Waterproof and rugged cameras don't get prettier than Leica's new X-U.
Aimed at adventurers and designed in collaboration with the carmaker Audi, the X-U is the first Leica camera that can be submerged in up to 49 feet of water. It's also extremely rugged: shock-resistant, shatterproof and dust-sealed.
The aluminum camera has a 16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor and a Leica Summilux 23mm lens. Though the lens isn't interchangeable, it is fast -- it has an f/1.7 aperture -- and should perform like a real champ in low-light situations.
There are two control dials and a hot shoe for connecting accessories on the top. Around back is a 3-inch display, which Leica says has a "toughened monitor screen cover" to guard against deadly drops. A double-locking system protects the memory card and the battery from getting waterlogged.
For taking underwater photos, there's a dedicated "underwater snapshot button," which switches the camera into a special mode for taking photos, well, underwater. The X-U can record video at up to 1080p resolution at 30 frames per second in MP4 format.
Like all Leica cameras, the X-U is pricey; it'll be available by the end of the month for $2,950. It's a large sum of money to ask for a camera, but if the performance is as impressive as it sounds on paper, it may just be worth it.
