Leica T Typ 701 Quick Hands On First Impressions

Leica T Typ 701: A Quick Hands On First Impressions:

I stopped by my local camera shop, Bergen County Camera, a couple of weeks ago to check out the new Leica T.  I’m a Leica fan but I had mixed feelings about the new camera.  On the one hand, I think it’s great that Leica has finally decided to compete in the mirrorless class.  On the other hand, the Leica T is clearly designed to be different than an M, which some may or may not like.

But in a way, it’s not such a bad idea.  Companies nowadays are constantly diversifying their products trying to hit every market.  I love the M system but the truth is, it’s not for everyone because it’s such a niche product.  The Leica T would definitely open Leica up to a broader audience.  Many companies have done this, so why shouldn’t Leica, right?  Still, I would’ve liked a “mini M”, and I probably would’ve bought one.

With that said, I actually like the Leica T a lot; trust me, when it comes to Leica, I’m an M purist, so I’ve surprised myself by saying this to you.  I won’t be trading in my M system or my Fuji X Series system for it but not because the Leica T is a bad camera.  One has to remember that this camera follows a different design philosophy than the systems that I’ve mentioned.  It’s a new direction for Leica, and I think they did an excellent job overall, especially since this camera is quite advanced.  The first thing I noticed was the large 3.7 inch touch screen, which works quite well.  Also, when you hold it, the screen is designed well enough, so that you don’t accidentally change settings with your palm.  Even though most of the functions are adjusted through the menu, it’s not overly complicated; instead, I found it to be straightforward and very easy to navigate.  I probably wouldn’t need the instruction manual for this camera.

One of the big drawbacks of the Leica T is its price but I can definitely see where some of that money goes; it’s easily one of the best built cameras out there.  It’s carved out of a solid block of aluminum, and trust me, it definitely feels like it was because the Leica T felt so solid in my hands, more so than the photos suggest yet it’s also light because of the aluminum.  This Leica relies heavily on electronic systems but surprisingly, the whole camera doesn’t give me that feeling of detachment that some heavily electronic reliant cameras do.  I think it has to do with the details: for instance, I found the autofocus system relatively quick and buttery smooth.  The shutter has a nice, delicately mechanical click.  The two knobs offer just the right resistance.  I feel that Leica really put some serious thought and effort into building and designing this camera.  It’s clearly not something they just decided to slap together overnight; for the right user, this is serious camera.

However, one big feature Leica left out was a built-in viewfinder, which to me, is one of the most important features of any camera, especially one costing around $2,000.  I can not believe that it was just Leica trying to keep the T as compact as possible because the external EVF is already pretty big and awkward on top of the camera.  Even a lower resolution EVF would have been okay with me if it was built-in.  Instead, you have to purchase an external viewfinder costing almost $600.

For me, the optional EVF is a must-have because no matter how good an LCD screen is, it’s no substitute for a viewfinder.  But if it is a must-have, you’re talking about spending almost $2,600 without the lens.  To be fair, the Leica T does work very well with the external EVF.  The EVF is big, clear, bright, easy to see through, and easy to compose with.  I got to like the tilt function of my M 240’s EVF, so it is nice to have it on the T.  With the EVF and the 23mm Summicron attached, the Leica T actually felt nicely balanced and compact in my hands.  This set up would be great for all types of discreet shooting because it’s quite easy to conceal behind a jacket (especially if you buy the black version).

It’s also worth mentioning that it’s great that you can mount M lenses on the Leica T, so if you’re already an M user, you’ll have a bunch of lenses to try on it.  If the T is your first Leica, it’ll be easier to upgrade to an M in the future if you already bought a couple of M lenses for the T.  I brought my 50mm Summilux ASPH and my 35mm Summicron ASPH with me to try on the T, and for the most part, the lenses were nicely balanced on the T with the exception of the camera tipping forward when set on the table because I brought my brass M lenses.  But I wish there was some sort of focusing aid other than magnifying the image.  Personally, when I’m looking through an EVF or at an LCD screen, I find it very difficult to focus a manual lens without something like focus peaking.

As the title of this post suggests, this is NOT a review.  I had the opportunity to try out the Leica T, and I thought I’d share my short experience with it.  That’s all.  Who knows, maybe I’ll get one in to review in the future but to be honest, if I do, I’d be tempted to keep it :).  As I said before, I really like the Leica T.  Like every camera out there, it’s not perfect but it’s quite handy, and actually really fun to use.  Would I have liked a “mini M” more?  Maybe.  Instead we have the Leica T, which in a way, almost seems to contradict M design philosophies but I don’t think that this is necessarily a bad thing.  In fact, it’s great to see Leica explore new avenues in photography, and in the long run, this will only help their existing line of cameras.  As I said earlier, I believe this is a different type of camera aimed at a broader audience.  It’s not designed to be a replacement for an M or even an X Series but it’s still an excellent camera that deserves a place in the mirrorless market.