I seem to be fated when it comes to attending Leica events. Last Thursday I barely made it to the Leica Society meeting on time following disruption on the Piccadilly line. Today, having been invited to breakfast with Leica at a new venue, The Den in St. Martin’s Lane, I got stuck on the District line. I’m glad that I don’t have to commute daily into the metropolis. At least today I managed to grab a Danish pastry and a coffee before the CL press conference started.
Although I had some knowledge of the detail of the CL before the launch, I have resisted joining in with the rumour mongering, enticing as it is. As usual, I was resolved to adhere to the 2 pm deadline. At least I had enough time to get back to base and coordinate the various launch articles as well as the full review of the CL which has been written for us by Jonathan Slack.
Despite looking at pictures and hearing rumours, this was the first opportunity I had had to lay hands on the CL. I was surprised the size. Subjectively, it looks and feels very similar to the Leica X1, although it is noticeably heavier. When you put the rule on it, though, it is more like the Leica X or X Vario in dimensions (it measures 131 x 78 x 45mm, body only). With the new pancake lens the CL weighs 492g, compared with the lightweight X1 at 286g and the X at 486g.
I feel Leica has done a very good job on this camera and I am sure it will be popular. There is a huge pent-up demand for a Leica APS-C system camera with built-in viewfinder. The CL will meet this demand and I believe it will rival he Q in popularity.
That clearance sale will have to begin. This is the X-Vario ILC I have been waiting for (and quite a lot more!) complete with EVF (even if fixed). Jonathan Slack’s review is the next best thing to owning the camera!
Maybe there will be a waiting list for it maybe not? Whatever I will almost certainly buy one BUT not until I am 100% sure it is not going to suffer from what does lately seem to have become any of Leica’s immediate post launch bugs.
That said I have great hopes for this camera and sharing my own future with it. Roll on! Don