Move over Fujifilm, the new Leica Sofort 2 could be the ultimate Instax instant camera

Date:
Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Description:
Leicas second-generation Sofort 2 is a modern hybrid instant camera in the mold of the retro Fujifilm Instax Mini Evo.

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A lesser known fact about Leica, maker of lust-worthy and expensive high-end rangefinder cameras like the Leica M11 , is that it has also dabbled with instant cameras.

It was back in 2016 that Leica announced the Sofort , which was effectively
an upcycled Fujifilm Instax Mini 90, lavished with Leicas modern design flourishes. At $300 / 215 (about AU$475) it was a pricier Fujifilm alternative, albeit the cheapest way to get a red-dot camera. Now, seven
years later, we have the Leica Sofort 2.

The second-generation Sofort model (the name means 'instant' in German, in case you were wondering) is a hybrid model in the mold of the Instax Mini Evo ; you can shoot the analog way straight onto Instax Mini format film, or the digital way onto the cameras internal memory / microSD card, and then browse your gallery in the Leica Fotos app to choose and edit your favorite shots
for print.

With Leicas clean-cut design, hybrid is a logical step for the Sofort 2; its 3-inch, 460,000-dot rear LCD suits the look, and most of todays users will appreciate the choice between analog and digital, rather than being pigeonholed to one-off prints. (Image credit: Leica)

The Sofort 2 packs a 28mm-equivalent lens (thats the same perspective as a camera phones main camera) with a f/2 to f/16 variable aperture, a versatile 10cm minimum focus, and auto exposure control. In fact, with a shutter speed range of 1/4 sec to 1/8000 sec and the ability to turn the flash on and off, the Sofort 2 is a more flexible shooter than most analog-only instant
cameras. You should be able to shoot in any scenario, from bright sunlight to indoors, and get well-exposed prints. Leica Sofort 2: price and availability

The Leica Sofort 2 list price is $389 / 350 and it is available in stores
from November 9 2023, in three colors: black, white and red. Thats pricier than the Sofort, and around 2x the price of the Instax Mini Evo. Ouch. The Sofort 2 wouldnt be a Leica without accessories, and it can be purchased with a wrist strap, neck strap, Leica-edition Instax Mini film with different
color borders, plus an array of photo frames, including cute wooden ones for
a single mini print.

If youre shooting digital, the Sofort 2 records onto a 2560 x 1920 pixel sensor (thats 4.9MP) which means a 1GB microSD card will store around 850-shots. Otherwise you get a 45-shot internal memory.

Compared to the retro Instax Mini Evo, the sleek Leica Sofort 2 truly looks the part, especially if old-school looks don't float your boat and you need to enjoy the feel and look of an instant camera if it's going to get any use.

Like the Mini Evo, it measures 123 x 87 x 44mm, and will sit well in the hand compared to chunkier models like the Instax Mini 12 , while its versatile
auto exposure controls should ensure that you get the right brightness in
your prints, wherever you go. This could be one of the best instant cameras for 2023 it's certainly desirable, and well share our experiences with the Sofort 2 in our upcoming review. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Leica) Image 2
of 3 (Image credit: Leica) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Leica) You might also like Best instant cameras My classic Polaroid SX70 instant camera still rocks but today's film lets it down Meet the adorable digital Fujifilm Instax Pal,
a tiny golf-ball-sized camera



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/cameras/instant-cameras/move-over-fujifilm-the-new-l eica-sofort-2-could-be-the-ultimate-instax-instant-camera


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