Leica Store Royal Exchange opens for business

 Leica
Leica’s Vijay Sebastian demonstrates the company’s new compact, the SL with its 24-90mm zoom lens

Last night I was invited to join Leica at party to celebrate the opening of the new store at the Royal Exchange in London and went along with my friend Ivor Cooper of Red Dot Cameras. It turned out to be a gathering of the great and the good, liberally lubricated and effectively fed on rather substantial canapés. The new SL was everywhere, mostly in the hands of staff, capturing the occasion in stills. However, I did spot Andre Graver working on a video record of the occasion and using the new camera. Last time I saw him he was using an M240 to cover the opening of the Burlington Arcade store.

 Leica UK managing director Jason Heward with head of marketing Jenny Hodge (and mistress of the press fleet - a very important person....) in the background
Leica UK managing director Jason Heward with head of marketing Jenny Hodge (and mistress of the press fleet – a very important person….) in the background
 Brian Parkes of Red Dot Cameras chats to noted photographer and Leica M7 enthusiast, Yann Kwan
Brian Parkes of Red Dot Cameras chats to noted photographer and Leica M7 enthusiast, Yann Kwan
 Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Leica
Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Leica’s CEO, invariably has “something interesting” slung over his shoulder even if, in this instance, it is out of focus