Leica X-U: Leica’s First Rugged Underwater Camera

Leica today announced the Leica X-U (Typ 113), the first Leica camera that’s specifically designed for extreme outdoor and underwater shooting.

The camera has many of the rugged features found in other similar adventure cameras: it’s fully waterproof down to depths of 49 feet, so you can take it into any body of water with peace of mind. It’s also shock-resistant, freeze-resistant, and dust-sealed.

Inside the X-U is a large 16.5-megapixel APS-C sensor, and on the front of the camera is a bright Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH lens.

On the back of the camera is a large 3-inch LCD screen that helps photographers frame and review photos, even when the environment makes things hard to see. The screen is protected by a hardened protective cover, and the battery and memory card are protected by a fail-safe double locking system.

There are also a number of automatic functions and an underwater snapshot button that makes it easy to capture solid photos with a simple press of the shutter button, without having to fumble through settings and menus.

The design of the camera was created in collaboration with Audi Design, and is geared toward being both stylish and minimalist. The shell is made of aluminum and anti-slip material. The control dials are metal as well, and there’s a built-in flash found right above the lens.

On the video-front, the Leica X-U can shoot 1080p and 720p video at 30fps in MP4.

Here are some sample photos captured with the Leica X-U:

The Leica X-U (Typ 113) will be available at the end of January 2016 with a price tag of $2,950.