The baby Leica is here.

This will appeal to Leicaphiles who are not necessarily photographers but status symbol driven buyers. We hope that there will be an EVF. The wide end is OK but a maximum of 75mm equivalent doesn't cut it.

Leica Unveils the Leica X Vario

Leica has long held a reputation for providing camera models that cause users of other brands to be jealous of the very high quality that Leica products are known for.

The new Leica X Vario may stir the same feelings, as it's designed to be a Premium Product offering a very high quality design. For example, Leica used a body made from magnesium alloy and aluminum with soft leather trim to insure the camera is both solid and comfortable.

Leica states the new Leica X Vario will excel in lowlight conditions due to its larger 16.2-Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, allowing ISO speeds up to ISO 12,500. Leica equipped this camera with a premium quality Leica Vario Elmar 18-46 mm f/3.5-6.4 autofocus zoom lens that provides coverage equivalent to 28-70mm on a 35mm camera.

When it comes to handling, the Leica X Vario follows the lead of the Leica M and offers a persuasively simple handling concept that is reduced to the bare essentials in all respects. All functions and controls are clearly laid out, and settings can be changed in an instant to meet the needs of any photographic situation. At the same time, the commendably, user-friendly menu interface displayed on the high-resolution 3" monitor provides a clear overview of all settings at a glance.

This new camera also has the ability to switch between automatic and manual control in a split second, thanks to precise click-detent dials on the top plate that allow manual pre-selection of the required shutter speed and aperture values. In addition, the required focusing distance and focal length can be set via the focusing ring on the lens.

Leica also included the ability to capture full HD video at 1920x1080 pixels and 30 frames per second. The full HD videos can also be saved in Internet friendly MP4 format and uploaded directly to social media or mobile devices without any need for conversion, allowing inspiring moments to be shared with friends not only in high-quality photographs, but clear HD video as well. An integrated wind-cut filter ensures super audio clarity.

An extensive range of accessories is also available to adapt the Leica X Vario to a photographers' particular needs. For example, the Leica EVF 2 Viso-Flex electronic accessory viewfinder with 1.4-megapixels and a 90° swivel function is extremely helpful when shooting from unusual angles. An accessory handgrip makes it easier to shoot one-handed and provides a better grip. As with the Leica M (Typ 240), finger loops in three different sizes (S, M and L) can be attached to the handgrip, helping further ensure safe and steady handling of the camera. An optional lens hood ensures the minimization of reflections and the Leica SF 24 D flash unit offers greater freedom for subject lighting.

Leica will also include Adobe Photoshop Lightroom for Apple Mac® OS X and Microsoft Windows®, in the Leica X Vario package. This digital image processing software offers a wide range of functions for the management, processing and presentation of digital images. The software is available to X Vario customers as an online download after product registration.