangefinder, knurled knobs, brass body, heck, even the act of removing the bottom plate to change your recording medium has stayed the same. And now, in their continued quest for both the maximum quality and their continued cognizance of the attitudes held by their loyal shooters, Leica has released the most interesting niche camera I’ve seen: a completely black-and-white digital rangefinder. Yup, you read that right. The M Monochrom is a variant of the M9 pedigree with a new 18 megapixel sensor with no color filter at all. Each pixel records the raw light it caught in terms of luminosity only. This means you don’t need any demosaicing to average out the colors for each pixel, and gives you the true maximum resolution and sharpness of the sensor. And all it’ll cost you is the ability to ever snap a color photograph.

Again, love or hate it, you have to admit the idea is genius. There has been a real strong movement since the unofficial victory of digital to return to the conscientious, simpler world of film and its glory. And, what better encapsulates that then a camera whose design has remained largely unchanged since before digital was even a twinkle in a lab, and is brave enough to eschew something like color in order to deliver a sharper, more detailed image? It’s brilliant.

It’s also otherwise pretty much an M9, with the sapphire glass cover. You even get the retro Tri-X ISO speeds on the low end (pull 160, 320). Top ISO hits up to 10,000 now. As you might expect, Leica hasn’t actually mentioned a price yet, but, if you have to ask it’s probably not for you anyway. If you don’t have to ask, we’ve got our preorder page up and waiting for you, and when Leica starts getting them out to dealers sometime in July we’ll do everything we can to get them into your waiting hands, just so long as you send us a killer landscape shot so we can rub our peepers on the results, OK?

http://robertscamera.com/m-monochrom.html

The workshop will be held at the ATLAS facility at the University of Colorado in Boulder Colorado and will run from May 29th to June 1st.

Roberts will be there in spirit, embodied by our own Jody Grober with gear from manufacturer sponsors Manfrotto (Manfrotto, Avenger, Gitzo, and more) and the MAC Group (Mamiya, PocketWizard, Sekonic, Tenba, Induro, Cinevate and more) – most of which will be at special show pricing.

Follow the source link for a list of presenters and more complete information about the event and registration.

Canon 580 Ex II

Canon has now today discontinued the venerable 580 EX II, leaving you looking at only the 600EX-RT going forward for your flagship flashgun needs. But, if you’re looking at the notably higher price tag of the 600EX-RT and not feeling it, fear not! If you act quickly, you can still get some 580EX IIs as we have some left in stock. As an added bonus, there’s a $30 instant savings on them, meaning you can pick one up for a cool $130 less than its successor (although the 600EX-RT is also now live stock on our website if that is a thing you want now).

Oh, and the original EF 24-70 L USM is also now officially discontinued, leaving you with only the mark II, but, I think we all guessed that back when stock on that one dried up and never came back, right?

So, you like the idea of an underwater camera, but just feel that all the current ones make you compromise too much on other features to get that. We feel you. Limited zoom ranges, mushy high ISO, and second-rate sensors have plagued various historic models of underwater point-and-shoots, usually to help keep the cost of making these tough beasts down to something realistic. But, lucky you, now Olympus has come out with the monster pictured above, with the totally say-it-out-loud friendly name of “Tough TG-1 iHS.” But, if you can get past the name, you might be impressed by the spec sheet: a 12mp back-side illuminated sensor being piped through a PEN-ready TruePic VI processor (and promising “DSLR-quality” with it), a 4x 25-100mm f2.0-4.9 lens (yup, f2.0), a 3″ 610,000 dot OLED screen, dual image stabilization, an LED illuminator, GPS, e-compass, manometer, 1/2000 second maximum shutter speed, 1080p video, HDMI output, and oh yeah, it’s also waterproof to 40 feet, shockproof to 6.6 feet, crushproof to 220 pounds, and freeze proof to 14 degree F. Not enough? Fine, Olympus was ready for that. There’s also going to be an available underwater housing  that’ll let you take it down to 135 feet, and there’s a conversion ring mount that’ll let you mount either an available fisheye or telephoto adapter to it. Both of which are also ready for a dive with no problems.

Basically, the bar for what a tough camera should be has been raised significantly, and if the image quality matches what we’re promised (and what Olympus has been coming out with in its PEN line lately), this is going to be one beastly all-purpose shooter.

Availability will be in June for the camera itself, which I’m already affectionately nicknaming “John McClane.” The camera will run $399.99. The two converters should be available at the same time. You’ll need a $20 adapter to use them, and then the fisheye will be $119.99, and the 1.7x telephoto converter will set you back $109.99.

The underwater housing won’t be available until July, when it’ll set you back $309.99.

Want to put your name down for one right now? Well, our preorder page lets you do exactly that: http://robertscamera.com/tough-tg-1-ihs.html

More pictures and a press release after ze jump.

CAPTURE PRO IMAGE QUALITY FROM A WHOLE NEW PERSPECTIVE: OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-1 iHS

Durability Unites with DSLR-Image Quality, Best-In-Class f2.0 Lens, Full 1080p HD Video and Amazing Features for Thrill Seekers, Reef-Loving Explorers and Everyone In Between

CENTER VALLEY, Pa., May 8, 2012 – Olympus draws on its heritage of creating rugged, durable cameras that take the worry out of life-on-the-go shooting with the new Olympus TG-1 iHS. Marking a revolution for the Tough Series of Waterproof, Shockproof, Freezeproof, Crushproof and Dustproof compact cameras, the Olympus TG-1 iHS combines incredible durability with iHS technology, the world’s first high-speed bright f2.0 lens on a Tough camera and converter-lens compatibility to create a versatile system camera. The combination of durability and outstanding image quality make it possible to shoot in even the harshest conditions. Capture beautiful underwater scenes and aquatic life, snap photos of dusk-lit peaks or record your ride down the rapids in dazzling 1080p Full HD Video.

Superior Optics
The Olympus TG-1 iHS is the world’s first rugged camera to incorporate an ultra-bright, high-speed f2.0 lens* so you can capture high-quality images at blazing fast shutter speeds, even in low-light conditions. The camera’s three-inch high-resolution OLED display (610K dots) provides excellent visibility in bright situations, enabling you to compose the perfect shot in direct sunlight. Protective coatings help to prevent scratches and cut down on reflective glare, and the new lens on the Olympus TG-1 iHS transforms your photographs with the same FAST AF system technology found in Olympus PEN® cameras. Never worry about water droplets obstructing your images thanks to the water-repellent lens coating that prevents water from remaining on the lens surface.

Unmatched Rugged Durability
From atop an Alpine mountain to the depths of a tropical lagoon, the Olympus TG-1 iHS captures the perfect shot in unforgiving environments. Waterproof to 40 feet, Shockproof to 6.6 feet, Freezeproof to 14°F** and even Crushproof to a weight of 220 pounds, the flagship Olympus Tough model is the toughest Tough model to date and an exceptionally high-speed performer with faster start-up time and quicker refresh rates.

Outstanding Image Quality
A high-sensitivity, high-speed 12-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor combined with a blazing fast, DSLR-quality TruePic™ VI image processor results in high-speed autofocus, enhanced Intelligent Auto for spectacular scene and subject recognition, and 8x Super-resolution Zoom to produce jaw-dropping images in locations that make even the most seasoned photographers cringe. This family of technologies combines for unmatched image quality in challenging shooting conditions with improved lighting, less noise and response times twice as fast as traditional cameras.

Designed specifically to keep up with the on-the-go photographer, the new Super Sport Mode combines high-speed autofocus with extra fast shutter speeds – up to 1/2000 – to freeze the action. Conveniently located on the dial, this mode captures five shots in a high-speed burst to ensure crisp shots in even the most extreme action sport settings. Low Light Mode is perfect for capturing the mood of low-light indoor scenes, beautiful sunsets or late night outdoor festivities without ruining the ambience with a bright flash. Shoot like a pro with 10 frames-per-second high-speed burst shooting and 1080p Full HD videos (1920×1080 pixels) or 60 frames-per-second (3mp) at the touch of button, allowing for slow-motion playback. Thanks to iHS Technology, your videos will benefit from excellent color reproduction and faster processing speeds, while Multi-Motion IS compensates for user movement during recording, creating smoother videos. Linear PCM Recording, an audio technology pioneered by Olympus for professional voice recorders, records your videos with high-definition audio for optimal playback results.

In iAuto mode, the Olympus TG-1 iHS automatically detects the subject, lighting and situation to identify the scene you’re shooting – up to 30 different scenes including Night, Sport, Beach and Snow, Underwater Snapshot and Backlight HDR – and adjusts the settings for ideal results.

System Expandability
For serious photographers, Olympus is offering system expandability for the Olympus TG-1 iHS. A converter ring allows you to add a lens converter adapter, waterproof Fisheye Converter Lens and Teleconverter Lens for use on land or in water. The Fisheye Converter Lens captures panoramic, wide-angle shots without sacrificing the brightness of the 4x wide optical zoom (25-100mm*) f2.0 lens. The Teleconverter Lens extends your optical zoom from 4x to 6.8x, delivering dramatic close-ups with professional-looking background blur. Combined with the Olympus TG-1 iHS’ 8x Super-resolution Zoom, which extends the range of the optical zoom with virtually no loss of image quality, you can reach an unmatched 13.6x magnification. Both converter lenses are waterproof to 40 feet. If 40 feet is not deep enough for you, the new Olympus PT-053 underwater housing is designed specifically for the TG-1 iHS, enabling you to dive to depths of 135 feet (45m).

Extreme Versatility
With the GPS and e.compass functions on the Olympus TG-1 iHS, location and landmark information will be displayed and recorded along with every image. The camera is also equipped with a logging function so you can track the route taken from recorded images by using applications such as Google Earth and Picasa. And with the brand-new LI-90 battery, you’ll worry less about battery life and more about your next destination. Mark your spot on the map with the built-in manometer, which records elevation and water depth and even displays a warning when the user approaches a depth of 40 feet. The Olympus TG-1 iHS boasts four different underwater scene modes — Underwater Snapshot, Underwater Wide 1, Underwater Wide 2 and Underwater Macro — each carefully calibrated to allow for optimal color balance, exposure and flash so you automatically get the best results. An LED illuminator on the front of the camera enhances focus and exposure for macro shooting – great for underwater close-ups where light is scarce. The LED illuminator also works in conjunction with the flash to help illuminate your subject in low-light conditions.

U.S. Availability
The Olympus TG-1 iHS will be available in June and ships with a USB Cable & Charger (F-3AC), Lithium-Ion Battery (Li-90B), Wrist Strap, Instruction Manual and ib Software CDs, Quick Start Guide and a Warranty Card.

Estimated Street Price: 
Olympus Tough TG-1 Digital Camera: $399.99 (Available in Silver)
Fisheye Converter Lens: $119.99
Teleconverter Lens: $109.99
Adapter: $19.99
PT-050 Underwater Housing: $309.99 (Available in July)

Now, this didn’t take us too long, did it? We know you guys all loved the new photo contest, so, we worked extra hard to get it back up, online, and totally better. So, what’s new, then?

1. The contest will now be run through our Facebook page. If you do not use Facebook, you will find a link there to submit through an alternative method.
2. We will now be using a non-Roberts, professional photographer as our judge: Marc Lebryk.
3. All photo contests will now include an hour live webcam critique of the five finalist photos, with tips, advice, compliments, and thoughts from our judge.
4. The rules are now a bit tighter. Heavily watermarked images or advertising will be disqualified, and we strongly expect all submitted photos to be new and unique for the contest.
5. To help encourage you to stick with the higher expectations, we’re raising the stakes, too. Our first photo contest will be for a $50 Roberts Gift Card plus a canvas-wrap print of your photo.
6. The contest will be every other month, or six times a year.

So, that’s the news! The first theme is “The Decisive Moment,” which most of you will probably recognize as the key concept given to us by photographic pioneer Henri Cartier-Bresson. The idea was that the photograph, unique to any art form before it, was able to capture precise moments, and that used properly photography was a way of capturing that unique moment in every situation that defined the whole. For Cartier-Bresson, photography was about taking hundreds of shots in the quest for the perfect one that got the scene and timing exactly right. And, that’s what we want you to push yourself to do. See the world around you as a series of moments, and work on knowing when to hit the shutter, and on focusing on which photo best captures the essence of the scene you wanted.

And that’s it. You can read all the official rules over on the FB page, and get going. You have through the end of the month, and winners will be announced the first Wednesday in June. We’ll let you all know later where the video critique is happening, and you’re all invited to that.

You can enter here: https://www.facebook.com/robertscamera/app_242718965836285

If you weren’t aware we’ve been running a promotion where we’ll give away a FREE Canon EOS Rebel T3i Kit to one lucky Facebook entrant, well, today’s your lucky day. The giveaway closes at midnight EST tonight, but that still gives you enough time to go get your name in the running, and tell that friend of yours that’s always talking about wanting a DSLR but can;t afford one too.

You can enter here:

https://www.facebook.com/robertscamera/app_385048984858741

Whew, busy day over here at Roberts blog central. Now the news is that Indianapolis-based photographer Marc Lebryk has finished up a hands-on review of Fuji’s hot new X-Pro 1 we were able to wrangle him for a weekend. With it’s uber-retro form factor and its clear aims at eroding some of Leica’s digital rangefinder market, the X-Pro 1 was probably the most hotly anticipated mirrorless compact we’ve seen announced since Panasonic and Oly created the market a few years back. And if you’re one of those people with the itch, but not the scratch (see what we did there?), you can read Marc’s thoughts to help ease the sting for a while. Or maybe convince yourself to take the plunge. Either way, your reading enjoyment is at the link below.

Once again, if you’re one of those lucky chaps to get ahold of a Canon EOS 5D Mark III already, you’re probably waiting with bated breath to hear their resolution on the now well-known “light leak” issue some users were experiencing in which light from the top deck LCD could affect low-light exposure metering by up to a third of a stop. And if that’s the case, then we’re just going to point you right now to Canon’s official response so you can read it straight from them: http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/support/professional/professional_cameras?pageKeyCode=prdAdvDetail&docId=0901e02480538fc7

1. Supports a new accessory, GPS receiver GP-E2.
2. Fixes a phenomenon where a pink cast may develop over the image when the shutter is completely pressed with the camera’s power turned off (by the auto power off setting).
3. Fixes a phenomenon where the camera operation stops after one shot when shooting in High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode.
4. Fixes a phenomenon where the Shooting Date/Time in the EXIF data of the image shows a later time than the actual shooting time.
5. Fixes the time zone for the Samoa Islands.
6. Corrects errors in the Finnish menu screen.

Wouldn’t you love to have been the engineer who had to figure out #2? Anyway, you can download it now from Canon USA’s page, just select your OS and version. Except you OSX Lion people, in Canon’s infinite wisdom they’ve only listed the firmware under Snow Leopard, so look there instead.