At the Celebration of Photography Event in Wetzlar today, Leica has just announced a new compact digital camera. The Leica C-Lux offers a compact size with an impressive 15X optical zoom range (equivalent to 24 – 360mm). With a 20 MP 1″ CMOS sensor, with super-fast operation and shooting, the C-Lux reminds me of a pocket-sized V-Lux 114. Both cameras sport what appears to be the same sensor, so I'm expecting similar image quality. The only sacrifice will be the maximum aperture, which is f/3.3-6.4 rather than the larger camera's f/2.8-4. But at a mere 340g (12oz), the C-Lux is a fair amount smaller and lighter.
Modern features abound. We've got a 1.25 MP 3″ touchscreen, Wi-Fi, a 2.33 MP built-in EVF, 10 FPS shooting rate, and 4K UHD video at 100Mbps. Shutter speeds from 120 seconds to 1/2000th are on tap care of the mechanical shutter, and up to 1/16,000th of a second with the electronic shutter.
The C-Lux slots in nicely between the D-Lux and V-Lux, offering a good balance of each. I can certainly see the C-Lux hitting the right notes for those looking for a tiny do-it-all travel camera.
Pricing and Availability
The Leica C-Lux will retail for $1,050 and will be available in two colors, Light Gold and Midnight Blue. A wide range of cases in a variety of colors will accompany the new camera. Deliveries are expected to begin next month (July, 2018). You can pre-order the C-Lux by visiting Leica Store Miami online, calling 305-921-4433, sending an email, or by clicking the links below:
Leica C-Lux Image Gallery
Accessories Image Gallery
Press Release
Leica Camera is pleased to launch the Leica C-Lux at the Leitz Park grand opening ceremony today. The C-Lux is a compact camera that unites speed, an intuitive handling concept and stylish design.
Featuring a Leica DC Vario-Elmar 8.8-132 mm f/3.3-64. ASPH lens and a 20 megapixel sensor for continuous shooting at a rate of 10 frames per second, the Leica C-Lux adapts quickly to different situations to deliver high-quality pictures of subjects at a distance. With its 15x optical zoom, spanning focal lengths from 24 to 360 mm (35 mm equivalent), the C-Lux offers enormous creative scope that is further expanded by its 4K video recording capability.
The Leica C-Lux is available in two colors, light gold and midnight blue and will begin shipping next month. There is a portfolio of high quality accessories for the Leica C-Lux which will also begin shipping next month as well.
The Leica C-Lux offers the following benefits:
- Easy to use with its 3” touchscreen display and integrated viewfinder
- Large zoom range, 15x zoom from 24-360 mm
- 1” sensor with 20 megapixels of resolution
- Fastest auto focus and burst shooting in this product category, at 10 frames per second
- Integrated WiFi & Bluetooth for connection with Leica App
- 4K resolution with the ability to capture still frames from the video > Shoots in JPEG and RAW
- Slim and elegant design
- Available in two colors, light gold or midnight blue
- Portfolio of matching & stylish accessories in leather or fabric
From the lens to the 1-inch image sensor, all components of the Leica C-Lux are precisely matched to one another and deliver brilliant pictures in RAW or JPEG format. With an impressive maximum ISO sensitivity of 25600, the C-Lux guarantees pictures with natural colors and exceptional quality, above all when used for available- light photography. Thanks to its versatile zoom lens, fast autofocus and face detection, the camera also offers enormous flexibility in almost all areas of photography, and especially in spontaneous situations. Thanks to fast autofocus with 49 metering points, subjects are focused sharply in an instant, and a continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second ensures that even the most fleeting moments will never be missed. Intuitively selectable scene modes provide valuable assistance when shooting landscapes, portraits or at night and enable users to concentrate exclusively on their subjects.
Electronic Viewfinder
Thanks to the viewfinder’s high resolution of 2.33 megapixels, the clarity and contrast of the viewing image is outstanding at all times – even in particularly bright ambient light. As the viewfinder covers 100% of the image field, framing of subjects is extremely precise and users have complete control of composition. The camera also offers diopter adjustment settings that allow eyeglass wearers to use the viewfinder without any problems.
Touchscreen Display
The 3-inch touchscreen display ensures particularly easy handling in all shooting situations. As with a smartphone, many of the camera’s functions can be controlled by simply touching the screen, for instance the transfer of still pictures and videos via Wi- Fi or Bluetooth. The ‘Leica C-Lux’ app that supports this function can be downloaded free of charge and installed on iOS or Android devices. The display screen features a special coating that prevents annoying marks and protects it against fingerprints.
Video
The high-definition, 4K-resolution, digital video recording function expands the spectrum of features offered by the Leica C-Lux. Thanks to exceptional resolution – four-times higher than full-HD – and up to 30p & 100 Mbit in MP4 format, the C-Lux delivers all the technical prerequisites for shooting your own, personal short film. What’s more, still pictures can be extracted and saved from video footage at a resolution of up to 8 megapixels.
Tech Specs
| Type of camera | Compact digital camera with built-in zoom lens |
| Image sensor | 1′′ MOS sensor, total pixel number: 20,900,000, effective pixels: 20,100,000, primary color filter |
| Minimum Illumination | approx. 10lx (when i-Low light is used, the shutter speed is 1/30s) |
| Lens | Leica DC Vario-Elmar 3.3 – 6.4 / 8.8 – 132mm ASPH., 35mm camera equivalent: 24 – 360mm, aperture range: 3.3 – 8 / 6.4 – 8 (at 8.8 / 360mm) |
| Image stabilization | Optical 5-axis compensation system |
| Focusing range AF | Maximum wideangle setting: 0.5m/ 1′ 6′′ to ∞ Maximum telephoto setting: 1m/ 3′ 3′′ to ∞ |
| AF Macro / MF / Snapshot Modes / Motion Pictures | Maximum wideangle setting: 3cm/ 13/16′′ to ∞ Maximum telephoto setting: 1m/ 3′ 3′′ to ∞ |
| Digital zoom | Max. 4x |
| Shutter system | Electronically and mechanically controlled |
| Shutter speeds | |
| Still pictures | T (max. approx. 120s), 60 – 1/2000s (with the mechanical shutter) 1 – 1/16000s (with the electronic shutter) |
| Motion pictures | 1/30* – 1/16000s |
| 1/2 – 1/16000s (When [Exposure Mode] is set to [M] in Creative Video Mode and [MF] is selected) | |
| An uninterrupted motion picture take cannot be longer than 29 minutes, regardless of the circumstances, e.g. the respective settings. In the case of 4K videos, the time limit is 15 minutes. | |
| * Differs according to frame rate | |
| Continuous series exposure frequency: | Electronic /Mechanical shutter: 2fps (L) / 7fps (M) / 10fps (H) |
| Number of serially recordable pictures: | With RAW files: 28 or more* |
| Without RAW files: 85 or more* | |
| * Based on CIPA standards and a card with a fast read/ write speed | |
| Exposure control modes: | Program (P), Aperture-priority (A), Shutter-priority (S), Manual setting (M) |
| Exposure compensation: | ±5EV in 1/3EV steps |
| Recording file formats | |
| Still pictures: | RAW/JPEG (based on “Design rule for Camera File system” and on the “Exif 2.31” standard) |
| Motion pictures: (with audio) | [MP4] 3840×2160/30p (100 Mbit/s) 3840×2160/24p (100 Mbit/s) 1920×1080/60p (28 Mbit/s) 1920×1080/30p (20 Mbit/s) 1280×720/30p (10 Mbit/s) |
| Audio recording format: | AAC (2ch) |
| Exposure metering modes: | Multi-zone, center-weighted, spot |
| Monitor: | 3.0′′ TFT LCD, resolution: approx. 1,240,000 dots, field of view: approx. 100%, aspect ratio: 3:2, touch screen functionality |
| Viewfinder: | 0.21′′ LCD viewfinder, resolution: approx. 2,330,000 dots, field of view: approx. 100%, aspect ratio: 3:2, with diopter adjustment -4 to +3 diopters, Magnification: approx. 1.45x / 0.53x (35mm camera equivalent with 50mm lens at infinity; -1.0 m-1), eye sensor |
| Flash: | Built-in pop up flash |
| Flash modes: | AUTO, AUTO/Red-Eye Reduction, Forced ON, Forced ON/Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red- Eye Reduction, Forced OFF |
| Microphones: | Stereo |
| Speaker: | Monaural |
| Recording media: | SD / SDHC* /SDXC* memory cards, (*UHS-Ι/UHS Speed Class 3) |
| Wi-Fi Compliance standard: | IEEE 802.11b/g/n (standard wireless LAN protocol) |
| Frequency range used (central frequency): | 2412- 2462MHz (1 to 11ch), maximum output power: 13dBm (EIRP) |
| Encryption method: | Wi-Fi compliant WPATM / WPA2TM |
| Access method: | Infrastructure mode |
| Bluetooth function Compliance standard: | Bluetooth Ver. 4.2 (Bluetooth low energy (BLE)) |
| Frequency range used (central frequency): | 2402 to 2480MHz, maximum output power: 10dBm (EIRP) |
| Operating temperature/ humidity: | 0 – 40°C (32 – 104°F) / 10 – 80% RH |
| Power Consumption: | 1.8W/2.8W (When recording with monitor/viewfinder) 1.6W/1.6W (When playing back with monitor/viewfinder) |
| Terminals / Interfaces: | [HDMI]: Micro HDMI Type D [USB/CHARGE]: USB 2.0 (High Speed) Micro-B |
| Dimensions: | (W x H x D; lens retracted):approx. 113 x 67 x 46mm / 47/16 x 27/32 x 113/16′′ |
| Weight: | (with/without card and battery) approx. 340 / 12oz / 300 /10.5oz |
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