Leica have just announced the X-U; a rough, tough waterproof camera for outdoor adventures. Weather sealing has distinctly become more of a thing for cameras in the past decade, but this one is fully waterproof to 15 metres, with a fixed 23mm f1.7 prime lens attached (35mm equivalent: 35mm, confusingly).
It appears to be a very capable bridge camera, and rather than focus on bleeding edge tech like pushing the limits of a 4K sensor, it seems to be oriented around doing stills and 1080p footage well. The UK price? £2400. That will be expensive for most people, but it depends on your exact needs: An equivalent MFT camera, lens and waterproof housing could easily cost more.
Full specs (etc.) at the Leica site. The X-U was designed in collaboration with Audi. There are no woodburners or hand-made axes in the sample photos, and no bicycles either; this surfboard is as close as it gets for now:
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A nice piece of engineering.
“An equivalent MFT camera, lens and waterproof housing could easily cost more.”
It could easily be a third of the price too though, although probably bulkier. Probably go deeper underwater too.
And Audi know exactly what about camera design ?
@AlexSimon That’s true, and “What’s enough?” is a perennial question when it comes to camera hardware. Weather sealing is always good, but I suspect underwater capability is pretty niche for most users.
On the kind of budget needed for this I’d also be looking at the GH4. If someone just wanted to dabble with filmmaking in rain; a GH2, a ziploc bag and a couple of 1A filters won’t run them much nowadays though 🙂
“And Audi know exactly what about camera design ?”
This is the second camera they have done with Leica – the first, the T, was an interesting camera. Felt horrible in the hand though.
Assuming this has no actual EVF it’ll still be a point at, rather than look through camera. Pity.
legend thats a top reply — there is something about todays breed of Audi drivers that leaves me shaking my head (especially the poseurs in A5s and Q7s)