Leica’s X Vario, to be launched next week, is now an open secret. Unless there is a major conspiracy theory of massive disinformation on the part of Leica, the new camera will certainly be a modified APS-C X2 with a super-slow zoom lens. Leica fans are already in denial.
Commenting on a story in dpreview.com, “inthebuisness” (sic) says:
I had the camera in my hand 2 days ago. Leica vario X is the name. 28-70/3,5-6,3 (Equivalent to 35mm). Its like the X2, but with a zoom. More solidly built body though.
I imagine this particular sighting is from Germany (note the German comma instead of the decimal point). Support comes from “slonyer66”:
I know for a fact that “inthebuisness” is right. I also had it in my hands, for about 5 minutes, since I work for a prof.photostore in europe. We had a preview with Leica
Later today Leica opened the teaser box a little further and made this cryptic announcement:
Only one week left: Get a hands-on experience at our Leica Authorized Dealers on June 11 when all will be revealed about the newest Leica family member, including its larger than usual sensor for its relatively small body.
Only one week left: Get a hands-on experience at our Leica Authorized Dealers on June 11 when all will be revealed about the newest Leica family member, including its larger than usual sensor for its relatively small body.
What to make of this? Taking it at its face value, the suggestion is that the sensor will be larger than the APS-C size in the current X2. I rather doubt this, since this could really only refer to a full-frame sensor as in the RX1, unless Leica is resurrecting the 1.33 crop of the old M8.
There does appear to be a lot of disinformation going on here but all will be revealed on the 11th.
Update June 7: Body bigger than X2