Leica reveals high-priced digital cameras

This week legendary camera maker Leica added three new models to their portfolio. The new models included the Leica M Monochrom which only captures images in Black and White, the compact Leica V-Lux 40 which is a redesigned Panasonic ZS20 point-and-shoot with extended zoom, and the retro-styled Leica X2 which has a 16.2-megapixel CMOS sensor and f/2.8 fixed Leica lens. All of the new models are priced well out of the reach of the average joe, but for Leica fans these prices aren’t anything out of the ordinary. The B&W Leica M Monochrom camera has a MSRP of $7,970 and you only get the camera body and no lens at that price. The Panasonic re-badge Leica V-Lux 40 has an MSRP of $699, a mark-up of over $400 over the ZS20. The Leica X2 has been given a $1,995 MSRP tag. Leica says anyone interested in purchasing a V-Lux 40 or X2 can buy those cameras now at their official store in Washington D.C. or through official Leica camera retailers, anyone interested in the M Monochrom will have to wait until late July to purchase the camera at Leica’s D.C. store or through official Leica camera retailers. Leica M Monochrom The M Monochrom can capture images in only Black and White by design with it’s 18-megapixel full-frame sensor. The camera offers sensitivity up to ISO 10,000 which should be good enough for low-light shooting. Although the camera records no HD video, a feature most cameras priced well below the M Monochrom offer, the M Monochrom can shoot B&W images in 14-bit uncompressed RAW. Leica V-Lux 40 Every once in a while Leica likes to release redesigned Panasonic digital cameras, these releases have fallen under the V-Lux model range. The new Leica V-Lux 40 features most everything the Panasonic Lumix ZS20 from ealier this year had. The two cameras have the same 14.1-megapixel 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 20x optical zoom lenses, and 1080p HD video capabilities. The only modifications that Leica made to their V-Lux 40 to distinguish it from the cheaper ZS20 is add their logo, smooth out some of the cameras design lines, and add a custom leather camera bag to the overall package. Is that worth the extra money Leica asks you pay? Leica X2 The new Leica X2 is a follow-up to the Leica X1 which was released back in 2009 with the same $2,000 price tag the new X2 wears. The original X1 launched with features like a 12.1 megapixel APS-C sized CMOS sensor, a fixed-mount Leica Elmarit 1:2.8/24 ASPH lens, maximum sensitivity of ISO 3200, 3 frames per second shooting speed, RAW & JPEG photo capture, and a 2.7-inch rear display with Live View functionality. Leica’s new X2 ups the resolution on the APS-C sized CMOS sensor to 16.2 megapixels. The rest of the features offered with the X2 are very similar to the original X1 camera from three years ago. The built-in lens is still a Leica Elmarit 24 mm f/2.8 ASPH lens. The rear display is still a 2.7-inch 230k dot res. LCD. The shutter speed is still 30 – 1/2000 sec. And the list goes on.