Leica has finally brought out its second generation instant camera, aptly named Sofort 2 (sofort means immediately in German). This is a sequel seven years in the making, but it is seemingly worth it. It's a Leica from the outside - well-made for its market segment and recognizable. It comes in three colors - Black, Red, and White.
The most significant improvement over the
first Sofort is that this is no longer just an instant camera. It's now a
hybrid digital camera with a 1/5" CMOS sensor that captures 4.9MP photos
to a microSD. You then choose which photos you want printed. The Leica Sofort 2
is also a photo printer - you can send images you've taken on your phone (or
your Leica) to the Sofort 2 and print them. It takes Sofort color film mini,
which is 86 × 54 mm in size.
On the back, the Sofort 2 has a 3-inch LCD
and a menu similar to the one on Leica cameras. There's a 28mm equivalent Leica
Summar f/2 lens on the front - the same focal length as the popular Leica Q
series fixed-lens cameras. The lens has a 10cm minimum focusing distance.
There's also a flash on the front - a staple of the instant camera.
The Leica Sofort 2 will ship on November 9
for € 389/US$ 389 - more than the popular Instax Evo from Fujifilm, but this is a
Leica.
