Leica finally offers a full look at its T 701 camera and celebrates 100 years with this gorgeously minimalist shooter that pays homage to its first.
The 16.5-megapixel Leica T 701 will boast a touchscreen interface with WiFi connectivity, which can connect seamlessly with mobile devices, printers, and televisions. Yes, the Leica T is the first system camera from Leica to feature an integrated Wi-Fi module – so pictures and videos can be wirelessly transmitted straight from the camera to a smartphone, tablet or computer, and can then be shared by email, or on Facebook or other social media. All these features are housed within a lightweight aluminum body, which is hand-polished for 45 minutes after being milled from a single chunk of the material.
It’s the small, minimalist details though, that make the T 701 so special. Two dials are seamlessly carved to provide on-board context-aware adjustment; the on-off switch doubles as a flash release; even the camera strap has been reinvented to click-lock directly into the body without tying and knotting.
The Leica T is introduced with a Summicron 23mm f/2.0 ASPH. (35mm equivalent in 35mm terms) prime lens, as well as a Vario-Elmar T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH. zoom lens, equivalent to 28-85mm in 35mm terms. The camera has a 1.5x crop factor, and an adapter to allow the use of Leica M-mount lenses will be available.
Do note that this camera is introduced with a Leica T app for iOS devices, allowing live view remote control over Wi-Fi, as well as the ability to view, download and share images from the camera to social network sites.
Leica does plan to introduce two additional Leica T lenses at Photokina (shown below), the Super-Vario-Elmar-T 11-23mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH. super wide-angle zoom lens (equivalent to 17-35mm), and a Vario-Elmar-T 55-130mm f/3.5-4.5 ASPH. telephoto zoom (equivalent to 80-200mm).
The Leica T is available to buy today, for £1350 body only (with the Leica Vario Elmar-T 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH £1250, and the Leica Summicron-T 23mm f/2 ASPH priced at £1350). And, by the way, the aluminum version will drop on May 26, with the anodized black version following in July.
