Last Updated on January 13, 2019
Whether you’re an amateur photographer who needs a backup camera, a smartphone user who’s ready to upgrade to a mirrorless camera, or simply a true-blooded Leica fan, you’ll definitely want to get your hands on the Leica TL2.
The newest mirrorless system camera from Leica has a lot of exciting features that it’s hard to know where to start. However, the first thing that you’ll notice is its large touchscreen, which measures 3.7 inches and takes up almost the entire length of the body. The best thing about the screen is not just its size; its interface is also designed to be intuitive and easy to use and can even be fully customized so you can create your own menu. You’ll notice that adding and removing functions and reorganizing the icons are similar to how things work in a smartphone so, if you’re smartphone-savvy, you won’t have any problems with accessing the Leica TL2’s menu.
Clean, Attractive Design
Another thing you’ll notice about the Leica TL2: it comes with clean, neat lines and has a simple, understated elegance to its overall look. This is a huge plus if you’re a fan of minimalist design or are looking for a no-fuss camera without unnecessary bits and pieces. Leica collaborated with Audi Design to create the TL2, so it’s not really surprising that the camera has a sleek, professional look.
So what exactly will you get with the TL2? Well, there’s the camera’s Uni-Body, which is manufactured from a “solid block of aluminum” to give the TL2 a strong and resilient construction. There’s also the shutter button as well as two thumb wheels and one extra button that can be programmed to your desired functions. The simple body and design lets you focus more on taking pictures instead of fussing with controls.
What’s Inside?
It’s easy to be caught up in the Leica TL2’s sleek, luxurious appearance, but can its performance match its good looks? The good news is that the answer is “Yes”. The TL2 is powered by a 24-MP APS-C sized CMOS sensor, which is paired with the new Maestro II series image processor to capture clear, sharp, professional-level pictures. The camera’s ISO range of 100 to 50,000 allows you to shoot high-quality photos and videos in almost all types of lighting conditions, while its 49 autofocus segments easily identify your subjects and ensure they’re captured with the highest possible sharpness.
The Leica TL2 can capture both DNG and JPEG photos, and their excellent image quality leaves you with plenty of room to do post-processing and even photo enlargement. The camera also shoots MP4 videos and has the capability to take 4K footage at a maximum of 30 frames per second, along with HD and Full HD videos.
Leica Lenses
You can use the TL2 right out of the box but, for best results, you’ll want to pair it with Leica’s top lenses. The camera comes with the Leica L bayonet so you can use it with all TL-System lenses, and it can be made compatible with M and R lenses using adapters. This means that you’ll have a wide selecting of lenses to choose from (ranging from 17 mm to 200 mm) and that you can easily create the desired effects in your photos.
Get Your Own TL2
The Leica TL2 was released on July 10 and is now available in many Leica stores. It comes in two colors — black and silver — and is offered at $1,950 (body only).