Leica Celebrates 100 Years with a Beautiful Leica T Compact

No one builds camera like Leica, and that's what makes Leica cameras so unique and pricey at the same time.  Today, the company surprised everyone with a brand new camera employing new lens mount system and user interface.

There are so many features and design packed into this tiny camera that are truly original and gorgeous. The 3.7-inch touchscreen becomes a gateway to the new interface that looks unlike any other menu system ever existed.  The interface is built on icon based menu rather than list of selections, making the options appear like apps on a smartphone. The initial reviews shows that the interface is so easy and simple to use.

When it comes to the image quality of Leica cameras, there is no question that it will be one of the best money can buy for a compact system camera.

The body Leica T is cut from a solid block of aluminum, making it feel super solid in your hand. There's no extra grip material, no plastic strap lugs, no ostentatious labeling. It's minimalist design at its best.

The Leica T employees a 16.3-megapixel APS-C sensor - popular among mid range DSLRs - a 3.7-inch touch-screen LCD, 16GB of internal memory, a SDHC card slot and a micro USB port. Wi-Fi function is also built-in as you expect in any new model cameras of 2014.  The shutter speed range is maxed out at 1/4000 of a second with an ISO range of 100-12500.

The T does not feature a built-in viewfinder, but a compatible electronic finder will be available as an accessory. This new EVF is bright, sharp and includes GPS functionality — a neat bit of design, since the camera's aluminum chassis would block GPS signals otherwise. The camera also has a built-in flash and a hot shoe for external strobes.

At launch the camera will only have two lenses in the system a 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 and a 23mm f/2 both for about $2000. That could make Leica T a had sell at the beginning until the company releases more lenses.

Who wants to shell out more than $2000 for a camera body if you can only get two lenses for it?  Leica  says we can expect to see more at the Photokina trade show this fall.