Leica introduces new mirrorless camera, the CL

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

Leica has fully earned its reputation as a good camera manufacturer over the years. They are celebrating this with a new mirrorless camera, the CL, a modern APS-C camera with an electronic viewfinder in an iconic body.

It may look a little old-school and retro, but it certainly has the performance of a state-of-the-art camera.

This latest model is technically equivalent to the futuristic-looking TL2, which is also an APS-C camera, but it has a more traditional, iconic appearance and easier-to-use controls. This makes it an everyday companion, especially for spontaneous and discreet photography.

There have also been some additions on the inside compared with the TL2. The Leica CL has a 2.36-million-dot electronic viewfinder, which is useful for photographers who want to hold the camera to their eye and adjust the important settings on the spot.

The APS-C system also has a new Leica Elmarit-TL 1:2.8/18 ASPH lens. This wide-angle lens is the world's smallest wide-angle lens for APS-C cameras and offers exceptional image performance and compact dimensions. This makes it ideal for the new Leica CL, among other things.

The controls are deliberately minimalist, with just a limited number of buttons and a touchscreen. Because of this additional manual function, the touchscreen is a little smaller than you may be used to, at 3.0 inches.

The various functions in the menu can be selected using the buttons next to it. The touch function can be used to zoom in on photos and to review them easily.

Like the TL2, the Leica CL has a 24.2-megapixel sensor, 49-point contrast autofocus and a Maestro 2 series processor. You can set the ISO from 100 to 50,000, and the fastest shutter speed is 1/8000th of a second in mechanical mode. In electronic mode, it goes up to 1/25,000th of a second.

The camera has no I/O ports. This means you can easily remove the photos from your camera. To do this, you have to remove the SD card. It is also possible to send the photos wirelessly to your smartphone or tablet using the Leica app.

Video is also well catered for. With the camera, you can shoot 4K footage at 30fps, or 60fps for 1080p footage. Unfortunately, there is no microphone connection.

You therefore need to use an external audio recorder or the built-in microphone. You should not expect top-quality sound from the latter.

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