New Leica T Mirrorless Camera is Announced

<p>A new 16MP Leica mirrorless camera is announced sporting a Sony sensor and a solid aluminum body.<br>

Video <a href="

Pre order the body from B&H for $1850 <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046767-REG/leica_18180_t_digital_camera_black.html">HERE</a><br>

Pre order the lens from B&H for $1750 <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046769-REG/leica_11080_vario_elmar_t_18_56mm_f_3_5_5_6_asph.html">HERE</a></p>

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<p>Hmmmm...interesting. Beautiful camera. Sony APSC sensor soooooooo I guess I will just stick with my A7. But the design is very striking. And a new line of T mount (derp) Leica lenses. Overall a very nice camera I think.</p>

<p>Curious, though, no IS in either the lenses or the body? Maybe sensor-shift IS in a future body?</p>

<p>The Summicron 23/2 lens is listed at B&H for $1950 <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046770-REG/leica_11081_summicron_t_23_mm_f_2.html">HERE</a>. And the EVF is listed for $595 <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1046771-REG/leica_18767_visoflex_typ_020_electronic.html">HERE</a>.</p>

<p>Looks like a decent enough system, with Leica pricing and a rather conventional modern body styling. I thought they might compete with the Fuji cameras in styling, but it looks like they went after Samsung/Sony NEX instead.</p>

<p>I have zero interest in this system but I am curious what the mount registration distance is and if these lenses can be adapted to other mirrorless systems.</p>

<p>Looks like a Sony Nex carved out of an aluminum billet. For the $$ I'll take my 5n, but the lenses are probably pretty nice. I wonder where it's made.</p>

<p>I think it is really cool, but along the lines of what Dennis said, I feel validated regarding my enjoyment of the 5n's very specific features in a camera I've had now for over 2 years that is still more than adequate and not really equaled in some ways. I'm not sure Sony has even revealed a replacement to the 5t that can also take the EVF. I also note how the fact that the Leica T only has a touch screen on the back and no buttons is somewhat touted as a clean design Apple type choice whereas the 5n has some buttons, but often it is criticized for not having enough even though it has a touch screen too. I realize the menus are not to everybody's liking. By looking at the camera size web site, I see the Leica T is actually noticeably larger than the 5n. That compact looking 23 f2 summicron does make me lust a bit.</p>

<p>Another bizarre Sony clone a la Hasselblad? Has Leica fallen too far back to catch up? This suggests they have--aluminum billet construction and red dot notwithstanding. Who apart from a fashion victim would opt for this over a Fuji X-E2 and a couple(or three?) Fujinons?</p>

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<p>Another bizarre Sony clone a la Hasselblad?</p>

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<p>No. It's a new product, not a pimped-up one.<br>

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I just read through <a href="http://blog.mingthein.com/2014/04/24/2014-leica-t-typ-701-review/">Ming Thein's review</a>. There seem to be some interesting aspects to this implementation - too bad that the high price will keep them away from most customers. There is also a lot of room for improvement, which makes the asking price even harder to swallow. Maybe some other manufacturer will take a hint and produce something similar - Samsung maybe? It's funny and strange to see Leica be the first that does a touchscreen interface well.</p>

<p><em>"It's funny and strange to see Leica be the <strong>first</strong> that does a touchscreen interface well."</em></p>

<p>Know anything about the Sony NEX 3/5 series? Leica isn't exactly innovating with the T model.</p>

<p>I really want a Leica camera. I have tried to convince myself to buy one several times. I can get an X2 for 10,000RMB in Shanghai. I want one. I will not buy one. Leica are the masters of optics, but with this whole new-fangled digital technology thing, they're playing catch-up. I would have said better to get a Fuji, but I've just found out about the sensor dust/dirt problem.<br>

There is no camera out there right now which I really really want and this annoys the hell out of me. </p>

Fuji doesn't have a sensor dust problem...

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<p>Know anything about the Sony NEX 3/5 series? Leica isn't exactly innovating with the T model.</p>

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<p>Surprisingly, it seems they did innovate in the area of customizing a touchscreen interface:</p>

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<p>You can drag and drop the icons for settings you want in a 3×3 grid; touch to change them – have as many or as few as you want, and put them wherever you want.</p>

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<p>It looks rather lovely but I would not be able to afford it.</p>

<p><em>Surprisingly, it seems they did innovate in the area of customizing a touchscreen</em> <em>interface:</em></p>

<p>That's very little "innovation" for a large pile of $$$. Functionally, it's trailing edge design--separate EVF? C'mon.</p>

<p>Fuji's X-T1 makes the T package look sadly dated.</p>

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<p><em>I would have said better to get a Fuji, but I've just found out about the sensor dust/dirt problem.</em></p>

<p>Nikon's had problems with this but not Fuji. Which model supposedly has a "problem?"</p>

<p>Surprised the X-T1 didn't interest you.</p>

<p>From what I read, the touch interface on the T is very well thought out. It does not matter who came out with the touch interface idea, at the end who gets it done well is what really matters here. From what I read, Leica has nailed it. The other company that does touch interface well is Canon. </p>

<p>Also with regard to IS, Leica said that implementing IS brings too much compromises to the design of the lens. Lens made for the T are optically corrected, and it is remarkable that the 23/2 is still very compact.</p>

<p>It does not matter that Leica was late to the game, but this camera is very well designed and spec.</p>

<p>it has the same sensor as the d7000. and at that price, should have more high-end capabilities to match its price. but what a conversation piece!</p>

<p>So I have had a few days to cogitate over this neat little camera and I have come to the conclusion that Leica is simply Leica and always will be. While at first I thought it was an interesting camera I suppose it is just another completely over priced niche camera that Leica excels at producing. The only thing that this camera brings to the table is a nice aluminium uni body design. And, possibly, a really neat touch screen interface.</p>

<p>Other then that it is nothing more then a Samsung NX with a Red Dot and a NEX 5 sensor in it that is <em>way </em>overpriced. Add to that the lens prices and it quickly gets into the stupid money category. Now wait, you say....Leica lenses are some of the best in the world. They are worth the money! Yeah, well Zeiss makes makes lenses just as good and sometimes better. And they can be used on cameras that are much less expensive, such as the NEX 5 that this camera shares a sensor with. Or the Samsung NX, which this camera shares a body style with. Or any number of other cheaper yet fully capable cameras.</p>

<p>As someone on another forum said this is a camera to use at the country club. It will go nicely with a Range Rover or a Prada purse or a Burberry coat.</p>

<p>It is a camera designed specifically for someone who wants to shoot with <em>an expensive camera. </em>And that is where I begin to loose interest. Im not going to give credence to something designed as an elitist's tool simply for moneys sake. But of course that is always what Leica has been about so I cant really blame the company for that. They have found a business model that works for them and this T camera is the latest incarnation of that. Nobody, myself included, should be surprised about it.</p>

<p>But for me photography is all about the image. Not the image you try to make for yourself in that you are a certain type of person because you use a certain type of expensive gear. No, that type of image can go have aerial intercourse with a revolving pastry and then jump off a cliff. The image I mean is the <em>photograph you create that can move the human soul.</em></p>

<p>Can this camera take that type of image? Im sure it can, in the hands of a capable photographer. But so can a zillion other cameras. If you want to look like a rich tool and carry this thing around then be my guest. But I hope the images coming out of it look really cool.</p>

<p>It always better to take an amazing photo with a crap camera then to take a crap photo with an amazing camera.</p>

<p>Absolutely. I have to hand it to Leica for succeeding with its high end machines. My used Sony Nex 5n is a pauper's camera by comparison, but it certainly competes on function. The incremental difference in images would make it hard to justify the price for the Leica. Is this thing made in Germany? I'll bet the sensor and glass are not.</p>

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<p>Also with regard to IS, Leica said that implementing IS brings too much compromises to the design of the lens. </p>

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<p>I can buy that explanation for in lens IS, but not for in camera IS. Or would they say that their camera design would get compromised with the latter approach? :)</p>

<p>Users of both the XT-1 and XE-2 have experienced and documented problems with dust and immovable dirt on their new sensors. There is at least a couple of threads on dpreview.com</p>

<p>"<em>Users of both the XT-1 and XE-2 have experienced and documented problems with dust and immovable dirt on their new sensors. There is at least a couple of threads on </em><em>dpreview.com</em>"</p>

<p>"A couple?" Funny but I've never seen this being a widely reported problem on these cameras beginning with the X-Pro 1 roll-out. The X-T1 had a minor problem with a light leak around the port door when it was open but Fuji got on this quickly and solved it. Probably the best place--and dpreview isn't it--to check for the prevalence of Fuji X problems is here:</p>

<p><a href="http://www.fujix-forum.com/">http://www.fujix-forum.com/</a></p>

<p>With a 'solid aluminum body' how do they get the electronics inside it?</p>

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<p>With a 'solid aluminum body' how do they get the electronics inside it?</p>

 

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<p>Elvish magic.</p>

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<p>With a 'solid aluminum body' how do they get the electronics inside it?</p>

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<p>Through the opening that frames the LCD.</p>