Insta360’s Latest 360 Camera Features Dual Leica Co-Developed 1-Inch Sensors

Insta360 has recently unveiled the 1-inch 360 Edition One RS action camera, a new addition to its One RS series that was launched back in March. This newer model features 1-inch front and back sensors as part of its 360-degree imaging system, which is co-developed by the company and Leica. It’s worth noting that this is the second device from Insta360 to feature a sensor of similar size in collaboration with the renowned German camera manufacturer – the first being the 1-inch One R from 2020.

Keeping in line with the brand‘s modular action camera approach, the 1-inch 360 Edition can also be attached to the battery base of the original One RS or other compatible accessories from Insta360. Included together with it is a vertical mounting bracket that doubles as a grip, a core module with an LCD screen and microSD slot, as well as a battery module.

The latter two can be slotted into the bracket on top of each other, with the 1-inch 360 Edition camera attached on the very top to complete the entire assembly. Insta360 says each module is securely attached to the bracket as well as one another, thus enabling IPX3 water resistance. Meanwhile, found on the grip are two release buttons for freeing the modules, a power button, and a record button. Situated underneath it is a 1/4-inch screw mount for attaching a tripod or a selfie stick.

The camera itself is capable of recording up to 6K resolution 360-degree videos or capturing up to 21MP photos, thanks to the two Insta360 and Leica developed 1-inch sensors on either side. In addition, the core module of the 1-inch 360 Edition is equipped with an upgraded processor, which enables the camera to support its built-in FlowState Stabilisation system and Active HDR video capture. The battery module, on the other hand, allows for up to 62 minutes of 6K 30 fps video recording.

You can also find all previously available features and AI-powered enhancements from Insta360’s other cameras on the 1-inch 360 Edition One RS. These include PureShot, PureShot HDR, Starlapse, Cinelapse, Skyswap, TimeShift, MultiView, and the impressive Invisible Selfie Stick feature. Additionally, the new 360-degree action camera comes with live streaming and webcam capabilities as well.

The Insta360 1-inch 360 Edition One RS is offered in two options: the complete set including the camera, grip, core and battery modules for US$ 800 (~RM 3,519), or just the camera module for only US$ 650 (~RM 2,859). The new camera’s availability and pricing for the Malaysian market has not been confirmed at this time.

Rumour Suggests Huawei And Leica Partnership To End After P50 Series’ Release

The newly established partnership between Sharp and Leica that was revealed earlier, along with the unveiling of the Aquos R6 smartphone may come as a surprise for many. This is the first time for the German camera maker to collaborate with another smartphone brand after exclusively partnering with Huawei since 2016. However, Leica’s contract with the Chinese tech giant may finally come to an end later this year, according to a recent rumour.

This information comes from Finnish leakster Teme (aka @RODENT50) via Twitter, who said that the partnership will end after the release of Huawei’s P50 flagships which are said to be officially unveiled in July. The most possible reason that comes to mind to why Leica may be considering ending this deal is the ongoing US sanctions imposed on the Chinese company. This has drastically impacted Huawei, causing it to cut down on smartphone production due to the shortage of supplies, especially semiconductors. This is quite apparent as aside from the upcoming P50 series, the company has not unveiled or released any other smartphone model in 2021.

Although this may seem like an impending end of a six-year partnership between the two companies, there’s a chance that Teme’s information is inaccurate. Interestingly, the leakster followed-up on this tweet a few days after, stating that the Leica-Huawei collaboration could still continue even after the release of the P50 series. He also noted that the camera maker’s new partnership with Sharp will not affect its relationship with the Chinese giant as multi-branded deals are quite common in the smartphone industry. For instance, optical systems manufacturer Zeiss to this date has partnered with three smartphone makers, namely Sony, Vivo and Nokia.

Regardless, we highly advise our readers to take this information with a pinch of salt. And this isn’t the first time that the Leica-Huawei partnership is rumoured to be expired either. Chinese tech insider Digital Chat Station also suggested the same insight on Weibo in late 2020, which was shot down by both companies in their own respective statements. This then resulted in the leakster to delete his post on the Chinese social media platform soon after.

Leica To Increase Prices Across All Product Lines Starting April 2021

Leica has announced that it will be increasing the prices across all of its product line starting on 1 April 2021. According to a press release provided to website Red Dot Forum, the camera maker says that the new prices will vary by product, but will generally reflect on an average of 2% to 5% increase.

“Over the past year, the relationship between the US Dollar and Euro has suffered and we have absorbed these costs,” Leica wrote. “However, as this continues, we need to adjust our pricing in order to ensure pricing integrity across all Leica subsidiaries and to continue delivering the highest quality of products.”

According to the product price list provided by the company via Red Dot Forum, a majority of Leica lenses will be seeing an increase of US$100 to US$200 – with the exception of higher-end models such as the Summilux-M 90mm f/1.5 ASPH, which is listed to have an increase of US$700. The same can be said for the brand’s camera collection as well, with the likes of the Q and S series to see a price hike as low as US$100 and as high as US$1,000. Although Leica says the upcoming price hike will see a 5% increase at most, the list actually reveals jumps reaching up to 9% – albeit only affecting a small number of its products.

The camera maker noted that not all of its products will see a price increase next month. Recent releases such as the APO-Summicron-M 35 f/2.0 ASPH, Leica D-Lux 7 Street Kit, Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams, and the APO Summicron-SL 28mm f/2.0 ASPH will be exempted from this.

The upcoming price adjustment is slated to apply across all markets simultaneously on 1 April. For a full list of products and their new prices, please refer to the Red Dot Forum link provided below. Before you ask, Leica Malaysia has confirmed with us that the price changes will be reflected on all of the brand’s products sold in the local market as well. However, it noted that the updated price list has not been made available just yet.

Leica Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams Limited Edition Now Available In Malaysia

Leica has launched a new limited edition of its popular Q2 camera, with the Daniel Craig x Greg Williams Limited Edition. As its name implies, the camera is created in close collaboration with the James Bond actor and the renown British Academy of Film and Television Arts photographer.

Unlike the regular Leica Q2, the new limited edition sports a black and gold colour scheme, which the company described as “exclusive and elegant”. Fluffiness aside, the camera indeed  looks classier and more distinctive than the original release. All of its engravings, symbols and strap rings are inlaid in gold, while the entire body is presented in matte black – along with a diamond patterned Nappa leather embossing covering its front. Even Leica’s signature logo and red dot follows the new look.

The rest of the camera, such as its hardware and fixed lens, remains the same as the original Leica Q2 which debuted in 2019. As a quick recap, it comes with a 47.3MP full-frame sensor, a 3.68MP OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.76x magnification, and a 3-inch LCD touchscreen display on its back. The Q2’s fixed lens is a Leica Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH prime lens with macro capability. There’s no optical zooming function but thanks to its large onboard sensor, the camera allows for crop-to-zoom edits in post. Connectivity-wise, the Q2 comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities for transferring photos to smart devices wirelessly.

Despite featuring Daniel Craig’s name, this limited edition of the Leica Q2 is not the same as the alleged 007 Limited Edition that was leaked in September last year. According to the images provided by industry insider Nikoshita, the latter features a green colour scheme and even includes a 007-themed lens cap as well as a similarly themed steel briefcase. Ever since the leak, the supposed 007 Limited Edition is nowhere to be seen and is likely delayed (or cancelled) due to the numerous delays of the latest James Bond movie, No Time To Die.

Moving on. The Leica Q2 Daniel Craig x Greg Williams Limited Edition is immediately available at the brand’s official store in Avenue K, Kuala Lumpur and authorised dealers. The camera is priced at a whopping RM30,300, and is limited to only 750 units globally. Each unit also comes with an exclusive carrier strap made of black Nappa leather, featuring gold coloured gilded eyelets.

Leica Unveils Kevlar-Covered M10-P Reporter Edition Rangefinder Camera

As part of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Leica Oskar Barnack Award, Leica has announced a new Reporter limited edition of its M10-P rangefinder camera during the weekend. This version offers a sturdier body than the original and its other variants, thanks to the Kevlar material that covers the entire camera.

Leica says that the limited edition M10-P is an “uncompromising” reportage camera developed as a homage to press and photojournalists, designed to withstand even the most challenging conditions. Its top and bottom metal caps are scratch-resistant and come in an olive drab colour finish, while the trim surrounding the camera is covered by a black diamond weave of Kevlar. For those unfamiliar, the material is a synthetic fiber most commonly used for ballistic protection and is often featured on bulletproof vests.

The Reporter edition is also a more discreet version of the M10-P. This is due thanks to the camera’s aforementioned colour scheme, as well as the use of darker colours for its engravings. Leica added the Kevlar’s black colour on the camera will also gradually change into the same colour as its metal caps when exposed to natural UV rays from the sun.

Further complementing its “stealthiness” is an upgraded shutter, which is claimed to be the quietest on any of Leica’s M-series cameras ever. Its other specifications remain unchanged from the original M10-P; where it comes with a full-frame 24MP sensor, ISO range of 100 – 50,000, and continuous shooting of up to 5 frames per second.

Also included is a fixed 3-inch LCD display, SD/SDGC/SDXV memory card support, built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Leica M lens compatibility. Much like the original, this variant does not feature any video recording capabilities.

The Leica M10-P Reporter edition retails at RM38,850 and is now available at the brand’s official store in Avenue K as well as authorised dealers nationwide. Leica says that only 450 units of the limited edition camera will be produced worldwide.

Leica SL2-S Launches In Malaysia; Available Now At RM21600

Leica has recently launched the SL2-S full-frame interchangeable lens mirrorless camera. A variation to last year’s SL2 model that was released last year, the new shooter places more emphasis on speed and video performance.

The Leica SL2-S features the same body, build quality, LCD touchscreen, 5.76MP OLED EVF, battery, dual UHS-II SD card slots, stabilisation and autofocus systems as the original. In addition, it also comes with IP54 dust and water protection, and is guaranteed by the camera maker to work in temperatures as low as minus 10 Celsius. The camera supports over 40 native autofocus L-mount lenses, and is also compatible with M, R, and S-System lenses via the company’s adapter accessory.

One major difference between either model is the sensor, where the SL2-S features a back-illuminated 24.6MP with an ISO capability of up to 100,000. Although smaller than the one found on the original model, the sensor’s lower resolution allows the new camera to capture up to 25 fps via electronic shutter and 9 fps through mechanical. At the same time, the greater ISO range allows for better low-light performance which Leica claims to offer low noise and better colour output.

And like the SL2, the newer Leica camera includes separate photo and video modes that enable users to customise its functions and settings for each task and switch between them. There’s a multi-shot mode that can combine up to 8 shots into a single 96MP image for a larger image output. Leica added there’s no burst shot limit on the SL2-S, so users can continuously shoot JPEG images at 9fps thanks to its 4GB internal buffer.

Video-wise, the Leica SL2-S is capable of capturing 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 and Cinema 4K ProRES up to 30fps to an SD card, and up to 60fps to an external recorder via its onboard full-size HDMI port. The company says that it is planning to release a firmware update in the first half of 2021, where it will add new features to the camera. These include an improved autofocus algorithm, focus tracking, internal 4K 60p recording, segmented video, and much more.

The new camera is priced at RM21,600 body only, and is now available in Malaysia at the Leica Store in Avenue K as well as authorised Leica dealers. Those interested may also arrange with the official store to test out the SL2-S on their own.