Leica X-U (Typ 113) - Review 2022

While Leica's most recent fixed-lens compact camera, the full-frame Q, is a technological curiosity, the company hasn't e'er released compacts that are as polished. The X (Typ 113), released belatedly in 2022, delivered solid image quality for its class when nosotros reviewed information technology, but was wearisome to focus and had some operational quirks. At present Leica has taken the same camera and redesigned its trunk to make it make information technology waterproof, shockproof, and dustproof, in the form of the X-U (Typ 113). Most underwater cameras feature small sensors that limit paradigm quality, putting the Ten-U with its SLR-sized image sensor in a course of its own. But it is quite expensive at $2,950, and shares the quirks of the standard X model. Our Editors' Choice underwater photographic camera is even so the Olympus Tough TG-iv, but you should give the Leica consideration if y'all're after the more detailed images that a large prototype sensor delivers—just exist prepared to pay for it.

Pattern
The X-U is about the same size and shape every bit the X (Typ 113). It measures iii.1 by 5.v by 3.five inches (HWD) and weighs 1.4 pounds. Its body is covered in rubber, which not only improves grip—on dry land and under the sea alike—but also helps to absorber information technology from drops up to four feet. A minor handgrip helps to secure the photographic camera in your hand. The rubber beat out and grip make information technology a bit more comfortable to hold than Nikon's underwater interchangeable lens camera, the one AW1. The 1 gives you lot the flexibility of choosing between a prime or zoom lens, but its one-inch image sensor isn't the equal of the SLR-sized sensor in the X-U.

Top controls include a shutter speed punch, an aperture control dial, and a dedicated button to trigger 1080p video recording. The shutter release is surrounded by the power switch, which is likewise used to toggle between Single (S) and Continuous (C) shooting. A cold shoe, with a removable protective cover, too sits at the peak, centered behind the lens. If you prefer to use an external lite rather than the flash that sits at the forepart of the X-U'due south lens, you can mount it here.

Buttons run across the rear to the left of the LCD. From acme to bottom they are Play, Delete/Focus, White Balance (WB), ISO, and Menu/Gear up. To the right at that place's a -/+ control to set exposure compensation when shooting in Shutter or Discontinuity Priority mode. If you opt for Program mode you'll need to printing the EV +/- push before using the -/+ controls. And if you lot prefer total manual operation the camera switches to Exposure Bracketing fashion rather than straight Exposure Compensation—yous can use the EV +/- and -/+ controls to ready the Ten-U to capture a serial of images at varying exposure settings.

In addition to EV +/-, other controls on the d-pad arrange the flash output (correct), activate Underwater way (down), and set the cocky-timer (left). Underwater way, marked as UW, disables in-photographic camera corrections for images. This gives the lens a slightly wider field of view and sets the white balance for underwater use, only likewise introduces about ii.7 percent butt distortion (absent from images otherwise). Our examination chart showed some serious color fringing at high-contrast areas of the frame that's normally absent-minded when shooting in UW mode, but that won't exist as much of an issue when shooting underwater. And if you're photographing a bailiwick up shut, depth of field volition further hide the blue and xanthous chromatic aberration.

The lens is a 23mm f/1.seven prime that delivers roughly the same field of view as a 35mm lens on a full-frame organisation. It tin can focus as close as 7.9 inches (0.2-meter). There is a downside to focusing this close—the aperture closes down to f/2.eight, cutting the corporeality of light coming in, in guild to maintain acceptable image quality. While I see Leica'due south point in doing this—the Fujifilm X100T has a like lens and shows significant image softness when shooting at close range at f/2—it would be a plus for photographers to be given a chip more than freedom in choosing the desired aperture, with the agreement that paradigm quality will not exist optimal.

That's non the only area in which Leica wrests control. When shooting under brilliant lite, the Ten-U automatically drops its ISO sensitivity, even if you take information technology set to a very high level. Over again, this is in deference to ensuring that yous don't accidentally ruin an image via unintentional overexposure. These type of features are beneficial for getting clearer, properly exposed shots—only should be able to be turned off if desired.

While I didn't get swimming with the 10-U (the downside to reviewing a waterproof camera in New York in belatedly winter), I did accept a close look at the blueprint of the physical controls. The shutter and aperture control dials are raised far enough from the body and finished knurled edges that y'all should have no problem turning them, even when wearing diving gloves. Besides, the manual focus ring is large, well damped, and a real joy to utilise—a rarity for a camera with an electronic focus organisation. Turning the ring automatically brings upward a magnified view of the center of the frame so that you can more precisely adjust focus.

The X-U doesn't include congenital-in Wi-Fi, only will work with an Eyefi Mobi Pro bill of fare. There aren't any data connectedness ports on the body, so you will have to invest in a Wi-Fi retention card or, preferably, an SD/SDHC/SDXC card reader for your computer, to offload images. The retentiveness card and battery are located in the same compartment. It's on the bottom plate and protected by a double-locking door. The bombardment charger is fairly compact and tin plug directly into a wall outlet.

Performance and Image Quality Leica X-U (Typ 113) : Benchmark Tests
I ran the same performance tests on the X-U as I did with the X (Typ 113) and results are similar across the lath. If y'all want to do a deep swoop into its speed and image quality, you can look at my X (Typ 113) review. Merely exist aware that autofocus is on the slow side—the photographic camera requires about 0.four-second to lock onto a target and capture an epitome. Outburst shooting is bachelor at the same 5fps rate for upwards to 7 frames at a fourth dimension.

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In terms of image quality, photos are sharper than what we wait for in an image—at its widest discontinuity the lens scores ane,821 lines per picture tiptop, a solid score for a 16-megapixel camera. That'south slightly college than the one,747 lines recorded by the X (Typ 113), but sample variation is e'er at play, and we accept changed the lighting in our test studio in the acting between the reviews. Image noise, which detracts from detail as the ISO is increased, scores identically—the Ten-U keeps noise under i.5 percent through ISO 1600. And like the X, Raw images tend to be a piffling bit brighter than JPGs.

Conclusions
The Leica X-U (Typ 113) delivers image quality on par with an SLR in a compact body that can get deep underwater, without the need for an external housing. Information technology stands alone in the market—simply it'southward also priced like a Leica. Though when you consider that a adept underwater housing for an SLR or mirrorless camera tin cost more than $one,000, the price tag is less shocking. If y'all want a camera with a big image sensor that you can take on dives, it'due south worth consideration. But our Editors' Option recommendation in the rugged compact space stays with the Olympus Tough TG-iv. It's a point-and-shoot with a smaller sensor, so its prototype quality isn't on the same level as the X-U—but its price is a lot more downward to earth.