The Ghost In The Cabinet - The New Leica TL

You may be forgiven for missing the new Leica camera in the Leica mirrorless cabinet. It is the silver version and once it gets onto a white backdrop it all but disappears.

Of course once one of the dedicated black leica lenses is attached to it, everything comes into focus (Yes, I got away with that one...) but there is no denying the exquisite design lines of the New Leica TL.

As with all Leica equipment, everything you see has a purpose - every black dot, panel line, or control serves a necessary function. The form of the camera follows that function and there are no extraneous decorations or departures from the pure spirit of creation. Very Ayn Rand...one could see Howard Roark using a camera of this type to take architectural shots.

The literature that did not accompany it says that it need not always be this ethereal - it also comes in a pure black and in a titanium finish with black dials. And should you opt for any of the sleeves that snap around it - the leather protectors -  you can be as colourful or as elegant as you wish while guarding against scratches.

This is one of those cameras that sends images to mobile phones, tablets, or computers and can be controlled from that phone. Of course the social media sites can be accessed to show your dinner to everyone you know.

You also have such assistance as an inbuilt 32 Gb memory to act as a back-up for the memory card and the ability to charge the battery in-camera from a USB port.

You see the world on the screen - there is no integral viewfinder. However , you can choose to slot an accessory electronic viewfinder onto the camera's hot shoe and see exactly what the lens sees. If you'd rather use that shoe for a more powerful flash than the one that is built into the camera, Leica have a range of sizes and powers to suit. You can add an adaptor to use all of your Leica M and R lenses as well. Nothing is wasted so you are really economising...

As a matter of fact, you may want to be really frugal and get several of these cameras for the holiday period. They are in stock right now at Camera Electronic  - either at the Stirling Street or Murray Street store. I should get one of each colour, if I were you.

See the Leica TL on the Camera Electronic website