Leica, world renowned for their attention to detail and craftsmanship, as well as hefty price tags, is soon to release its newest addition: the Leica XU, a waterproof, shock resistant, dust-proof underwater camera for extreme weather conditions.
![Leica XU: Waterproof](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Splash_2400x940_teaser-1200x470.jpg)
It can go down to a remarkable 49 feet underwater, is freeze resistant, boasts a 16.5 megapixel sensor with a fixed Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH lens. At 1.7 you’re going to get lots of light no matter where you are, and 23mm on an APS-C sensor will give you nearly the natural 35mm you’re used to.
![Leica XU: Side view](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Leica_X-U_left.jpg)
![Leica XU: Top view](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Leica_X-U_top.jpg)
The back sports a respectable 3 inch rugged 920k-Dot screen, protected by a hard cover so you can preview your images in the most difficult of situations. The battery and memory slots are equally shielded through a double lock mechanism.
![Leica XU: Rugged LCD](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Leica_X-U_back.jpg)
It features a built in flash right above the lens, has a myriad of quick take functions so you don’t have to fumble with settings to get that quick underwater shot, and is made of grip sensitive aluminum. Co-designed with Audi, it is designed to be both minimalist and sleek.
![Leica XU in all its glory](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Objektiv_2400x940_teaser-1200x470.jpg)
On the video front, it supports 30P recording in full HD, providing endless possibilities for those snorkeling expeditions. ISO goes up to a striking 12500, however we don’t yet know how usable it will be or how well this will perform in low light situations.
![Leica XU core specs](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Leica-X-U-Typ-113-waterproof-and-shockproof-camera-specifications-1.jpg)
And to top it all off, you get a free download of Adobe Lightroom when you register your camera online.
![Leica XU](http://www.symzio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/1453297808000_1219331.jpg)
How much does this traveler’s camera cost? A mere $2,950 for a marvel of modern technology. Comparatively, most point and shoots that are made rugged and waterproof top out at about $400, but they won’t provide nearly the quality a dedicated Leica lens and APS-C sensor will. Those are for sports enthusiasts and Facebook posts – this beast can create professional shots in just about any situation.
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