Water, shock, and dust proof, Leica’s new X-U camera is ready for anything

posted Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 4:48 PM EDT

If you've ever thought that either your Leica was too valuable to shoot near water or that you would want to purchase a Leica, but would be too nervous to really expose it to the elements, Leica's new X-U (Typ 113) camera is something you'll want to hear about!

The new X-U is rugged and ready for whatever you throw at it. It is waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, winterized, and even has an integrated underwater protection glass filter. The German-made camera is composed of plastic core and aluminum covers with a rubber exterior. It has a built-in flash as well, but to maintain structural integrity it is built-in above the lens rather than on top of the camera body.

The X-U is waterproof up to 49 feet (15 meters) and shockproof to falls from 4 feet (1.2 meters). When shooting underwater, you can even utilize the camera's new underwater mode, and there's an optional floating strap accessory available as well.

The fixed focal length lens is a 35mm equivalent f/1.7 Summilux ASPH (23mm actual focal length) with ten lens elements in eight groups with four aspherical surfaces. Inside the X-U is a 16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor. The X-U has an ISO range of 100 to 12,500 and can capture images at up to 5 frames-per-second for a total of seven frames. The X-U is capable of recording high-definition video up to 1080p resolution at 30 frames-per-second.

In lieu of a viewfinder, the X-U has a 920k-dot 3" LCD monitor on the back. Leica's design philosophy for the X-U has focused on simplicity and efficiency, so that you never miss a moment out in the field. Each setting can still be changed individually, but the camera has been designed (in conjunction with Audi Design) to be streamlined. The non-slip camera body also has a hardened protective cover over the LCD and a double locking system for the battery and memory card compartment, which is said to be failsafe.

If the X-U's rugged durability catches your eye and you want to support our site, it is available for pre-order through our trusted affiliate B&H. The X-U will be available by the end of the January and will cost $2,950 (which is about $900 more than the regular Leica X Typ 113).