Leica T Pre-Order links and more reviews!

55 Comments

1. What I mean is when you want to use different mount lens like R or other brand. You may need an M-R adapter to mount R lens to release the shutter. So Leica T-M adapter become a bridge for other mount lenses.

2. I learned from DPREVIEW.com, it mentioned there is no “release shutter without lens” feature on the T. So that means when you mount other adapter on top of the Leica T to M adapter the shutter won’t release if the lens is not recognized.

   If that is true then you can only use T and coded-M lens on this camera.

   • Not really true. Why would you need another adapter on top of the Leica adapter when using non coded M lenses? For example, a Zeiss ZM or Voigtlander M mount would not need another adapter as they are an M mount. Having the adapter in place (the Leica adapter) will tell the camera that a lens is on the camera automatically, so would be a non issue.

3. Steve, great review, thanks so much. A simple question, as I can’t find the answer on your site, or on others… If you have ‘old’ Leica LTM glass, can you use the LTM to M adapter, then attach that to the M mount, or are you restricted to only ‘coded’ M lenses.

   • It should 100%, I see no reason why it wouldn’t. The only thing the adapter does is read the 6 but code for what i assume are corrections and EXIF data. Doesn’t mean you can not mount any other M lens, which I think many will be doing.

4. I am an older, very amateur photographer who has been through a lot of cameras in my life, including Nikon SLR plus a host of lenses. The menus on these cameras were always a pain to learn, use and remember, so I ended up using auto mode (what a waste), and not that often. I recently bought a Leica M plus several lens, and I am now loving photography more than ever, and my camera goes with me everywhere. It is so easy to use, and I am also taking much better photos. I am not stuck on specifications, but rather my own personal satisfaction with a camera and lens. Now I am not an expert like many of you, but I am so pleased that I bought a Leica M, because photography is great again.

   I had a similar experience with mobile phones, which I never used to their full capability, until the iPhone came out. The UI simplicity made all the difference, and like the iPhone, the Leica T is showing the way for the non-experts like me, and we will be the ones buying it. We don’t buy specifications, we buy the user experience. Oh, and the camera is also a brilliant bit of design, and attention to detail is amazing. I will definitely be buying one as a back-up to my M, especially with the longer tele zoom when it is available. Thank you for your review Steve.

   • The M user experience is hugely different than the one with the T. I handled the T on Saturday and it is actually a very slow camera in operation. Without turning it on and looking at a screen (lcd or EVF) all settings will be hidden, very much unlike the M or Fuji XT1 with a prime lens. And changing settings, again, requires using a screen. Those with reading glasses might have a real challenge here. For street shooting, I doubt I`d enjoy a T at all.

     • The T is NOT an M in any way, shape or form. Nothing like an M besides in its simplicity. But you do not need to menu dive once you set up the camera as you can use the two dials for what you need. In fact, I never had to make a change in the menu the entire time I was using it for review. All I need is aperture and shutter speed or aperture and ISO, etc. You can also customize the dial to your pref. The only time one would need the menu is to change ISO (I use Auto, no issues) or to see playback or to use WiFi or maybe to change the JPEG color mode which does nothing in RAW shooting.

       • I understand, but even if you use the dials only, the camera needs to be turned on and only looking at a screen (VF or lcd) will reveal its settings and allow to make changes, if necessary. And until then, the opportunity might be gone. Granted, most milcs work this way these days. I mostly prefer the old school UI with lens aperture and MF/distance scale ring and dedicated shutter speed, iso and exposure comp. dial. The M, Df or XT1 come closest to this UI.

5. I love Leica. And thanks for the links of the review.

6. I learned to take pics with a Leica IIIf and I still own an M7. I think this T will sell enough. It is really nice and IQ seems to be excellent. Leica does not sell so much. They never did (in absolute terms). So Leica needs to reach a number, and it will. I understand that for many paople looking for a small system with IQ and inter. Lenses there are better solutions. As for myself, I need an EVF as I cannot focus an LCD well enough.

7. Vario Elmar 18-56mm price can almost get an Xvario.
   Xvario lens is same quality with constant 0.3m close focus through out.

   I prefer design of Xvario.
   Would prefer T had the same XvARIO design yet in unibody.

   Still :
   T is for AF prime Leica lenses & 55-200mm Leica & M lenses.
   Xvario for 18-56mm.

8. @ Robert

   Heehee 😉

   I just like cameras, and wanted to see for myself why people like xyz caameras.
   From the seventy I only have about a dozen favorties.

9. Steve, I love your enthusiasm and I really want to like this camera, I really do, I’m actually right in the target demographic for this new system, but (and I’m sorry to say it) this camera doesn’t move me, at all.

   I won’t talk about the value proposition of this camera, as with all Leica cameras that’s just a lost argument and in the end is not the point of it. What I want to talk is about the camera and the philosophy behind it.

   Why do PHOTOGRAPHERS buy Leicas ? Why do people justify the expenditure and obsolete specs? Because of the photographic experience. What do Leicas offer that other cameras don’t ? Steve has summarized the feeling of using a Leica in every review since the beginning of his blog, it’s all about the tactile feeling you get as an user, Leicas bond with you, they truly are machines crafted for the sole purpose of photography, they incite that romantic feeling that photography had in the earlier days, they inspire you to photo*graph.

   This ? this camera doesn’t. It may aim for a more simplistic experience, to get out of the way, but it doesn’t reach that in a good way. I’m sorry Steve, but the design is utterly uninspired, Leica may call it ¨essential¨ but it truly is uninspired. Not because it’s not retro-looking or because of its simplicity, mind you (that’s about the only good thing about it and the only Leica aspect of it) but because it looks just so (un)remarkably close to about every bland mirrorless out there (see the samsung nx300). I’m all for simplicity and refinement, the touch screen is actually a nice addition to the Leica repertoire but in terms of design this doesn’t say Leica to me.

   How does the T compare against other mirrorless systems AS A LEICA ? as a new mirrorless proposition? Does the entirely touch screen interface make it unique ? nope, there are plenty of cameras that require almost 99% touch interaction (GM1), is the big icon interface really innovative ? not really, it aesthetically pleasing but beyond that, meh, i can do the same with my GX7. Does the aluminum unibody make a positive real world difference to the experience ? I’m not sure really, I mean, what does it say about the camera that about the most exiting thing about it is that there’s some guy who spends 45 mins polishing it? What does that have to do with photography ? is the polishing going to make my photos better in some way ? is it really a luxury statement ? wouldn’t they be forced to polish the edges and surfaces before shipment anyway ? so what’s so luxurious and innovative about it ?

   I’m not a leica hater, I love the brand but not every one of their cameras is a godsend, let’s be real. Does the T add anything to the Leica brand ? Maybe, maybe not. It does open a door to the newly expanding mirrorless market, sure, but is that market eager for this specific camera, even as a niche? Is the target demographic (young, successful professionals jumping into more serious photography) eager to embark into THIS system, instead of Fuji, Sony or m4/3 ? I don’t think so personally, every other system has a unique proposition/philosophy as a system, m4/3 is size+speed+good IQ, Fuji is superb IQ+retro controls, Sony is features+good sensors, what does the T offer? a 45min polished unibody ? If this camera is out-spec’ed by the competition and does not offer the classic leica experience but instead an oversimplified touch experience, then why would I go for it ? I suspect by the M adapter that the flange distance will allow me to adapt its lenses to other systems (say, a M speedbooster to m4/3, BAM! no drawback).

   I’m sure Leica could’ve developed something between this and an M, with the same unibody technique, same simplicity and touch interface, but with a better design. What I’m getting at is that, you can have simple but functional designs (like an M) but this is just oversimplified, like others have said, this is too much like an Apple camera when Leica should’ve really opted for a more Dieter Rams/Braun design.

10. I’ve been looking for a camera as a second body that has very good IQ, is smaller and lighter than a DSLR when using a fairly long zoom lens, say up to 200mm, and has fast autofocus. The Sony A7 has good IQ but is pretty big and heavy when paired with the 70-200 f4. The Olympus OMD EM1 is fairly compact, and has smaller zooms but has the much smaller sensor as well. Is it possible that the Leica T will fall somewhere in the middle, i.e., APS-C sensor, small lenses? For example, is it realistic to expect Leica to make a zoom lens for the T that is significantly smaller and lighter than the Sony FE 70-200 f4?

11. To get faster CDAF AF you need a faster readout sensor. This sensor does not have 120Hz readout and there is a limit to what can be accomplished without PDAF on the sensor and or faster readout.

12. How much is an M8 these days 🙂

    • Actually I’ve changed my mind on this camera, it’s stupid. It solves no problem.

      Want your M manual glass on something small and mirror less, there are many Sony Nex you can chose from for 1/4 the cost. Software has solved any corner issues, as of 2010..moving on.

      The only person this camera is for is for someone who has been DYING to have a non weather sealed body made from a solid block of aluminium.

      It solves NO other problems.

      Unless dials that quickly give access without looking at a menu were a problem?

      Maybe it was cameras made out of multiple pieces of magnesium, aluminium and plastic that were problems.

      Maybe the big problem, as someone said, were battery doors.

      None of the potential problem of the current crop of cameras are even problems.

      Your allowed to want this camera, your allowed to love it…but you are not allowed to say that it will put a superior print on your wall than any Sony Nex or the like, because that is simply not true.

      • What you would see in prints on the wall from different cameras are differences in color, sharpness, micro contrast. Which one is better? Probably none but all will be different and the best one for you would be down to your eye and preferences in these differences.

13. Some excellent photos on Jono Slack’s site, linked to by Steve. IMO it’s more valuable to see images taken by the camera, than to read comments griping about perceived spec limitations.

    Best regards
    Huss

    • Well the photos were taken by Jono Slack, not the camera, so I guess it’s down to him that there’s hardly a shot with more than 2mm depth of field, and nothing actually in focus in those 2mm – includin the “product shots”. I’m sure he’s a nice guy and a good camera tester for Leica, but if I were looking for photos to sell the camera I’d be looking somewhere else.

      • Jono Slack took the photos WITH the camera. It shows what it is capable of in the hands of a decent photographer.
        Whether you like the results is up to you, but it is a good demonstration of the output.

        What you make of it is up to you.

        Kristian Dowling also took some excellent photos on his site. With the camera. You could argue it is him too, not the camera, but then you could argue that about every image you have seen since the beginning of photography.

        Best regards
        Huss

        • David’s comment still stand valid. Kristian’s photos makes a good sale, whether its attributed to the equipment or the equipment is another issue (and its both).

          Jono’s photos…. neither his photos OF or his photos FROM the camera make a compelling case

          • I don’t find Jono Slack’s images make a compelling case, either.

            On the other hand, scroll down through the images on this site…

            http://fujifilm-x.com/photographers/en/

            …now those DEFINITELY make a compelling case.

            Just not for Leica.

14. The T is a very, very refined, but not at all a unique product.

    A fate the T shares with Leica SL and R which ultimately failed to survive. Contrary to the M.

    As owner of a single Leica M lens, i.e. 35/2 or 50/2, I would buy an ME (€4800, a used or demo M9 for a bit less) rather than a T (€2245, with EVF and adapter). And there is no reasonably priced, used, fast M lens that could give the angle of view of 35mm on an APS-C sensor. That €2250 is too much for a temporary solution until a full-frame M body becomes affordable to me.

    After all, some accessories, “snap”, “flap” and holster are beyond cute. They perfectly address the issue of having a camera that is just a little bit to large to carry in a coat pocket.

    The choice of lenses, available and announced (11-23, 55-135), is smart and (for the relevant target group) exhaustive. As Leica M sentimentalist I would highly welcome a T 35mm and a T 60mm.

15. Sigma DP Quattro sensor would made T out of this world.

    Then we would seen (the almost night and day) difference of M lenses on Quattro vs Monochrom, M240, M9

    • you know, I really think you have a point

16. Just to add

    The simply clever strap solution reminds me of Apple solving the power connector to laptop damaging the connector when accidently pulled out.
    No one thought of soving this issue of damaging a body.

    The 16GB internal storage is brilliant. Another solution which no one until now has had the foresight to resolve.

    Likewise with the Battery (as on S2), no more worries about breaking the flimsy battery door on small cameras.

    I would have liked mechanical image stabilisation and a popup evf instead of pupup flash, as well as a decent software manual focus aid …. firmware update.

    Simplicty of T design is so appealing to me and the rear lcd icons makes it easy for smartphone generation, and older peple who have trouble reading menus.

    • these sound like solutions to solve imaginary problems. [1]who has concerns with damaging bodies from strap lugs? [2]or ‘forgetting’ a card, or not having space to carry a spare card. (and its not like the fixed irreplaceable internal memory cant go bad…) [3]with battery doors breaking and/or batteries falling out??

      i can say those are maybe number 100th on the list of things i care about a camera. first and foremost, give me usability. (since pretty much all mid-high grade cameras have imaging quality solved).

      waiting for 3-4 seconds for the camera to turn on is not usable. chimping through a smartphone menu to control settings is not usable. (in fact, this seems as loony as a smartphone+qx10 solution).

      for those older people who have trouble reading menus… that’s why we have labeled knobs and dials!!! see: XT1. tactile controls that you can set even with the camera powered off! what a revelation.

      this is the antithesis of simplicity.

      • “these sound like solutions to solve imaginary problems.”

        I was just thinking the same thing. “We’ve engineered a triple-lock combination bayonet lens mount for that one in ten million chance you might accidentally knock the button and risk the lens accidentally twisting off just seconds later.”

        “Oh … high ISO? No, we don’t do that. What’s that? Image stabilization? No, that isn’t necessary.”

        LOL.

        Oh, and about that push in strap pin: does it lock in place? Cause if it doesn’t, wouldn’t it be equally easy to accidentally yank it out?

        I agree with all your other points, cathay. It may be simplicity to LOOK at, but it will be far from simplicity when it comes to operability in field conditions.

17. First time I held Olympus EP1 that metal body, the simple design I immediately felt this is my camera.
    Of all the digital slr, bridge, compact, mirrorless I purchased going back to the Canon 1D : about seventy digital cameras
    EP1 was the one I had most joy, felt most bonded.

    Leica T will be the same … for me.

    Now that Ricoh GXR is no more, Leica T is the only apsc specifically for the best camera lenses.

    Black T looks stunning.

    • You had 70 digital cameras since 2001? I hope you still found time to take pictures with them. 😉

18. For what it is worth, Thom Hogan thinks this will be a hit.

    Me, I think this camera is going to be a hit and an instant sell-out, so pre-order yours quickly if you want one.

    Why do I say that it will sell out? First, there’s the fact that it’s hand made. Leica isn’t exactly a spit-em-out-every-second type of factory, after all, and it takes them 45 minutes just to create and polish the aluminum frame. But more importantly there are two factors that come into play here that are going to appeal to the serious shooter: (1) Leica lens quality in a compact form, coupled with M-mount support; there are a ton of great Leica lenses out there, and glass is becoming more a factor in excellent imaging than sensors; and (2) Leica has done what all of us asked for: stop adding features and buttons and nuance and producing cameras that require 800-page books to understand, and instead produce something that is simple, approachable, and does what we need with just a few, direct controls. #2 is the Apple solution: solve the user problem, not create features.

19. Have just got the B&H initial price for the T.

    Body $US 1850
    23 mm prime $US 1950
    That is 3,800 total
    In Kiwi dollars that is $ 4700
    Add in GST (customs will clobber you with this at 15% of cost of $705
    Total cost (assuming shipping is free) $5400.

    I want a monochrom (local cost is $10400 for the body alone) in my “dream bag”. This would be cheaper than the Leica M — barely.

    If I get the pennies put away, once by boys are through university — but by then we will onto the second or third version of this, and have a second generation of the monochrom and I will have destroyed my current camera bodies 🙂

    • The audience for this camera are those who want a camera like the Sony RX100 11. This will a fine point and shoot. It will create fine looking images,it is not going to front line APS-C advanced user camera. It maybe the start of Leica in this mirror less race and a good one. If you love Leica get it. For Leica it is a start. Hopefully, like Fuji in a camera or two. Leica will have their X-T1. For the lens, this is Leica strong suite. I only had wished Leica would have put an apture ring on the lens. Bye for now I will not be leaving any more comments on this site.

      • Correction! The T is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING like an RX100II or I. Opposite styles of camera. The RX100 is a pocket cam with a 1″ sensor that has great IQ but, limited DR, soft corners and a P&S feel. The T has an APS-C with MUCH nicer IQ, swappable HQ lenses, 100% unique interface and off the charts usability and a MUCH better build and quality to it than ANY other APS-C camera, let alone the RX100. They could not be more different. The RX100, while amazing for a pocket cam, does not arch APS-C. Micro 4/3 can, but not a 1″ sensor. 🙂

        • He didn’t say it was like the RX100, he said the audience is similar.

20. About lovers, haters and nice things: for me Leica falls into the same category as luxurary mechanical watches. I do appreciate the craftmanship, the flair and the good feeling when using them, but I realize that thez don’t give me a better time than a Swatch, to the contrary, the Swatch is more accurate. Same goes for Leica, shooting a Leica is nice, but at least for me it doesn’t give me any better results than a Canon or Sony. To the contrary, I love AL and high ISO and Leica is behind here. And using a Leica doesn’t make me a more creative or better photographer, if I recognize a beautiful moment in front of me, it does not matter which camera I hold in my hand to capture it.

    • +1

21. I’ve now read several reviews, including Sean’s and some other opinions in DPR forum and there appears to be some discrepancy between reviewers about various performance issues. Sean had a list of firmware issues that he felt needed to be addressed before release and so did several other reviews I have read. The main areas of concern for me are AF speed AND accuracy. 0.5-1 sec is the number I have seen most frequently and that is slow by today’s standards. Also, where you had high AF accuracy, Sean found numerous conditions when fast shooting where the AF was too slow to keep up and he got misses. Another person said it was slow. Also, one person said that when writing the image to the internal memory the controls freeze up and it takes about 4 sec to write the image. Sean indicated that the performance was very much dependent on the SD card performance. It carries over many of the bugs from the XV like the inability to shoot DNG only, and some new ones like the inability to turn off auto review and the camera forgetting settings after power off. Also start-up seems to be around 1.5 seconds and slow according to some.

    Of course these differences may be differences in perception but it would be nice to get some definitive answers before investing $4K plus for this camera. 🙂

    • Wow, if confirmed I`d consider these serious bugs for an aps-c USD 1900 camera body in 2014.

      • 2014 camera with a 2010 sensor..go figure.

        Leica always seem to run into problems with card writing and card type/make too, really is about time they got a grip on that matter – one of the reasons I gave up on the M9.

        • There were no 16MP APC-S sensors without AA filter in 2010. The basis for this sensor appears to be the 2010 sensor from the Sony NEX5n, but it is kind of like saying that the current M Monochrom uses a 2008 sensor just because the basic architecture is the same as the M8.

          At the very worst this is a 2012 as it is identical to the one introduced with the X-Vario, which is from that same 2010 NEX5n family, but benefited from some improvements, including the removal of the AA filter.

          This is, image quality wise the state of the art for APS-C today. Other sensors (also Sony) are more advanced in terms of on-sensor PDAF, but IQ doesn’t get any better in this format.

          • Nope. For both IQ and high ISO, the Fuji X-Trans sensor is THE state-of-the-art for APS-C sensors in 2014, bar none.

    • don’t forget, it is still the preproduction firmware. but on the ither hand, the AF will stay slow. Steve wanted to say something positiv about the camera and said it is the fastes leica AF camera. So it is hell slow and far away from all the latest cameras that we saw.
      slow AF, old sensor but a nice audi design. but I drive BMW 🙂

      • Actually I must correct you. The AF is fast, just as fast as most mirrorless today. I found it just as fast as the Fuji X-T1, just not as fast as the Oly E-M1, which is still my benchmark for AF speed.

        • ok, then I got the wrong intention

22. I am officially eating crow today. When I saw the originial photos I thought meh… ricoh GR redux. But the photos you and Johnathon slack have are tasty. And I note Krisitn is a fan of the Ricoh (as am I).

    But I have written an “I was wrong” post. And will shoot with the M6 today as penance. 🙂

    http://pukeko.net.nz/photo/2014/04/man-was-i-wrong-leica-t/

23. Why would anyone hate Leica? Leicas are wonderful.

    • I think most people who dislike Leicas are more about disliking the elitism that they perceive to come with owning a Leica (like some people who hate Macs, it’s not really about hating Macs, but hating the image).

      You’ve only got to go on a Leica forum to find people who make Leica users look, well, not that likeable, but they are of course the tiny minority.

      Some people just want to take sides, they’ve got to support their ‘team’ and hate the other ‘team’. These types of people are simply to be ignored.

      • Maybe a way to put this ego-laden issue to the test would be to ask a question.

        If this camera could only be purchased with absolutely no identifying logos or markings on it, and the buyer had to sign an agreement at the time of purchase that he/she would never talk about the camera’s origins or maker, would the potential buyer still be interested?

        In other words, interest in the camera would be limited to it’s use as an image making tool as opposed to a piece of expensive neck jewelry or an object of “adoration”.

        I realize that it’s nearly impossible to separate the factors of “pride of ownership” and usability, but this scenario could induce people to cut off some of the power supply to the ever-present camera hungry ego and/or at least think about the issue.

        – just a thought –

        • “Maybe a way to put this ego-laden issue to the test would be to ask a question.

          If this camera could only be purchased with absolutely no identifying logos or markings on it, and the buyer had to sign an agreement at the time of purchase that he/she would never talk about the camera’s origins or maker, would the potential buyer still be interested?

          In other words, interest in the camera would be limited to it’s use as an image making tool as opposed to a piece of expensive neck jewelry or an object of “adoration”.

          I realize that it’s nearly impossible to separate the factors of “pride of ownership” and usability, but this scenario could induce people to cut off some of the power supply to the ever-present camera hungry ego and/or at least think about the issue.

          – just a thought -”

          That is exactly why I bought my first Leica (a digital M-E). All I wanted from a camera was the light tight box, super quality lenses with manual focus, and the absolute basic settings – Manual and aperture priority. With no buttons, knobs, dials etc that I would never use.
          I wanted just the basics and essence of photography. And Leica is the only mfg that provides that in a digital format.
          It is also why my film cameras are Leica M3s, Rolleiflex 2.8, and a bunch of pure manual Nikons from the 1970s to early 1980s. They give me exactly what I want from a camera.
          If a Japanese mfg made a camera like a Leica M, then I would be all over it. I was hoping that Cosina would make a digital Zeiss Ikon, as they already have developed a lens line as well as it using the Leica M mount. But it does not look like that is going to happen.

          So in the mean time, the only digital camera that makes me never want to stop shooting with is Leica. So from my point of view it is not overpriced as it makes me want to shoot. An overpriced camera is one that I do not want to use.

          If you do not want to use a Leica , then yes, it would be overpriced for you!

          There is also a very real difference between cannot afford and overpriced and that is determined by the open market. From a purely market approach, if something is overpriced it will not sell. If the Leica T sells…

          Best regards
          Huss

        • I think you make a very valid point, DavidG. For example, a poster on this site (in the other T thread) — when comparing Leica to other brands in a post — LITERALLY said: “Its a Ferrari versus a Ford pickup. Get over it.”

          Those sorts of ignorant and pompous remarks are precisely why so many photographers are dismissive of Leicas.

          There’s certainly a market for these cameras, and they will sell. In fact, Leica could have hewn this camera out of a solid block of gold, and there’s no doubt in my mind that it would still sell (though in admittedly smaller quantities).

          I choose to evaluate cameras as photographic instruments, not as jewelry. If one want to evaluate the Leica as jewelry or a piece of art to adorn a display case, then every argument against Leica goes out the window and one can easily say, “hey, folks are buying it so it’s clearly not overpriced.”

          Fair enough.

          But I get sick of the “superior photographic tool”, blah, blah, blah … “the Leica look” blah, blah, blah. It’s nonsense. And it’s always been nonsense. Urban myth pushed through 65 years of very clever marketing.

          Sure Leica lenses are great. But they’re not the only ones.

          The Zeiss Otus blows all the Leica 50mm lenses away.

          The Sigma Art lenses match them.

          The Nikon 200mm f/2 blows away any tele lens ever made by Leica.

          …etc, etc.

    • People don’t hate Leica. People hate the price 🙂

      • i don’t think people really hate the “company” either . . . i don’t even think it’s the “price” . . . as has been inferered above and else where . . . there are a lamentably obvious group of Leica owners who prance around like camera fashionista flashing their cameras and bodies and straps and bags all the while making truly boring/bad photographs of their kids and girlfriends which they then wax eloquently about that leica “magic” . .. . you know the type . . . .

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